Executive Leadership
Lora Becker, Society president, is a professor of psychology and the director of the neuroscience program at the University of Evansville.
President of The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi for the 2022-2024 biennium, Becker has been active in the Society since 2014 at the local, regional and national levels. She has held a number of roles within the University of Evansville chapter of Phi Kappa Phi, including president, a position she assumed in 2015. Becker was also chair of the 2016 biennial convention credentials committee and served as chair of the national bylaws committee for the 2016-2018 biennium. During the 2020-22 biennium Becker served as the convention planning committee co-chair, budget and program review committee chair, chair of the executive director search committee and a finance and budget committee member.
Becker received her B.S in biology and psychology from Wright State University. She earned her M.A. in psychobiology from State University of New York at Binghamton where she also received her Ph.D. in behavioral neuroscience. Becker’s primary research activity seeks to understand human and animal emotions, and she has conducted behavioral neuroscience research with undergraduate students for more than 20 years.
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Bradley Newcomer assumed stewardship of The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi in January 2022 as its 12th executive director. He was initiated into the Society at the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2012.
Newcomer previously served at James Madison University where he directed the process of establishing the Honors College. Under his leadership, the College’s enrollment grew almost 60 percent and was recognized by the Fulbright Program as a Top Producer of Fulbright U.S. Students for consecutive years.
Prior to his time at JMU, Newcomer served at UAB in a variety of positions.
As executive director and CEO, Newcomer works with the Society’s board of directors to develop a strategic plan for Phi Kappa Phi that supports its mission “to recognize and promote academic excellence in all fields of higher education and to engage the community of scholars in service to others.” He also oversees the day-to-day operations of the Phi Kappa Phi national office and participates in field activities such as campus visits and chapter installations.
Newcomer earned a bachelor of science in physics from Juniata College, a master of physics and Ph.D. in biomedical sciences from Wright State University and a master of business administration from UAB.
To request Dr. Newcomer as a speaker at your event, please complete this form.
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