The SIUE Robert O. Engbretson Chapter received its charter from the national office on May 6, 1968, three years after the opening of the SIUE campus. In 1968, twenty students were inducted as the first members of the chapter.

The first Psi Chi Faculty Advisor was Dr. Robert McLaughlin. He was followed by Dr. Anthony Traxler, who also served on the Psi Chi National Council and as Midwestern Regional Vice President from 1976-1980. Dr. Traxler contributed 38 years in the Psychology department at SIUE. Under Dr. Engbretson’s leadership, the chapter received the 1994 Ruth Hubbard Cousins National Chapter Award and the 1995 Florence L. Denmark Advisor Award.

In spring 2007, Dr. Traxler’s retirement was announced and Dr. Mike Dudley became Psi Chi’s Faculty Advisor. Psi Chi students and faculty at SIUE are proud of their large and extremely active chapter. They continue the tradition of promoting academic excellence, research, leadership, and service.