Phi Alpha Theta Honor Society

Students lined up at a venue for a Phi Alpha Theta event

Phi Alpha Theta, Phi Chi, is GW’s chapter of the National History Honor Society. The group brings together students, teachers and writers to promote learning and research. The GW chapter frequently organizes historical research trips and attends conferences to help students present their papers across the country.

If you are interested in joining the Phi Chi chapter, please review the national membership requirements, view the application, and send an email to the Secretary at [email protected].

Conferences

Joe Albanese, Kate White, and Sam Pfister hold up their awards from the 2017 Phi Alpha Theta Regional Conference.

In recent years, students have traveled to Albuquerque, New Mexico; Orlando, Florida; and New Orleans, Louisiana for national conferences and attended Mid-Atlantic Regional Conferences in the D.C.-Maryland-Virginia area. In 2014 the GW Phi Chi Chapter hosted the Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference at GW, to great acclaim. And in 2017, Phi Chi students brought home three of the four available awards at the regional conference in Baltimore.

Visit the News & Events page for upcoming conferences and related activities.

Past Conferences

2022 Regional: Catholic University
2021 Regional: Bowie State (held virtually due to COVID-19)
2020 Regional: Washington College (canceled due to COVID-19)
2020 National: San Antonio, Texas
2019 Regional: McDaniel College
2018 Regional: McDaniel College
2017 Regional: University of Baltimore
2016 National: Orlando, Florida
2016 Regional: Mount St. Mary's University
2014 Regional: GW

Conference Award Winners

2022 Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference

U.S. History Category, First Place: Justin McCulloch, “Dog Whistles and School Bells: The Religious Right and the Fight Against Black Power.”

2021 Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference

Third Place: Katie Davis, "La Malinche: Traitor of the Mexica or Mother of Mexico? The Evolution from Historical Figure to National Myth and Feminist Icon."

2016 Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference

Graduate Category, First Place: Andrea Marshall, “The Art of Manliness: Labor, Physicality and Masculinity in 19th-Century France as Seen Through the Works of Gustave Caillebotte.”

2014 Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference

Pre-1700 World Category, Runner-Up: Robin Pokorski, “’Some Comforting Words’: The Friendship of Elisabeth of Schonau and Hildegard of Bingen.”
Pre-1700 World Category, Honorable Mention: Katie LeValley, “‘Web of Allies’: Royal English Women in Medieval Predatory Kinship.”

Officers

President
Demetrius Apostolis

Vice President
Ana Mercado

Secretary
Sammie Reinstein

Treasurer
Evie Owens

Historian
Rory Hooper

Communications Director
Nadia Wachira

Director of Activities
Maddie Smith

Director of Community Engagement
Audrey Nell

Director of Philanthropy
Marielle Cornes

Faculty Advisor
Steven Brady

Charles Thomas Long Award

The Charles Thomas Long Award is given to a graduating senior in Phi Alpha Theta who is not on the Executive Board and shows outstanding commitment to the organization.