About us

Our History

Alpha Phi was founded on October 10, 1872 by a group of ten forward thinking young women looking to create a social center for women at Syracuse University. The women were ten of the first twenty women admitted to Syracuse. Since its founding, Alpha Phi has flourished and grown to include over 150 chapters throughout the United States and Canada and remains the strong sisterhood and support network that our founders intended to create.

The Syracuse founders were leaders on their college campus and not unlike the founders of our Zeta Phi chapter here at MIT which was founded on February 11, 1984 marking the the creation of the first Panhellenic sorority at MIT. The founding members included sixty-four accomplished, driven, and social women who similarly were looking to create a special bond between like minded women at MIT.

Community

Today, that bond remains strong. Our purpose is to create an environment that encourages support, scholarship, service, and sisterhood in all that we do. We love eating dinners together, holding review sessions for classes, volunteering at Fenway Park and for the Boston Marathon, hosting distinguished alumni in our home, and even going on boat trips for sisterhood retreats. We encourage all members to grow and achieve to their fullest capacity during their time at MIT and beyond and support each other in all that we do.

Sisterhood

We bond together. When new members are welcomed into our family they are immediately matched with a Big Bear – an Alpha Phi senior there to help them through their first year and serve as a loving role model. Later an arguably even closer connection is made when one is matched with their Big - there to inspire, mentor, and just to hang out and eat froyo with. Additionally, we are proud to be the only sorority on campus to offer an academic Scholarship Big and Little relationship to guide sisters through their major at MIT. These Alpha Phi friendships last a lifetime.

We relax together. Sisterhood events, carefully planned by our hard-working Sisterhood Committee, give us a chance to take a well-deserved break from MIT with fun activities. Sometimes it’s tie-dyeing on the Esplanade near the Alpha Phi house, other times enjoying sushi and sweet treats while watching movies in the cozy confines of our chapter room. In the fall, sisters look forward to traditions including a spooky Halloween get-together and a huge Thanksgiving potluck dinner with plenty of Martinelli’s.

We celebrate each other. In weekly chapter meetings we nominate “Fit Phi of the Week” to appreciate all our athletes and sisters staying healthy, “Smarty Pants” for academic achievement of all kinds, and “Sister of the Week” for any other outstanding accomplishments. At the end of the school year seniors are celebrated with a week of family line gift giving. At the end of the week they receive letters from sisters that got to know and appreciate them throughout the years and have a special senior event with only their Alpha Phi class.

Exec

Sydney Pyon

President

Christina Crow

VP of Finance

Harley Carroll

VP of Marketing

Hara Moraitaki

VP of New Member Support & Member Experience

Katie Kempff

VP of Health, Wellness & Accountability

Camila Hidalgo

VP of Membership Recruitment

Simdi Okoroafor

VP of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion