Gamma Pi Epsilon

Gamma Pi Epsilon was the women's honor society of Jesuit colleges and universities. It was established in 1924 at Marquette University. In 1973, it merged with its male counterpart, Alpha Sigma Nu.

History

When Marquette University went co-ed in 1924, there was a desire for a women's honor society alongside the all-male Alpha Sigma Nu which had been created nine years prior. Gamma Pi Epsilon was approved in 1924 and the first chapter chartered on April 6, 1925 at Marquette University. Josephine Newell O’Gorman is considered the founder of Gamma Pi Epsilon.
Gamma Pi Epsilon was open to women of every academic discipline at a college or university that was a member of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities. It became a national society when it chartered a second chapter at Saint Louis University in 1947. Gamma Pi Epsilon collaborated with Alpha Sigma Nu, with both groups chartering new chapters on campuses at the same time.
At its annual convention in 1964, Alpha Sigma Nu decided to become a coeducational organization. The boards of the two organizations met in March 1972 to discuss a merger. On March 30, 1973, Alpha Sigma Nu and Gamma Pi Epsilon merged under the name of Alpha Sigma Nu, becoming an honor society for both men and women.

Gamma Pi Epsilon's motto was Pour Gloise L'Ecole or "For the Glory of the School".

At the time of the merger with Alpha Sigma Nu in 1973, Gamma Pi Epsilon had chartered fourteen chapters.