The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi inducted Robert W. Adler, immediately past dean of the S.J.Quinney College of Law, as a member earlier this month.
Phi Kappa Phi is a national honor society established to recognize and promote academic excellence in all fields of higher education and to engage the community of scholars in service to others. It distinguishes it from Phi Beta Kappa, the oldest honor society, which requires its inductees to have majored in the liberal arts and sciences. Phi Kappa Phi membership is by invitation only. Those eligible for invitation must be in the top 7.5 percent of second-semester university juniors and the top 10 percent of seniors and graduate students. In addition, faculty, professional staff and alumni who have achieved scholarly distinction are also eligible to be nominated for membership.
Dean Adler qualified for selection based on being a member of the faculty, an associate dean and the dean, said Reyes Aguilar, an associate dean at the law school who also serves as president of the U’s chapter of Phi Kappa Phi.
“Dean Adler’s induction into Phi Kappa Phi was in recognition of his excellence in scholarship, teaching, service to the community, and his long term and many leadership roles in the law school,” said Associate Dean Aguilar. “Dean Adler’s scholarship and teaching are widely recognized as being top rate and his pro bono work serves as great example to students and new lawyers of what an attorney’s dedication to the law and society should be. Finally, Dean Adler’s answers to the calls of taking on leadership roles demonstrates his dedication to the College of Law at times of transition. Most notably during our centennial, construction of the new building, navigating the challenges of the Great Recession, and the dedication of the new building,” Associate Dean Aguilar added.
Dean Adler received a parting gift from the law school’s Board of Trustees with an endowed Dean’s scholarship. The Board of Trustees members donated over $20,000 in honor of Dean Adler to bring the Dean’s Scholarship Fund to above the U’s minimum endowment level. Dean Adler was honored with the news of the donation at his last Board of Trustees meeting by the board’s president David Leta; president-elect Christina Jepson and past-president Michele Ballantyne. He received a certificate of appreciation and a “golden shoe” to commemorate his efforts to raise money for scholarships as part of the law school’s 100/100 initiative.