The Divine Nine

By Philip Austin, Historian

started, and from there, Negro Achievement week was born.

Negro Achievement Week had become a raging success and was celebrated among university and college campuses across the nation. In the 1930s, it adopted the name Negro History Week, and by the 1960s, the celebration became widely known and accepted. Black History Month began to replace Negro History Week on college campuses.

The National Pan-Hellenic Council, or “The Divine Nine,” is a coalition of the nine historically African-American fraternities and sororities: Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Alpha Kappa Alpha, Inc., Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., and Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc.

Stony Brook University has been fortunate enough to have had all the Divine Nine fraternities and sororities, except for Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc. Each Divine Nine fraternity and sorority is committed to promoting academic excellence for its members and service to their communities.

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

The oldest fraternity in the Divine Nine was founded on December 4, 1906. It is the only member of the Divine Nine to be established at an Ivy League. Our Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., charted its chapter at Stony Brook University in August 1990.

Alpha Kappa Alpha, Inc.

Alpha Kappa Alpha, Inc. was the second to be founded on January 15, 1908. AKA tops the NPHC in the number of chapters and initiates, and they are one of the largest Greek-letter organizations in the US.

Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.

Initially founded as Kappa Alpha Nu, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., was based on January 5, 1911. It is the first NPHC organization to be nationally incorporated. Our Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. chapter at Stony Brook was founded in 2009.

Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.

Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. was founded at Howard University on November 17, 1911, becoming the first fraternity founded at an HBCU.

Our Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Founded on January 13, 1913, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. is dedicated to public service, primarily serving African-American communities. Our Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

chapter was chartered at Stony Brook in May 1984.

Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.

Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. was founded on January 9, 1914. It is constitutionally bonded to Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. Our Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. was chartered in the Spring of 1980 and was the first NPHC fraternity at Stony Brook University.

Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.

Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. was founded on November 12, 1922. Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. is the only NPHC sorority that was not established at Howard University, but was based at a predominantly white institution.

Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc.

Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc. was founded on September 19, 1963. It is the last member of the NPHC to be established. Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc. is the only Divine Nine fraternity with no chapter at Stony Brook.