# Phi Beta Delta (honor society)

The Phi Beta Delta Honor Society for International Scholars (ΦΒΔ) is an international honor society that was founded at California State University, Long Beach on February 27, 1986. It was the first honor society dedicated to recognizing scholarly achievement through international involvement and education, to give scholarships to deserving students and to enhance knowledge about various cultures around the world. It was established as a national organization in 1987 with 38 chartered chapters and has grown to an international organization with over 179 chapters.

## History

Phi Beta Delta Society was founded at California State University, Long Beach on February 27, 1986. It was the first honor society to recognize scholarly achievement through international involvement and education. The society seeks to enhance knowledge about various cultures worldwide. It also awards scholarships to deserving students.
Phi Belta Delta was established as a national organization in 1987 with 38 chartered chapters.
Its publications include:
* The Medallion (newsletter)
* Proceedings (a record of ideas, issues, and topics of interest to the Society)
* International Research and Review (the peer reviewed journal of the Society)
* 52 Weekly Thoughts
Phi Beta Delta's headquarters are at California State University, San Bernardino. Its prior headquarters was in Washington, D.C.

## Symbols

The Greek letters Phi Beta Delta are acronyms for the Greek words Philomatheia, Biotremmonia, Diapheren which translates to "Love of knowledge, valuing of human life; and achieving excellence". The society's motto is Scientia Mutua Mundi or the "World's Shared Knowledge".
Phi Beta Delta's symbols include the torch and an open book. Its colors are red and golden yellow. Red represents "fire, the feelings of the heart, the blood that flows through all humankind". The color gold symbolizing the sun, value, and worth.
The society's seal consists of a representation of the world, formed by latitude and longitude lines and encircled by a halo of leaves. The Greek letters ΦΒΔ are superimposd diagonally over the world.
The Phi Beta Delta shield is shaped like those from the Greco-Roman world and includes the society's insignia. The shield represents academic freedom. At the center of the shield is the society's seal. Above the seal is a torch, representing the illumination provided by education. At the base of the seal is an open book, symbolizing the sharing of knowledge. The society's mottos is at the base of the shield. The shield does not include "supporters", the traditional animals.
The society's medallion features its shield. The Phi Beta Delta flag and banner are red and the features its shield in gold; chapters can add their name to either.

## Membership

Membership in the Society is open to individuals who have demonstrated scholarly achievement through international involvement. These individuals include:
* International students (non-immigrant visa holders in the upper division or graduate levels) who have demonstrated high scholastic achievement at their institution;
* Domestic students (upper division and graduate level) who have demonstrated high scholastic achievement in the pursuit of academic studies abroad in exchange programs approved by the institution or in participation in comparable international programs or experiences where academic relevance can be demonstrated to the institution;
* Faculty and staff who have been involved in recognized international endeavors (i.e. research, teaching, program development, or service).

