5 Tips for Finding an Initiation Speaker

Are you looking for a faculty member to serve as the guest speaker at your initiation ceremony? Here are five tips to help you enlist a fantastic speaker.

1. Draw on insights from your executive committee members regarding recommendations of their faculty colleagues who engage in fascinating research
2. Review lecture series listings on your campus website to identify names of possible speakers
3. Look for faculty who have recently published a book (your campus communications website or social media pages may have some examples)
4. Ask students about faculty who have taught unique types of classes or review the course schedule 
5. Locate faculty who have garnered a special teaching or research award; checking out recently-published press releases can help in that endeavor.

The tips above were contributed by Brett Ranon Nachman. Nachman is a student vice president at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the graduate student representative for the Society’s 2018-2020 board of directors.

Chat with Your Divisional Vice President 

The Divisional Vice Presidents serve as liaisons between chapter officers of Phi Kappa Phi and the Society’s Board of Directors. DVPs share their ideas and experiences through a variety of methods from phone calls or video chats to campus visits. They also meet twice a year as members of the Chapter Development Committee to discuss Society business and review chapter progress. To learn more about the DVPs, click here. 

DVPs can also serve as speakers for your initiation ceremony. An ideal occasion to consider a Society representative is a milestone chapter anniversary. If you are interested in inviting your DVP to speak, you can find the appropriate person here.  The national office will attempt to accommodate all requests but cannot guarantee each request will be granted. There is no fee associated with hosting a Society representative at a speaking engagement. The chapter is encouraged to provide speaker travel expense assistance when possible.

Also consider acknowledging invited speakers by honoring them with a special membership to your chapter. For more information about granting honorary or distinguished memberships, click here.

In addition to these tips, consider inviting the Phi Kappa Phi Scholar, Artist or Distinguished Service recipient to be a speaker.

Got news?

Share your chapter news and events with Michelle Lowery, Chapter Development Director, for possible inclusion in future chapter updates or social media. Pictures are encouraged!

Photo provided by Jonathan Kotinek – Division I Vice President Jonathan Kotinek addresses attendees at a Texas A&M University initiation ceremony.