On October 15, 1885, Prof. James Hamilton Howe, Dean of the School of Music at Depaw University in Greencastle, Indiana, met with seven women from the school for the purpose of forming a society. These seven women - Anna Allen, Olive Burnett, Bertha Deniston, Amy DuBois, Nellie Gamble, Bessie Grooms and Estelle Leonard - formed what is known today as Alpha Chi Omega. They wore scarlet red and olive green ribbon streamers attached to their dresses at their first official appearance, representing Alpha Chi Omega's colors. This women's fraternal organization was established for the purpose of intellectual, social and moral advancement, in addition to mutual helpfulness and congenial fellowship. Today, membership exceeds 170,000 initiated members in 131 collegiate chapters, 13 colonies, and 200 alumnae chapters.

The Iota Rho chapter of Alpha Chi Omega was founded at Loyola University Chicago on November 20th, 1993. Our current membership stands at fifty-nine women.

Alpha Chi Omega Facts:

Famous Alpha Chis:

• Dr. Condoleezza Rice (Gamma Delta, Denver)-Current Secretary of State under President George W. Bush.
  
• Deidre Downs (Zeta Lambda, Virginia)- Crowned 2005 Miss America
• Laura Innes (Gamma, Northwestern)-Appears as Dr. Carrie Weaver on the television series "ER".
  
• Meredith Monroe (Upsilon, Millikin)- Appeared as Andie McPhee on the television series "Dawson's Creek"
• Dawn Wells (Rho, Washington)-Appeared as Mary Ann on the television show "Gilligan's Island"
  
• Trista Rehn (Alpha Mu, Indiana)- ABC's original "Bachlorette"
• Carol Reihme Duvall (Beta Epsilon, Michigan State)-Host of "The Carol Duvall Show" on the Home and Garden Television network.
• Alma Gates Scroggins (Alpha Upsilon, Alabama)-Executive vice president and chief financial officer of CNN