Who We Are
The Department of Nutrition and Health at Ball State University is home to the Alpha Chapter of Eta Sigma Gamma. Eta Sigma Gamma is a national honorary society dedicated to the discipline of health education. The primary purpose of the organization, from its inception, has been to further the professional competence and dedication of individual members of the health education profession. This is done through our three core values: teaching, research, and service. Within our chapter, we strive to promote healthy behaviors among our campus community.
History
The idea for a national honorary society for health education professionals was conceived in the minds of three individuals, Warren E. Schaller, HSD, William Bock, Ph.D, and Robert J. Synovitz, HSD who were three professors in the Physiology and Health Science department at Ball State University. These individuals saw the need for a professional group dedicated to the discipline of health education. After the group's constitution and bylaws were written, the installation of the first chapter and the induction of the first 30 members became official on May 12, 1968. It was through the further commitment of a group of dedicated professors and students at Ball State University that the first chapter of the society was established. Today, there are over eighty-five chapters representing thousands of students in colleges and universities around the United States.
Mission
Eta Sigma Gamma was founded with the ultimate goal to provide an organization that would further the professional competence and dedication of the individual members in and for the health education discipline. The mission of Eta Sigma Gamma is to elevate the standards, ideals, competencies, and ethics of professionally trained men and women in the discipline of health education. The goals of the society are as follows:
- To support the development, implementation, and evaluation of health education programs and resources;
- To stimulate and disseminate scientific research;
- To motivate and provide health education services;
- To recognize academic achievement;
- To support health education advocacy initiatives;
- To promote professional standards and ethics; and
- To promote networking activities among health educators and related professionals.