A message from our president

Greetings Sorors and Friends of the Gamma Chapter,

Welcome to the official website of the Gamma Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. It is with immense honor and humility that I greet the University of Pennsylvania and the greater Philadelphia community as the President of the Gamma Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated for the 2025-2026 school year. 

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated was founded on January 13, 1913 on the campus of Howard University by 22 visionary collegiate women. Rooted in sisterhood, scholarship, service, and social action, our Founders were called to create an organization devoted to uplifting and empowering Black communities through service and advocacy. Since its inception, women of Delta Sigma Theta have remained steadfast in their commitment to community development and addressing social issues of the time. Now guided by our National Five-Point Programmatic Thrust: Economic Development, Educational Development, International Awareness and Involvement, Physical and Mental Health, and Political Awareness and Involvement, members strive to address the needs of Black communities at the local, national, and global levels. 

The Glorious Gamma Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, chartered in March 1918, holds a distinguished legacy as the Sorority’s third chapter and the first established on a predominantly white campus. The Gamma Chapter also made history as the first Black Greek-letter organization founded on the University of Pennsylvania’s campus. For over 107 years, the women of the Gamma Chapter have carried forward a proud legacy of leadership and impact beginning with our 5 distinguished charter members: Dr. Sadie Tanner Mossell Alexander, Virginia Margaret Alexander, Esther Butler King, Julia Mae Polk, and Pauline Alice Young. Soror Sadie Tanner Mossell Alexander, who served as the President of the Gamma Chapter and as the first National President of our Sorority from 1919 to 1923, made history as the first Black woman to graduate from the University of Pennsylvania Law School and the first Black woman to be admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar. She was also the first Black woman in the United States to earn a Ph.D. in Economics. Similarly, Soror Anna Johnson Julian, Delta Sigma Theta’s fourth National President, was the first African American woman to earn a Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Pennsylvania. These groundbreaking accomplishments continue to inspire generations of women of the Gamma Chapter to lead with vision and purpose.

Inspired by these powerful legacies, the Gamma Chapter’s 2025–2026 initiative: “Strength in Unity: Rooted in Sisterhood, Rising to Empower” focuses on fostering meaningful collaboration across the University of Pennsylvania and the greater Philadelphia community. By deepening connections with campus organizations, faculty, and local alumnae and collegiate chapters, while leveraging the diverse strengths within our own chapter, we aim to create a broader, unified impact. This year we remain devoted to advancing our mission through community engagement, collaboration, and the empowerment of women and girls. Rooted in sisterhood, we rise together to honor the legacy of our Founders and Gamma Chapter Sorors by leaving a lasting impact!

To everyone who has supported the Gamma Chapter, we extend our deepest gratitude. Your encouragement and belief in our mission fuel the work we do!

Thank you for visiting our website and we also invite you to follow us on our social media via Instagram @dstgamma. If you have any questions please feel free to contact us via the chapter email dstgamma@gmail.com. We look forward to seeing you at our upcoming programs and community service events!