Organization:Nu Rho Psi

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Short description: National honor society for neuroscience
Nu Rho Psi
ΝΡΨ
FoundedApril 28, 2006; 20 years ago (2006-04-28)
United States
TypeHonor society
EmphasisNeuroscience
ScopeNational
Colors     Gold and      Black
SymbolHuman brain
PublicationNu Rho Psi News
Chapters98
Members14,000+ lifetime
NicknameNRP
Headquartersc/o Dr. Michael Kerchner
Dept. of Psychology
Washington College
300 Washington Avenue

Chestertown, Maryland 21620
United States
Websitenurhopsi.org

Nu Rho Psi (ΝΡΨ or NRP) is an American honor society for neuroscience.[1] It was founded in 2006 by the Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience and now an independent honor society. Nu Rho Psi is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) public charity incorporated in the state of Ohio.

History

Nu Rho Psi was founded on April 28, 2006, as an outgrowth of the Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience (FUN).[2]: E9  It organizing committee included Joe Achor of Baylor University, Shubhik DebBurman of Lake Forest College, Jean Hardwick of Ithaca College, Andy Mickley of Baldwin Wallace University, Ilsun White of Morehead State University, and Eric Wiertelak of Macalester College.[2]: E9 [3]: 5  The committee created Nu Rho Psi's constitution and by-laws and suggested its insignia.[2]: E9 

Nu Rho Psi, The National Honor Society in Neuroscience, was approved by the FUN Council in April 2006.[2]: E9 [3]: 5  Its purpose is to promote interest in neuroscience, recognize the academic achievement of students, promote career development, encourage community service, and promote interaction between neuroscience students, faculty, and professionals.[1] Mickley served as the society's first executive director.[2]: E9 [3]: 5 

The first chapter was chartered at Baldwin Wallace College (now Baldwin Wallace University) on November 7, 2006.[2]: E9  This was followed by chapters at Baylor University in Dember 2006 and Macalester College in January 2007.[3]: 7  In its formative years, the society was governed by the FUN Council, but, as the society grew, FUN decided that Nu Rho Psi would be better served by its own separate council.[2]: E9  On February 7, 2011, Nu Rho Psi was incorporated in the state of Ohio.[2]: E9 : E9 [3]: 7  It became an independent tax-exempt [501(c)(3)] public charity on May 12, 2011.[2]: E9 : E9 [3]: 7  Its purpose is educational, charitable, scientific, and social.[4]

The first Nu Rho Psi national council was elected in 2011, with terms starting January 1, 2012.: E9 [3]: 7 Achor was its first president.: E9 [3]: 7  Between 2013 and 2016, 29 chapters were chartered.[3]: 9  By 2016, the society had grown to 58 chapters with more than 3,000 members.[3]: 9  Mickley retired as the society's executive director on November 13, 2016, and was replaced by Mike Kerchner of Washington College.[3]: 9 

As of June 2025, it had chartered 98 chapters and had initiated more than 14,000 members.[5][6]

Symbols

The Greek letters ΝΡΨ (Nu Rho Psi) were selected to represent neuroscience.[1][2]: E10  The Greek letter Ν stands for nous meaning "mind". The letter Ρ stands for rhyesthai, meaning, “to cure”. The letter Ψ stands for psyche, meaning “life.”[1][2]: E10 

In addition, the English pronunciations of the letters also form a pun as they are pronounced similarly to "neurosci", relating to the theme of the society.

Members receive membership certificates and lapel pins. Graduating members may wear honor cords in society's colors, gold and black.[7] Its symbol is the human brain. Its publication is Nu Rho Psi News.[8]

Membership

Membership is by invitation and is open to undergraduate students who majoring or minoring in neuroscience and have completed at least three semesters with an overall 3.2 GPA and nine semester hours of neuroscience-related courses with a 3.5 GPA.[9] Graduate students with a concentration in neurology must have completed at least nine credit hours with a 3.5. GPA.[9] Nu Rho Psi is also open to qualifying neuroscience faculty and alumni of neuroscience programs.[9] Nu Rho Psi membership is for life.[9]

Activities

Nu Rho Psi offers competitive travel awards for members to attend and present their research at the annual Society for Neuroscience meeting.[10][2]: E11  Nu Rho Psi also offers competitive small grants to facilitate member's senior theses or summer research projects.[10][2]: E11  Nu Rho Psi mentors members through publications such as. The Nu Rho Psi Guide to Graduate School in Neuroscience.[11]

