American Latina-interest collegiate sorority
Lambda Theta Alpha Founded December 1, 1975; 48 years ago (December 1, 1975 ) Kean University Type Social Affiliation Independent Former Affiliation NALFO Status Active Emphasis Latina Scope United States Mottos "Latin By Tradition Not by Definition"
"Universal Women. Redefining Sisterhood"
"Women there are Many, Ladies there are Few" Colors Burgundy and Grey Symbol La Perla (pearl ), La Concha (shell ), La Luna (moon ), y La Palma (Palm Tree )[1] Philanthropy St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Chapters 150 Undergraduate Chapters and 30 Alumnae Chapters Nickname LTA, Lambda Ladies Principles Unity, Love, and Respect Headquarters Union , NJ USA Website www .lambdalady .org
Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc. (ΛΘΑ ) is the first and largest Latina -based sorority , established in 1975 at Kean University by seventeen women of Latin, Caribbean, and European descent as a support system for women in higher education.[2] According to their website, Lambda Theta Alpha states that its focus would be to "actively integrate itself into the social, political and community service arena that other students had been involved with."[3]
The sorority was a member of the National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations , and won recognition as Sorority of the Year from 2000–2001, 2002–2003, 2003–2004, 2009–2010, 2011–2012, 2012–2013 and 2013– 2014.[4] [5]
History [ edit ]
Seventeen women came together to form the sorority and are recognized as the 17 Founding Mothers. According to the Sorority's website, Lambda Theta Alpha is recognized as the first Latina sorority in the United States.[3] Lambda Theta Alpha partakes in traditions such as having hand signs and calls, as well as saluting and strolling; but not stepping, out of respect to the "Divine Nine" or the National Pan-Hellenic Council . Symbolically, saluting demonstrates unity and respect, while strolling demonstrates unity and pride.[3]
Founding Mothers [ edit ]
Picture of Lambda Theta Alpha Founding Mothers and Line 1
Ileana Almaguer
Cecilia Alvarez
Carmen Baez
Karen Capra
Doris Cruz
Arlene Fernandez
Eneida Figueroa
Maria Gautier
Teresa Gonzalez
Dra. Thomasa Gonzalez
Diana Ibarria
Lillian Marrero
Ofelia Oviedo
Linda Perez
Aurora "Dory" Rodriguez
Maria del Carmen Vega
Marilyn Wyatt
National philanthropy [ edit ]
LTA and the St. Jude Give Thanks Walk
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital [ edit ]
Lambda Theta Alpha members serve thousands of hours each year to a variety of philanthropic causes and needs. In the effort to create a more united and bigger impact nationally, Lambda Theta Alpha selected a national philanthropy. In January 2010, LTA became an official collegiate partner to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital , becoming the first individual Latino Greek organization to commit fully to the hospital's efforts.[6] LTA has pledged to bring awareness to childhood cancer, life-threatening diseases and St. Jude within the Latino community and to fundraise for the hospital through a variety of events and programs.
In 2014, the sorority expanded its partnership with St. Jude by becoming an official partner of the annual St. Jude Walk/Run to End Childhood Cancer, which brings communities together across the nation during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month to raise funds for the hospital. The sorority has repeatedly exceeded its sponsorship commitments and looks forward to this event every year. [7]
Lambda Theta Alpha Foundation [ edit ]
The Lambda Theta Alpha Foundation, Inc. was founded in 2015, based on the desires and needs identified by the National Board and Founding Mothers of Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc. They identified the need to create a foundation where members and the community could contribute and benefit from its support. The mission is to promote the enrichment of our communities by providing funding for educational programming, collegiate scholarships, and spearheading humanitarian relief efforts.
Carolina Sodre and Beatriz Barragan came together and on November 24, 2015, the Lambda Theta Alpha Foundation, Inc. (“the Foundation”) became a recognized corporation of the State of Oklahoma and was officially recognized as a 501c3 public charity by the IRS on July 14, 2016. Once established, the Foundation took time to develop its strategic planning and active board members. In 2017, Hurricane Harvey occurred, which ignited the need for support from the Foundation to support its community through its humanitarian relief pillar.
