Alpha Phi’s history begins in 1872, rooted in the bold ambitions of our Ten Founders—some of Syracuse University’s first female students. Several decided that they were not satisfied with merely participating in the classroom, and their denied admissions to the men’s fraternities, and thus decided to create their own fraternity for women.
hand to hand. heart to heart.
From the beginning, they envisioned an expansive sisterhood, and their leadership and organizational practices set the tone for Alpha Phi today. Much like our present-day membership, the Founders were a group of curious women who did not back down from a challenge—women who had a vision for our sisterhood and the confidence in one another to make an impact.
The spirit of Alpha Phi has been woven from the diverse experiences of individual sisters who came together with a dream, worked hard for what they believed in, and together created an organization that has advanced the lives of women for more than fourteen decades.
