Alpha Delta Pi’s newest chapter was installed on Saturday, April 20, 2024, at Southern Methodist University, making Alpha Zeta the Sorority’s 155th active chapter. International President Dawn Victor-Herring, Past International President and Alpha Zeta alumna Kathryn Peddy Goddard, and International Vice Presidents Jessica Carr Belcher, Sarah Davis-Candeto, Tiffany Eisenbise, Ebony Rose, Executive Office staff, and additional International Officers traveled to Dallas, Texas, to preside over the initiation ceremonies for the charter members.
Collegiate and alumnae members provided initiation assistance, including many Alpha Zeta alumnae, area alumnae from 13 different chapters of initiation, Alpha Zeta chapter advisors and house corporation members, and collegians from Gamma Chi–Texas Christian, Delta Gamma–Arizona, Delta Mu–Sam Houston State, Zeta Chi–Baylor, and Zeta Lambda–Texas A&M.
Charter members welcomed their families, friends, alumnae, and university guests to the Installation Celebration on Sunday, April 21 at the Warwick-Melrose Hotel in Dallas. During the celebration, Dawn Victor-Herring conducted the ceremony to install the chapter officers and presented the new chapter president, Emma Davis, with Alpha Zeta’s charter.
Alpha Delta Pi was one of the first sororities installed at Southern Methodist University in 1915, the same year the university opened. Fredrika Wilbur was the first editor of the campus newspaper in 1934, and one year found three of the ten “M” awards going to Alpha Zeta members. The chapter received Alpha Delta Pi’s highest chapter honor, the Golden Lion Award, in 1989. Alpha Delta Pi visited with SMU campus administrators throughout the years since the chapter’s closure in 1998 to remain informed in preparation for a future reestablishment.
Alpha Zeta alumnae have been some of the most involved Alpha Delta Pi volunteers in the organization, serving at all levels of leadership. Past Grand Council members include Lilita Wilson McCorkle, Lucille Barksdale Renner, Anne Veale Pogson, and Elisse Jones Freeman, as well as Kathryn Peddy Goddard who served for two years as a Traveling Chapter Secretary (Leadership Consultant) before taking on many other roles, including International President and NPC delegate. Many other Alpha Zeta alumnae have long records of volunteer service to Alpha Delta Pi and continue to be involved today both with the Sorority and the University.
About Alpha Delta Pi Founded at Wesleyan Female College in Macon, Ga., on May 15, 1851, Alpha Delta Pi was the first secret society established for college women. Its principles of sisterhood, service, character, and knowledge guide more than 265,000 women in 155 active collegiate chapters and 155 alumnae associations of Alpha Delta Pi.
