Sharhonda Rush, MBA, MPP, optimization consulting manager at BlackLine, has been named president of The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi—the nation’s oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines.
Rush’s role as president follows her two-year term as president-elect, which came to a close at the Society’s 2024 Biennial Convention, held virtually Aug.1-2.
As president of The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi for the 2024-2026 biennium, Rush will work with the Society’s board of directors and executive leadership team to develop and implement a new strategic and fundraising plan for the Society and further enhance governance and strategic oversight.
The first African American president of Phi Kappa Phi and the first president who works outside of academia, Rush was initiated into Phi Kappa Phi as a graduate student by the Jacksonville University chapter in 2016. Wanting to make a difference and eager to drive change, she became involved at the national level in 2020 when she was elected as a director on the 2020-2022 Society Board of Directors and chaired the Finance and Budget Committee. During the 2022-2024 biennium as Society president-elect, she continued as chair of the Finance and Budget Committee and served as an ex-officio member on all other standing committees.
Rush earned both a master’s in public policy and an MBA at Jacksonville University and a BSA in accounting from Christopher Newport University. Rush is a certified public accountant. Throughout her finance and accounting career, Rush has gained extensive experience in strategic thinking, collaborating with others, and implementing innovative solutions. In her role at BlackLine, she works with finance and accounting professionals to optimize processes and enhance efficiencies through the strategic use of technology.
A proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., Rush is actively involved in various community-based sorority initiatives. She has volunteered as a “Big” with Big Brothers Big Sisters and with JTA Cares programs, serving homeless individuals and families transitioning from homelessness. Rush serves as a board member for the Jacksonville University Black Alumni and the North Florida UNCF Leadership Council and is a member of the National Association of Black Accountants, where she provides mentoring to college students majoring in accounting.
“I am so excited for all that we will do together in the coming years,” Rush said during her closing remarks at the 2024 Pih Kappa Phi Biennial Convention. “I deeply value the vibrant connection that Phi Kappa Phi has with our campus chapters. Together, we form a powerful network of scholars and leaders. I am committed to nurturing and strengthening those bonds, ensuring that we not only sustain, but also elevate, our collective impact,” said Rush.
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. Faculty, professional staff, and alumni who have achieved scholarly distinction 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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