WMU professor elected senator of Phi Beta Kappa

KALAMAZOO, Mich. — Pablo Pastrana-Pérez, associate professor and chair of the Spanish Department at Western Michigan University, has been elected senator of Phi Beta Kappa, the nation’s oldest and most prestigious academic honor society.

“As the proud president of our Theta of Michigan chapter of Phi Beta Kappa at WMU, I am honored to serve on the society’s prestigious Senate,” Pastrana-Pérez said. “Together with other organizations, such as the National Humanities Alliance or the Modern Language Association, Phi Beta Kappa plays an important role in advocating for the value of the liberal arts and sciences in post-secondary education.”

Pastrana-Pérez also serves as a member of the Committee on Qualifications at the national level, which reviews applications from colleges and universities seeking to establish new chapters of Phi Beta Kappa.

“The PBK Senate is the executive body of the society, guiding its policy and future direction,” he said. “Since our founding in 1776, Phi Beta Kappa has celebrated excellence in the liberal arts and sciences and championed freedom of thought. As America’s oldest and most prestigious academic honor society, it advocates ardently for the value and benefits of liberal arts and sciences education. The committee considers how well the applicant institution’s academic environment and educational programs support the development of liberally educated students.”

The Senate, composed of 24 members nationwide, is responsible for guiding the society on policy matters and providing leadership. Every three years, 12 senators are elected for six-year terms.

“I have accepted a six-year commitment as a senator, and it gives me great satisfaction to know I can make a difference in educating our politicians, our school administrators, and the wider public about why the sciences, the social sciences, and the humanities ought to remain an integral part of the education of every human being,” Pastrana-Pérez said. “The Senate also has officers, including a president, vice president, treasurer, secretary, and associate secretary. The current secretary, Fred Lawrence, serves as the society’s chief executive officer.”

Founded on Dec. 5, 1776, Phi Beta Kappa advocates for education in the liberal arts and sciences, fosters freedom of thought, and recognizes academic excellence.

“As this society prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary, and in the face of big shifts in the landscape of higher education, with dwindling public support for languages and the humanities, Phi Beta Kappa stays the course, stressing the importance of freedom of inquiry, freedom of expression, and academic excellence,” Pastrana-Pérez said.

The organization includes members such as U.S. presidents, Supreme Court justices, and Nobel laureates. It has chapters at more than 290 colleges and universities in the United States, nearly 50 alumni associations, and over 700,000 members worldwide.

“On Jan. 27 and 28, our chapter will welcome Phi Beta Kappa scholar Geraldo Cadava of Northwestern University, who will be engaging our academic community and the wider public on the topic of immigration and the ‘crisis’ at the border,” Pastrana-Pérez said. “The visit is possible thanks to support from the departments of economics, history, political science, and Spanish, along with the Lee Honors College and the College of Arts and Sciences. It will be an excellent opportunity for everyone at WMU to embrace the motto of Phi Beta Kappa: ‘The love of learning is the guide of life.’”

Pastrana-Pérez, a scholar of Spanish medieval literature and historical linguistics, is an associate professor in the Department of Spanish at WMU.

For more WMU news, arts and events, visit WMU News online.