This year marks a double anniversary for the oldest and most prestigious honor society. Phi Beta Kappa (PBK) turns 250 years old in 2026 and counts among its members former presidents, inventors, Supreme Court justices, entrepreneurs, authors, activists and more.
At the University of Houston, PBK’s Mu of Texas Chapter celebrates 10 years of welcoming students and faculty into the society’s esteemed ranks. Recently, more than 100 Coogs became PBK members during an induction ceremony held on March 31 in UH’s Rockwell Pavilion.
Hosting the event was the chapter’s president, Albert Cheng, professor of computer science.
“We meet here today to admit a group of dedicated and accomplished students into Phi Beta Kappa in a ceremony with elements that date back to the founding of our nation,” he said to the 2026 inductees. “Our new inductees will join an organization whose members blaze trails in all walks of life.”
Among this year’s newest PBK members is UH Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Diane Z. Chase. Chase is already a member of a number of other academic honor societies and is grateful to be inducted as an honorary member.
“Being recognized by the University’s PBK chapter is a tremendous privilege,” she said. “We have so many outstanding students and faculty whose achievements have earned them a place in this exclusive society. I am proud to stand beside them as an honorary member of Phi Beta Kappa's Mu of Texas Chapter.”
Students inducted alongside Chase include Divya Valipe, a junior mathematics and public policy double major. She, too, appreciates joining this prestigious organization and said it helps her fully grasp how UH has supported her academic and professional growth. While PBK membership can certainly open the door to new opportunities, it also serves as a reminder of her accomplishments on campus.
“After I received the invitation to PBK, I truly realized how many valuable academic opportunities I've been able to participate in at UH, whether it be policy research, applied math projects or even insightful discussions in my Honors Data and Society classes,” she said. “PBK’s presence at UH is a testament to its commitment to promoting intellectual diversity and academic excellence, and I'm excited to join this community of people with a similar dedication.”
Fellow Coog Isabella Knoepfler concurs that PBK is indeed a community and provides members with a professional and scholarly network of peers. Knoeppfler, a senior political science major, will attend law school after graduating this spring.
“PBK’s connection to various notable alumni enables me to engage with a community that also values thoughtful inquiry and leadership, which are essential to the legal field,” she said.
Her membership in the honor society perfectly complements several leadership roles she has undertaken at UH, including serving as a Peer Assistant Leader.
“Through my leadership roles at UH, I have learned how to translate ideas into impact, grounding my work in my immediate community. PBK ties these experiences together by reflecting my core values—thinking critically and engaging with the world in a way that is both intellectually rigorous and socially responsible—as I pursue a career in law.”
Recent graduates also comprised the list of 2026 inductees. Fall 2025 graduate Grace Lewis enthusiastically accepted PBK membership and said it will advance her academic journey. She is currently a doctoral student at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.
“PBK complements my other honors by reflecting not only my work in psychology, including my thesis, but also my effort to engage broadly in my education,” Lewis said. “It represents a well-rounded academic foundation that I hope to continue building as I grow in the field.”
Since 2016, UH’s Mu of Texas Chapter has inducted 800 members into PBK. These UH members join the likes of former Presidents Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush; poet Maya Angelou; medical pioneer Jonas Salk; and two-time Super Bowl champion Peyton Manning, among many others.
Phi Beta Kappa has grown immensely since its humble beginnings in 1776 as a student society in Williamsburg, Virginia. PBK now has nearly 300 university chapters and more than 500,000 lifetime members worldwide.
“This year’s Phi Beta Kappa induction at the University of Houston was particularly
special. Not only does it mark PBK’s 250th anniversary and the 10th induction in our
chapter’s history, but we also welcomed both Provost Chase and 100 UH students as
new members of the Mu of Texas Chapter,” said Benjamin Rayder, assistant dean of Undergraduate
Research and Major Awards. “There is a perfect synergy here: through generous support
from the Provost’s Office, more UH students have been able to accept their invitation
to join the nation’s most prestigious and oldest honor society than ever before.”