Samuel Eells founded the Alpha Delta Phi Society in the early 1830s as the Alpha Delta Phi Fraternity, and dedicated it to the cultivation of a holistic “union for intellectual and literary purposes, and at the same time maintain the integrity of youthful character.” However, the benefits of such a union were exclusive to those who attended college in this era—a group of predominantly affluent, white men. We took a considerable step forward in 1992 when we split from the Fraternity to become a gender-inclusive organization. In doing so, we laid the foundation for a new kind of Greek-letter organization, rooted in a culture of inclusion, which has allowed us to remain active and relevant on college campuses today.
Diversity and inclusion are the cornerstones on which we build some of the fundamental components of the Alpha Delta Phi Society experience. We foster intellectual growth by enabling people to learn from and surround themselves with a diverse set of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. We build a supportive community through an inclusive atmosphere that promotes the idea that every person should be heard and valued. And, we encourage our members to contribute their best to our organization by creating an environment where those who participate feel included, respected, and engaged.
Diversity, as a shared value, and inclusion, as a shared approach, allow us to thrive in the present and sustain us through the changing political, social, and economic times of the future. By dedicating ourselves to the imperatives of diversity and inclusion, we honor Samuel Eells’ original vision for a Society that is “national and universal in its adaptations”, while re-contextualizing it to redefine what it means to be a Greek-letter organization in the modern world.