Founded on October 15th, 1885 at DePaul University in Greencastle, Indiana, Alpha Chi Omega was one of the first 10 sororities ever founded. At a time when women were just beginning to occupy seats in college classrooms, 7 female students were encouraged by Professor James Hamilton Howe, dean of DePauw’s School of Music, to form a women’s society within the school. 

The first all-women fraternity to be in a music school, the 7 Founders chose "Alpha" and "Omega"—the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet—to form their name, with “Kai” (meaning “and”) in the middle, later changed to the Greek letter "Chi." This sybolizes both the individualistic nature of Alpha Chi Omega as well as the lifelong bonds formed between sisters in AXO, ones which last from first meeting to last breath. ​With first constitution laying down the object of the fraternity to be “principals which embody true womanhood”, our Founders’ vision has grown to include our the Alpha Chi Omega Foundation, the National Housing Corporation and Pearl Stone Partners. Together, they serve more than 300,000 members in more than 140 collegiate chapters and nearly 200 alumnae chapters nationwide. Our Founders: Anna Allen Smith, Olive Burnett Clark, Bertha Deniston Cunningham, Amy DuBois Rieth, Nellie Gamble Childe, Bessie Grooms Keenan, and Estelle Leonard.​We are beyond ecstatic to be an extension of this beautiful history on the Northeastern University campus!