When the Society was first established in 1914, only men were admitted as members. However, at the 1970 and 1972 Biennial National Conventions, the members of the University of Alabama Circle began to formally advocate for the admittance of women into the Society. The Special Committee on the Possible Role of Women met in January 1973 and recommended changes to the National Constitution that would prohibit membership based on gender within the Society. The “Alabama Amendment” to the National Constitution was approved during the 1974 convention. On that date, the first women members were recognized by O∆K. Their names and circles of initiation are listed below:
- Carolyn Julia Kucinski Melo, New Jersey Institute of Technology
- Diane Christine Ragosa, New Jersey Institute of Technology
- Robbie Lynn Cooney Johansson, University of South Florida
- Maria Dolores Delvalle Fatum, University of South Florida
- Roxane R. Dow, University of South Florida
- Catherine Ann Rohrbacher Fleeger, University of South Florida
- Karen Diane Janzer Ott, University of South Florida
- Linda Ann Touten, University of South Florida
- Martha Gwyn Van Deman Scholl, University of South Florida
- Cathy Sue Welch, University of South Florida
In 1998, another woman made O∆K history—Cheryl M. Hogle (SUNY Plattsburgh, 1981) became the first woman elected to serve as National President. Betsy Bugg Holloway (Vanderbilt University, 1991) became the second woman to serve as president. In 2003, Sally Jones Hill (Auburn University, 1988) became the first woman to receive the Laurel Crowned Circle Award. Hogle, along with Cokie Roberts (University of Akron, 1995), Susan Komives (Denison University, 1978), and Donna Shalala (University of Miami, 2002) are the other women who have received this honor. Kathryn McCain Lee (Mary Baldwin University, 1976) was the first woman to receive the National Leader of the Year Award in 1977.
