KU News Release

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LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas chapter of Phi Kappa Phi honor society has announced the names of 129 new student members.

Robert Walzel, dean of the School of Music, was the keynote speaker at the Nov. 30 ceremony on campus.

Two KU faculty members were inducted to the society: Erik A. Lundquist, associate professor and director of the genetics program in the Department of Molecular Biosciences, and Sara E. Wilson, associate professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and director of the bioengineering graduate program.

Founded in 1897, Phi Kappa Phi is the nation’s oldest and largest all-discipline academic honor society. KU established its chapter in 1975. Today, there are about 300 members. At KU, only the top 10 percent of seniors, top 7.5 percent of second-semester juniors with more than 72 credit hours and top 10 percent of graduate students are asked to join.

Phi Kappa Phi’s primary objectives are to promote the pursuit of excellence in all fields of higher education and to recognize outstanding achievement by students, faculty and others by election to membership and through awards for distinguished achievement.

Chapter officers are Marlesa Roney, vice provost for Student Success, president; Angela Lumpkin, professor of health, sport and exercise science, vice president; Jiqiu Yuan, doctoral student in civil engineering from Beijing, China, student vice president; Adolfo Matamoros, associate professor of civil, environmental and architectural engineering, secretary; James Miller, associate professor of electrical engineering and computer science, treasurer; David Darwin, the Deane E. Ackers Distinguished Professor of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, engineering scholarships and awards coordinator; Jill Hummels, public relations director for the School of Engineering, public relations officer; and Reta Solwa, senior administrative associate in the civil, environmental and architectural engineering department, administrator.

The new student members are listed below by home county, state or country.