Coastal Georgia’s Lynch Wins National Phi Beta Delta Award for Leadership

The Phi Beta Delta Honor Society for international scholars recently presented its 2019 Edward S. Blankenship Outstanding Staff Award to Dr. James Lynch, interim director of international education and director of institutional effectiveness at the College of Coastal Georgia. Lynch was recognized for his leadership and work with the Theta Iota Chapter of Phi Beta Delta at the College. Lynch was one of the founding members of the Theta Iota Chapter in 2017.

The Blankenship Outstanding Award honors outstanding leadership and support of the development and activities of a local Phi Beta Delta chapter. As an active member of the Theta Iota Chapter, Lynch has been instrumental in maintaining a high level of continuing support and involvement from Coastal Georgia faculty, staff, and students.

“The awards committee was very impressed with Dr. Lynch’s credentials and commitment to international education,” noted Phi Beta Delta Director of Awards Dr. Guillermo de los Reyes. “We encourage him to continue down this path and applaud his stellar career as a professional, which shows his strong efforts to promote excellence in global education.”

With a dedicated member corps and excellent faculty leadership, including current Chapter President and Professor of History Patrizia Stahle and Chapter Coordinator and Associate Professor of Speech Communication Tyler Bagwell, the Theta Iota Chapter was recognized with the Eileen Evans Outstanding Chapter Award in 2018. The award honors the chapter that has “demonstrated outstanding service to the Phi Beta Delta Honor Society, significant chapter growth and development, and exemplary programming to promote international education.”

Since its founding, the Theta Iota Chapter has inducted 44 members and plans to hold its 2019 induction ceremony in November during International Education Week [IEW], as well as sponsoring several programs to celebrate the benefits of international education and exchange worldwide. Students who demonstrate academic excellence, completed a study abroad program, and participated in international educational activities are nominated for membership in the chapter; while faculty and staff are recognized for their demonstrated interest and involvement in international scholarly activities, including publications in international journals, presentations in international forums, and research involving an international dimension.

Phi Beta Delta, first established at California State University at Long Beach in 1986, was charted in 1987 with 38 founding chapters. It is the first national honor society dedicated to recognizing scholarship achievement in international education. Phi Beta Delta’s purpose is to address the need on campus for recognition and visibility of the international experience and to serve as a vehicle for the development of academically based international programming. It provides a network on campus for faculty, staff, and students involved in international endeavors and extends this network to thousands of members in chapters across the nation and internationally.