This year, in 2025, we are celebrating the 105th anniversary of the founding of Alpha Kappa Delta (AKD). In 1920, Emory S. Bogardus gathered a group of 14 faculty and graduate students at the University of Southern California’s Department of Sociology, which he founded just five years earlier. The purpose of that group was to discuss research methods and findings, and promote scholarly writing. That group of 14 sociologists were, together, the first AKD chapter.
Celebrating Chapter Milestones
While some chapters, such as Alpha of CA at University of Southern California, have been around for over a century, others are nearly there, such as Delta of CA at San Diego State University which is celebrating 90 years this year. And still, other chapters have only just begun, including six chapters celebrating their 5-year anniversaries this year. Here, we want to take the space to properly celebrate all the AKD chapters who are celebrating an anniversary of 5, 10, 15, 20—and so on—years!
Celebrating 5 Years
As mentioned above, we have six chapters celebrating their first milestone of being active for five years this year! Congratulations to the following chapters celebrating their wooden anniversaries:
- Iota of WA at Seattle Pacific University, represented by Raphael Mondesir & Joshua Tom
- Kappa of CT at University of Connecticut, represented by Matthew Hughey & Christin Munsch
- Tau of GA at Spelman College, represented by Cynthia Neal Spence & Mona Phillips
- Phi of IN at Indiana University Kokomo, represented by Stephanie Medley-Rath
- Omega-Alpha-Xi of PA at PennWest California, represented by Codie Stone
- Upsilon of GA at Oglethorpe University, represented by Janelle Pham
Celebrating 10 Years
We also have two chapters celebrating their first decade of promoting excellence in the scholarship in the study of sociology! Congratulations to the following chapters:
- Tau of FL at Florida A&M University, represented by Adrian Tan, and
- Alpha Tau of TX at University of North Texas at Dallas, represented by Helen Brethauer & Brenda Hughes
Celebrating 15 Years
At the 15-year mark, we have a total of 8 chapters celebrating their crystal anniversaries! Congratulations to all those involved in the following chapters:
- Kappa of CO at Colorado Mesa University, represented by Stephen Merino
- Iota of CT at Connecticut College, represented by Ronald Flores
- Xi of FL at Jacksonville University, represented by Heather Downs
- Omicron of MI at Eastern Michigan University, represented by Solange Simoes and Tricia McTague
- Kappa of MO at Truman State University, represented by Kandice Grossman and Megan Lucy-Mulayim
- Alpha Xi of TX at University of Texas at San Antonio, represented by Ray Swisher
- Alpha Omicron of TX at St. Edward’s University, represented by Michelle Robertson
- Alpha Pi of TX at Texas A&M University – Central Texas, represented by Michelle Dietert
Celebrating 20 Years
Celebrating their second decade of activity, are nine more chapters from across the country. Congratulations to the following chapters on 20 years:
- Alpha Xi of CA at California State University – Bakersfield, represented by Jonathan Leif Basilio
- Theta of Colorado at Colorado College, represented by Gail Murphy-Geiss
- Xi of GA at Morehouse College, represented by Marisela Martinez-Cola
- Nu of MD at Washington College, represented by Erin Anderson
- Upsilon of MA at Framingham State University, represented by Patricia Sanchez-Connally and Xavier Guadalupe-Diaz
- Nu of MN at Minnesota State University – Moorhead, represented by Lee Vigilant and Gayle Kaufman
- Upsilon of NC at Davidson College, represented by Gerardo Marti
- Phi of NC at Wingate University, represented by Katie Knop
- Gamma of RI at Providence College, represented by Christopher Chambers and Kara Cebulko
Celebrating 25 Years
At a quarter century of activity, we have six chapters celebrating this incredible milestone. Congratulations to the following chapters on reaching their sterling silver anniversaries:
- Zeta of AR at Henderson State University
- Alpha Mu of CA at Santa Clara University, represented by Margaret Hunter and Cara Chiaraluce
- Pi of IN at University of Indianapolis, represented by Elizabeth Ziff and Colleen Wynn
- Eta of MO at Saint Louis University, represented by Joel Jennings and Elizabeth Chiarello
- Chi of OH at Ohio Northern University, represented by Robert Carrothers
- Alpha Eta of PA at King’s College, represented by Christopher Moore and Bridget Costello
Celebrating 30 years
Next, we have ten chapters celebrating three decades of activity this year. Congratulations to the following chapters, and keep up the amazing work!
