A research project on the habitat destruction of gopher tortoises has landed business Professor Charles Myrick a national position as a faculty scholar adviser with Phi Theta Kappa.

PTK is an academic honor society for two-year colleges and the largest honor society in the nation.

Only 10 percent of college students are invited to join.

Myrick teaches economics. He said he has been a professor for 10 years with five and half years of those at OCCC.

He said the position provides him with access to other serious thinkers.

“Now being a faculty scholar adviser, I have the opportunity to meet with some of the brightest minds in the country to share information.

“There will be an academy that I have to attend over the summer where I will … come up with ideas that would benefit Oklahoma City Community College,” said Myrick, in regards to the duties of a faculty scholar for Phi Theta Kappa.

It’s his first time to be selected as a Phi Theta Kappa faculty scholar, he said.

Myrick said being a faculty scholar means applying to compete against other Phi Theta Kappa advisers around the country by researching a particular topic and coming up with a solution to the inquiry.

Being from Southern Mississippi, Myrick said, is why he chose the topic of the plight of gopher tortoises.

He said he hopes the animals will survive so his children will get to see gopher tortoises one day.

Myrick said he wrote about the destruction their habitat and how other species, such as fire ants, are wiping out these tortoises.

Through Phi Theta Kappa, Myrick said, he has had the opportunity to listen to great speakers over the years such as astrophysicist Neil DeGrasse Tyson and tennis player Billie Jean King.

He said he first encountered Phi Theta Kappa when he was a student and said he is now happy to be a faculty scholar adviser.

“Phi Theta Kappa is a really amazing honor society that provides lots of opportunities, not just monetarily speaking but also scholastic opportunities, for students.”

For more information about Phi Beta Kappa, contact Myrick at cmyrick@occc.edu or call 405-682-1611, ext. 7492.