Chapter
history_______________________________________________________________

O
n November 23, 2003 Gamma Pi was founded by five Lovely Ladies: Jeanette Garcia, Susan Suarez, Diana Lovera, Liz De La Cruz, and Gaby Ortega. Lambda Theta Alpha became the first and only Latin sorority established at FIU.

Since then, Gamma Pi has worked endlessly to ensure our goals of academic excellence, empowerment of Latinas and the universal woman, cultural and political awareness, and community activism are met. Some of our accomplishments include:
    Annual Art of Surviving benefit dinner which has raised over $1,000 for Safespace Foundation, Inc.
    Bringing various spoken word artists, including critically acclaimed, off-Broadway, one woman show, “Boogie Rican Blvd.” by La Bruja, to FIU and hosted Open Mic nights for local poets
    Annual Activism Awareness Weekend which raised over $300 for Save Darfur, Inc.
    2nd highest GPA amongst all Greek sororities and fraternities in Spring 2006
In addition, since our founding, we have had three lines enter the sisterhood of Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc. In Fall 2004, Gamma Pi welcomed the four Lovely Ladies of Line One: Georgette Noriega, Monica Alba, Stephanie Arboleda, and Diana Rivero. In Fall 2005, we welcomed the six Lovely Ladies of Line Two: Amanda Oliva, Andrea Hernandez, Rita “Coco” Thomas, Stephanie Fyock, Elena Balsinde, and Tatiana Lara. In Fall 2007, we welcomed the five Lovely Ladies of Line Three: Maria Lopez del Castillo, Veronica Bernace, Nohora Vanegas, Valerie Orta, and Latricia Santana.


National history_____________________________________________________________

The year 1975 saw the birth of what started as a vision an idea of an organization, a sisterhood that would cater to the needs of Latinas and the universal woman. Thanks to the tremendous strides made by our seventeen founding mothers, this dream was realized, and took form as the entity. Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc., the first Latina sorority in the nation.

There were several causes leading to the realization that such an organization was necessary. Traditionally, the role of the Latina woman was that of maintaining the family institution and falling into the realm of the Machismo stigma. As the Latino migration to the United States increased, so did the emergence of independent Latina women, eager to be at the forefront of an era of a new educational, political and social consciousness. In the early 70's, colleges and universities experienced an influx of Latino enrollment. With this growth, the need for support groups and outreach programs were at an all time high, primarily for the low percentage of Latina women in higher education institutions.

In 1975, Kean University in Union, New Jersey introduced and began to implement bilingual studies, as well as a Latino and Caribbean studies department. Women of Latin descent were now able to embark in higher education even if English was not their native language. Although this enabled and facilitated the educational advancement of the Latina woman, a huge void was left to be filled still missing was support and equality; a constant reminder to these women that they were still the minority, and that their struggle for equality on every level had just begun. It was at this university, in this historical time period, that a group of women convened to discuss the formation of a sorority for Latina women. Its focus would be to actively integrate itself into the social, political and community service arena that other students had been involved with. Together, as a united front they could compete, collaborate and assist with any student run programs, thus making their voices as loud and profound as the majority voice; their concerns equally as important.

Lambda Theta Alpha was recognized at Kean University as the First Latina Sorority founded in the United States. This organization was the first to recognize the need for a support system, thus creating one. The desire to progress, dedication to their community, and the aspiration for the advancement of the Latina women marked the beginning of Lambda Theta Alpha. It allowed the independent Latina woman of a new era to have a sense of belonging and with that, achieve her highest potential. It would define a new role for the Latina woman, one with education, goals and vision in hopes of great success.

Now, 30 years later, we have seen the outcome of such an organization. Lambda Theta Alpha has contributed to the advancement of all people by helping to produce educated women of many races, ethnicities, and creeds. These women are political leaders, doctors, lawyers, teachers, accountants, etc. LTA has also paved the way for many other Latina organizations, which would later pursue the empowering movement that we set the trend for. From 1975 to date, Lambda Theta Alpha has upheld its purpose and mission, each day realizing the Founder's dream that it may serve as a quintessential trailblazer for all women.

Founding Mothers

Ileana Almaguer
Cecilia Alvarez
Carmen Baez
Karen Capra
Doris Cruz
Arlene Fernandez
Eneida Figueroa
Maria Gautier
Teresa Gonzalez
Thomasa Gonzalez
Diana Ibarria
Lilian Marrero
Ofelia Oviedo
Linda Perez
Aurora "Dory" Rodriguez
Maria del Carmen Vega
Marilyn Wyatt