- Alpha Delta of CA at California State University – San Marcos, represented by Marisa Salinas and Brandon Moore
- Kappa of FL at Eckerd College, represented by Michael Flaherty
- Lambda of FL at Florida International University, represented by Zachary Levenson
- Xi of IN at Saint Mary’s College, represented by Marry Ann Kanieski and Leslie Wang
- Xi of MA at Wheaton College, represented by A. Javier Trevino and Justin Schupp
- Kappa of MN at Gustavus Adolphus College, represented by Lai Sze Tso
- Alpha Sigma of NY at Hartwick College, represented by Elena Chernyak
- Alpha Tau of NY at Vassar College, represented by Pinar Batur
- Tau of NC at Lenoir-Rhyne University, represented by Katherin Gerlaugh
- Kappa of SC at Lander University, represented by Daniel Harrison
Celebrating 35 years
Following the same pattern of five year milestones, we have nine chapters celebrating their coral anniversaries this year with 35 years of activity! Congratulations to each of the following chapters on this incredible achievement:
- Mu of AL at Birmingham-Southern College, represented by Megan Mills and Yingling Liu
- Gamma of AR at Hendrix College, represented by Erick Axxe
- Theta of GA at Georgia Regents University / Augusta University, represented by Melissa A. Powell-Williams
- Lambda of IN at Franklin College, represented by Zhenyu Tang
- Zeta of MO at Missouri Southern State University, represented by Ree Wells-Lewis
- Tau of OH at John Carroll University, represented by Wendy Wiedenhoft Murphy and Kenneth Eslinger
- Upsilon of OH at Baldwin Wallace University, represented by Liya Wang
- Chi of TX at Abilene Christian University, represented by Suzanne Macaluso
- Tau of VA at George Mason University, represented by Rutledge Dennis and Dae Young Kim
Celebrating 40 years
Celebrating their 40-year mark and ruby anniversary are a total of 13 chapters. Congratulations to all the chapters below on this milestone:
- Zeta of FL at Stetson University, represented by Nicole Banton
- Zeta of KS at Emporia State University, represented by Alfredo Montalvo and Kristin Rindom
- Zeta of MD at Loyola University Maryland, represented by Amanda Konradi and Joshua Hendrick
- Zeta of MD at Goucher College, represented by Jamie Mullaney
- Gamma of MS at Millsaps College, represented by Louwanda Evans
- Gamma of MS at Tougaloo College, represented by Frederick Hunter
- Alpha Eta of NY at SUNY Geneseo, represented by Stephan Derne
- Alpha Iota of NY at SUNY Fredonia, represented by Randolph Hohle
- Delta of OK at Cameron University, represented by Su Lee
- Chi of PA at Elizabethtown College, represented by Michele Lee Kozimor
- Mu of VA at University of Richmond, represented by Jeffrey Hass
- Nu of VA at Hampton University, represented by Zina McGee
- Delta of WV at Shepherd University, represented by Amy DeWitt and Chiquita Howard-Bostic
Celebrating 45 Years
Six impressive chapters are reaching 45 years this year, celebrating their sapphire anniversaries. Congratulations to the following chapters:
- Theta of IL at Illinois State University, represented by Richard Sullivan
- Alpha of MD at University of Maryland College Park, represented by Nicole DeLoatch and Amy McLaughlin
- Delta of MD at Frostburg State University, represented by John McMullen
- Alpha Gamma of NY at Queens College – CUNY, represented by Joyce Tang
- Phi of PA at Commonwealth University of PA (Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, Mansfield), represented by Christopher Podeschi
- Iota of VA at Longwood University, represented by Lee Bidwell
Celebrating 50 Years
At the half-century mark, we have 11 chapters celebrating their golden anniversaries. Congratulations to the following chapters on achieving this milestone:
- Rho of CA at the University of California – Los Angeles, represented by Giovanni Rossi
- Theta of IN at Purdue University Fort Wayne, represented by Sherrie Steiner
- Delta of KY at the University of Louisville, represented by Karen Christopher
- Apha of NV at University of Nevada, represented by Kerie Francis
- Upsilon of NY at Le Moyne College, represented by Jeff Chin
- Iota of NC at Winston-Salem State University, represented by Edward Opoku-Dapaah
- Kappa of PA at Millersville University, represented by Frederika Schmitt
- Lambda of PA at East Stroudsburg University, represented by Marianne Cutler
- Mu of PA at St. Joseph’s University, represented by Raquel Bergen
- Nu of PA at Lincoln University, represented by Emmanuel Babatunde and Stephanie Feliciano
- Xi of PA at Albright College, represented by Charles Brown
Celebrating 55 Years
At the 55-year mark, we are celebrating 3 chapters that were all charged in 1970. Congratulations to all those involved in the following chapters over the past 55 years!
- Xi of CA at California State University – Dominguez Hills, represented by Esther Castillo and Joanna Perez
- Delta of VA at Virginia Commonwealth University, represented by Volka Aytar
- Eta of WI at University of Wisconsin – Whitewater, represented by Loren Wilbers
Celebrating 60 Years
We have a total of 5 chapters celebrating a diamond anniversary of 60 years in 2025. Congratulations to the following chapters, their members, and their representatives!