As documented in the Nu Rho Psi News, individual Nu Rho Psi chapters organize a variety of service and educational activities throughout the year. Regional vice-presidents provide leadership of the federation of chapters in the region where they reside and represent their region through service on the national council. They are also responsible for promoting Nu Rho Psi activities during the regional undergraduate neuroscience meetings, including the Midwest/Great Lakes Undergraduate Research Symposium in Neuroscience, NEURON (Northeast Under/graduate Research Organization for Neuroscience, SYNAPSE (Symposium for Young Neuroscientists and Professors of the SouthEast), and MIDBRAINS (Midwest Regional Neuroscience Conference).[12][13][14][15] Nu Rho Psi holds an annual National Membership meeting during the Society for Neuroscience conference.

Chapters

Following are the chapters of Nu Rho Psi.[5][6][16][17] Template:Sticky-header

  1. ↑ When the charter date is unknown, the year of the first initiation class is used.
  2. ↑ Chapter formed at Smith College and expanded to include U Mass Amherst.

Governance

The society is managed by a member-elected national council consisting of student and faculty volunteers from many colleges and universities throughout the United States. Members of the national council are elected by the Nu Rho Psi membership. Its officers include president, immediate past president, secretary, treasurer, regional vice president Northeast, regional vice president Midwest, regional vice president South, regional vice president West, social media chair, executive director, and immediate past executive director. Its headquarters is based at Washington College in Chestertown, Maryland.[1]