Since then, the Foundation has been upholding the mission of advancing the community through education, humanitarian relief and scholarship. [8]
Chapter Philanthropies [ edit ]
Most chapters of the organization have a chapter philanthropy in addition to the national philanthropy. Completing a set number of community service hours at any organization for a good cause are required to join. [citation needed ]
Chapters [ edit ]
Chapters and their founding years. The Alpha Alpha and Alpha Alpha Alpha series chapter names are designated for alumnae clubs. Where known, the year when a chapter went dormant is noted. Active chapters noted in bold , inactive chapters noted in italics . [9] [10]
Collegiate chapters
Designation
Charter date and range
School
Location
Status
Notes
Alpha (Α )
December 1, 1975
Kean University
Union Township, NJ
Active
Beta (Β )
1980
Bloomfield College
Bloomfield, NJ
Active
Gamma (Γ )
1981
The College of New Jersey
Ewing Township, NJ
Active
Delta (Δ )
1986
Seton Hall University
South Orange, NJ
Active
Epsilon (Ε )
1987
Rutgers University
New Brunswick, NJ
Active
Zeta (Ζ )
1987
Stockton University
Galloway Township, NJ
Active
Eta (Η )
1990
Fairleigh Dickinson University Caldwell College
Madison, NJ Caldwell, NJ
Active
Theta (Θ )
1991
Rowan University
Glassboro, NJ
Active
Iota (Ι )
November 3, 1991
Rider University
Lawrence Township, NJ
Active
Kappa (Κ )
1992
University of Connecticut
Storrs, CT
Active
Lambda (Λ )
1992
Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Puerto Rico
Ponce, PR
Active
Mu (Μ )
1992
Ramapo College
Mahwah, NJ
Active
Nu (Ν )
1992
Montclair State University
Montclair, NJ
Active
Xi (Ξ )
1992
Manhattan College [a] College of New Rochelle [b] Iona University
The Bronx , NY New Rochelle, NY New Rochelle, NY
Active
[a] [b]
Omicron (Ο )
1992 –2001
Upsala College
East Orange, NJ
Inactive
Pi (Π )
1993
West Chester University
Chester County, PA
Active
Rho (Ρ )
1993
Rutgers University–Camden
Camden, NJ
Active
Sigma (Σ )
1993
William Paterson University
Wayne, NJ
Active
Tau (Τ )
1994
Monmouth University
West Long Branch, NJ
Active
Upsilon (Υ )
1995
University of Maryland, College Park
College Park, MD
Active
Phi (Φ )
1995
New Jersey Institute of Technology Rutgers University–Newark
Newark, NJ Newark, NJ
Active
Chi (Χ )
1996
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL
Active
Psi (Ψ )
1996
Central Connecticut State University
New Britain, CT
Active
Omega (Ω )
(reserved)
Beta Alpha (ΒΑ )
1996
University of Hartford Trinity College
West Hartford, CT Hartford, CT
Active
Beta Beta (ΒΒ )
1998
Le Moyne College
DeWitt, NY
Active
Beta Gamma (ΒΓ )
1998
University of South Florida
Tampa, FL
Active
Beta Delta (ΒΔ )
1998
California State University, Long Beach
Long Beach, CA
Active
Beta Epsilon (ΒΕ )
1998
University of Pennsylvania Temple University
Philadelphia , PA Philadelphia , PA
Active
Beta Zeta (ΒΖ )
1998
Loyola Marymount University
Los Angeles , CA
Active
Beta Eta (ΒΗ )
1998
Texas A&M University
College Station, TX
Active
Beta Theta (ΒΘ )
1999
University of Central Florida
Orange County, FL
Active
Beta Iota (ΒΙ )
1999
Arizona State University
Phoenix , AZ
Active
Beta Kappa (ΒΚ )
1999
University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Baltimore County, MD
Active
Beta Lambda (ΒΛ )
1999
Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA
Active
Beta Mu (ΒΜ )
2000
University of North Texas
Denton, TX
Active
Beta Nu (ΒΝ )
2000
University of Texas at Arlington
Arlington, TX
Active
Beta Xi (ΒΞ )
2000
San Jose State University
San Jose, CA
Active
Beta Omicron (ΒΟ )
2000
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, MI
Active
Beta Pi (ΒΠ )
2000
Eastern Michigan University
Ypsilanti, MI
Active
Beta Rho (ΒΡ )
2000
New Jersey City University Saint Peter's University