- Gamma of GA at the University of Georgia, represented by Anna Rogers
- Epsilon of MI at Western Michigan University, represented by Chien-Juh Gu
- Gamma of MN at Macalester College, represented by Erik Larson
- Iota of NY at Fordham University, represented by Maria Biskup
- Lambda of TX at Texas Christian University, represented by Morrison Wong and Carol Thompson
Celebrating 65 Years
With a full 65 years of activities under their belts, we have 3 chapters to celebrate this year. Congratulations to the following chapters on 65 years!
- Theta of CA at San Jose State University, represented by Preston Rudy ad Natalie Boero
- Iota of CA at California State University – Los Angeles, represented by Roseann Giarrusso
- Epsilon of IL at Northern Illinois University, represented by Kristie Crane
Celebrating 75 Years
Continuing to 75-year anniversaries, we have 7 chapters to celebrate! Congratulations to the following chapters on making it three quarters of the way to a full century of existence!
- Alpha of AR at University of Arkansas – Fayetteville, represented by Song Yang
- Beta of FL at University of Florida, represented by Autumn McClellan
- Gamma of FL at University of Miami, represented by Jan Sokol-Katz
- Beta of IA at Drake University, represented by Nancy Berns
- Gamma of IA at Iowa State University, represented by Susan Stewart and Derek Franklin
- Beta of NC at North Carolina State University, represented by Kim Ebert
- Alpha of WV at Marshall University, represented by Kristi McLeod Fondren
Celebrating 80 Years
With just 2 decades left until reaching a full century of activities, we have one chapter to recognize for their 80-year anniversary! Congratulations to:
- Alpha of TN at Fisk University, represented by Shirley Brown
Celebrating 90 Years
Next up is another celebration for a single chapter who is just one decade away from their century anniversary at the 90-year mark! Congratulations to:
- Delta of CA at San Diego State University, represented by Michael James Roberts
Celebrating 100 Years
Finally, we have a total of 3 AKD chapters who are celebrating 100 years of activity this year! Congratulations to all involved in the activities and sustainability of the following chapters:
- Alpha of MN at Hamline University, represented by Sharon Preves
- Alpha of NY at Cornell University, represented by Susan Meyer
- Alpha of OH at Miami University, represented by Jennifer Bulanda
Celebrating 105 Years
Last, but certainly not least, is the original AKD chapter who is joining Alpha Kappa Delta in celebrating 105 years of activity this year! Contractions to:
- Alpha of CA at University of Southern California, represented by Jody Vallejo ad Maria Labourt
Join the Celebration: Start or Reactivate an AKD Chapter!
Inspired by this incredible list of AKD chapters celebrating milestone anniversaries all across the United States? We certainly are! And, this list is not even exhaustive of all the active chapters.
If your campus already has an active sociology club, why not turn that club into an official chapter of AKD? In doing so, you provide students with access to potential funding, awards, networking opportunities, and more! For a full list of benefits afforded to AKD members, browse our Benefits of Membership page.
Is my University or Department Eligible?
There are a few eligibility requirements for those wishing to charter an AKD chapter. First, your college or university must be accredited by one of the following agencies:
- The New England Association of Schools and Colleges
- The Middle States Commission on Higher Education
- The Higher Learning Commission
- The Northwest Commission of Colleges and Universities
- The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
- The WASC Senior College and University Commission
Second, your department must meet the following requirements:
- At least two instructors shall devote their full time to the teaching of sociology
- There must be at least two instructors with PhDs in sociology
- At least one instructor shall agree to maintain Voting membership in the Society while serving as chapter representative
- This person may already be a member of Alpha Kappa Delta or willing to join
- After the first year, the person must renew his/her membership every calendar year serving as chapter representative (our form of chapter dues)
- The department shall require that students complete at least ten (10) semester courses (or the equivalent of thirty (30) semester hours) in sociology to earn their degree
- At least one course in methods of sociological research and at least one course in sociological theory are required
- However, if a department fulfills these requirements by incorporating them within other courses in the department rather than as independent courses, the department may request an exemption from the course requirement by justifying and documenting how this requirement is fulfilled.
If you are interested in starting an AKD chapter on your campus, please contact the Executive Office by email at akd@alphakappadelta.org to request a charter application.
Reactivating an AKD Chapter
Need to reactivate an AKD chapter that has been inactive on your campus? We can help!
Reactivating a chapter is an easy process and does not require having to reapply for a chapter or paying an application fee. However, if your chapter has been inactive for 3 or more years there is a $30 reactivation fee.
A faculty member may reactivate a chapter by completing and submitting the Reactivating an AKD Chapter form to the Executive Office via akd@alphakappadelta.org.
Once the Executive Office determines that your chapter is eligible for reactivation, we will send you the next steps. We hope to hear from you soon!