Phi Beta Delta

Phi Beta Delta is an honor society for International Scholars. The SUNY Cortland Chapter (Zeta Xi) was founded in 2006. The Phi Beta Delta SUNY Cortland induction ceremony is held every fall, usually in the first two weeks of November, during the International Celebration period.

History and Mission of Phi Beta Delta 

Phi Beta Delta, founded at California State University, Long Beach in 1986, was established as an organization in 1987 with 38 chartered chapters, many of which had existed for a considerable time previously at the local level.  It is the first honor society dedicated to recognizing scholarly achievement in international education. As of December of 2007, 168 chapters have been chartered. 

Phi Beta Delta traces its background to the eighteenth-century founding of Phi Beta Kappa. In the nineteenth century, Greek fraternities divided into the social, professional, and academic Greeks. Phi Beta Delta is an academic and professional society, unique because it is resolutely interdisciplinary and international. Its formal organization brought together numerous pre-existing internally-oriented campus groups. Its goals are:

• to recognize the scholarly achievement of international students and scholars, who have studied abroad and faculty and staff who are involved in international activities;
• to serve as a vehicle for the development of academic-based international programming;
• to provide a network on each campus of faculty, staff and students involved in international endeavors; and
• to extend this network to thousands of members in chapters throughout the world.

Visit the official Phi Beta Delta Honor Society website

Phi Beta Delta Officers

Henry Steck, President
Henry Steck, Ph.D.
Coordinator, Project on Eastern & Central Europe (PECE)
Distinguished Service Professor
Professor of Political Science
Email:  henry.steck@cortland.edu

Sharon R. Steadman, Vice-President
Professor, Sociology/Anthropology
Email:  sharon.steadman@cortland.edu

Gonda Gebhardt, Secretary
Senior Study Abroad Advisor
International Programs Office
Email:  Gonda.gebhardt@cortland.edu

Colleen DeGouff, Treasurer
Director, Student Accounts
Email:  colleen.degouff@cortland.edu

Deborah Dintino, Membership Coordinator
Secretary, Political Science
Email:  deborah.dintino@cortland.edu