Founded on the campus of Howard University in Washington, DC in 1908, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority® is the oldest Greek-letter organization established by African American college-educated women. The small group of women who organized the Sorority was conscious of a privileged position as college-trained women of color, just one generation removed from slavery.
The Original Group:
Anna Easter Brown, Beulah Burke, Lillie Burke, Marjorie Hill, Margaret Flagg Holmes, Ethel Hedgeman Lyle, Lavinia Norman, Lucy Slowe and Marie Woolfolk Taylor. Led by Ethel Hedgeman Lyle, the nine Howard University students who formed Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority® were the scholastic leaders of their classes. Each also had a special talent or gift that further enhanced this dynamic group’s potential.
The Sophomores:
Norma Boyd, Ethel Jones Mowbray, Alice Murray, Sarah Meriweather Nutter, Joanna Berry Shields, Carrie Snowden and Harriet Terry. Except for Ethel, the original group of women was college seniors. To ensure the organization’s continuity, seven Class of 1910 honor students who had expressed interest were invited to join without initiation.
The Incorporators:
Norma Boyd, Julia Brooks, Ethel Jones Mowbray, Nellie Quander, Nellie Pratt Russell and Minnie Smith. Nellie Quander was elected president in 1911. Under her visionary leadership, Alpha Kappa Alpha initiated a dynamic plan of expansion. The first step of establishing a national body in perpetuity was taken in 1913 when Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority was legally incorporated.
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated® is comprised of more than 390,000 initiated members in more than 1123 graduate and undergraduate chapters located in multiple nations and territories including the United States, the Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada, Germany, Japan, Liberia, Nigeria, Puerto Rico, South Korea, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and West Africa.
The vision of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated® is to be a lifelong organization that cultivates and encourages high scholastic and ethical standards, promotes unity and friendship among women, and addresses issues impacting communities worldwide. It strives to empower members to serve with purpose while advancing social justice, education, and economic progress. Through its programs and leadership, the sorority aims to create lasting change and uplift future generations.
Visit www.aka1908.com for more information.
The Mission
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® was founded on a mission of five basic tenets that have remained unchanged since the sorority’s inception.
Our mission is
- to cultivate and encourage high scholastic and ethical standards,
- to promote unity and friendship among college women,
- to study and help alleviate problems concerning girls and women in order to improve their social stature,
- to maintain a progressive interest in college life,
- and to be of “Service to All Mankind.”
The organization is dedicated to fostering leadership, personal development, and lifelong commitment to community service. Through these efforts, AKA empowers women to make a meaningful impact in society.
Core Values
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® is built on three foundational pillars that guide every member’s journey:
Sisterhood & Friendship — AKA cultivates unity, lifelong bonds, and meaningful friendships among college women and members, creating a network of support that endures beyond chapter and campus.
Scholarship — Members are called to pursue academic excellence and intellectual growth, upholding high scholastic standards as a reflection of the sorority’s commitment to empowered, educated women.
Service to All Mankind — At the heart of AKA is a deep dedication to community service, social action, and the uplifting of humanity — locally, nationally, and globally.
Alongside these pillars, AKA embraces values of Caring, Dependability, and Challenge — encouraging members to grow personally, collaborate with integrity, and hold themselves accountable in all endeavors.
Together, these principles form a legacy of leadership and empowerment. By living out sisterhood, scholarship, and service, AKA members drive positive social change and inspire future generations to do the same.