ISSUED: 2 April 2026
MEDIA CONTACT: Hans Fogle

SHEPHERDSTOWN, WV - Shepherd University welcomed members of Phi Alpha Theta, a national history honor society for history students and scholars, for the group's Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference on Saturday, March 28.

Hosted at the Robert C. Byrd Center for Congressional History and Education, the one-day event brought together undergraduate and graduate students from six colleges and universities across the region to present original historical research and participate in panel discussions.

Shepherd's Pi Epsilon chapter of Phi Alpha Theta organized the event, according to Shepherd University Professor of History and faculty advisor to the chapter, Dr. David B. Gordon.

Gordon said the meeting was a great way to highlight Shepherd.

"The space matched the size of the conference and its historical focus very nicely," Gordon said. "It's good to hold a conference like this at Shepherd, both to introduce students from other schools in the region to Shepherd and to introduce students from Shepherd to the larger region in which we live."

The annual event provided a platform for undergraduate and graduate history students to present original research, receive faculty feedback, and network with peers in a professional setting.

Phi Alpha Theta is an international honor society dedicated to the study of history. With more than 900 chapters nationwide, the organization promotes historical scholarship through research, teaching, publication, and the exchange of ideas. Membership reflects high academic achievement and a demonstrated commitment to historical inquiry.

Events such as this regional meeting support that mission by giving students a professional forum to present their work and engage in dialogue about historical research and interpretation.

For more information about Shepherd University's Department of English, History, and Modern Languages, visit shepherd.edu/ehml.

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