About Us

• MSU Chapter: On March 14, 1936 the local Phi Sigma at Mississippi State College became the Phi Delta Chapter of the Chi Omega Fraternity.
• Chi Omega was the first national Greek-letter society to place a chapter at Mississippi State College, today Mississippi State University.
• Phi Sigma Sorority was organized in September 1933.

• Chi O Nationally: Founded April 5, 1895 at the University of Arkansas.
• Colors: Cardinal and Straw
• Mascot: Owl
• Flower: White Carnation
• Magazine: The Eleusis, mailed 3 times a year to all collegiate and alumnae.
• Number of Collegiate Chapters: 173
• Newest Chapter: George Washington Univ, Washington, D.C. (Re-Installed January 24, 2009)
• Number of Alumnae Chapters: 240
• Number of Initiated Members: Over 290,000
• Number of Living Members: About 235,000
• Number of Undergraduate Members: More than 16,000 at any given time.
• National philanthropy: Make-A-Wish
• Local philanthropy: Palmer Home

• Marsha Blackburn, U.S. Congresswoman representing Tennessee's 7th District
• Christine Brennan, sports columnist and author
• Louise Bryant, journalist and feminist
• Susan Helms, NASA astronaut and the first woman to live in the International Space Station
• Harper Lee, author of To Kill a Mockingbird
• Blanche Lincoln, U.S. Senator representing Arkansas, youngest woman elected to U.S. Senate
• Lucy Liu, actress
• Paulette Maehara, President and CEO of the Association of Fundraising Professionals
• Alice Marriott, co-founder, Marriott Corporation
• Frances Mayes, author of Under the Tuscan Sun
• Pat Summitt, University of Tennessee women's basketball head coach, and the NCAA's winningest coach.
• Sela Ward, Emmy award-winning actress
• Trisha Wilson, founder, Chairman and CEO of Wilson & Associates, Inc.
• Joanne Woodward, Academy Award-winning actress

History
The founders of the group were: Sarah Ellis Barr, Lou Cooper, Annie Louise Griffin, Elizabeth Harrington, Balsorah Patterson, Dorothy Ray, and Melle Virginia Ward. With the help of two local Chi Omega alumnae in developing the organization, the group petitioned for a chapter of Chi Omega. The petition was granted and Miss Christelle Ferguson was in charge of the installation of Phi Delta Chapter, assisted by Kappa Beta Chapter of Rhodes College, Tau of the University of Mississippi, and Nu Beta of the University of Alabama. The new chapter had 14 active members: Elise Buford, Katherine Chadwick, Lou Cooper, Bob Cowan, Mozelle Critz, Frances Stone Green, Annie Louise Griffin, Sara Guyton, Mary Hearon, Missy Hogan, Annie Louise Lucas, Mary Virginia Miller, Susie Moore, and Mary Virginia Williams.

Not only was the Phi Delta Chapter of Chi Omega the first sorority chapter on campus, but it is also presently the largest with 200 active members. Phi Delta takes pride in its high ranking scholarship - also first on Sorority Row. Chi Omega has been well represented on the MSU campus through the years. Phi Deltas were and are involved in every campus organization imaginable. Each year Chi Omegas receive numerous honors such as: Academic Honoraries, Greek Woman of the Year, Most Outstanding Woman, Miss MSU, Who's Who, Miss Reveille and Beauties, Homecoming Queen and Maids. The chapter as a whole participates in numerous Greek Weeks, Derby Days, and other campus activities. Phi Delta is proud to have broken ground for the first sorority on campus and to have built the second house. In 1995, the chapter celebrated its Chi Omega heritage with other chapters across the nation during its Centennial Celebration. For our 50th Anniversary, Phi Delta provided the funds for landscaping and remodeling the Stephen D. Lee statue on the drill field at Mississippi State University.

Chi Omega Mission
Chi Omega is a sisterhood that provides a network of friends and lifelong development for collegiate and alumnae members. Chi Omega is committed to: Personal integrity, Excellence in academic and intellectual pursuits, Inter-generational participation, Community service, Leadership opportunities, Social enrichment.

Chi Omega Vision
• To be the premier national women's organization in the 21st century;
• To establish renewed value and respect for all women by promoting High Moral Standards and Ethics, Personal Growth, Professional Development, A Network of Friendship and Support For Life.

Chi Omega Headquarters
3395 Players Club Parkway
Memphis, TN 38125
Phone: (901) 748-8600
FAX: (901) 748-8686
Email: chiomega@chiomega.com
Website: http://www.chiomega.com