National History

The Seventies was a time of tremendous social change in the United States. No longer chained by traditional roles, women were empowered to discover more of themselves and their potential to make changes and realize dreams unthinkable a decade before. To have the power to make this a concrete reality, women...especially minority women, needed a voice. In 1975, seventeen strong, Latin women saw the overwhelming need to provide an outreach group for those who needed to be heard and helped. In 1975, these women formed Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, the first Latin sorority founded in the United States. In 1979, Lambda Theta Alpha was incorporated as an academic sorority. The colors of the sorority are burgundy and gray. Furthermore, principles of unity, love, and respect were chosen to govern the sorority. Twenty five years later, Lambda Theta Alpha continues to grow and surpass the expectations of its founding mothers.

In its 27 years of existence, there is an entity that has remained ever-present in Lambda Theta Alpha; our founding mothers. Catalysts for change, these 17 women came together by chance and stayed together by choice, forming the first Latin Sorority in the Nation. The founders of LTA are more than historical icons to whom we pay homage, they are distinguished within their professions and continue to assist their community on social, political and educational levels.
 
Their vision to establish a sisterhood based on Unity, Love and Respect; a vehicle for the education and empowerment of all women, was not only carried out, but is to this day carried on by a legion of sisters dedicated to our purpose and principles. Our founding mothers remain active still with the organization, participate in National, Area and Chapter events, proving time and again that sisterhood IS indeed for life.

Founding Mothers

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