Lora Becker, Ph.D., professor of psychology and director of the neuroscience program at the University of Evansville, will serve as past president of The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi—the nation’s oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines—for the 2024-2026 biennium.
Becker’s new role follows her two-year term as president, which came to a close at the Society’s 2024 Biennial Convention, held virtually Aug.1-2.
Under her direction, Phi Kappa Phi saw a successful 2022-2024 biennium that included the distribution of more than $2 million in awards, induction of nearly 40,000 new members, installation of five new chapters, rollout of a new membership management system, and launch of a new strategic and fundraising plan for the Society.
“Lora’s wisdom and guidance were invaluable as our organization emerged from a global pandemic and undertook changes to better serve our chapters and members,” said incoming Society President Sharhonda Rush during her closing remarks at the 2024 Phi Kappa Phi Biennial Convention. “I’m glad that Lora will remain on our board as past president, where she’ll continue to serve as a valuable advisor to me and everyone on Phi Kappa Phi’s national board of directors.”
“As I transition out of the role of Society president, I’m struck by the talent, professionalism, and thoughtfulness expressed by our board of directors this past biennium,” Becker said. “I am confident in the leadership of our new president, Sharhonda Rush, along with the amazing and dedicated staff at the Phi Kappa Phi national office, to carry us into the future. I have learned so much over my 10 years of service to Phi Kappa Phi.”
Becker has been active in the Society since 2014 at the local, regional, and national levels. She has held a number of roles within the University of Evansville chapter of Phi Kappa Phi, including president, a position she assumed in 2015. Becker was also chair of the 2016 biennial convention credentials committee and served as chair of the national bylaws committee for the 2016-2018 biennium. During the 2020-22 biennium Becker served as the convention planning committee co-chair, budget and program review committee chair, chair of the executive director search committee, and a finance and budget committee member.
Becker received her B.S. in biology and psychology from Wright State University. She earned an M.A. in psychobiology from State University of New York at Binghamton where she also received her Ph.D. in behavioral neuroscience. Becker’s primary research activity seeks to understand human and animal emotions, and she has conducted behavioral neuroscience research with undergraduate students for more than 20 years.
About Phi Kappa Phi
Founded in 1897, Phi Kappa Phi is the nation’s oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines. Phi Kappa Phi inducts approximately 20,000 students, faculty, professional staff, and alumni annually. The Society has chapters on more than 300 select colleges and universities in the United States, its territories, and the Philippines. Membership is by invitation only to the top 10 percent of seniors and graduate students and 7.5 percent of juniors. In special cases, students with an exceptional GPA, and faculty, professional staff, and alumni who achieve scholarly distinction may also qualify. The Society’s mission is to “cultivate a community that celebrates and advances the love of learning.” For more information, visit www.PhiKappaPhi.org.
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