Rutgers Chapter History

In November of 2001, ten Rutgers University female engineering students gathered together to create an organization to bond females with interests in engineering and science in friendship, professionalism, service and academic excellence. Soon after this initial gathering, the founding sisters named this organization Omega Xi, and a new sisterhood was born. Omega Xi had ten founding members: Ada Barlatt, Elizabeth Cestone, Danese Joiner, Joanne Maulit, Regan Miller, Kristin Nilsen, Natasha Patel, Christina Schroepfer, Natasha Vogelsang, and Candiece White.

After researching Phi Sigma Rho, the Omega Xi Chapter contacted Phi Sigma Rho National and told them that they were interested in their organization in September 2002. The first campus visit occurred on November 4, 2001. The Campus visit was very successful, and Omega Xi decided to petition Phi Sigma Rho for Colony Status. On December 22, 2002 the Rutgers Colony of Phi Sigma Rho was created, and its Alpha Class was inducted. The RU Alpha Class consists of the founding members of Omega Xi as well as the Omega Xi Alpha Class: Kristina Allen, Lauren Britton and Melissa Ciano and the Omega Xi Beta Class: Nisha Metha and Stephanie Woodruff.

Since that December, the Beta and Gamma classes were inducted into the colony and on December 6, 2003, the Rutgers Colony became the Xi Chapter of Phi Sigma Rho.

As of Fall 2009, the Xi Chapter will have initiated the Delta Class (Spring 2004), Epsilon Class (Fall 2004), Zeta Class (Fall 2005), Eta Class (Spring 2006), Theta Class (Fall 2006), Iota Class (Spring 2007), Kappa Class (Fall 2007), Lambda Class (Spring 2008), Mu Class (Fall 2008), Nu Class (Spring 2009), and the Xi Class (Fall 2009).

General Phi Sigma Rho Facts

Phi Sigma Rho is a national social sorority for women in engineering and engineering technology. Our sisterhood is made up of women who are studying an area of engineering, but also actively take part in campus activities within the social Greek system. In addition to socials, the sisters of Phi Sigma Rho are involved in community service projects and philanthropies such as the Girl Scouts of America and the American Cancer Society.

Engineering Facts

Engineering is a profession in which a knowledge of the mathematical and natural sciences, gained by study, experience, and practice, is applied to develop ways to use the materials and forces of nature economically for the benefit of humanity.

Engineering touches every phase of modern life. It extends human physical power through machines. It extends human reasoning power through computers. It extends human powers of observation through instruments enabling people to explore the tiniest microscopic structure or the far reaches of the universe. It creates vehicles to move people rapidly and safely to all parts of the earth and into the space surrounding it. It makes possible complex production and distribution systems for providing ample food to urban populations. It permits rapid communication of information among people throughout the world. It has given people great power to control their environment and, with this power, the responsibility to control it wisely. It has provided people with the most sophisticated art form, the art of engineering design.