Jersey City, NJ Jersey City, NJ
Active
Beta Sigma (ΒΣ )
2000
University of Miami
Coral Gables, FL
Active
Beta Tau (ΒΤ )
2000
University at Buffalo Buffalo State University
Buffalo, NY Buffalo, NY
Active
Beta Upsilon (ΒΥ )
2001
Western Connecticut State University
Danbury, CT
Active
Beta Phi (ΒΦ )
2001
University of Illinois
Champaign, IL
Active
Beta Chi (ΒΧ )
2001
Eastern Illinois University
Charleston, IL
Active
Beta Psi (ΒΨ )
2001
Northwestern University
Evanston, IL
Active
Beta Omega (ΒΩ )
2001
Wayne State University
Detroit , MI
Active
Gamma Alpha (ΓΑ )
2001
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, VA
Active
Gamma Beta (ΓΒ )
2001
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN
Active
Gamma Gamma (ΓΓ )
2001
University of Tennessee
Knoxville, TN
Active
Gamma Delta (ΓΔ )
2001
Nova Southeastern University
Davie, FL
Active
Gamma Epsilon (ΓΕ )
2001
Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL
Active
Gamma Zeta (ΓΖ )
2001
University of California, Riverside
Riverside, CA
Active
Gamma Eta (ΓΗ )
2001
University of Houston
Houston , TX
Active
Gamma Theta (ΓΘ )
2002
Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi
Corpus Christi, TX
Active
Gamma Iota (ΓΙ )
2002
Florida Atlantic University
Boca Raton, FL
Active
Gamma Kappa (ΓΚ )
2002
University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM
Active
Gamma Lambda (ΓΛ )
2002
California State University, Fullerton
Fullerton, CA
Active
Gamma Mu (ΓΜ )
2003
University of Wisconsin
Madison, WI
Active
Gamma Nu (ΓΝ )
2003
Emory University
Atlanta , GA
Active
Gamma Xi (ΓΞ )
2003
Sam Houston State University
Huntsville, TX
Active
Gamma Omicron (ΓΟ )
August 23, 2003
University of Washington
Seattle , WA
Active
Gamma Pi (ΓΠ )
2003
Florida International University
Miami-Dade County, FL
Active
Gamma Rho (ΓΡ )
2003
Texas Tech University
Lubbock, TX
Active
Gamma Sigma (ΓΣ )
2004
California State University, San Bernardino
San Bernardino, CA
Active
Gamma Tau (ΓΤ )
2004
California State University, Los Angeles
Los Angeles , CA
Active
Gamma Upsilon (ΓΥ )
2004
Cal Poly Pomona
Pomona, CA
Active
Gamma Phi (ΓΦ )
2004
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY
Active
Gamma Chi (ΓΧ )
2004
University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX
Active
Gamma Psi (ΓΨ )
2004
San Diego State University
San Diego , CA
Active
Gamma Omega (ΓΩ )
2005
Georgia Tech
Atlanta , GA
Active
Delta Alpha (ΔΑ )
2005
University of Georgia
Athens, GA
Active
Delta Beta (ΔΒ )
2005
Georgia State University
Atlanta , GA
Active
Delta Gamma (ΔΓ )
2005
University of North Carolina at Pembroke
Pembroke, NC
Active
Delta Delta (ΔΔ )
2005
University of North Carolina Wilmington
Wilmington, NC
Active
Delta Epsilon (ΔΕ )
2005
George Mason University
Fairfax County, VA
Active
Delta Zeta (ΔΖ )
2006
Stony Brook University
Stony Brook, NY
Active
Delta Eta (ΔΗ )
2006
University of Idaho
Moscow, ID
Active
Delta Theta (ΔΘ )
2006
University of California, Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CA
Active
Delta Iota (ΔΙ )
2006
Middle Tennessee State University
Murfreesboro, TN
Active
Delta Kappa (ΔΚ )
2007
St. John’s University
Queens , NY
Active
Delta Lambda (ΔΛ )
2007
West Virginia University
Morgantown, WV
Active
Delta Mu (ΔΜ )
2007
Western Illinois University
Macomb, IL
Active
Delta Nu (ΔΝ )
2007
Loyola University Chicago
Chicago , IL
Active
Delta Xi (ΔΞ )
2007
Lewis–Clark State College
Lewiston, ID
Active
Delta Omicron (ΔΟ )
2007
University of California
Berkeley, CA
Active
Delta Pi (ΔΠ )
2007
University of Delaware
Newark, DE
Active
Delta Rho (ΔΡ )
2008
University of California, Los Angeles
Los Angeles , CA
Active
Delta Sigma (ΔΣ )
2009
Texas Wesleyan University
Fort Worth, TX
Active
Delta Tau (ΔΤ )
2008
San Francisco State University
