Kappa Alpha Omicron serves as the Honor Society for the Interdisciplinary Environmental Association.
The first Kappa Alpha Omicron Chapters were initiated in 2014 on the 20th anniversary of the IEA. The Alpha chapter of KAO is assigned to Assumption College, the home of the IEA founders. Today KAO has 14 active chapters across the US and is eager to grow its international community. The society's purpose can be found within the Greek letters that make up its name: Kosmos (universe), Anthropos (humanity), and Oikos (household). We believe these three perspectives can be used to approach today's biggest environmental challenges. KAO is designed to offer university students and faculty academic support from a scholarly network of professionals across the globe in the growing field of interdisciplinary environmental studies. Chapters attend the IEA's academic conference, participate in across-chapter challenges and events, gain access to the IEA's journal, Interdisciplinary Environmental Review (IER),  and have the opportunity to publish research with the IEA. Students and advisors are expected to engage with the IEA through sharing society updates, projects, and activities with the IEA community. Students are expected to participate in cross-chapter and online KAO events, in addition to developing in-chapter research and projects focused on environmental needs that are specific to the KAO chapter.