National honor society elects Dr. Maria Palaiologou as president

She will oversee Region VII of Alpha Chi National College Honor Society

By California State University, Bakersfield

April 8^th, 2022

A California State University, Bakersfield faculty member has been elected to help lead a national honor society.

Dr. Maria Palaiologou — philosophy lecturer, CSUB student ombudsperson and assistant director of the Helen Hawk Honors Program — was elected last month to a two-year term as president of Region VII of the Alpha Chi National College Honor Society.

The region covers the western part of the country and consists of 15 college and university chapters, including CSUB, which inducts around 150 students into the society every year.

“It is such an amazing honor to be a member of this prestigious society and to serve as the president of Region VII. It’s a great organization to be a member of,” she said. “I can’t wait to start working with the chapters in my region.”

Alpha Chi was founded in 1922 to recognize and promote academic excellence among college and university students. The society provides service and leadership opportunities, lectures, workshops, scholarships, fellowships and more.

The society inducts around 10,000 junior, senior and graduate students across 300 chapters. Only students who place in the top 10% of their class are accepted by Alpha Chi.

Ex-Region VII President Dr. Marshall Johnston is looking forward to helping Dr. Palaiologou transition to the new position and said she is well-prepared for the role.

“Dr. Palaiologou has quickly learned about our society and, I believe, correctly discerned her call to leadership within it,” he said. “We are very pleased to welcome her in the revered tradition of Bakersfield advisors in Alpha Chi leadership.”

Dr. Palaiologou said some of her primary goals as president are to bring more students into the society and to increase the number of college and university partners in Region VII.

“I’m excited to see what kind of new creative opportunities we can engage in at each institution to promote the fundamental principles of truth and character that Alpha Chi stands for,” she said. “Cultivating these principles will prepare our students to become meaningful global citizens domestically and internationally.”

Prior to her appointment as president, Dr. Palaiologou served as an adviser delegate for Alpha Chi. When she found out that she was being nominated, she said she was surprised but also elated.

Dr. Debra Jackson, associate vice president for academic affairs and dean of academic programs at CSUB, said the nomination was well deserved.

“Dr. Palaiologou is one of CSUB’s great champions of student success. I am confident that she will bring her infectious energy and enthusiasm to her work as the next President of Alpha Chi’s Region VII, and that her appointment will shine a light on the excellent faculty and students of CSUB’s Helen Louise Hawk Honors program.”