San Francisco , CA
Active
Delta Upsilon (ΔΥ )
2008
Lehigh University
Bethlehem, PA
Active
Delta Phi (ΔΦ )
2008
University of Southern California
Los Angeles , CA
Active
Delta Chi (ΔΧ )
2008
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo, CA
Active
Delta Psi (ΔΨ )
2009
Towson University
Towson, MD
Active
Delta Omega (ΔΩ )
2009
California State University, Northridge
Northridge (LA), CA
Active
Epsilon Alpha (ΕΑ )
2009
Kennesaw State University
Kennesaw, GA
Active
Epsilon Beta (ΕΒ )
2009
University of Chicago
Chicago , IL
Active
Epsilon Gamma (ΕΓ )
2009
University of Illinois Chicago
Chicago , IL
Active
Epsilon Delta (ΕΔ )
2009
DePaul University
Chicago , IL
Active
Epsilon Epsilon (ΕΕ )
2009
Eastern Washington University
Cheney, WA
Active
Epsilon Zeta (ΕΖ )
2009
University of Vermont
Burlington, VT
Active
Epsilon Eta (ΕΗ )
2009
Villanova University
Villanova, PA
Active
Epsilon Theta (ΕΘ )
2010
East Carolina University
Greenville, NC
Active
Epsilon Iota (ΕΙ )
2010
Cal Poly Humboldt
Arcata, CA
Active
Epsilon Kappa (ΕΚ )
2010
University of Arizona
Tucson, AZ
Active
Epsilon Lambda (ΕΛ )
2010
Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University
Daytona Beach, FL
Active
Epsilon Mu (ΕΜ )
2010
SUNY Oneonta
Oneonta, NY
Active
Epsilon Nu (ΕΝ )
2011
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, NC
Active
Epsilon Xi (ΕΞ )
2011
California State University, Fresno
Fresno, CA
Active
Epsilon Omicron (ΕΟ )
2011
Binghamton University – SUNY
Binghamton, NY
Active
Epsilon Pi (ΕΠ )
2011
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI
Active
Epsilon Rho (ΕΡ )
2011
Texas Christian University
Fort Worth, TX
Active
Epsilon Sigma (ΕΣ )
2012
University of California, Irvine
Irvine, CA
Active
Epsilon Tau (ΕΤ )
2012
Lewis University
Romeoville, IL
Active
Epsilon Upsilon (ΕΥ )
2012
University of California, Davis
Davis, CA
Active
Epsilon Phi (ΕΦ )
2012
University of North Carolina
Charlotte, NC
Active
Epsilon Chi (ΕΧ )
2012
University of California, Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, CA
Active
Epsilon Psi (ΕΨ )
2012
University at Albany, SUNY
Albany, NY
Active
Epsilon Omega (ΕΩ )
2013
University of Memphis
Memphis, TN
Active
Zeta Alpha (ΖΑ )
2013
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, VA
Active
Zeta Beta (ΖΒ )
2013
University of West Georgia
Carrollton, GA
Active
Zeta Gamma (ΖΓ )
2014
Iowa State University
Ames, IA
Active
Zeta Delta (ΖΔ )
2014
Boise State University
Boise, ID
Active
Zeta Epsilon (ΖΕ )
2014
Syracuse University
Syracuse, NY
Active
Zeta Zeta (ΖΖ )
2014
California State University, East Bay
Hayward, CA
Active
Zeta Eta (ΖΗ )
2015
Idaho State University
Pocatello, ID
Active
Zeta Theta (ΖΘ )
2015
Johnson C. Smith University
Charlotte, NC
Active
Zeta Iota (ΖΙ )
2015
Heritage University
Toppenish, WA
Active
Zeta Kappa (ΖΚ )
2015
SUNY Plattsburgh
Plattsburgh, NY
Active
Zeta Lambda (ΖΛ )
2015
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, MI
Active
Zeta Mu (ΖΜ )
2015
Duke University
Durham, NC
Active
Zeta Nu (ΖΝ )
2015
Hofstra University
Hempstead, NY
Active
Zeta Xi (ΖΞ )
2016
University of Missouri
Columbia, MO
Active
Zeta Omicron (ΖΟ )
2016
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Carbondale, IL
Active
Zeta Pi (ΖΠ )
2016
Salisbury University
Salisbury, MD
Active
Zeta Rho (ΖΡ )
2016
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Edinburg, TX
Active
Zeta Sigma (ΖΣ )
2016
Washington State University
Pullman, WA
Active
Zeta Tau (ΖΤ )
2017
Aurora University
Aurora, IL
Active
Zeta Upsilon (ΖΥ )
2017
Northern Illinois University
DeKalb, IL
Active
Zeta Phi (ΖΦ )
2017
Denison University
Granville, OH
Active
Zeta Chi (ΖΧ )
2017
University of Northern Colorado
Greeley, CO
Active
Zeta Psi (ΖΨ )
April 29, 2017
California State University, Dominguez Hills ?
