Gerald Sherwin ’55, one of the College’s most active alumni and a marketing consultant, and Joe Brown ’66Gerald Sherwin '55, Interim Dean James J. Valentini and Joe Brown '66. PHOTO: REBECCA CASTILLO ’94, ’06J , a senior project consultant at Noviant Advanced Information Solutions, were honored at the annual Black Alumni Council Heritage Reception on February 21 at Columbia University Club of New York. Joining the celebration was Interim Dean and Vice President of Undergraduate Education James J. Valentini. Sherwin and Brown have mentored many alumni though the years and are credited with starting the club.

The event was co-sponsored by the Columbia Alumni Association and featured special honoree introductions by Judge Joseph A. Greenaway Jr. ’78 and Renan Pierre ’86, ’87E.

Columbia College initiated 22 seniors into Phi Beta Kappa, the national honor society, on Friday, February 17. The students were chosen by a faculty selection committee of Phi Beta Kappa members based on the breadth, depth and rigor of their academic programs, as well as recommendations from faculty members who have worked closely them.

Each year, 10 percent of the Columbia College graduating class is elected to membership in Phi Beta Kappa. Two percent (Junior Phi Beta Kappa) is elected in November and the remaining eight percent is elected in the spring. The students honored on Friday represent the Junior Phi Beta Kappa. 

The students and their guests were welcomed by Hazel May, Senior Associate Dean of Academic Affairs. Dean of Columbia College James J. Valentini spoke and the Phi Beta Kappa address was given by Associate Professor of English Marcellus Blount.

Phi Beta Kappa celebrates and advocates excellence in the liberal arts and sciences. Members receive a distinctive gold key, which symbolizes the core principles of Phi Beta Kappa – freedom of inquiry and liberty of thought and expression.

The Class of 2012 Junior Phi Beta Kappa members are:

Alexander Bedrosyan
David Berke
Zachary Brill
Stephen Chan
Megan Fauci
Alexander Frouman
Mario Gabriele
Matt Getz
Amin Ghadimi
Alexa Goldson
Jonathan Huggins
Kazunari Inoki
Joon Ho Kang 
Ashley Kummerlowe
Sheldon Kwok
Zachary Levine
Elizabeth Munroe
Erik Nook
Tara Pesce
Anthony Testa
Anoushka Vaswani
Qiurui Wang