Notable members

Notable honorary members include

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "About" (in en-US). 2017-11-14. https://nurhopsi.org/about/. 
  2. ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18 2.19 2.20 Hesp, Zoe C.; Cousens, Graham A.; Becker, Lora; Zee, Michele C.; Mickley, G. Andrew (Spring 2016). "Nu Rho Psi, The National Honor Society in Neuroscience: A decade of progress". The Journal of Undergraduate Neuroscience Education 14 (2): E9-E12. https://www.funjournal.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/june-14-e9.pdf. 
  3. ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 3.15 3.16 3.17 3.18 3.19 Achor, Joe (June 28, 2016). "The History of Nu Rho Psi: The National Honor Society in Neuroscience". in Mickley, G. Andrew. https://nurhopsi.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/nrp-history-rev-2016.pdf. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Nu Rho Psi | Undergraduate Program in Neuroscience" (in en-US). 2015-06-01. https://krieger.jhu.edu/neuroscience/current-students/nu-rho-psi/. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Chapters" (in en-US). 2017-11-19. https://nurhopsi.org/chapters/. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Membership Directory January 2019 through June 30, 2025." (in en-US). https://nurhopsi.org/membership-directory/. 
  7. ↑ "Honor Society Cord Colors | College and University" (in en). 2025-07-17. https://seniorclassproducts.com/pages/college-honor-society-colors. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 8.6 8.7 Kerchner, Michael T. (June 2018). "Notes from the desk of the Executive Director". Nu Rho Psi News 10 (1): 3. https://nurhopsi.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Volume-10-NRP-2017_2018.pdf. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 "Neuroscience National Honor Society" (in en-us). https://artsandsciences.syracuse.edu/neuroscience/national-honor-society-neuroscience/. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Awards and Grants" (in en-US). 2017-11-19. https://nurhopsi.org/awards-and-grants/. 
  11. ↑ "NRP Guide to Graduate School in Neuroscience". http://www.nurhopsi.org/drupal/sites/nurhopsi.org/files/webfiles/execfiles/NRP%20Guide%20to%20Grad%20School%207_28_13_POSTED.pdf.  Nu Rho Psi, 2013.
  12. ↑ "Midwest/Great Lakes Undergraduate Research Symposium in Neuroscience". http://mglurs.org/. 
  13. ↑ "NEURON Conference" (in en). 2024-10-29. https://www.qu.edu/schools/arts-and-sciences/our-work-and-research/neuron-conference/. 
  14. ↑ "SYNAPSE – Symposium for Young Neuroscientists and Professors of the SouthEast". https://synapse.charleston.edu/. 
  15. ↑ "About" (in en-US). 2017-08-17. https://www.midbrains.org/about-2/. 
  16. ↑ "Membership Directory" (in en-US). 2018-04-01. https://nurhopsi.org/about/membership-directory-new/. 
  17. ↑ "Cumulative Summary of Nu Rho Psi Chapter Activity Grants". https://nurhopsi.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Cumulative-summary-of-Nu-Rho-Psi-Chapter-Activity-Grants-2016-2022.pdf. 
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 Kerchner, Michael (2021-04-29). "Welcome our Newest Chapters" (in en-US). https://nurhopsi.org/2021/04/29/welcome-our-newest-chapters-2/. 
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Kerchner, Michael (2022-12-06). "Welcome our Newest Chapters" (in en-US). https://nurhopsi.org/2022/12/06/welcome-our-newest-chapters-3/. 
  20. ↑ "Nu Rho Psi Honor Society | Integrative Neuroscience" (in en). https://www.binghamton.edu/integrative-neuroscience/about/honor-society.html. 
  21. ↑ 21.00 21.01 21.02 21.03 21.04 21.05 21.06 21.07 21.08 21.09 21.10 21.11 21.12 21.13 21.14 21.15 21.16 21.17 21.18 21.19 21.20 21.21 21.22 21.23 21.24 21.25 21.26 21.27 21.28 21.29 "Chapter Activity Highlights". Nu Rho Psi Newsletter 2019-2020: 6–7. January 2021. https://nurhopsi.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/2019-20-Nu-Rho-Psi-Newsletter.pdf. 
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 Kerchner, Michael (2018-03-05). "New Chapters" (in en-US). https://nurhopsi.org/2018/03/05/new-chapters/. 
  23. ↑ "Student Organizations | Neuroscience". https://www.bu.edu/neuro/academics/undergraduatearchive/student-resources/student-organizations/. 
  24. ↑ "Carnegie Mellon University Hosts Newest Chapter in National Neuroscience Honor Society" (in en). January 13, 2017. http://www.cmu.edu/bio/news/2017/neuroscience_honor_society.html. 
  25. ↑ "Nu Rho Psi" (in en). https://www.carthage.edu/academics/majors-minors/neuroscience/opportunities/student-organizations/nu-rho-psi/. 
  26. ↑ "Nu Rho Psi" (in en). https://www.conncoll.edu/academics/majors-departments-programs/departments/academic-programs/behavioral-neuroscience/nu-rho-psi/. 
  27. ↑ "Nu Rho Psi" (in en). 2019-08-27. https://gdkinglab.com/nu-rho-psi/. 
