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Founded in 1923 at the University of Illinois, Phi Eta Sigma is the nation's oldest and largest honor society for first-year college and university students in all disciplines.

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The three Greek words appearing on our crest form the motto of the organization: 'Knowledge is Power.'

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Since its founding, more than 1,100,000 scholars have been inducted into Phi Eta Sigma.

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Phi Eta Sigma chapters have been chartered on 378 campuses across the United States.

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More than $275,000 in scholarships are awarded annually by the national organization, and many additional thousands are awarded by local chapters.

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Phi Eta Sigma is governed by a Constitution and Laws generated by student delegates attending national conventions. At the biennial conventions, student delegates also elect the national officers and Executive Committee members.

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The official magazine of the honor society, The Forum of Phi Eta Sigma, is published annually and distributed to active members through the local campus chapters.

Mary Lee Caldwell, PhD

Executive Director

An alumna of Troy University and The University of Alabama, Dr. Mary Lee Caldwell brings more than 12 years of higher education experience to Phi Eta Sigma. With previous experience in leadership development, student governance, and citizenship, Dr. Caldwell has most recently served as the Director of the Believe UA program at The University of Alabama, where she helps students to reach goals through mentoring, resilience, and coaching programs. At UA, Dr. Caldwell also advises Omicron Delta Kappa honor society, and she was the recipient of the 2018 Crimson Spirit Award and the 2017 SGA Foundation Award. Her students selected her as a member of the Anderson Society and the XXXI Women’s Honorary. She also served as the chair of the 125 Years of Women at UA celebration this past year.

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Dr. Caldwell is an active member of the Tuscaloosa community. She founded Lean On: Alabama, a statewide non-profit that focuses on the promotion of collaboration among women of all generations in the state. Dr. Caldwell has been a member of the Alabama Girls State program’s staff for more than 15 years. She is also a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, the United Way of West Alabama’s Volunteer Allocation Team, and the Women of the Capstone. Dr. Mary Lee Caldwell was named by the Alabama Media Group as one of 30 Women Who Shape the State in 2017.

Brett Hudson

Coordinator of Chapter and Membership Services

Hudson is a December 2013 graduate of The University of Alabama with a degree in Journalism, which he used to launch into a seven-year career as a sports writer. He covered high school sports in upstate New York and northeast Louisiana before four years covering the SEC, split between the Mississippi State and Alabama beats. Hudson started giving guest lectures at Mississippi State before teaching a journalism class for UA, which he continues teaching in addition to his work for Phi Eta Sigma.

Hudson and his wife Morgan have twin daughters. (No, twins do not run in the family. Yes, it was quite a surprise. They are not identical. They have very different personalities.) When he’s not watching Atlanta United or the Oakland Athletics, he can be found wherever there is a game of pickup basketball. 

Jaylin L. Goodwin

Coordinator of Chapter and Membership Services

Goodwin is a two-time graduate of Auburn University, with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (Marketing) and a Master of Arts in Communication and Journalism. While working to complete her graduate degree, Goodwin worked as a graduate assistant in the College of Liberal Arts at Auburn, teaching an undergraduate course called Women and Leadership in addition to writing and producing content for the Office of Communications and Marketing.

As an undergraduate at Auburn, Goodwin was a member of Omicron Delta Kappa and Mortar Board Honor Societies and was the President of the Panhellenic Council. She has also volunteered extensively with the Alabama Girls State program, sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary, serving as a member on staff for the past five years.

Jo Hebson

Bookkeeper

After leaving the University of Alabama, where she studied Finance, Jo Hebson began a 30-year career in the banking industry working in branch banking and operations management.  Following her retirement, Hebson worked a short stint for the University of Alabama before her current role with Phi Eta Sigma.

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Hebson volunteers her time as the Vice President of Finance for the Delta Zeta Sorority Alumni group at the University of Alabama.  She and her husband, Tim, live in Tuscaloosa with their two dogs, Belle and Bradshaw. In her spare time, Jo loves to travel and make t-shirt quilts for fun.