The Phi Beta Kappa Society Elects New President and Vice President at 45^th Triennial Council

WASHINGTON, DC, August 3, 2018 — The Phi Beta Kappa Society announces the election of Lynn Pasquerella, President of the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U), as President of the Society. Peter Quimby, Head of School at the Governor’s Academy in Byfield, Massachusetts was elected as Vice President. Both positions are for a three-year term from 2018-2021. The election took place August 3 at the Society’s 45th Triennial Council in Boston, Massachusetts.

The Triennial Council is the legislative body of the Phi Beta Kappa Society, the nation’s most prestigious academic honor society, founded in 1776. The Council convenes every three years to carry out the business of the Society.

Frederick M. Lawrence, Secretary and CEO of the Society, praised the election of Pasquerella and Quimby. “Both Lynn and Peter have distinguished records of service to Phi Beta Kappa,” said Lawrence. “We look forward to working with them as they bring their experience and vision to the leadership of the Society.”

President Lynn Pasquerella
Inducted into Phi Beta Kappa at Mount Holyoke College, Lynn Pasquerella received her Ph.D. at Brown University. She has served Phi Beta Kappa in a variety of roles at the local and national levels, as the University of Rhode Island Chapter Vice President (1994–1996) and President (1996–1998), as a member of the Committee on Qualifications (2004–2018), and as a Phi Beta Kappa Senator (2009–2018). Most recently, she served as Vice President of the Society (2016–2018).
As a Phi Beta Kappa Senator, Pasquerella has dedicated herself wherever needed, performing exemplary service to the organization as a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Executive Committee (2012–2018), the Lebowitz Prize Committee (2013–2018), the Phi Beta Kappa Investment Committee (2016–2018), and as Chair of the Phi Beta Kappa Foundation (2016–2018).

Pasquerella began her career as an ethics professor at the University of Rhode Island in 1985, where she also served as the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Graduate School (2006–2008). She was Provost at the University of Hartford (2008–2010) and President of her alma mater Mount Holyoke College (2010–2016), prior to assuming her current position as President of the AAC&U. Pasquerella is a member of the board of the National Humanities Alliance and the Lingnan Foundation, as well as an advisory board member of the Newman’s Own Foundation, the Wye seminars of the Aspen Institute, and the National Institute for Learning Outcomes Assessment. She is also the host of Northeast Public Radio’s The Academic Minute. She has written extensively on medical ethics, metaphysics, public policy, and the philosophy of law.

“Phi Beta Kappa’s mission to recognize intellectual rigor and academic excellence, and advocate for the liberal arts and sciences, is more critical than ever. I am thrilled to be assuming the presidency of an organization that has championed the liberal arts and sciences, and freedom of inquiry and expression, for over 240 years,” stated Pasquerella. “I look forward to working with Phi Beta Kappa’s staff and the Senate to ensure that this mission is upheld on the campuses and in the communities of each of our chapters and associations.”

Vice President Peter Quimby
Peter Quimby, Head of School at The Governor’s Academy in Byfield, Massachusetts, earned his B.A. at Bowdoin College and received his Ph.D. at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. Since then, he has served in several ΦBK chapters, including as Secretary of Alpha of Wisconsin (UW-Madison) (1998–2000), an active member of Alpha of Connecticut (Yale University) (2001–2005), and Secretary of Beta of New Jersey (Princeton University) (2006–2011). At the national level, he was on the Committee on Qualifications (2009–2012) and the Phi Beta Kappa Senate (2012–2018), where he also served as Chair of the ΦBK Awards Committee (2012–2018) and on the Senate Executive Committee (2015–2018).

Quimby was previously the Assistant Dean of the University of Wisconsin-Madison (1998–2000), the Dean of Davenport College at Yale University (2001–2005), the Associate Dean of the College at Princeton University (2005–2008) and later the Deputy Dean of the College (2008–2011). He has served as the Head of School at the Governor’s Academy since 2011.

Quimby stated, "Serving the mission of the Phi Beta Kappa Society has been a privilege and I am honored to be assuming new leadership responsibilities as vice president. The Society's efforts to promote academic excellence and advocate for the liberal arts and sciences are vital to the future of our democracy, and I look forward to working with Secretary Lawrence, President Pasquerella, and the Society's staff and Senate to advance these efforts in the coming years."