Founding Date

Oct 13th, 1996

In February 1937, George Pepperdine founded the university as a Christian liberal arts college in the city of Los Angeles. On September 21, 1937, 167 new students from 22 different states and two other countries entered classes on a newly built campus on 34 acres at West 79th Street and South Vermont Avenue in the Vermont Knolls neighborhood of South Central Los Angeles. By April 6, 1938, George Pepperdine College was fully accredited by the Northwest Association. In 1967, the school began planning to move the undergraduate campus and decided to move to Malibu. Construction began on April 13, 1971 and the new campus opened for student enrollment in September 1972. Pepperdine joined the state university system in 1971 when the school of law was added, and the business and education departments became separate schools. In February 1996, Pepperdine University declared it would open its doors to national fraternity and sorority expansion. This news was highly anticipated and warmly welcomed by Delta Gamma Fraternity as they had been watching for the possibility to expand at Pepperdine for many years. Several local women’s chapters expressed interest in obtaining a Delta Gamma charter. In April 1996 the local women’s group known as the “Anchor Club” petitioned Delta Gamma Fraternity. Upon the founding of Anchor Club, the women had hoped that one day they might become Delta Gammas. Only local sororities were active on campus at the time, but Carole “Bobbi” Hipple Giglio, Gamma Pi-Roanoke, had a daughter, Kristin, who was enrolled in Pepperdine and was instrumental in seeking Delta Gamma affiliation. Their petition was soon accepted, and nationals responded in August with a letter of enthusiasm to explain further the dedication needed to gain a charter of Delta Gamma. At that point five other strong National Panhellenic Conference chapters established on campus including: Pi Beta Phi, Tri- Delta, Kappa Kappa Gamma, Alpha Phi, and Gamma Phi Beta. Anne Signore, Epsilon-Ohio State, the Coordinator of Expansion, sent letters to fifteen of the Pepperdine’s surrounding area zip codes in order to arouse local alumnae interest to support the new chapter in its early stages. The responses were many and highly enthusiastic. Pledging for the Eta Alpha new chapter took place on April 8, 1996. Twenty-nine young women became new members, with Kristin Giglio elected as new chapter president. When school resumed in the fall, the new members spent time learning Delta Gamma’s history, traditions and the meaning of DG sisterhood. Collegiate Development consultant Emily Rahn, Gamma Theta-Florida guided the group as it prepared for Installation. Eta Alpha held its first formal recruitment on November 1, 1996. On October 10, 1996 an Inspiration ceremony was performed. The ceremony was performed in a circle of all the new members with the expansion team dispersed throughout. Each of the three founders were detailed as beautiful young women whose devotion to one another created the Delta Gamma Fraternity we know of today. On Sunday, October 13, 1996 28 women of Eta Alpha were initiated in the beautiful stained-glass chapel on campus. An Installation Banquet followed at Duke’s of Malibu beachfront restaurant. A Hawaiian luau theme accompanied an ocean view, which served as the backdrop for Eta Alpha charter presentation by Paula Ellwein. Eta Alpha chapter of Delta Gamma became the Fraternity’s 140th collegiate chapter. With several Fraternity representatives in attendance, and the presentation of their charter, there were many happy highlights of the day. Shortly after Installation, the new chapter conducted formal rush and pledged the quota total of 50 women. The chapter was off to a great start with members composed of outstanding scholars, theater and athletic participants, all making this chapter very well-rounded and successful.