Alpha Epsilon Phi

Alpha Epsilon Phi was founded by seven Jewish women, Helen Phillips, Ida Beck, Rose Gerstein, Augustina "Tina" Hess, Lee Reiss, Rose Salmowitz and Stella Strauss at Barnard College in New York City on October 24, 1909. Their goal was to foster lifelong friendship and sisterhood, academics, social involvement and community service while providing a home away from home for their members.[4]

In 1951, the sorority joined the National Panhellenic Conference.[5]

The sorority celebrated its centennial at Barnard College in 2009.[4]

The founders of Alpha Epsilon Phi selected the pearl as the sorority jewel because of its attractive nature and the symbolism of growth over time. The colors green and white were chosen by the founders to represent growth and camaraderie. Additionally, the Lily of the valley flower was chosen as an emblem of beauty and color.

The columns of Alpha Epsilon Phi were added in 1916, the sorority's seventh year of existence. They wanted to create a simple insignia, as opposed to a more elaborate crest like that of other Greek letter organizations. The three columns: Α, Ε, and Φ represent faculty approval, student esteem, and sorority fidelity, in order.[6]

During the 1977 National Convention, the sorority adopted the giraffe as their official mascot. The suggestion to choose this mascot was put forward by the Alpha Kappa Chapter at Miami University. The giraffe was selected because it stands the tallest and has the largest heart of all land mammals. [7]

Women who have completed their new membership period and are initiated as full sisters are presented with a 24-karat gold badge. The front of the badge features the Greek letters A, E, and Φ, with a total of 27 pearls. The Α is adorned with eight pearls, the Ε with nine pearls, and the Φ with 10 pearls. On the back of the badge, the new sister's initials are engraved.

• The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation[9]
• Sharsheret[10] [11]

Alpha Epsilon Phi currently has 49 active collegiate chapters across the United States and Canada.[12] Alumni groups exist across the United States, and have events to celebrate their Founder's Day, socialize, or interact with other local Panhellenic alumnae groups.[13]

The sorority also has a magazine to chronicle news relevant to the organization. First published in November 1917 as Alpha Epsilon Phi Quarterly, the title was changed to Columns in the late 1920s.[14] It is published semiannually in the fall and spring seasons and is sent to collegians, alumnae volunteers, donors, subscribers, inter-fraternal partners, and friends. Fraternity and sorority professionals and vice presidents of student affairs on campuses with chapters of Alpha Epsilon Phi also receive issues of the magazine. Families contribute to Columns to support philanthropic events and activities that current members, alumnae, family members, and friends can participate in, from the Atlantic to the Pacific.[14]

Each collegiate chapter of Alpha Epsilon Phi has an executive board made up of the following positions, elected each calendar year[15]:

President: In charge of overseeing all of the chapter's activities, reporting to advisers and other members of nationals, as well as representing the sorority at Greek and college-wide events. The president presides over all chapter meetings and runs executive board meetings. The president oversees the activities of the vice presidents. The president must have had prior experience serving on the executive board in order to be elected.

VP Operations: In charge of all operational tasks for the chapter and serves as the second in command. This includes maintaining the listserv, taking minutes at each meeting, and attending weekly chapter meetings as well as other chapter events. VP Operations is in charge of all scheduling tasks for the chapter and serves as the secretary for the executive board.

VP Standards: In charge of enforcing the chapter's by-laws and constitution. VP Standards deal with any judicial issues that come up with sisters of the chapter, such as violations of social policy, attendance, or financial issues. VP Standards preside over standards hearings and has members from each class who sit on the standards board.

VP Finance: In charge of setting and collecting members' dues as well as financing from nationals and the university. VP Finance is in charge of setting the chapter's budget for each semester and is in charge of reimbursing chapter members. VP Finance is responsible for paying anyone owed by the chapter (venues, t-shirt distributors, etc.).

VP Recruitment: Organizes all recruitment events as well as their corresponding details, such as finance, attendance, etc., votes, and works with nationals and Panhellenics to establish the total and quota. VP Recruitment is responsible for setting up the appropriate recruitment events during an "off semester".

VP New Member Education: In charge of all new member events that occur during the pledge process. Holds new member meetings and events, and serves as the liaison between sisters and new members. VP New Member Education handles all issues the new members may have during the pledge process and is responsible for corresponding with the chapter adviser and nationals during the pledge process.

VP Programming: Responsible for setting up events for the chapter with on-campus residences, the overall university Panhellenic and Inter-Greek Community (IGC) boards, and the sonorities' national philanthropies. These include educational events as well as philanthropic events.

VP Philanthropy: Responsible for planning and organizing philanthropic events to support AEPhi's national charities, Sharsharet, and the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. The VP Philanthropy also coordinates community service events with other chapters on campuses.

• Barbara Barrie (Omega) – actress; (Barney Miller)[16]
• Marilyn Beck (Xi) – Hollywood columnist and author[17]
• Carol Lynn Blum (Alpha Eta) – 1965 Miss Florida, third runner up Miss America 1966[17]
• Lillian Copeland (Xi) – Olympic Gold and Silver medalist in discus; set world records in discus, javelin, and shot put[17]
• Miriam Freund-Rosenthal (Zeta) Jewish-American civic leader[17]
• Ruth Bader Ginsburg (Kappa) – Supreme Court Justice[16]
• Elizabeth Glaser (Sigma) – AIDS activist and co-founder of The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation[16]
• Nancy Goodman Brinker (Mu) – Founder of the Susan G. Komen Foundation for Breast Cancer Research; appointed in 2001 as Ambassador to Hungary[17]
• Erica Hill (Alpha Chi) – CNN anchor[17]
• Randi Kaye (Alpha Chi) – reporter and CNN anchor[17]
• Bessie Margolin (Epsilon) – former U.S. Department of Labor attorney[17]
• Stacey Nuveman (Phi) – Gold medalist for Softball at the 2000 Summer Olympics[17]
• Dayssi Olarte de Kanavos (Kappa) – socialite, philanthropist, real estate executive[18]
• Charlotte Rae (Omicron) – actress; (Diff'rent Strokes, The Facts of Life)[16]
• Nan Rich (Alpha Tau) – former member of the Florida House of Representatives and Florida Senate[17]
• Judith Resnik (Alpha Nu) – 2nd woman American astronaut[17] and first Jewish woman in space
• Dinah Shore (Chi) – singer, actress and talk show host[19]
• Annette Strauss (Omega) – former mayor of Dallas[16]
• Carmen Warschaw (Phi) – California philanthropist and politician[17]
• Bonnie Glick (Kappa) - politician, diplomat, and businesswoman[20]
• Lauren Weisberger (Kappa) – author, (The Devil Wears Prada)[16]
• Harriett Woods (Pi) – former Lt. Governor of Missouri[16]

• List of Jewish fraternities and sororities
• List of social fraternities and sororities
• National Panhellenic Conference

• Alpha Epsilon Phi website