Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated History

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated ® (AKA), an international service organization, was founded on the campus of Howard University in Washington, D.C. in 1908. It is the oldest Greek-letter organization established by African American college-educated women.

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated® is comprised of more than 390,000 initiated members in more than 1,105 graduate and undergraduate chapters located in 14 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, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Led by International President & CEO Danette Anthony Reed of Dallas, Texas, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, often is hailed as “America’s premier Greek-letter organization for African American women.”


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.”

Visit our International website - www.https://aka1908.com/

Iota Phi Omega Charter Members

Many women contributed to the successful chartering of Iota Phi Omega—some as charter members, others by recruiting, hosting, or offering support. The chartering ceremony and repast were held in November 1973 at the Lorain home of Dorothy “Dottie” Anderson and her husband, Dr. Marvin Anderson. The charter was presented by Great Lakes Regional Director Eva Evans, who later became International President. At the time, Mattelia Grays was International President and Bernice Sumlin of Dayton, OH, was First Supreme. Iota Phi Omega became the 30th graduate chapter in the Great Lakes Region.

Dottie Anderson was a prominent Lorain leader: a founding member of the Lorain County Urban League, former trustee of Lorain County Community College, and an elected member of the Lorain City Schools Board of Education.

Chartering members and key contributors included:

  • Juanita “Mickey” Rosemond (Sandusky), whose daughter JoAnn later joined the first line

  • Deloris Warfield (1941–2001), educator and founder of NSOROMA Academy

  • Roonette “Rooney” Tabor (Elyria)

  • Naomi Rutledge, nursing instructor at St. Joseph School of Nursing

  • Caroll Barnes, English teacher

  • Barbara Orr, LCS employee

  • Margaret Smith (Oberlin), Phlander-Smith College alumna

  • Frances Ashley (Elyria), who temporarily transferred from Alpha Omega Chapter to assist with chartering

  • Lula Garrett Beatty, instrumental recruiter

  • Exie Ashburn, first Chapter President

  • Jean Doneghy

  • Lynette Ledbetter, first Chapter Secretary

  • Paula Wise (Fremont), first Tammiouhos

Additional contributors not present at the chartering included Vivian Brown, Gloria Furcron, Barbara Hill Johnson, Paulette Mabry, Patricia Petty Wilson (later a Regional Director), and Wilma Sallee Stacey.

Since our establishment in 1973, the Iota Phi Omega Chapter has been a beacon of service, dedication, and sisterhood for an impressive 50 years and counting. Our commitment to making a positive impact in the cities of Elyria, Lorain, and Sandusky, Ohio, has been unwavering, and we take pride in the transformative influence we've had on our local communities.