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. This vision became Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Incorporated, the first Latina sorority in the nation.

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.

Chapter History

Chi Chapter was officially born on March 17, 1996. That is the day the Founding Line was initiated in New Jersey as full members of Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc. LTA was already well established and respected as the very first Latina-based or multicultural sorority in the United States of America. At that time, there were similar local organizations in the Caribbean, but they were not "sororities" in the American terms as we know them today. Rather they were for more social purposes. Many Latin-American families are not familiar with the notion of American-style sororities or fraternities because of the absence of them in their home countries.

The beginnings of Chi Chapter came much earlier than 1996. Talk of starting a Latina sorority and fraternity at the University of Florida began back in 1993. The interest group of Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority Inc. started in the Spring of 1994. Around that time the Founding Sisters were part of a larger group of women interested in founding a Latin sorority on campus. Out of an interest group of 20, only three ladies remained for the Fall of 1994. Many of the interested women grew impatient and decided they did not want to work to earn the privilege of being sisters of Lambda Theta Alpha. Some broke off of the original interest group and started to form their own local groups. The ladies who decided they were up for the challenge of bringing a nationally-recognized, well-known, well-respected organization were Caroline Ayala, Adelaida Medina and Danielle Hernandez. Through the hard work of these ladies, the core of the soon to be Chi Chapter was formed.

Of the 10 in the final interest group, only nine became Founding Sisters on March 17, 1996 in NJ. When the chapter was born there were no other Latina-based or multicultural sororities on campus, just societies and women's groups. Some of the newly-formed groups eventually became officially Greek years later, but Chi Chapter was born as a sorority upon its foundation, not a women's group or society. At that time there was no council to accommodate a Greek-letter organization that was neither mainstream or part of the National Pan-Hellenic Council. The idea of a Latin-based or multicultural fraternal organization was entirely new.

While Chi Chapter was recognized nationally by its National Sorority incorporated under the State of New Jersey, UF didn’t have a council to fit Lambda Theta Alpha. Starting in the summer of 1999 Sisters including Caroline Ayala, Merlix Stone, Rocio Rodriguez and Viviana Espinoza, formed a committee with members of Lambda Theta Phi, Sigma Lambda Beta, and Sigma Lambda Gamma (all national organizations) to form the Multicultural Greek Council. It wasn’t until later that the council would start to allow regional fraternal organizations and newer organizations to be admitted as associate members to apply for recognition. Establishing the Multicultural Greek Council is one of LTA's longstanding contributions to the University of Florida. Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc. Chi Chapter was and still is the very FIRST Latin, Latina-based or multicultural sorority that existed in the South and in the entire State of Florida.