about us
alpha epsilon phi history
Alpha Epsilon Phi Sorority 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. "It was her [Helen Phillips'] idea and her persistence more than anything else that brought Alpha Epsilon Phi into existence," one founder wrote. "I sometimes think that some of those ties were more necessary to Helen than to the others in this group because Helen had no mother and no sisters or brothers, and to her a group of adopted sisters was more of a need and had more significance."
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The dream that was born in a dorm room at Barnard College in 1909 continues to succeed, prosper and thrive on over 50 college and university campuses nationwide. AEPhi welcomes hundreds of new members each year with open arms and seeks not only to live up to the ideals and goals of its original founders, but also to exceed them.
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Throughout the past century, Alpha Epsilon Phi has built upon the foundation set by our seven Jewish founders. While we honor our roots, we are not a religious sorority by any means. Our membership is filled with college women, regardless of religion, who honor our values and respect our heritage.
above all else
beta xi chapter at texas a&m
In 2006, a new student organization was formed at Texas A&M called Aggie Jewish Women (AJW) with the intent of establishing the first-ever Jewish sorority on the campus. In its first 3 years, AJW blossomed, and by 2010, the group was able to petition the Collegiate Panhellenic Council (CPC) for membership. That spring, AJW was accepted by the CPC as an Associate Member, and AJW was re-named Zeta Beta Sigma, or ZBΣ. In the spring of 2014, Zeta Beta Sigma received approval from the CPC to seek National recognition. In March of 2015, CPC voted unanimously to have Alpha Epsilon Phi join the Texas A&M Community. After two years as a colony, in November of 2017 we received our National Charter and became the Beta Xi chapter of Alpha Epsilon Phi.
motto: multa corda una causa (many hearts, one purpose)
symbol: the columns
mascot: the giraffe
colors: green and white
flower: lily of the valley
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