Visiting Scholar Program

In 1956 the Society established the Visiting Scholar program to enable chapters to bring distinguished scholars to their campuses. Each year twelve or more scholars are invited to undertake a series of visits to Phi Beta Kappa institutions taking part in the program. The Visiting Scholar spends two days at each of the institutions he or she visits, participating in classroom lectures and seminars, meeting informally with faculty and student groups, and giving at least one address open to the entire academic community. Over the last 60 years, 649 Visiting Scholars have made 5,288 visits to Phi Beta Kappa sheltering institutions. Read more at the PBK organization website.

Past PBK Visiting Scholars at the University of Rochester have included:

  • Julian E. Zelizer, the Malcolm Stevenson Forbes, Class of 1941 Professor of History and Public Affairs at Princeton University and a CNN political analyst, presented a public lecture "Political Polarization and the Road to the Trump Presidency," co-sponsored by the Department of Political Science. (2019 visiting scholar) 
  • Bart D. Ehrman, James Gray Distinguished Professor of Religious Studies at UNC Chapel Hill presented a public talk, "Did the Early Christians Forget Jesus? Eyewitnesses, Oral Tradition and Distorted Memories," co-sponsored by the Department of Religion and Classics. (2017 visiting scholar)
  • William A. Wulf, University Professor and AT&T Professor of Engineering at the University of Virginia, and Immediate Past President of the National Academy of Engineering. His talk, co-sponsored by the Department of Computer Science, was entitled "Responsible Citizenship in a Technological Democracy." (2009 visiting scholar)
  • Rosanna Warren, Metcalf Professor of the Humanities at Boston University. Her public lecture, part of the Plutzik Reading Series, was a series of readings from her works. (2007 visiting scholar)
  • Ann Ellis Hanson, Professor of Classics at Yale University. Her public lecture was "Alternative Medicine in Greco-Roman Antiquity: The Role of Amulets." (2004 visiting scholar)
  • Phillip Gossett, the Robert W. Reneker Distinguished Service Professor in Music and the College, University of Chicago. (2003 visiting scholar)
  • Arlene W. Saxonhouse, Professor of Political Science, University of Michigan. (2002 visiting scholar)
  • Arend Lijphart, Research Professor Emeritus of Political Science, University of California at San Diego. (2001 visiting scholar)
  • Leroy Rouner, Professor of Philosophy, Religion and Philosophical Theology, Director of the Institute for Philosophy and Religion, Boston University. (1998 visiting scholar)

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