Sigma Alpha Epsilon

Cyrus Shepherd-Oppenheim earned a bachelor’s degree in history and English from the University of Pennsylvania in 2012. While in attendance at the university, Mr. Shepherd-Oppenheim was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.

Established in 1856, Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) is the sole United States fraternity still in existence that began in the antebellum South. Its early growth was concentrated in the south exclusively; by 1857’s end, there were seven chapters. At the outbreak of the Civil War, SAE’s members numbered under 400. Over 305,000 men have joined the organization since its inception, and its current membership is roughly 14,000 undergraduate students.

SAE events include its True Gentlemen Day of Service, which is a philanthropy initiative inclusive of all types of services and organizations. Initiated brothers are invited to attend its DeVotie Ritual Institute, which explores the application of SAE ritual in both fraternity settings and daily life. Each year, 25 of the group’s most promising undergraduate leaders are invited to the fraternity’s Inner Circle, where they learn from some of SAE’s most noteworthy leaders both within the group and in professional life.