## Chapters

Phi Beta Delta has chartered 206 chapters. Following is a list of chapters, with active chapters in bold and inactive chapters and institutions in italics.
| Chapter | Charter date | Institution | Location | Status |
| Alpha | February 27, 1986 | California State University, Long Beach | Long Beach, California | Active |
| Beta | 1987 | California State University, Fullerton | Fullerton, California | Active |
| Gamma | 1987 | Marymount College, Tarrytown | Tarrytown, New York | Inactive |
| Delta | 1987 | San Diego State University | San Diego, California | Active |
| Epsilon | 1987 | University of Texas at Arlington | Arlington, Texas | Active |
| Zeta | 1987 | California State University, Los Angeles | Los Angeles, California | Active |
| Eta | 1987 | University of Nevada, Reno | Reno, Nevada | Active |
| Theta | 1987 | Brigham Young University–Hawaii | Lāʻie, Hawaii | Active |
| Iota | 1987 | North Carolina State University | Raleigh, North Carolina | Active |
| Kappa | 1987 | University of North Texas | Denton, Texas | Active |
| Lambda | 1987 | Pomona College | Claremont, California | Active |
| Mu | 1987 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte | Charlotte, North Carolina | Active |
| Nu | 1987 | University of Tennessee | Knoxville, Tennessee | Active |
| Xi | 1987 | University of Virginia | Charlottesville, Virginia | Active |
| Omicron | 1987 | California State University, Sacramento | Sacramento, California | Active |
| Pi | 1987 | University of Florida | Gainesville, Florida | Active |
| Rho | 1987 | University of California, San Diego | San Diego, California | Active |
| Sigma | 1987 | Georgetown University | Washington, D.C. | Active |
| Tau | 1987 | University of Georgia | Athens, Georgia | Active |
| Upsilon | 1987 | California State University, Fresno | Fresno, California | Active |
| Phi | 1987 | California State Polytechnic University, Pomona | Pomona, California | Active |
| Chi | 1987 | Texas Tech University | Lubbock, Texas | Active |
| Psi | 1987 | University of Minnesota | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Active |
| Omega | 1987 | California State University, Northridge | Los Angeles, California | Active |
| Alpha Alpha | 1987 | Michigan State University | East Lansing, Michigan | Active |
| Alpha Beta | 1987 | University of Louisiana at Lafayette | Lafayette, Louisiana | Active |
| Alpha Gamma | 1987 | California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo | San Luis Obispo, California | Active |
| Alpha Delta | 1987 | Iowa State University | Ames, Iowa | Active |
| Alpha Epsilon | 1987 | Ohio State University | Columbus, Ohio | Active |
| Alpha Zeta | 1987 | University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa | Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii | Active |
| Alpha Eta | 1987 | Texas A&M University | College Station, Texas | Active |
| Alpha Theta | 1987 | Boston University | Boston, Massachusetts | Active |
| Alpha Iota | 1987 | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign | Urbana and Champaign, Illinois | Active |
| Alpha Kappa | 1987 | University of California, Irvine | Irvine, California | Active |
| Alpha Lambda | 1987 | Georgia State University | Atlanta, Georgia | Active |
| Alpha Mu | 1987 | Chapman University | Orange, California | Active |
| Alpha Nu | 1987 | Northeastern University | Boston, Massachusetts | Active |
| Alpha Xi | 1987 | Evergreen State College | Olympia, Washington | Active |
| Alpha Omicron | 1987 | University of Pennsylvania | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Active |
| Alpha Pi | | University of Kansas | Lawrence, Kansas | Active |
| Alpha Rho | | University of Denver | Denver, Colorado | Active |
| Alpha Sigma | | Syracuse University | Syracuse, New York | Active |
| Alpha Tau | | University of Iowa | Iowa City, Iowa | Active |
| Alpha Upsilon | | Auburn University | Auburn, Alabama | Active |
| Alpha Phi | | University of Nebraska–Lincoln | Lincoln, Nebraska | Active |
| Alpha Chi | | Creighton University | Omaha, Nebraska | Active |
| Alpha Psi | | West Texas A&M University | Canyon, Texas | Active |
| Alpha Omega | | Commonwealth University-Lock Haven | Lock Haven, Pennsylvania | Active |
| Beta Alpha | | Rider University | Lawrence Township, New Jersey | Active |
| Beta Beta | | Rollins College | Winter Park, Florida | Active |
| Beta Gamma | | University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City Campus | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | Active |
| Beta Delta | | University of Findlay | Findlay, Ohio | Active |
| Beta Epsilon | | Texas Christian University | Fort Worth, Texas | Active |
| Beta Zeta | | Kent State University | Kent, Ohio | Active |
| Beta Eta | | University of Arkansas | Fayetteville, Arkansas | Active |
| Beta Theta | | University of Miami | Coral Gables, Florida | Active |
| Beta Iota | | Ohio University | Athens, Ohio | Active |
| Beta Kappa | | University of Southern California | Los Angeles, California | Active |
| Beta Lambda | | University of New Orleans | New Orleans, Louisiana | Active |
| Beta Mu | | Capital University | Columbus, Ohio | Active |
| Beta Nu | | University of Alabama at Birmingham | Birmingham, Alabama | Active |
| Beta Xi | | Lamar University | Beaumont, Texas | Active |
| Beta Omicron | | George Washington University | Washington, D.C. | Active |
| Beta Pi | | Lehigh University | Bethlehem, Pennsylvania | Active |
| Beta Rho | | University of Toledo | Toledo, Ohio | Active |
| Beta Sigma | | Youngstown State University | Youngstown, Ohio | Active |
