Lawrence University recently celebrated the induction of 27 students into the university’s newest honor society chapter: Phi Alpha Theta.
Phi Alpha Theta is a national honor society for university students in the study of history. Lawrence’s chapter is Alpha Ro Mu.
Students and faculty participated in a thorough application process, including a review of the history department’s courses and a petition from students. Brigid Vance, associate professor of history, said she saw an opportunity to give students a rewarding experience beyond the classroom.
“It’s an opportunity to publicly share your work,” she said. “There are students who have exciting research that they’re doing, and one of the things that I think can feel frustrating is not having an audience. One of my goals is to remind students that they are historians already—that they have something to share.”
Students took part in the inaugural history honor society induction ceremony in Warch Campus Center.
Cal Jett, a history and Spanish double major from San Marino, California, was among the students inducted on May 28.
“It allows students to engage in historical academia on a larger scale,” he said.
Added Octavia Chudnow, a history and music performance (voice) dual degree senior from Fountain Hills, Arizona: “It’s a good professional opportunity for historians to get their work out and to meet other historians.
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The Alpha Ro Mu chapter of Phi Alpha Theta was made possible by generous alumni-funded grants: the Brayton Fund for Excellence in History and the Chaney Fund for Excellence in History. Via these funds, the charter fee was covered, and Lawrentians who were elected to the honor society had their lifetime membership fees paid for.
“Being able to attend the conferences and having your article read by other people is really cool, and I hope people take advantage of that,” said inductee Victoria Lopez, a senior history major from Houston, Texas.
To be inducted, students must have taken four courses in history, maintain at least a 3.1 grade point average in history courses, and maintain a 3.0 overall GPA. With more than 400,000 members and 970 chapters across the United States, Phi Alpha Theta creates a vast network of students and professors working together in pursuit of good research and intellectual exchange. Phi Alpha Theta sponsors journals for students to publish their research and holds conferences where they can practice presenting in front of their peers.
Vance is excited for what students will do with this new opportunity.
“Inducting is just the beginning,” she said. “Why shouldn’t we try to get really creative? That’s the point—professionalization, and connecting with other people, and realizing, ‘I can do this.’”
Alpha Ro Mu’s inductees were recognized at the 2025 Honors Convocation, and those who are graduating received a special set of cords to wear during Commencement.
