Delta Phi Omega (commonly referred to as DPO, or ) is a nationally based, South Asian-interest, multicultural sorority in the United States. It is a social, service, and philanthropy-based Greek letter organization whose main focus is to empower women and promote cultural awareness through involvement with their universities and communities.
It is a member of the National APIDA Panhellenic Association (NAPA). Delta Phi Omega Sorority, Inc. is the largest South Asian interest-based sorority in the nation. It has over 2,600 sisters in 25 chapters and 26 colonies across the country.
History On December 6, 1998, sixteen South Asian women formed Delta Phi Omega at the University of Houston. The sixteen Honorable National Founding Mothers are Simran Bakshi-Guiterrez, Heena Bhakta-Palmer, Leena Cherian-Joseph, Bonna Choudhari, Rita Dhanani-Rauniyar, Anita Jari-Kharbanda, Amitha Nikam-Verma, Avni Patel, Jesika Patel, Jolly Patel, Shevon Patel, Sonal Amit Patel, Arati Shah, Deepa Swamy-Kurian, Manisha Vakharia-Patel, and Sarika Wadhawan.
Delta Phi Omega was envisioned as an organization that would focus on the diverse Indian culture through participation in various community and service projects, promote the advancement of South Asian women, and unite women in the South Asian community.
It is a member of the National APIDA Panhellenic Association (NAPA). Delta Phi Omega Sorority, Inc. is the largest South Asian interest-based sorority in the nation. It has over 2,000 sisters in 25 chapters and 26 colonies across the country.
Symbols Delta Phi Omega's motto is "We Dreamt, We Saw, We Conquered". Its pillars are sisterhood, honesty, loyalty, respect, and friendship.
The sorority's colors are red, black, and silver. Its flower is the white orchid. Its mascot is the Bengal tiger. The sorority's jewels are ruby red and diamond.
Activities The sorority's annual national initiatives are "Be The Change" National Community Partner and Literacy Through Unity Week. The annual Literacy Through Unity Week raises awareness of children's education and literacy, along with fundraising at the respective universities and cities to support related charities. Events associated with Literacy Through Unity Week include community service projects, movie nights, books and panel discussions, fundraising nights, and Informationals by nonprofit organizations such as Asha for Education, Pratham, and CARE.
Organization In 2001, sisters foresaw a rapid expansion of Delta Phi Omega and recognized the need for a central governing body. Therefore, they founded the first National Council of Delta Phi Omega on February 1, 2002, which became the administrative entity of the sorority. The National Council ensures the continuity of the original purpose, mission, and ideals of the National Founding Mothers. Its functions also include handling matters of controversy, coordinating national-level programs, and overseeing chapter compliance with national policies. Each year at the national conference women are elected to the National Council, board, and regional director positions.
After the National Council, the next tier is the National Board, which is made up of positions that are more geared towards expansion and maintaining the sorority on an organizational level, keeping records, and ensuring everything continues to run smoothly and professionally.
Following the National Board are Regional Directors. Delta Phi Omega is currently divided into nine regions, with each region consisting of about four to nine schools. The final tier is an Alumna Advisor, which each charter has.
Chapters In the following list, active chapters and charters are listed in bold and inactive chapters and charters are in italics.
ChapterCharter date and rangeInstitution or regionLocationStatusAlphaUniversity of HoustonHouston, TexasInactiveBeta University of Texas at San AntonioSan Antonio, TexasInactiveGamma Philadelphia Citywide Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaActiveDelta DePaul UniversityChicago, IllinoisInactiveEta Florida International UniversityMiami, FloridaInactiveEpsilon University of Texas at AustinAustin, TexasActiveZeta University of Maryland, College ParkCollege Park, MarylandActiveTheta University of OklahomaNorman, OklahomaInactiveKappa Virginia Commonwealth UniversityRichmond, VirginiaInactiveIota Northeastern UniversityBoston, MassachusettsInactivePace University charterPace UniversityPleasantville, New YorkActiveNew York City, New YorkSigmaUniversity of FloridaGainesville, FloridaActiveUniversity of Texas at Arlington charterUniversity of Texas at ArlingtonArlington, TexasActiveUniversity of Washington charterUniversity of WashingtonSeattle, WashingtonInactiveStony Brook University charterStony Brook UniversityStony Brook, New YorkInactivePenn State University charterPenn State UniversityUniversity Park, PennsylvaniaInactiveUniversity of North Texas charterUniversity of North TexasDenton, TexasInactiveTexas Women's University charterTexas Woman's UniversityLambdaUniversity of South FloridaTampa, FloridaInactiveMu University of Illinois at ChicagoChicago, IllinoisActiveNew Jersey Institute of Technology charterNew Jersey Institute of TechnologyNewark, New JerseyInactiveUniversity of Maryland, Baltimore County charterUniversity of Maryland, Baltimore CountyBaltimore, MarylandInactiveUniversity of California, San Diego charterUniversity of California, San DiegoSan Diego, CaliforniaInactiveNu Oregon State UniversityCorvallis, OregonInactivePi Texas A&M UniversityCollege Station, TexasInactiveUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill charterUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel Hill, North CarolinaActivePurdue University charterPurdue UniversityWest Lafayette, IndianaInactiveXi University of TennesseeKnoxville, TennesseeInactiveOmicron University of GeorgiaAthens, GeorgiaActiveIndiana University at Bloomington charterIndiana University BloomingtonBloomington, IndianaInactiveBoston University charterBoston UniversityBoston MassachusettsInactiveBaylor University charterBaylor UniversityWaco, TexasInactiveEmory University charterEmory UniversityAtlanta, GeorgiaInactiveUniversity of California, Davis charterUniversity of California, DavisDavis, CaliforniaInactiveUniversity of Rochester charterUniversity of RochesterRochester, New YorkInactiveUpsilonRutgers University–New BrunswickNew Brunswick, New JerseyActiveRho University of Alabama at BirminghamBirmingham, AlabamaInactivePhi Wayne State UniversityDetroit, MichiganInactiveUniversity of Miami charterUniversity of MiamiCoral Gables, FloridaInactiveAlpha Alpha University of MinnesotaMinneapolis, MinnesotaInactiveGeorge Mason University charterGeorge Mason UniversityFairfax, VirginiaInactiveTau Georgia State UniversityAtlanta, GeorgiaInactiveEast Carolina University charterEast Carolina UniversityGreenville, North CarolinaInactivePsi University of Central FloridaOrlando, FloridaActiveAlpha Gamma Texas Tech UniversityLubbock, TexasActiveChi Rutgers University–NewarkNewark, New JerseyInactiveOmegaMemorialAlpha Beta University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignUrbana, IllinoisActiveCollege of William & Mary charterCollege of William & MaryWilliamsburg, VirginiaInactiveBinghamton University charterBinghamton UniversityBinghamton, New YorkInactiveAlpha DeltaUniversity of ConnecticutStorrs, ConnecticutActiveUniversity of South Carolina charterUniversity of South CarolinaColumbia, South CarolinaActiveAlpha ZetaOhio State UniversityColumbus, OhioActiveHofstra University charterHofstra UniversityHempstead, New YorkActiveAdelphi University charterAdelphi UniversityGarden City, New YorkActiveSaint Louis University charterSaint Louis UniversitySt. Louis, MissouriActiveAlpha Epsilon ChapterCity College of New YorkNew York City, New YorkActiveSyracuse University charterSyracuse UniversitySyracuse, New YorkActive
See also List of social sororities and women's fraternities List of Asian American fraternities and sororities Cultural interest fraternities and sororities
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