Dr. Davina McClain, associate professor of classics in the Louisiana Scholars’ College, will be the speaker at the spring induction of the Northwestern State University chapter of the Phi Beta Delta Honor Society for International Scholars to be held on Sunday, April 15 at 5 p.m. in the Natchitoches Room in Russell Hall. She will speak on “Perspectives on Turkey” and will share her experiences in Turkey. The public is invited to attend.
The members of Phi Beta Delta include faculty, staff and students who are selected on the basis of their international orientation, scholarship accomplishment and/or contribution to international exchange. Thirteen new members will be inducted into this international honor society. New faculty/staff members are Ronnie Abukhalaf and Vianka Maria Miranda of the School of Business, McClain, Chialing Hsieh of the School of Creative and Performing Arts and Deborah Huntington and Anna MacDonald of University Libraries. New student members include History major Selene Allain-Kovacs of Jeanerette, Scholars College students Natalie Borowski of Gretna, Kyle Bryant of Georgetown, Texas, and Melissa Polizzi of Madisonville, and computer information systems majors Maina Ibn-Mohammed of Natchitoches and Alba Maloff of San Pedro Sula, Honduras.
Phi Beta Delta is the first honor society in the United States to recognize scholarship achievement in international education. It was established in 1987 and now has over 200 chapters at universities in the United States and around the world. Its goals are to increase the recognition, credibility, and importance of the international experience and create a catalyst for international academic-based programming on college campuses while providing support and recognition to those individuals on campuses who are involved in international endeavors.
The Northwestern State University Chapter of Phi Beta Delta received its charter in April 2010 with the induction of 25 faculty, staff and student members. This academic year Phi Beta Delta sponsored a Student Study Abroad Panel in November and held a no-host dinner for members and friends. The Eta Mu Chapter at NSU is committed to supporting international students, domestic students who are interested in international travel and affairs, and faculty and staff who engage in international research and travel. Phi Beta Delta is interdisciplinary in nature and includes individuals from all content areas.
For more information about Phi Beta Delta contact Chapter Coordinator and President Sharon Joy at joys@nsula.edu or (318) 357-5754.