National History
Alpha Rho Chi Fraternity Incorporated is a national professional fraternity limiting its membership to students of architecture and the allied arts.  It was founded on April 11, 1914 under the leadership of Leo M. Bauer and Chandler C. Cohagen when the Arcus Society at the Universities of Illinois and Sigma Upsilon at the University of Michigan united in Chicago, Illinois.  Their union brought together two architecture student organizations into the first national architecture fraternity, which was established to organize and unite in fellowship the architectural students in the universities and colleges of America.  Alpha Rho Chi, which consolidated into the Professional Fraternity Association in 1977, is one of 34 national and international fraternities, which promotes the artistic, scientific and practical efficiency of the younger members of the profession. 

Seshait History
On October 21, 1992, during a NOMAS meeting, the concept of Alpha Rho Chi was introduced by Ronald Lumpkin, a FAMU alumnus and Professor of Architecture at Florida A & M University. After the NOMAS meeting six students spoke with Professor Lumpkin and expressed their interest in Alpha Rho Chi. After a short conversation, those six students became the founders of the FAMU Colony of Alpha Rho Chi, and the following offices were established:

Brian A. Swilling – President
Jeffrey C. Bush – Vice President
Rachel A. Robinson – Secretary
Kenneth J. Hawkins – Treasurer
Jeron J. Williams – Parliamentarian
Raymond Taft Cleveland – Historian

The original name chosen for the colony was Senmut, a name proposed by Ronald Lumpkin.  After much research and discussion, the current name was agreed upon, Seshait, the Egyptian goddess of Learning, Wisdom, and Architecture. On March 13, 1994, the Colony traveled to the Apollodorus Chapter University of Florida and was officially initiated as the Seshait Chapter of Alpha Rho Chi Fraternity, Incorporated.

Click here to meet the Executive Board.