| Beta Tau | | University of Central Missouri | Warrensburg, Missouri | Active |
| Beta Upsilon | | University of Alabama | Tuscaloosa, Alabama | Active |
| Beta Phi | | Washburn University | Topeka, Kansas | Active |
| Beta Chi | | University of Maine | Orono, Maine | Active |
| Beta Psi | | State University of New York at Brockport | Brockport, New York | Active |
| Beta Omega | | Spelman College | Atlanta, Georgia | Active |
| Gamma Alpha | | University of New Mexico | Albuquerque, New Mexico | Active |
| Gamma Beta | | Oglethorpe University | Brookhaven, Georgia | Active |
| Gamma Gamma | | University of Hartford | West Hartford, Connecticut | Active |
| Gamma Delta | | Wright State University | Fairborn, Ohio | Active |
| Gamma Epsilon | | Mercer University | Macon, Georgia | Active |
| Gamma Zeta | | Southern Polytechnic State University | Marietta, Georgia | Active |
| Gamma Eta | | Central Michigan University | Mount Pleasant, Michigan | Active |
| Gamma Theta | | Bentley University | Waltham, Massachusetts | Active |
| Gamma Iota | | University of Richmond | Richmond, Virginia | Active |
| Gamma Kappa | | Purdue University | West Lafayette, Indiana | Active |
| Gamma Lambda | | California State University, San Bernardino | San Bernardino, California | Active |
| Gamma Mu | | William Woods University | Fulton, Missouri | Active |
| Gamma Nu | | Western Kentucky University | Bowling Green, Kentucky | Active |
| Gamma Xi | | Appalachian State University | Boone, North Carolina | Active |
| Gamma Omicron | | Rose–Hulman Institute of Technology | Terre Haute, Indiana | Active |
| Gamma Pi | | Davidson College | Davidson, North Carolina | Active |
| Gamma Rho | | East Carolina University | Greenville, North Carolina | Active |
| Gamma Sigma | | Universidad de las Américas Puebla | Cholula, Puebla, Mexico | Active |
| Gamma Tau | | Widener University | Chester, Pennsylvania | Active |
| Gamma Upsilon | | Ohio Northern University | Ada, Ohio | Active |
| Gamma Phi | | Alabama A&M University | Normal, Alabama | Active |
| Gamma Chi | | Old Dominion University | Norfolk, Virginia | Active |
| Gamma Psi | | San Francisco State University | San Francisco, California | Active |
| Gamma Omega | | Virginia Tech | Blacksburg, Virginia | Active |
| Delta Alpha | | Illinois State University | Normal, Illinois | Active |
| Delta Beta | | Iona University | New Rochelle, New York | Active |
| Delta Gamma | | Indiana University South Bend | South Bend, Indiana | Active |
| Delta Delta | | University of Missouri–Kansas City | Kansas City, Missouri | Active |
| Delta Epsilon | | University of Wisconsin–Whitewater | Whitewater, Wisconsin | Active |
| Delta Zeta | | Western Carolina University | Cullowhee, North Carolina | Active |
| Delta Eta | | University of South Alabama | Mobile, Alabama | Active |
| Delta Theta | | DePaul University | Chicago, Illinois | Active |
| Delta Iota | | University of Houston | Houston, Texas | Active |
| Delta Kappa | | University of Delaware | Newark, Delaware | Active |
| Delta Lambda | | Rowan University | Glassboro, New Jersey | Active |
| Delta Mu | | Niagara University | Lewiston, New York | Active |
| Delta Nu | | Columbus State University | Columbus, Georgia | Active |
| Delta Xi | | University of North Carolina Wilmington | Wilmington, North Carolina | Active |
| Delta Omicron | | Villanova University | Villanova, Pennsylvania | Active |
| Delta Pi | | Baker University | Baldwin City, Kansas | Active |
| Delta Rho | | Centro de Enseñanza Técnica y Superior | Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico | Active |
| Delta Sigma | | Mount Ida College | Newton, Massachusetts | Inactive |
| Delta Tau | | Keene State College | Keene, New Hampshire | Active |
| Delta Upsilon | | Southwestern College | Winfield, Kansas | Active |
| Delta Phi | | Ithaca College | Ithaca, New York | Active |
| Delta Chi | | Kutztown University of Pennsylvania | Kutztown, Pennsylvania | Active |
| Delta Psi | | Loyola University Chicago | Chicago, Illinois | Active |
| Delta Omega | | Cape Breton University | Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada | Active |
| Epsilon Alpha | | American University in Bulgaria | Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria | Active |
| Epsilon Beta | | Wayne State University | Detroit, Michigan | Active |
| Epsilon Gamma | | International University in Geneva | Geneva, Switzerland | Active |
| Epsilon Delta | | George Mason University | Fairfax, Virginia | Active |
| Epsilon Epsilon | | Langston University | Langston, Oklahoma | Active |
| Epsilon Zeta | | Concordia University | Montreal, Quebec, Canada | Active |
| Epsilon Eta | | Dickinson College | Carlisle, Pennsylvania | Active |
| Epsilon Theta | | Quinnipiac University | Hamden, Connecticut | Active |
| Epsilon Iota | | Notre Dame of Maryland University | Baltimore, Maryland | Active |
| Epsilon Kappa | | Arcadia University | Glenside, Pennsylvania | Active |
| Epsilon Lambda | | Elon University | Elon, North Carolina | Active |
| Epsilon Mu | | Colorado School of Mines | Golden, Colorado | Active |
| Epsilon Nu | | John Carroll University | University Heights, Ohio | Active |
| Epsilon Xi | | St. Norbert College | De Pere, Wisconsin | Active |
| Epsilon Omicron | | Drexel University | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Active |
| Epsilon Pi | | University of Montana | Missoula, Montana | Active |
| Epsilon Rho | | Roger Williams University | Bristol, Rhode Island | Active |
