Finding and creating community: IEHS and Sigma Tau Delta

By Isabelle Bruty

When first stepping onto Florida State University’s campus, a new student might feel intimidated to find a niche—or, at the very least, a community of like-minded peers, especially in the literary arts.

The International English Honor Society, a registered student organization, bridges this gap. Located within FSU’s English department, IEHS creates a space for students to express a shared enthusiasm for creative expression, while providing leadership and scholarship opportunities.

As executive board members, President Aubrey Tangen and Treasurer Darby Shelton share how the organization operates on campus and the connections prospective members have to the national organization.

“We are members of Sigma Tau Delta’s Rho Epsilon chapter,” notes Tangen, a double major in English-Creative Writing and in Religion & Classics. “Anyone can be a member once you pay the $60 dues. But just for general IEHS members at FSU, it’s free to join.”

Sigma Tau Delta is an international academic honor society tailored to students who share a dedication to language, literature, and English studies as a broader discipline. Founded in 1924 with an estimated 35,000 members globally, the organization describes itself as a platform to uplift “the next generation of literary scholars, educators, writers and leaders through transformative undergraduate and graduate experiences,” on the Sigma Tau Delta website.

Rho Epsilon, FSU’s chapter and one of 875 chapters worldwide, promotes an atmosphere of connection and creativity among its members.

IEHS essentially functions as an extension of Sigma Tau Delta, for students who are interested in the collegiality without requiring the full national membership commitment. Becoming a recognized member of Sigma Tau Delta, however, offers all FSU students exclusive networking opportunities that are valuable for future career paths in writing, editing, or publishing.

“Fifty percent of all of members are in both Sigma Tau Delta and IEHS,” Tangen explains. Shelton, a double major in English-Creative Writing and information communication technology, adds that Sigma Tau Delta gives students priority access to many internships, specifically citing prominent publishing houses such as Penguin Random House and Norton.

Members also have several opportunities to participate with the organization at conventions alongside other Sigma Tau Delta chapters, experiences that Tangen says invite further involvement in a vast network of alumni and students from institutions nationwide.

“There’s a regional convention—just on Zoom—but in the spring, you can travel to a convention,” she adds. “Last year was in Pittsburgh; this year it’s going to be in New Orleans.”

Both Tangen and Shelton attended the 2025 Pittsburgh convention, and they both presented their work, which earned appreciation among their peers.

“Convention is such a great opportunity for getting your work out there, meeting people in the industry,” Shelton says.

Her experiences through Sigma Tau Delta even gained Shelton a winning distinction at the convention. She earned the Isabel Sparks President’s Award for Creative Non-Fiction.

“I’m primarily focused on fiction writing, but I just happened to submit creative nonfiction,” she says. “Having a more stylistic tone in something that’s not generally stylistic definitely made the piece stand out more. I’m used to playing with time and having concrete detail, which isn’t something you see in nonfiction.”

Being members of IEHS and Sigma Tau Delta help both Tangen and Shelton push their creative limits to explore different genres and adopt stylistic choices they may have otherwise overlooked.

“I realized, through being in Sigma Tau Delta and presenting at conventions, that I was more interested in literature,” says Tangen, a creative writing major. “I think knowing how words and sentences work well together, what makes a compelling sentence in fiction, absolutely captivates an audience for literary work as well.”

Like most student organizations, IEHS holds general body meetings to share important information with members, including deadlines for scholarships and contests and other announcements. The group also hosts more informal programming, such as weekly book clubs, movie nights, and other team bonding events, all open to both IEHS and Sigma Tau Delta members.

To maintain active status in the organization, members must attend a combination of at least three meetings or events.

“What we expect from our members is really just participation,” Tangen says.

The IEHS application is open on a rolling basis, with no deadline for the fall or spring semester. Students can apply at any time using the form linked above or in their Instagram bio @iehsfsu.

“It’s definitely a great way to meet people, even in different concentrations,” Shelton shares.

Most FSU students seek out those kinds of environments to help them feel comfortable on such a big campus.

“I came into IEHS my first year at FSU looking for community, and I definitely found that,” Tangen says, reflecting nostalgically on her time with the organization.

Isabelle Bruty is a senior at Florida State University, majoring in English-Editing, Writing and Media and minoring in commercial entrepreneurship.

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