sigma gamma rho

Leading with vision. Driven by purpose.

The sisterhood started here.

Seven courageous Black women founded the Alpha Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. at Butler University on Sunday, November 12, 1922. Of the four historically Black sororities in the nation, Sigma Gamma Rho is the only one founded at a predominantly white institution.

Today, Sigma Gamma Rho has over 100,000 members worldwide, and the sorority celebrated its 100th anniversary on Butler’s campus in 2022. Butler proudly honors Sigma Gamma Rho’s legacy and commitment to “Greater Service, Greater Progress,” a mission that actualizes Ovid Butler’s founding values of diversity, inclusivity, and equity.

Recognizing unprecedented courage

“I imagine that Ovid would have taken great pride in knowing that, nearly 70 years after its founding, Butler University provided the inclusive and nurturing environment that inspired seven incredibly brave Black women to found a sorority.”

– President Danko

Honoring and uplifting the Sigma Gamma Rho legacy