| Epsilon Sigma | | University of Memphis | Memphis, Tennessee | Active |
| Epsilon Tau | | CIMBA | Asola, Lombardy, Italy | Active |
| Epsilon Upsilon | | Oklahoma State University | Stillwater, Oklahoma | Active |
| Epsilon Phi | | Dallas Baptist University | Dallas, Texas | Active |
| Epsilon Chi | 2005 | Illinois Wesleyan University | Bloomington, Illinois | Active |
| Epsilon Psi | | Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education | Monterrey, Mexico | Active |
| Epsilon Omega | May 2004 | University of Nebraska at Kearney | Kearney, Nebraska | Active |
| Zeta Alpha | | Florida International University, Downtown Miami Center | Miami, Florida | Active |
| Zeta Beta | | High Point University | High Point, North Carolina | Active |
| Zeta Gamma | | Northern Illinois University | DeKalb, Illinois | Active |
| Zeta Delta | | College of William & Mary | Williamsburg, Virginia | Active |
| Zeta Epsilon | | Universidad Popular Autónoma del Estado de Puebla | Puebla, Mexico | Active |
| Zeta Zeta | April 2005 | Ramapo College | Mahwah, New Jersey | Active |
| Zeta Eta | | Florida Institute of Technology | Melbourne, Florida | Active |
| Zeta Theta | | University of Central Arkansas | Conway, Arkansas | Active |
| Zeta Iota | | St. Mary's University, Texas | San Antonio, Texas | Active |
| Zeta Kappa | | City University of Seattle | Bellevue, Washington | Active |
| Zeta Lambda | | Marist College | Poughkeepsie, New York | Active |
| Zeta Mu | | University of North Alabama | Florence, Alabama | Active |
| Zeta Nu | | Norfolk State University | Norfolk, Virginia | Active |
| Zeta Xi | | State University of New York at Cortland | Cortland, New York | Active |
| Zeta Omicron | | Petro Mohyla State University | Mykolayiv, Ukraine | Active |
| Zeta Pi | | Elmhurst University | Elmhurst, Illinois | Active |
| Zeta Rho | | Cabrini University | Radnor Township, Pennsylvania | Active |
| Zeta Sigma | | James Madison University | Harrisonburg, Virginia | Active |
| Zeta Tau | | Sonoma State University | Rohnert Park, California | Active |
| Zeta Upsilon | | Augustana College | Rock Island, Illinois | Active |
| Zeta Phi | | Northern Kentucky University | Highland Heights, Kentucky | Active |
| Zeta Chi | | Coastal Carolina University | Conway, South Carolina | Active |
| Zeta Psi | | Mississippi State University | Mississippi State, Mississippi | Active |
| Zeta Omega | | Kennesaw State University | Cobb County, Georgia | Active |
| Eta Alpha | | Cheyney University of Pennsylvania | Cheyney, Pennsylvania | Active |
| Eta Beta | | Bennett College | Greensboro, North Carolina | Active |
| Eta Gamma | | Murray State University | Murray, Kentucky | Active |
| Eta Delta | | University of North Carolina at Greensboro | Greensboro, North Carolina | Active |
| Eta Epsilon | | Western Illinois University | Macomb, Illinois | Active |
| Eta Zeta | | Emmanuel College | Boston, Massachusetts | Active |
| Eta Eta | | Angelo State University | San Angelo, Texas | Active |
| Eta Theta | | Lincoln University | Jefferson City, Missouri | Active |
| Eta Iota | | Fairfield University | Fairfield, Connecticut | Active |
| Eta Kappa | | University of Michigan–Flint | Flint, Michigan | Active |
| Eta Lambda | | College of Staten Island | Staten Island, New York | Active |
| Eta Mu | | Northwestern State University | Natchitoches, Louisiana | Active |
| Eta Nu | | Bridgewater State University | Bridgewater, Massachusetts | Active |
| Eta Xi | | Southeastern Louisiana University | Hammond, Louisiana | Active |
| Eta Omicron | | State University of New York at Oswego | Oswego, New York | Active |
| Eta Pi | | Makarere University Business School | Nakawa Division, Kampala, Uganda | Active |
| Eta Rho | | Austin College | Sherman, Texas | Active |
| Eta Sigma | | Eastern Michigan University | Ypsilanti, Michigan | Active |
| Eta Tau | | Butler University | Indianapolis, Indiana | Active |
| Eta Upsilon | | University of Texas at Tyler | Tyler, Texas | Active |
| Eta Phi | | Barry University | Miami Shores, Florida | Active |
| Eta Chi | | Queens University of Charlotte | Charlotte, North Carolina | Active |
| Eta Psi | | Argosy University | Sarasota, Florida | Inactive |
| Eta Omega | | Chestnut Hill College | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Active |
| Theta Beta | | Northern Michigan University | Marquette, Michigan | Active |
| Theta Gamma | | Tennessee Tech | Cookeville, Tennessee | Active |
| Theta Delta | | University of Massachusetts Lowell | Lowell, Massachusetts | Active |
| Theta Epsilon | April 5, 2016 | Shepherd University | Shepherdstown, West Virginia | Active |
| Theta Zeta | | Miami Dade College | Westview, Florida | Active |
| Theta Eta | | University of Evansville | Evansville, Indiana | Active |
| Theta Eta | | Wabash College | Crawfordsville, Indiana | Active |
| Theta Theta | | California State University, Bakersfield | Bakersfield, California | Active |
| Theta Iota | 2017 | College of Coastal Georgia | Brunswick, Georgia | Active |
| Theta Kappa | | Central Methodist University | Fayette, Missouri | Active |
| Theta Lambda | 2023 | Virginia Commonwealth University | Richmond, Virginia | Active |
| Theta Mu | 2023 | Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach | Daytona Beach, Florida | Active |
| Theta Nu | 2023 | Moravian University | Bethlehem, Pennsylvania | Active |
| Theta Xi | 2023 | West Chester University | West Chester, Pennsylvania | Active |
| Omega Omega | | Headquarters | San Bernardino, California | Active |
* ↑ The college closed in 2007.
* ↑ The college closed in 2018.

