ABOUT US
OUR MISSION AND STORY
OUR PILLARS
The KOA brotherhood is founded on four pillars: Networking, Enthusiasm, Service and Transformation. Together, they form the basis of our NEST, the community and family we're building on campus.
SERVICE
SCHOLARSHIP
Kappa Omega Alpha (KOA) is the premier public policy professional fraternity at the University of Maryland. Our mission is to create a brotherhood of leaders who work together. ​
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The University of Maryland KOA chapter was established in 2018 by then sophomore Jacqueline Ford, working with UMD faculty advisor Jennifer Littlefield and the University of Michigan KOA (first chapter established in 2009). In the spring of 2018, the UMD Professional Greek Council (PGC) recognized KOA as an observer member, and that summer KOA became an official student organization recognized by Orgsync. ​​
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University of Maryland KOA has since helped establish four additional chapters. In spring of 2025, members and alumni from chapters across the United States came together to create KOA's National Chapter.
OUR VALUES
We expect our members to uphold three values: Respect, Integrity and Grit. The acronym created by these values reminds us to RIG ourselves for success on these ideals that we practice daily as Terps, friends, interns and everything we are.
TRANSFORMATION
SCHOLARSHIP
The KOA Service Scholarship provides funding for KOA members eager to continue their educational and professional development in graduate or professional school. With the KOA Service Scholarship, KOA members actively develop into public policy professionals committed to serving their respective communities.
The KOA Transformation Scholarship provides financial assistance to KOA members who have secured an unpaid internship. The KOA Transformation Scholarship facilitates the advancement of KOA members into public policy professionals through meaningful work-based learning opportunities.