The international honor society in economics, Omicron Delta Epsilon, one of the largest academic honor societies, was established in 1963 as a result of a merger
of two honor societies: Omicron Delta Gamma (founded in 1915 by Professor John R. Commons at the University of
Wisconsin, and Frank W. Taussig at Harvard University); and Omicron Chi Epsilon (founded in 1955 by Professor
Alan A. Brown when he was a student at City College of New York). It became an international honor society in
economics in 1969, with 566 chapters located in the United States, Canada, Australia, the
United Kingdom, Mexico, Puerto Rico, South Africa,
Egypt, and France.
Omicron Delta Epsilon is an honor society for men and women with outstanding achievement in economics. The
objectives of the Society are:
- Recognition of scholastic attainment in economics.
- Recognition of outstanding achievement in economics on the part of economists at all levels.
- The establishment of closer ties between students and faculty in economics within their own colleges and
universities.
- The establishment of closer ties between students and faculty in economics on all campuses.
- The publication of an official journal.
- To emphasize the professional aspects of economics as a career for service in the academic world, business,
government, and international organizations.
Boston College sponsors the Gamma Chapter of Massachusetts, chartered in 1959. The faculty advisor is Prof. Catherine Schneider.