  28. ↑ "Nu Rho Psi People". https://personal.denison.edu/~matthewsn/nurhopsipeople.html. 
  29. ↑ "Student Organizations | Neuroscience". https://csh.depaul.edu/academics/neuroscience/student-resources/Pages/student-organizations.aspx. 
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 President, Michael Kerchner-Exec (2023-02-20). "Welcome or New Chapters" (in en-US). https://nurhopsi.org/2023/02/20/welcome-or-new-chapters/. 
  31. ↑ "Neuroscience Students Shine at Prestigious D.C. Conference" (in en). 2023-12-04. https://www.emmanuel.edu/pulse/news/neuroscience-students-shine-prestigious-dc-conference. 
  32. ↑ "Nu Rho Psi". https://nbb.emory.edu/about/student-groups/nu-rho-psi.html. 
  33. ↑ "Nu Rho Psi | Panther Connect". https://login.fiu.edu/. 
  34. ↑ "Nu Rho Psi Beta Chapter | Panther Involvement Network". https://gsu.campuslabs.com/engage/organization/nu-rho-psi. 
  35. ↑ "Award Descriptions | Events" (in en). https://gustavus.edu/events/honorsday/AwardDescriptions.php. 
  36. ↑ 36.0 36.1 36.2 Kerchner, Michael (2018-08-30). "Welcome our Three Newest Chapters!" (in en-US). https://nurhopsi.org/2018/08/30/welcome-our-three-newest-chapters/. 
  37. ↑ "Nu Rho Psi" (in en-US). https://www.lakeforest.edu/student-life/activities-and-clubs/nu-rho-psi. 
  38. ↑ 38.0 38.1 38.2 Kerchner, Michael (2018-07-12). "Welcome our Newest Chapters!" (in en-US). https://nurhopsi.org/2018/07/12/welcome-our-newest-chapters/. 
  39. ↑ Kerchner, Michael (2019-01-29). "The First New Chapter in 2019 – Eta in GA" (in en-US). https://nurhopsi.org/2019/01/29/the-first-new-chapter-of-2019/. 
  40. ↑ Nu Rho Psi- Gamma in Ohio
  41. ↑ "College of Psychology debuts NSU chapter of Nu Rho Psi" (in en). 2019. https://psychology.nova.edu/news-events/2019/cop-nurhopsi.html. 
  42. ↑ "Nu Rho Psi | Neuroscience Major". https://neurosciencemajor.osu.edu/honors/nu-rho-psi. 
  43. ↑ "Nu Rho Psi". http://nurhopsi-pv.weebly.com/nu-rho-psi.html. 
  44. ↑ Spring has been full of new chapters
  45. ↑ "Student Life". https://catalog.rhodes.edu/book/export/html/74. 
  46. ↑ "Induction Ceremony for Neuroscience Honor Society | Saint Francis University". October 8, 2019. https://www.francis.edu/blog/induction-ceremony-neuroscience-honor-society. 
  47. ↑ 47.0 47.1 47.2 Kerchner, Michael (2018-11-09). "SFN 2018 Welcome our Newest Chapters!" (in en-US). https://nurhopsi.org/2018/11/09/welcome-our-three-newest-chapters-2/. 
  48. ↑ "Honors and Awards". https://catalog.smcm.edu/content.php?catoid=2&navoid=54. 
  49. ↑ "Nu Rho Psi | Our Community" (in en). https://new.sewanee.edu/programs-of-study/neuroscience/our-community/. 
  50. ↑ "Nu Rho Psi" (in en). https://www.geneseo.edu/neuroscience/nu-rho-psi. 
  51. ↑ Kerchner, Michael (2019-09-29). "Welcome Epsilon in New York" (in en-US). https://nurhopsi.org/2019/09/29/welcome-epsilon-in-new-york/. 
  52. ↑ "Trinity College Nu Rho Psi | Neuroscience" (in en-US). https://www.trincoll.edu/neuroscience/student-honors-opportunities-and-outcomes/trinity-college-nu-rho-psi/. 
  53. ↑ "Nu Rho Psi | NSCS Undergraduate Program" (in en). https://nscs.arizona.edu/student/student-groups/nu-rho-psi. 
  54. ↑ 54.0 54.1 54.2 "Welcome to our Newest Chapters!" (in en-US). 2020-08-29. https://nurhopsi.org/2020/08/. 
  55. ↑ "Nu Rho Psi UGA Chapter welcomed new members | Neuroscience Ph.D. Program" (in en-US). 2016-05-04. https://neuroscience.uga.edu/nu-rho-psi-uga-chapter/. 
  56. ↑ "Nu Rho Psi | Laboratory of Integrative Neuroscience |" (in en-US). https://lin.uic.edu/join-lin/nu-rho-psi/. 
  57. ↑ "UI Launches New Chapter of Neuroscience Honor Society, Inducts 7 Students" (in en). March 30, 2020. https://biology.uiowa.edu/news/2020/03/ui-launches-new-chapter-neuroscience-honor-society-inducts-7-students. 
  58. ↑ "Nu Rho Psi - The National Honor Society in Neuroscience". https://psychology.as.uky.edu/nu-rho-psi. 
  59. ↑ "Clubs and Organizations". https://psychology.as.uky.edu/clubs-organizations. 
  60. ↑ "Nu Rho Psi: National Honor Society in Neuroscience | Terp Link". https://shib.idm.umd.edu/shibboleth-idp/profile/SAML2/Redirect/SSO?execution=e1s1. 
  61. ↑ "Nu Rho Psi Honor Society" (in en). 2025-06-30. https://www.unomaha.edu/college-of-arts-and-sciences/sensory-system-development-lab/outreach/index.php. 
  62. ↑ "Honor Societies" (in en). https://www.scranton.edu/academics/honor-societies.shtml. 
  63. ↑ "Home" (in en). https://nurhopsiatuva.wixsite.com/nrpuva. 
  64. ↑ "Nu Rho Psi" (in en). https://www.ursinus.edu/academics/neuroscience/nu-rho-psi/. 
  65. ↑ "About" (in en). https://vtnurhopsi.wixsite.com/website/about-1. 
  66. ↑ "WSU Nu Rho Psi". https://www.weber.edu/neuroscience/wsu-nu-rho-psi.html. 
  67. ↑ 67.00 67.01 67.02 67.03 67.04 67.05 67.06 67.07 67.08 67.09 Nu Rho Psi Honorary Chapter Members

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