The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi will install its 364th chapter at Oregon Institute of Technology in Klamath Falls, Oregon, on Oct. 24. Founded in 1897 at the University of Maine, Phi Kappa Phi is the nation’s oldest and most selective all-discipline collegiate honor society recognizing academic excellence.

The installation of the Oregon Institute of Technology chapter comes after a thorough petitioning process, site visit and approval from the Society’s board of directors. To be eligible, an institution must be a regionally accredited four-year college or university with an established reputation of excellence and an expressed commitment to upholding the values of the Society.

“Congratulations to the outstanding students, faculty, and staff establishing the Oregon Institute of Technology chapter of Phi Kappa Phi. Your commitment to academic excellence, leadership, and service reflects the very core of our Society’s values. May this new chapter stand as a beacon of scholarship, integrity, and the pursuit of a better future for all,” said Society Executive Director Dr. Bradley R. Newcomer

Officers elected by the chartering group to serve the newly installed chapter include President Christopher J. Syrnyk, President-elect Christy VanRooyen, Secretary Mary-Jane Owen, and Treasurer Pake Melland.

Phi Kappa Phi was founded when Marcus L. Urann had a desire to create a different kind of honor society—one that recognized excellence in all academic disciplines. Today, the Society has chapters on more than 300 select campuses in the United States and its territories and inducts approximately 20,000 new members each year. Membership is by invitation only to the top 7.5 percent of juniors and the top 10 percent of seniors and graduate students, along with faculty, professional staff and alumni who have achieved scholarly distinction.

About Phi Kappa Phi

Founded in 1897 at the University of Maine, Phi Kappa Phi is the nation’s oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines. The Society’s mission is to “cultivate a community that celebrates and advances the love of learning.” Since its founding, more than 1.75 million members have been initiated. Some of the organization’s more notable members include former President Jimmy Carter, NASA astronaut Wendy Lawrence, novelist John Grisham and YouTube cofounder Chad Hurley. Each year, Phi Kappa Phi awards more than $1 million to qualifying students and members through graduate fellowships, undergraduate study abroad grants, member and chapter awards, and grants for local and national literacy initiatives. For more information about Phi Kappa Phi, visit www.PhiKappaPhi.org.

Media Contact

Alyssa Papa
Communications Director
apapa@phikappaphi.org
225-923-7777

Advancing Innovation in Sustainable Finance & Fixed Income

The Fixed Income Analysts Society (FIASI) in collaboration with Fordham University’s Center for Research in Contemporary Finance and the O’Shea Center for Credit Analysis and Investment are announcing the launch of the 6^th Annual FIASI-Gabelli School Student Research Competition.  This co-branded competition invites undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate students in the U.S. and overseas to submit their ongoing original research on the topic of investing and innovations in sustainable finance in fixed income or related markets¹.  The primary purpose of the competition is to raise awareness and highlight the importance of integrating relevant and material Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)-based factors into investment decisions in the fixed income markets as a research area, address challenges and opportunities associated with the deployment of new technologies and solutions to solve vital sustainability-related challenges faced by businesses, sovereigns, state, city and other local government entities, and to gain more visibility for and encourage conversations among students, academics, practitioners as well as other stakeholders. Where possible, research submissions should emphasize a link between research findings and their practical application(s) for business organizations, governmental entities and other stakeholders.  Although the primary focus of this competition is to encourage student research on sustainable finance in the fixed income markets, research papers in related markets but still relevant for fixed income will also be accepted.

In addition to recognizing a winning submission, the competition may also recognize one or more runner-up entries. In both cases, distinctions will be made between undergraduate and post-graduate submissions. Winning and runner up research papers will be eligible to receive monetary award grants of up to $5,000 and recognition at the full day FIASI Sustainable Finance in Fixed Income conference scheduled to be held on April 16, 2026 in NYC. Payments will be made directly to the recipients. These grants do not in any way preclude subsequent publication of the research in journals of the recipients’ choice. The recipients should agree to acknowledge this grant in all publications and presentations, and to present the research at a mutually convenient date following the FIASI conference. For reference, our 5^th Annual Research Competition fielded 21 research paper submissions.  In addition to the competition winner, there were also two runner ups last April, each receiving a monetary award. The first prize winner and runners-up presented their research papers at a virtual event hosted jointly by FIASI as well as Fordham and attended by students, academics as well as industry practitioners. For additional information, see https://www.fiasi.org.

We invite papers & applications from students pursuing Doctoral, Graduate, & Undergraduate programs in business & economics, and other sustainable finance-oriented programs throughout the world.  Examples of student submissions include PhD. dissertations, Masters theses, Undergraduate Honors program theses, or any similar research. Research papers co-authored between students and faculty are also welcome. Submissions from undergraduate and post-graduate students will be evaluated in separated pools and awards will be chosen independently from these pools. In case of co-authored papers, the student submitting the paper is expected to have a significant contribution to the paper.

All submissions should consist of the following:

• A cover page with title, names of authors, e-mail addresses and affiliation, including any past or present corporate affiliations;
• An abstract of up to 150 words;
• A research paper no longer than 60 pages in length; and
• A copy of (each) researcher’s resume.

A review committee will select the winners from the submitted research papers. In making its selections, the committee will seek input from colleagues at Fixed Income Analysts Society, Inc. (FIASI), the Gabelli School of Business finance area as well as other fixed income practitioners. The review committee will consist of members drawn from the academic community, the FIASI and the fixed income industry.

Research papers will be judged based on the originality and relevance of the research question as well as the qualitative and quantitative aspects of the research methodology.

Applicants should submit their proposals to Ms. Joanna Kondratowicz at jkondratowicz@fordham.edu by February 3, 2026. Decisions will be made prior to April 7, 2026.

The competition is co-funded by the Fixed Income Analysts Society and Fordham University’s Gabelli School of Business.

Additional questions or inquiries should be directed to Lauren Nauser, Executive Director, FIASI at nauser@fiasi.org.

A concise roadmap that helps students align their interests and talents with the job market.

New York, NY – October 1, 2025. Marianne Ruggiero, nationally recognized career strategist, is pleased to announce the publication of her new book, The Work Book: A Practical Guide to Launching Your Career, published by Quaderer Media Group.

Markets and economies may shift, but the structure of the working world remains constant. In The Work Book, Ruggiero draws on decades of HR leadership and career consulting experience to offer college students and recent graduates a clear, practical roadmap for navigating the transition from school to the workplace.

This guide equips readers with frameworks, decision-making tools, and real-world examples to help them:

• Understand how the job market is structured.
• Identify their best-fit career path.
• Align interests and talents with industries and job functions.
• Target a first job that sets them up for long-term success—not just a paycheck.

Key Features of The Work Book

• Four Career Paths Framework — Evaluate and choose between Linear, Expert, Spiral, and Transitory paths.
• Market Structure Insights — Explore public vs. private sectors, industry tiers, and organizational dynamics.
• Career Mapping Tools — Learn to identify opportunities across industries.
• Career Research Tactics — Use AI to focus a job search and target the right positions.

About the Author
Marianne Ruggiero is the founder of Optima Careers, where she has guided thousands of young adults toward purposeful, strategic work lives. Drawing from her experience leading HR at top firms and advising professionals across industries, Ruggiero helps individuals move from asking “What should I do with my work life?” to declaring “I know where I’m headed—and how to get there.”

The Work Book: A Practical Guide to Launching Your Career is available now through Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Ideal for college students, recent graduates, career centers, and anyone helpings other seeking clarity about their career pursuits.

Contact: Marianne Ruggiero | mcruggiero@optimacareers.com | 917.608.5744