Sherman, Texas -- The Austin College chapter of Phi Beta Kappa welcomed 23 new members during its induction ceremony, held Friday, April 12, 2024, in Wright Campus Center Mabee Hall. Phi Beta Kappa is the nation’s oldest and most prestigious undergraduate honors association. The Austin College chapter was founded in 2001.
In order to be considered, students must first meet specific academic requirements, including a minimum GPA of 3.65. According to the Phi Beta Kappa bylaws, qualified students are then assessed “on the basis of broad cultural interests, scholarly achievement, and good character,” with preference given to students who demonstrate “a spirit of intellectual adventure.” New members are elected by a vote of the chapter’s faculty and staff keyholders.
In addition to new student members, the Austin College chapter selected The Honorable Ronald Kirk ’76 as this year’s alumni member.
Dr. Lisha Storey, chapter president and director of the Scarbrough Writing Center, said, “Ron Kirk has, through his many years of distinguished service in multiple public and professional roles, demonstrated the values of intellectual curiosity and effective leadership held by Phi Beta Kappa.”
A native of Austin, Texas, Kirk served as the Texas Secretary of State from 1994 until 1995, when he was elected mayor of Dallas. He served Dallas from 1995 to 2002, and was the first person of color to hold either of those positions. Kirk was a partner at the Houston-based law firm Vinson & Elkins, and also worked as a lobbyist for Energy Future Holdings and Merrill Lynch. He was appointed as U.S. Trade Representative by President Barack Obama, and served from March 18, 2009, until January 22, 2013. He now is senior of counsel with Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, and also serves on the Austin College Board of Trustees.
Austin College, a private national liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas, has earned a reputation for excellence in academic preparation, pre-professional foundations, committed faculty, and hands-on, adventurous learning opportunities. One of 44 schools profiled in Loren Pope’s influential book Colleges That Change Lives, Austin College boasts a welcoming community that embraces diversity and individuality, with more than 50 percent of students identifying as persons of color. The residential student body of approximately 1,300 students and an expert faculty of more than 100 educators allow a 13:1 student-faculty ratio and personalized attention. Related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA), Austin College cultivates an inclusive atmosphere that supports students’ faith journeys regardless of religious tradition. The College, founded in 1849, is the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original name and charter.
