Our Story

Our History

Alpha Phi was founded on October 10, 1872, at a time when women's access to higher education in the United States was rare and hard-won. Among the first women admitted to Syracuse University, ten came together to build something that would push against the barriers they faced: a sisterhood rooted in mutual support and belonging. That founding sorority has since grown into more than 150 chapters across the United States and Canada.

Our MIT (Zeta Phi) chapter was established on February 11, 1984, when women still remained significantly underrepresented at the Institute and across STEM fields broadly. Zeta Phi's sixty-four founding members created something MIT had never seen before - its first Panhellenic sorority - offering a community of sisterhood and support to women navigating one of the world's most demanding academic institutions.

Community

At Alpha Phi Zeta Phi, we are committed to creating an environment rooted in support, scholarship, service, and sisterhood. Our days are shaped by shared dinners, collaborative study sessions, and spirited volunteer work alongside the Boston Marathon and at Fenway Park. We welcome distinguished alumnae into our home, a beautiful brownstone that has become a gathering place for women who challenge and inspire one another. We believe that excellence is not achieved alone — and we are proud to walk alongside every member as she grows into her fullest self, both at MIT and far beyond it.

Sisterhood

We bond together. From the moment a new member joins our family, she is welcomed with intention. Each new sister is paired with a senior sister who serves as a guide, a confidante, and a steady presence throughout that first formative year. In time, she will find her Big: a relationship defined by mentorship, genuine care, and a friendship that outlasts graduation. For sisters navigating the rigors of MIT academics and the path to a career, our Scholarship Big & Little program provides dedicated support and guidance through every milestone.

We restore together. Our Sisterhood Committee curates thoughtful experiences designed to offer respite from the demands of MIT life. Whether gathered for a clothing exchange, curled up in the TV room for a film, or exchanging handwritten Galentines letter that will be kept for years, these moments remind us why we are here for one another. The holiday season brings special warmth - with the welcome of our newest initiates and the beloved tradition of our Holiday Party, where sisters and friends fill our Phi Hive with celebration!

We honor one another. In weekly chapter meetings, we take time to recognize what makes our sisterhood remarkable. Sisters are nominated for Sister of the Week in acknowledgment of the quiet acts of kindness that shape our culture, and Silly Sister celebrates the laughter and lightness that make our house a home. Each spring, our graduating seniors are given a week to be celebrated fully with letters, gifts, baked goods, and presentations from their closest friends and littles - a proper send-off for women who have given so much to Alpha Phi and to each other.