Chapter History
The history of Pi Alpha Chi began at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2008 when a group of collegiate women, drawn together by an attraction to community life, approached Father Robert Matya, the Pastor and Chaplain of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, with a proposal. The women requested Father Matya's assistance in establishing a Greek sorority with a firmly rooted Catholic identity. The intent was to create a sisterhood immersed in Catholic values that would be a formative influence on the participating women and a light among the campus's Greek community. Father Matya gathered together a group of local Catholic alumnae from the university's Greek sororities to advise these women, and the vision of Pi Alpha Chi was formed.
Father Matya, the advisors, and the collegiate women explored a variety of options as to how to best go about establishing a Catholic sorority on campus, including seeking affiliation with a preexisting National Panhellenic organization. During this time, the collegiate women grew in friendship and faith, yet struggled to meld their original vision within the confines of an established organization. After some time, it became apparent that the women's unique mission required a fresh start in order to fully realize their dream of a truly Catholic sorority. As a result, the difficult decision was made, with the support of Father Matya, to forge a new locally led sorority with the intent of one day becoming fully integrated with the university's Greek community.
On November 20th, 2012, the paperwork officially establishing Pi Alpha Chi as a registered student organization at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln was signed and submitted. The women of the sorority worked diligently to form the organizational foundations of sisterhood, and on September 6th, 2013, the Alpha Class of Alpha Chapter was initiated into Pi Alpha Chi. The Alpha Chapter became an associate member of the Panhellenic Association in the Fall of 2016.
Father Matya, the advisors, and the collegiate women explored a variety of options as to how to best go about establishing a Catholic sorority on campus, including seeking affiliation with a preexisting National Panhellenic organization. During this time, the collegiate women grew in friendship and faith, yet struggled to meld their original vision within the confines of an established organization. After some time, it became apparent that the women's unique mission required a fresh start in order to fully realize their dream of a truly Catholic sorority. As a result, the difficult decision was made, with the support of Father Matya, to forge a new locally led sorority with the intent of one day becoming fully integrated with the university's Greek community.
On November 20th, 2012, the paperwork officially establishing Pi Alpha Chi as a registered student organization at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln was signed and submitted. The women of the sorority worked diligently to form the organizational foundations of sisterhood, and on September 6th, 2013, the Alpha Class of Alpha Chapter was initiated into Pi Alpha Chi. The Alpha Chapter became an associate member of the Panhellenic Association in the Fall of 2016.
Looking Forward
The chapter consists of 52 active members from diverse ethnic, regional, and academic backgrounds that continue to grow in friendship and faith. These women are supported by 60 alumnae, 11 honorary alumnae members, 3 advisors, Father Matya, and the Catholic community in and around Lincoln. As a final component of the Newman Center's Capital Campaign, construction on the Pi Alpha Chi chapter house will begin within the coming years. The house will be located at 640 N. 16th Street, a central position along the University's Greek Row.
Members of Pi Alpha Chi meet with architect, Kevin Clark, for preliminary planning discussions.