Founded in 1885, Tau Beta Pi is the oldest engineering honor society in the United States and the second-oldest collegiate honor society.
This semester, Fairfield University’s School of Engineering and Computing reached a historic milestone by establishing an official chapter of the prestigious Tau Beta Pi (TBP) Engineering Honor Society, Connecticut Delta. The achievement was the culmination of a multi-year effort led by students Maeve O’Connell ’25 and Matt Manduca ’25, with guidance from Susan Freudzon, PhD, assistant professor of electrical and biomedical engineering and TBP chapter advisor.
O'Connell, Manduca, and Dr. Freudzon recently traveled to South Dakota to present Fairfield’s petition at the annual Tau Beta Pi convention. After delivering their proposal, Fairfield’s team received overwhelming support in a vote by TBP representatives from universities across the nation, officially granting Fairfield its own chapter. The Connecticut Delta chapter will launch officially this spring with an installation and initiation ceremony.
Founded in 1885, Tau Beta Pi is the oldest engineering honor society in the United States and the second-oldest collegiate honor society. It recognizes engineering students who demonstrate academic excellence and a commitment to personal and professional integrity.
The journey to establishing a TBP chapter began in 2021 when members of Fairfield’s local engineering honor society, Tau Beta Phi, initiated the petition process. This included assembling a detailed proposal showcasing Fairfield’s engineering programs, which meet Tau Beta Pi’s standards of academic rigor, including ABET accreditation. Fairfield’s petition included examples of the honor society’s accomplishments, such as professional development and community service activities, including a successful food drive for the Campus Ministry food pantry and a networking event connecting alumni and students.
In fall 2023, TBP officials visited Fairfield to review the University’s engineering programs, faculty, and honor society initiatives, offering feedback to further enhance the society’s impact. Following a second site visit in May 2024, Fairfield’s petition was recommended for presentation at the TBP convention.
Reflecting on the convention, O’Connell, the newly appointed Tau Beta Pi chapter president, described the experience as inspiring. “It was an honor to represent Fairfield in a room full of leading engineering institutions,” she said, noting Fairfield’s strong retention rate and close-knit faculty-to-student ratio as unique advantages. Manduca, who will serve as Tau Beta Pi chapter vice president, expressed his excitement about the chapter’s future. “Fairfield has provided me with so many opportunities throughout my academic career,” he said, “and it was fulfilling to give back as a Tau Beta Pi representative.”
