Pi Gamma Mu is the oldest and preeminent honor society in the social sciences. Our mission is to encourage and recognize scholarship in social science disciplines and to foster cooperation and social service among its members. Pi Gamma Mu serves social science disciplines which seek to understand and explain human behavior, social relationships, and their related problems and issues. Currently, there are around 150 active chapters in the United States and overseas.
Benefits of membership include: The opportunity to publish scholarly work in International Social Science Review; access to potential scholarships and leadership opportunities; and the possibility of an increased entry-level salary if pursuing federal employment (GS-7 level positions).
Pi Gamma Mu's constitution defines the social sciences to include the disciplines of history, political science, sociology, anthropology, economics, psychology, international relations, criminal justice, social work, social philosophy, history of education, and cultural/human geography. Membership is also extended to interdisciplinary social science areas that build on the core social science disciplines, such as business and society, education, minority studies, public administration, international studies, public finance, leadership studies, consumer behavior, public policy and organizational behavior.
Mason’s chapter Advisors and Sponsors are Vita M. Chalk from the CHSS Dean’s office, and Shannon N. Davis, Department of Sociology and Anthropology.
The Fall 2020 Initiation Ceremony for new Virginia Mu chapter members will be held virtually, at 4 pm on Wednesday, October 14th 2020.
Membership applications will be accepted on a rolling basis throughout the academic year, however students must complete their application for membership at least three weeks prior to an induction ceremony to participate in the induction ceremony (For Fall 2020 semester, must be completed prior to October 1st)
Criteria for Eligibility:
Undergraduates:
Graduate or Professional Student Members:
Students that meet the criteria above with an interest in joining our Chapter must first complete a short chapter membership survey HERE.
Fall 2020 Membership Drive:
Students that apply for chapter membership and that have been confirmed to have met membership requirements in October 2020 will be eligible to participate in our October 15th induction ceremony. Survey to apply for membership must be completed prior to October 1st, and all applications materials ($65 dues payment and Membership form) must be received by October 12th, 2020.
https://gmuchss.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_exqeDTIv1IDvdop
Once eligibility is confirmed, students will receive an email invitation to join Pi Gamma Mu- Virginia Mu.
Lifetime membership fee is $65 ($50 for admission to the national organization and $15 Chapter fees), which includes an honor cord to be worn at Graduation.
Upon confirmation of eligibility, students must email completed membership form and submit dues (lifetime membership) payment of $65 to the CHSS Academic Affairs office, located in James Buchanan Hall 217 (our office is current closed to walk-in traffic, however applications and dues payments can be placed in an envelope and slid under our office door). Alternatively, you may email Dr. Chalk to make alternative arrangements for dues submission.
We currently seek officers in our chapter. Open positions include: Vice President, and Secretary-Treasurer. If you are interested and will be applying for either officer position, please email pgmvamu@gmu.edu.
David Dixon is the current chapter president of Virginia Mu at George Mason University. A native of Warren, Ohio, David enlisted in the United States Army after high school, where he served honorably for four years. After completing military service, David returned to college as an adult learner and graduated from Essex Community College in Baltimore County, Maryland, receiving his Associates degree in Business Administration. Returning to Ohio, he worked full-time in the manufacturing sector as a Production Specialist while simultaneously completing his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration at Youngtown State University in 2006, with honors. After graduation, David relocated to the Washington, DC area and soon returned to federal government service as a civilian. David’s most significant work was at the Department of Veterans Affairs as a Contracting Officer. Among his career accomplishments, he received an award from the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in 2013 for exceeding the agency’s Small Business Procurement Goals. In 2016, David was selected to mentor a participant in the Warrior to Work Acquisition intern program.
David will obtain his Master’s degree in Public Administration from the George Mason Schar School of Policy and Government in December 2020. His academic concentration is Public Management, which focuses on the various functions required for management of public resources, and the processes that support government operations. His interests include advocating for the Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned small business government contracting approach, and mentorship for aspiring and junior federal careerists. In his leisure time, David enjoys watching sports, reading, playing video games, traveling and bicycling.
If you have additional questions about eligibility criteria or how to join Pi Gamma Mu, please email chapter representatives at: pgmvamu@gmu.ed