Quick Facts

Founded: January 15, 1908 at Howard University, Washington, DC

Incorporated: January 29, 1913

“Twenty Pearls”: Refers to Founders and Incorporators

Motto: “By Culture and By Merit”

Symbol: Ivy Leaf

Flower: Pink Tea Rose

Colors: Salmon Pink and Apple Green

Official publication: Ivy Leaf magazine, first published in 1921

International President: Dr. Glenda Baskin Glover (2018–2022)

Membership (as of July 2021):

• 100,000+ active members; more than 320,000 members initiated worldwide
• Chapters: 1,046 

About Alpha Kappa Alpha:

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated (AKA) is an international service organization that 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 is comprised of nearly 300,000 members in approximately 1,018 graduate and undergraduate chapters in the United States, the U.S. Virgin Islands,  the Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada, Dubai, Germany, Japan, Liberia, and South Korea. Led by International President Dr. Glenda Baskin Glover, Alpha Kappa Alpha is often hailed as “America’s premier Greek-letter organization for African American women.” For more information on Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and its programs, log onto www.aka1908.com.

Translations

The sorority uses Greek terminology in the identification of its officers and other significant references.

Sorority Name: Alpha Kappa Alpha—the first three letters of the three Greek words that form the sorority’s motto

Chapter Names: Use Greek alphabet sequence; after first 24 chapters, sequence is repeated with each letter (except the letter “Omega”); all graduate chapter names end with “Omega”

Soror: Greek word for “sister;” used only by members

Boule: Governing body; meets biennially

Directorate: Board of Directors

Ivy Beyond the Wall: Deceased member

Officers

Basileus: President

Anti-Basileus: Vice-President

Tamiouchos: Treasurer

Grammateus: Recording Secretary

An office title preceded by “Supreme” indicates an officer on the international level:

Supreme Basileus: International President

First Supreme Anti-Basileus: International First Vice-President

Second Supreme Anti-Basileus: International Second Vice-President

Supreme Tamiouchos: International Treasurer

Supreme Grammateus: International Recording Secretary

Supreme Parliamentarian: International Parliamentarian