Chapter History

In the fall of 2004, a small group of women came together expressing their interest in having a third sorority on WPI’s campus. These women wanted to experience the bonds of sisterhood that Greek Life had to offer. After recognizing there was a growing percentage of female students on campus, it made sense to strengthen the Panhellenic community by starting another sorority or women’s fraternity. This group of women quickly grew to fifteen members, and became known and recognized as the Sorority Interest Group, in 2005.

Like other organizations, these women recruited members to help them bring an additional sorority to campus. These women were helped by many members of the WPI faculty, staff and administration, as well as Panhellenic Council, to find and choose the sorority that would become the newest member of WPI’s Panhellenic community. From the moment Alpha Xi Delta gave their presentation to the campus, members of the interest group, WPI administration, and Panhellenic knew that it would be a perfect match. Helping women "realize their potential," one of Alpha Xi Delta's mottos, was exactly what WPI wanted. Qualities such as academics, friendship, and loyalty made WPI and Alpha Xi Delta a perfect match from the start.

In the fall of 2006, members of National Headquarters of Alpha Xi Delta journeyed to WPI in order to recruit more women and raise awareness about Alpha Xi Delta. National Headquarters selected the WPI colony members by an interview process and those chosen were pledged into Alpha Xi Delta’s new WPI colony. The colony received guidance from Stephanie Holmes (UCF ’06) and Lindsay Bonner (Lycoming ’07), so that its members could learn to follow the National Fraternity’s requirements and function like a chapter. After a year of preparation and over 3 years of hard work the colony was finally ready to be officially recognized as a chapter.

On October 6, 2007, the Iota Xi chapter was officially installed as a chapter of Alpha Xi Delta and became the third sorority on WPI’s campus. Although the process was long and hard, the young women persevered through the extensive hours required to create their own chapter bylaws, constitution, programs, and traditions.

Alpha Xi Delta's Charter Class, 2007

Today, the Iota Xi chapter has grown substantially in size, now boasting more than 100 members! We continue to thrive as a chapter and a sisterhood and take pride in all that we have accomplished!