Political Science and Economics Students Inducted into Honor Society

Political Science and Economics Honors Induction

Posted by: Elizabeth Richardson on May 4, 2026, No Comments

On April 23, East Stroudsburg University’s Department of Political Science and Economics held the joint induction ceremony for the Iota Chi Chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha (National Political Science Honor Society) and Omicron Delta Epsilon (International Honor Society of Economics). William J. Hagan `09, attorney at Wollmuth Maher & Deutsch LLP, made the keynote address. In the speech, Hagan shared memories about ESU and highlighted the importance of personal relationships that students can cultivate with peers and faculty members. Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Margaret Ball, D.M.A. and Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences Nieves Grunerio-Roadcap also delivered remarks during the ceremony.

The ceremony recognized the academic achievements of the most outstanding students studying political science and economics. The membership criteria for the Iota Chi Chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha for undergraduate students is completion of a minimum of 12 credits in political science, an overall GPA of 3.0 or better, and a major GPA of 3.5 or better. Graduate students enrolled in degree programs of political science must have an overall GPA of 3.5 or better. The membership criteria for Omicron Delta Epsilon for undergraduate students is completion of a minimum of 12 credits in economics, an overall GPA of 3.0 or better, and a major GPA of 3.0 or better.

A total of 15 students studying political science were inducted for the Iota Chi Chapter of the Pi Sigma Alpha: Brian Akonu, Kyle Brennan, DeSean Chin, Benjamin Coyle, Parker Flamisch, Jessica Hall, Brock Harris, Rebecca Kirchgessner, John Lemon, Faith McLean, Colby Mitchell, Daniel Rossi, Yuri Santiago, James Sockman, and Piotr Sulewski.

There was one new member inducted to Omicron Delta Epsilon: Jayla Reinert.

In addition to induction into the honor societies, the department also recognized scholarship recipients. Kwanza Smith was awarded the Dr. Anthony Gaglione Memorial Endowed Scholarship; Ethan Davis was awarded the Joseph J. McGee Memorial Endowed Scholarship; Varsha Sangeetha Vijayanand was awarded the Anna Quainoo International Student Annual Scholarship; Leslie Heredia received the Roger DeLarco ’80 Economic Research Endowed Award; Daylan Ashley was awarded the Constantinos Christofides Economics Annual Scholarship; and Kelsey Prospero was awarded the Kenneth and Charlotte Starner Endowed Scholarship.

Photos from the ceremony can be found on ESU’s Flickr album.

For more information about Iota Chi Chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha contact Ko Mishima, Ph.D., professor of political science at (570) 422-3248 or email kmishima@esu.edu.   For more information about Omicron Delta Epsilon, contact Pattabiraman Neelakantan, Ph.D., professor of economics at (570) 422-3002 or email pats@esu.edu.