Phi Sigma Rho (; also known as Phi Rho or PSR) is a social
sorority for individuals who identify as female or non-binary in engineering and technology. The sorority was founded in 1984 at
Purdue University
Purdue University is a Public university#United States, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in West Lafayette, Indiana, United States, and the flagship campus of the Purdue University system. The university was founded ...
. It has since expanded to more than 40 colleges across the United States.
History
Phi Sigma Rho was founded on September 24, 1984, at
Purdue University
Purdue University is a Public university#United States, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in West Lafayette, Indiana, United States, and the flagship campus of the Purdue University system. The university was founded ...
.
[Lurding, Carroll and Becque, Fran. (January 13, 2024).]
Women's Organizations
.
Almanac of Fraternities and Sororities
'. Urbana: University of Illinois. Accessed April 10, 2025. Its founders were Rashmi Khanna and Abby McDonald who were unable to participate in traditional sorority rush due to the demands of the sororities and their engineering program; they decided to start a new sorority that would take their academic program's demands into consideration.
The ''Alpha chapter'' at Purdue University was founded with ten charter members: Gail Bonney, Anita Chatterjea, Ann Cullinan, Pam Kabbes, Rashmi Khanna, Abby McDonald, Christine Mooney, Tina Kershner, Michelle Self, and Kathy Vargo.
Phi Sigma Rho is a social sorority that accepts students pursuing degrees in engineering and technology who identify as female or who identify as non-binary.
The sorority made the decision to include non-binary students in all chapters in the summer of 2021.
The sorority's headquarters is based in Seattle, Washington.
Symbols
Phi Sigma Rho's core values or pillars are Friendship, Scholarship, and Encouragement.
Its motto is "Together we build the future."
The colors of Phi Sigma Rho are wine red and silver.
The sorority's flower is the orchid.
Its jewel is the pearl.
Its mascot is Sigmand the penguin.
Its online magazine is ''The Key''.
Philanthropy
Phi Sigma Rho's national philanthropy is the
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
The Phi Sigma Rho Foundation was established as a separate nonprofit organization in 2005.
It supports the educational and philanthropic efforts of the sorority's members and offers merit-based scholarships to sorority members.
Chapters
As of 2025, Phi Sigma Rho has charter 53 chapters in the United States, with 48 being active.
Notable members
*
Lila Ibrahim, computer scientist and
Google DeepMind's first
chief operating officer
A chief operating officer (COO), also called chief operations officer, is an executive in charge of the daily operations of an organization (i.e. personnel, resources, and logistics). COOs are usually second-in-command immediately after the C ...
See also
*
List of social sororities and women's fraternities
*
Professional fraternities and sororities
*
Society of Women Engineers
References
Further reading
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{{Fraternities and Sororities , collapsed
Fraternities and sororities in the United States
Student societies in the United States
Student organizations established in 1984
1984 establishments in Indiana
Purdue University
Engineering societies
Women's organizations based in the United States
Sororities