Delta Gamma History
Delta Gamma was founded in 1873 in Oxford, Mississippi, at Lewis School by three young women who were unable to go home for the Christmas break. Together, Anna Boyd, Mary Comfort and Eva Webb created a club of "mutual helpfulness."
They chose the Greek letters Delta and Gamma because of their desire to "do good." It remains motto today and a driving force in all we do. Delta Gamma is a sisterhood built on a commitment to making the world better through not only service, but also a deep appreciation for each individual.
What started with three women in Oxford, Mississippi, has since grown into an international Fraternity with 150 collegiate chapters and more than 215 alumnae groups. Delta Gamma's sisterhood continues to inspire women through the values that were built into our very first Constitution. Article II, written by our Founders in 1873, states:
"The objects of this Fraternity shall be to foster high ideals of friendship among women, to promote their educational and cultural interests, to create in them a true sense of social responsibility and to develop in them the best qualities of character."
While the Constitution spells out the values of a Delta Gamma woman in Article II, you can't tell the story of Delta Gamma without speaking of hope. The original pin of the Fraternity was the letter "H," which the Founders meant to stand for hope. A few years before she died, Founder Mary Comfort Leonard described the first pin:
"We went to a local jeweler and had our pin made, the letter 'H,' which stood for hope, for we hoped for great results and have not been disappointed…"
Delta Gamma Fraternity does not discriminate in its membership selection on the basis of race, ethnicity, religious affiliation, color, creed, national origin, sexual orientation, marital status, physical disability or other characteristics protected by state, provincial or federal law. Membership is open to all individuals who identify as women. Those selected for membership in Delta Gamma must have good scholarship, be of good character and standing, have an interest in activities that will enhance the academic atmosphere at the college or university, and have a sincere desire to contribute to the work of Delta Gamma.
All efforts are in place to guarantee those selected for membership in Delta Gamma have good scholarship, are of good character and standing, have an interest in activities which will enhance the academic atmosphere at the college, university or community, and have a sincere desire to contribute to the work of Delta Gamma. The Executive Offices will continue to work with the individual chapters to ensure that all policies and procedures are followed at all times.
For a complete list of our policies, please visit our Library: https://members.deltagamma.org/DGMembers/DGMembers/Resource_Center/Resource_Center.aspx
Alpha Pi Chapter History
Delta Gamma has a rich legacy built on sisterhood, leadership, and lifelong friendship. Since our chapter was founded, we've grown into a vibrant and diverse sisterhood of over 400 incredible women who inspire, support, and uplift one another every day.
Our chapter continues to shine both on campus and within the national Delta Gamma community. With a strong focus on academics, we proudly hold a cumulative GPA of 3.38, reflecting our commitment to excellence in the classroom as well as in our personal and professional goals.
Over the years, our chapter has been honored with numerous awards and recognitions—celebrating our dedication to philanthropy, sisterhood, academic achievement, and leadership. These accomplishments are a testament to the strength and spirit of our members and the meaningful connections we build together.
At Delta Gamma, we’re proud of where we’ve come from—and even more excited about where we’re headed. Our history is just the beginning of an unforgettable journey.
Our House
The first part of our home was built in the 1920’s. 1448 E 1st Street is now a 20,000 square foot chapter house located only one block from campus. The house includes quarters for the house director, bedrooms sleeping up to 64 collegians, a guest room, kitchen, study, dining room, chapter room, multiple living room areas, and a parking lot. We have wonderful employees who support our collegians with upkeep of our home. Our personal Chef and staff, cooks meals weekly and will always have you going back for seconds or a to-go box! .
Alpha Pi Building Corporation is an LLC with no financial support from Delta Gamma. Our support comes from the collegians’ rent and small upgrade fees from our chapter membership. We mainly get the opportunity for major upgrades through gifted funds from the Alpha Pi chapter that was not spent during the year, loans, and donations.
With the help of our lovely donors, we have rebuilt our bedrooms, bathroom, kitchen, study room, and the entire exterior of the Alpha Pi chapter house.
Thank you for your support!
Fraternity Council
Delta Gamma's Fraternity Council consists of seven elected members and one appointed member who guide the strategic vision of the Fraternity, through policy development and oversight of operations, to the provisions of the Fraternity Constitution.
2024 - 2026 Council of Delta Gamma
Fraternity President | Dr. Amy R. Ayres, Alpha Iota-Oklahoma
Council Trustee: Collegians | Kristina Magovac, Delta Eta-Cal State, Sacramento
Council Trustee: Alumnae | Dr. Melissa Thompson, Gamma Zeta-Louisiana State
Council Trustee: Fraternity Programming | Shenea Stephenson Strader, Eta Iota-Nevada, Reno
Council Trustee: Membership | Natalie Cooper Grindle, Gamma Sigma-Houston
Council Trustee: Communications | Samantha McQuaig Siffring, Epsilon Nu-James Madison
Fraternity Treasurer | Susan Meyer Kornegay, Eta-Akron
Symbols
The anchor is the most widely recognized symbol of Delta Gamma Fraternity
The original badge of our Founders was the letter "H." This symbolized hope, which was our Founders' watchword.
Only initiated members wear the official badge of the Fraternity. In 1877, the "H" badge changed to an anchor, which is the traditional symbol for hope.
Women who are pledged to join, but who are not yet initiated, wear the new member pin. The white shield has the Greek letters Pi Alpha inscribed on it. The shield suggests the Fraternity badge and is exchanged for the badge upon Initiation.
The Fraternity flower is the cream-colored rose. The Fraternity colors are bronze, pink and blue.
The meaning of the crest is only known to its initiated members. The colors of the crest are cream for the rose at the apex of the crest; gold for the three, five-pointed stars on the shield, the rope around the shield and outline of the scroll ribbon; burnt maize for the flanking ornaments of the rose and the Greek letters, Tau Delta Eta; blue for the lower two-thirds of the shield; green for the upper third and center section of the shield and the leaves of the rose; and rose for the Greek letters Delta Gamma.
Member Dues
At Delta Gamma, we believe in transparency and ensuring every member understands the financial commitments that come with membership. Below is a breakdown of our current dues and fees:
Fall 2026/Spring 2027 Active Member Dues (Live -In): $4,461
Fall 2026/Spring 2027 Active Member Dues (Live -Out): $1,898
Fall 2026 New Member Dues: $2,111
Please note: Housing costs are no longer included in the live-in dues and are billed separately through GreekBill. Each member will receive two invoices—one for housing and one for chapter dues and fees, as outlined above.
We are committed to supporting our members through this investment, and we’re happy to answer any questions or provide additional details as needed. Delta Gamma offers not only a vibrant sisterhood but also valuable resources and lifelong connections that make this experience truly worthwhile.
For financial assistance resources view our Foundation’s page.
Claire Daniels (MC '17) is a true light in this world. Our sweet angel passed away in the summer of 2018 and is missed every day. Claire is so loved and cherished, our chapter's forever sunshine. One of Alpha Pi's honorary symbols is The Butterfly, representing Claire and her legacy. We commemorate her as a chapter with a bench in our front yard and a Delta Gamma scholarship in her name.