This year, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated’s© Kappa Psi Omega Graduate Chapter celebrated 50 years of sisterhood, service, and scholarship in the Madison community. Kappa Psi Omega was chartered on May 15th, 1976. Madison Metropolitan School District social worker, Barbara Archia led the charge and recruited 19 other women, making her Kappa Psi Omega’s first chapter president. The youngest of the bunch was a 24-year-old Frances Huntley-Cooper, a notable community leader who became Wisconsin’s first Black mayor and remains active in the chapter today.
Now, in 2026, the chapter has over 40 members, which includes pillars of our community. Dr. Gloria Ladson Billings, the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s first tenured Black female professor, Dr. Leslie Petty, Dean of Academic Advancement at Madison College, Stephanie Bradley Wilson, the first Black female Lieutenant in the City of Madison Police Department and current chapter president, and countless other extraordinary women. They are lawyers, educators, mothers, wives, spanning all ages, touching every corner of Madison, and all aligned in their commitment to Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.©.
Kappa Psi Omega has worked diligently over the last 50 years to integrate the programs of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.© into the fabric of our ever-evolving city. From anchor events like Men Who Cook and Walk It Out to more targeted initiatives like Youth Leadership Institute and park cleanups, the chapter has always kept service central to its impact. These events have also always brought the community out and given others the chance to learn about both Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.© and Kappa Psi Omega. The chapter’s significance has inspired many to join Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.© including youth participants in chapter programming that have now grown up to be active adult members. Whether members joined directly through Kappa Psi Omega, or elsewhere, and found their way to Kappa Psi Omega, the chapter has been home to hundreds through the years and seen significant growth.
That growth has developed many leaders within the chapter, who all played a major role in the official anniversary celebration, Homecoming. Homecoming took place from Friday June 5th to Sunday June 7th and brought together Kappa Psi Omega members, past and present, other members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.©, locally and nationally, former Men Who Cook and Walk It Out participants, chapter scholarship recipients, and the local Madison community. Kappa Psi Omega was also supported by other local Divine Nine organizations.
The weekend included everything from line dancing, brunch, an evening reception, worship service, and plenty of photos to capture memories. All events were hosted by Kappa Psi Omega members who showed up and showed out from their infectious energy, down to their amazing attire. The chapter looks forward to hosting more amazing events, meaningful programming, and 50 more years of service to the Madison community.
