History of Fraternity & Sorority Life

Fraternity and sorority life has been part of Wake Forest since the late 1800s, when Kappa Alpha Order was established. By 1922, fraternities were officially recognized by faculty and became an outlet for both social life and intellectual growth. Today, Wake Forest is home to 12 social fraternities.

In 1948, the first women’s local society—called Strings—was formed. Although not officially recognized for their first 15 years, these societies created spaces for social connection and personal growth. By the early 1990s, many joined national organizations through the National Panhellenic Conference. In 1993, local groups transitioned into national sororities, and Wake Forest is now home to 8 social sororities.

In 1975, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. became the first historically African American fraternity on campus. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. followed in 1988, establishing the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) at Wake Forest. NPHC organizations provide spaces for empowerment, identity development, and leadership. Today, the NPHC includes 6 fraternities and sororities.

In 2011, Wake Forest welcomed Delta Xi Phi Multicultural Sorority, Inc., and in 2024, Chi Upsilon Sigma National Latin Sorority, Inc. joined the community. These two organizations formed the United Greek Council (UGC), which is home to multicultural and special-interest fraternities and sororities.