Alpha Omicron Pi (ΑΟΠ, AOII) is an international women's fraternity promoting friendship for a lifetime, inspiring academic excellence and lifelong learning, and developing leadership skills through service to the Fraternity and community. ΑΟΠ was founded on January 2, 1897 at Barnard College on the campus of Columbia University in New York. Its founders were Stella George Stern Perry, Helen St. C
lair Mullan, Elizabeth Heywood Wyman, and Jessie Wallace Hughan. The four founders met in the Columbia Law Library to begin their fraternity and to forever seal their friendships and the friendships of all future members. The philosophy which the founders guided their principals included membership to women who share their belief in lifelong friendship, service and love. Today, Alpha Omicron Pi is an international women's fraternity, with 193 collegiate chapters and 320 alumnae chapters in Canada and the U.S.A. Its international headquarters is located in Brentwood, Tennessee and it is a member group of the National Panhellenic Conference, which is the governing council of the 26 member women's fraternities and sororities. Alpha Omicron Pi has the following values:
"Trusting and respecting each other;
Building lifelong friendships;
Contributing time, talent and financial resources;
Promoting integrity;
Developing leaders;
Striving for excellence;
Encouraging innovation and creativity;
Using teamwork and collaboration;
Acting philanthropically;
And being' a living example."
