Beverly Evans, professor of French and Western humanities.
For two decades, SUNY Geneseo students have been recognized for their high academic achievement in French by being invited for membership in the Mu Iota chapter of Pi Delta Phi, the National French Honor Society for undergraduate and graduate students. And this year, inductees had even more to celebrate as they joined current and past members, faculty and staff in recognizing the program’s 20th anniversary.
Founded as a departmental honor society at the University of California at Berkeley in 1906, Pi Delta Phi is one of the nation’s oldest discipline-specific organizations. Recognizing outstanding scholarship in the French and Francophone studies, the society has 399 chapters across the country and at The American University of Paris.
SUNY Geneseo also serves as Pi Delta Phi’s national office under the guidance and mentorship of Beverly Evans, professor of French and Western humanities, and executive director of the society.“This celebration is a very significant milestone for Geneseo’s chapter,” said Evans. “And the credit goes to our members, who over the course of two decades, have worked very hard at not only increasing their knowledge of the French-speaking world but have been equally passionate about sharing their observations and expertise with the campus community. This has run the gamut from presenting innovative research at national conferences or at GREAT Day to organizing the annual National French Week activities and programs. We certainly could not have sustained this level of engagement without the support of our amazing students.”
(Image of Beverly Evans with 2018 Mu Iota inductees. Photo provided.)
“It is so important for students to use their free time in ways that suit their interests and hobbies,“ said French and international relations double major Maryn Chmielewski ‘20. “Being part of a foreign language honor society encourages you to do your best in the classroom but being among peers also helps remind you that you are not alone in your passion for that language.”
For Evans, who has been executive director of Pi Delta Phi since 2011, being a leader in this prestigious organization allows her to give back to the discipline and it provides an opportunity for her to ensure that SUNY Geneseo is associated with the nation’s top French language and Francophone literature programs.
“The concept of service is very important to me,” said Evans. “I take my role as mentor and advisor very seriously, offering guidance not only to Geneseo students but also to Pi Delta Phi chapter members across the country. Service is something that is an integral part of the Geneseo culture and key to the mission of the society — it’s a perfect fit. And by serving at the national level, I get plenty of opportunities to talk about Geneseo’s great students and excellent academic reputation!”
Another benefit of being a member of Pi Delta Phi is the range of opportunities the society offers students, particularly in study abroad experiences. It offers three highly-competitive undergraduate scholarships for summer study abroad, which Geneseo students have won twice in the past decade.
Robert Briwa ’13, who received a scholarship in 2012, attended the Institute for American Universities in Aix-en-Provence, where he honed his French language skills and pursued research opportunities in “a wonderful university town, which was rewarding in its own right,” he said. For Briwa, the most important part of the experience was the impact it has had on his career path.
“Taking classical archaeology and Provençal literature courses at I.A.U. shaped the path of my graduate work in the Geography Department at Kansas State University,” said Briwa. “It helped me develop my analysis and provided a base that I used to explore the source materials of my research.”
Now a doctoral student in historical geography at Montana State University's Department of Earth Sciences, Briwa says that he’s since used his study abroad experience and research as a basis for lecture materials, conference presentations and papers. “I’ve even revised it for my first peer-reviewed publication.” Briwa, who aims to teach at the college level says the opportunities that Pi Delta Phi provided to him as an undergraduate were “critical” in launching his professional career.
In The Coming Decade
As Evans looks forward to the Mu Iota’s third decade, she hopes to continue to serve in a leadership position with Pi Delta Phi.
“Ensuring that our students continue to have these kinds of global experiences is so important — not only for Geneseo but for our country,” said Evans. “We need people who are culturally competent and who value diversity in their work and in their daily life. What we do at Geneseo and through Mu Iota can help ensure that our global learners become global leaders.”
Mu Iota inductee requirements:
- Successful completion of at least one semester of upper-division French
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A minimum GPA of 3.0 in French
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A minimum GPA of 3.0 overall
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Rank in upper 35% of class
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Sophomore standing or higher
Questions? Contact Professor Evans at (585) 245-5247 or evans@geneseo.edu
(Image of Beverly Evans with 2018 Mu Iota inductees. Photo provided.)