The California State University, Fresno chapter of the Phi Kappa Phi Honors Society will hold its annual initiation ceremony at 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 28, at the Satellite Student Union. Among those to be initiated is Fresno Mayor Ashley Swearengin, a Fresno State alumna.

Initiates include 211 graduate and undergraduate students who have distinguished themselves as scholars.

Swearengin is the chapter’s Alumni Honorary Initiates. Others recognized as honorary initiates are:

  • Honorary faculty initiates Dr. Honora Chapman (Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures), Dr. John Franz (Social Work Education) and Dr. Scott Moore (Communication).
  • Honorary staff initiate Paul DeRuosi, development director for Student Affairs and Fresno State’s scholarship director.
  • Honorary administrator initiate – Susan Gutkind, assistant athletics director for Student-Athlete Services.

Swearengin earned her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in business administration from Fresno State – graduating with honors. She was elected Fresno’s mayor in 2008. Swearengin is being recognized for her outstanding academic record, exceptional professional achievements and service to the community.

Founded in 1897 at the University of Maine, Phi Kappa Phi is the nation’s oldest, largest and most selective honor society for all academic disciplines. Its chapters are on more than 300 campuses in the United States, Puerto Rico and the Philippines. In 1953, Phi Kappa Phi Chapter 62 was installed at Fresno State, serving since as the university’s honor society, recognizing superior academic achievement by students in all academic fields.

For more information, contact Dr. Lynnette Zelezny, Fresno State Phi Kappa Phi chapter president, at 559.278.2482, or Denise Biggert, chapter secretary, at 559.278.5657.