About the Presidential Honor Society

Quick Facts:

Vision:

To create a true honor society through service to the campus and community that brings prestige to the University, the individual, the organization and its members. 

Mission:

To create a dynamic group of achievers within the University by promoting academic excellence, personal and professional development, and on-going service to the campus and the community.

History:

The Presidential Honors Society was founded in 1991 by Kevin McIntyre and Brian Kerr, both juniors at the University at Albany, with the support of Professor Sung Bok Kim, the Dean of Undergraduate Studies at the time. Since then the society has expanded in both size and scope, performing a wide variety of service projects for the University and the surrounding community. It has also worked with organizations such as the Children's Hospital at Albany Medical Center, the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association, and the Ronald McDonald House and many others.

The Presidential Honors Society receives strong support from the President’s Office, Provost Susan Herbst, Vice Provost and Dean Sue Faerman, our advisor Assistant Dean Dan Smith, Christine D'Amico and Leslie St Cyr of Project Renaissance, as well as the rest of the administrative staff. 

The Society is widely recognized as the largest and most well known honor society and community service organization on campus- in the Fall 2006 semester over 3,400 hours of community service were performed by members. PHS members distinguish themselves academically through internships, awards and/or research and are regularly featured in UAlbany print and internet publications as outstanding students. Lastly, the Society’s membership tends to participate in other on-campus and community activities, AND take an active leadership role in those groups. At the 2006 Student Leadership Awards 20% of the students recognized were PHS members.