Carson, CA
Active
Zeta Omega (ΖΩ )
April 7, 2018
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Greensboro, NC
Active
Eta Alpha (ΗΑ )
2018
University of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls, IA
Active
Eta Beta (ΗΒ )
2018
SUNY Cortland
Cortland, NY
Active
Eta Gamma (ΗΓ )
May 11, 2019
University of California, San Diego
San Diego , CA
Active
Eta Delta (ΗΔ )
201x ?
California State University, Sacramento
Sacramento, CA
Active
Eta Epsilon (ΗΕ )
October 31, 2020
California State University, Chico
Chico, CA
Active
Eta Zeta (ΗΖ )
November 13, 2020
Stephen F. Austin State University
Nacogdoches, TX
Active
Eta Eta (ΗΗ )
November 28, 2021
George Washington University
Washington, D.C.
Active
^ a b In 1922 Manhattan College was relocated from its original location in Manhattan, to the nearby borough of the Bronx, without being renamed.
^ a b The College of New Rochelle was closed in 2019 , after bankruptcy of the school.
Alumnae chapters [ edit ]
Alumnae chapters
Designation
City
Alpha Alpha (ΑΑ )
New Brunswick, New Jersey
Alpha Beta (ΑΒ )
Hartford, Connecticut
Alpha Gamma (ΑΓ )
Austin, Texas
Alpha Delta (ΑΔ )
Silver Spring, Maryland
Alpha Epsilon (ΑΕ )
New York City , New York
Alpha Zeta (ΑΖ )
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Alpha Eta (ΑΗ )
Los Angeles , California
Alpha Theta (ΑΘ )
Seattle , Washington
Alpha Iota (ΑΙ )
Nashville, Tennessee
Alpha Kappa (ΑΚ )
Madison, Wisconsin
Alpha Lambda (ΑΛ )
Chicago , Illinois
Alpha Mu (ΑΜ )
Detroit , Michigan
Alpha Nu (ΑΝ )
Philadelphia , Pennsylvania
Alpha Xi (ΑΞ )
Alexandria, Virginia
Alpha Omicron (ΑΟ )
Phoenix, Arizona
Alpha Pi (ΑΠ )
Boston , Massachusetts
Alpha Rho (ΑΡ )
Raleigh, North Carolina
Alpha Sigma (ΑΣ )
Atlanta , Georgia
Alpha Tau (ΑΤ )
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Alpha Upsilon (ΑΥ )
Orlando, Florida
Alpha Phi (ΑΦ )
Dallas , Texas
Alpha Chi (ΑΧ )
San Francisco , California
Alpha Psi (ΑΨ )
Denver , Colorado
Alpha Omega (ΑΩ )
Paterson, New Jersey
Alpha Alpha Alpha (ΑΑΑ )
Houston , Texas
Alpha Alpha Beta (ΑΑΒ )
San Diego , California
Alpha Alpha Gamma (ΑΑΓ )
Atlantic City, New Jersey
Alpha Alpha Delta (ΑΑΔ )
Charlotte, North Carolina
Alpha Alpha Epsilon (ΑΑΕ )
Tri-Cities, Washington
Alpha Alpha Zeta (ΑΑΖ )
Richmond, Virginia
Omega chapter (Ω ) [ edit ]
Omega chapter is dedicated to members of the sorority who are deceased. Historically, the sorority has honored these members with the title "Lambda Angels". During each national banquet a moment of silence is taken, and information about each member is incorporated into the program that reflects on each Lambda Angel’s accomplishments and the great loss that the Sisterhood has experienced, in their passing. In recent years a ceremony has been conducted at the national annual convention.
References [ edit ]
External links [ edit ]
Currently active members of NALFO Former members of NALFO