## Notable members

* Jaafar Aksikas, Professor of Cultural Studies and Media Studies at Columbia College Chicago
* Nilo Alcala (honorary), composer
* Mahamoud Adam Béchir (Beta Lambda, honorary), Chadian Ambassador to the United States and the Russian Federation
* Norman Borlaug, agronomist and Nobel Laureate
* Jerry Bradley, poet and university professor
* Horace Dawson (Beta Omicron, honorary), United States Ambassador to Botswana
* Larry Diamond, political scientist and sociologist
* Leonel Fernández (Gamma Sigma, honorary), President of the Dominican Republic
* Margarita Cedeño de Fernández Gamma Sigma, honorary), First Lady of the Dominican Republic
* Harriet Mayor Fulbright (Beta Eta, honorary), Executive Director of the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities
* J. William Fulbright, (Beta Eta, honorary), United States Senator and founder of the Fulbright Program
* Seymour Martin Lipset, sociologist
* Obiwu, writer and professor
* Colin Powell (Gamma Sigma, honorary), United States secretary of state and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
* Bill Richardson, Governor of New Mexico and U.S. ambassador to the United Nations
* Miranda Teboh-Ewungkem, mathematician
* Rachel Thomas, computer scientist
* Minoti Vaishnav, songwriter
* Daniel Asua Wubah, president of Millersville University of Pennsylvania