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 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. 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.

Now, over 39 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.

Chapter History

In the Fall of 2006 a group of young ladies came together in search of an organization that sought to empower the universal woman. Realizing the urgent need for an organization with strong academic support, professionalism, and political and community activism introduced these ladies to the Lambda Theta Alpha family. After much consideration, we concluded that Lambda Theta Alpha would provide the perfect medium for us to achieve our goals. Sixteen ladies, sixteen visions, sixteen different opinions all became the foundation for L.A.T.I.N.A.S. (Ladies Actively Taking Initiative through Networking, Academics, and Social justice). Our persistent efforts to gain recognition on campus and provide a motivational atmosphere for Bruin Latinas solidified the beginning of our journey.  
   
Once founded as L.A.T.I.N.A.S. we were then received in the of Spring 2007 as Interested Ladies of Lambda Theta Alpha at UCLA by the Latino Greek Council, as we determinately demonstrated our ethic for service and bonds of sisterhood. One year later, in the Spring of 2008, Delta Rho chapter was established as the 104th chapter of LTA. After two dedicated years we began with 16, grew to 60, and in the end finished strong with 29 proud founding sisters at UCLA.