Mu Alpha Phi () is a sorority established in Puerto Rico on October 24, 1927. It is considered to be the first Puerto Rican sorority founded in the island. The sorority has Alumni and University chapters across the Island and an Alumni chapter in Orlando, FL.

History

The sorority that pioneered the greek world movement for women in the island was established in the

University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, t ...

campus on October, 1927. The founding sisters were: Carmen Rosa Janer, Laura Muñoz, Emma Colón, Aida González, María Padial, Carmen Belén Cruz, Alicia Rivero, Luz Vilá, María Luisa Márquez, Luz Vilariño, Georgina Pastor, Mercedes Fernández, Ramona Santana, Ligia Noya, María Antonieta Delgado, Laura Cesteros, Blanca Martorell, Dolores Gutiérrez de Arroyo, Encarnación Rodríguez, Celia Machese, Sofía Oronoz, Josefina Gutiérrez, Sara Irizarry, María Inés Dávila and Ana María Santana. Since many sisters were graduating by 1930 the need for an alumni chapter was evident, thus the "Capitulo Pasivo" was founded; this chapter is now called Zona Alpha Alumnae. By September 13, 1946 the

Beta Beta (, ; uppercase , lowercase , or cursive ; grc, βῆτα, bē̂ta or ell, βήτα, víta) is the second letter of the Greek alphabet. In the system of Greek numerals, it has a value of 2. In Modern Greek, it represents the voiced labiod ...

chapter was established at the

College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts A college (Latin: ''collegium'') is an educational institution or a constituent part of one. A college may be a degree-awarding tertiary educational institution, a part of a collegiate or federal university, an institution offering v ...

in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. The first Beta sisters were Delia González, Maita Bravo, Andreita Martínez and Rochie Sabater. As a result of the Beta chapter, the Río Piedras university chapter came to be called

Alpha Alpha (uppercase , lowercase ; grc, ἄλφα, ''álpha'', or ell, άλφα, álfa) is the first letter of the Greek alphabet. In the system of Greek numerals, it has a value of one. Alpha is derived from the Phoenician letter aleph , whic ...

chapter and the "Capitulo Pasivo" came to be called Alpha Alumnae. In June 1950, sorority sisters at Universidad Católica de Santa María, later called

Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Puerto Rico The Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico (Pontificia Universidad Católica de Puerto Rico) is a private Roman Catholic university with its main campus in Ponce, Puerto Rico. It provides courses leading to Bachelor's, Master's and Docto ...

, organized the

Gamma Gamma (uppercase , lowercase ; ''gámma'') is the third letter of the Greek alphabet. In the system of Greek numerals it has a value of 3. In Ancient Greek, the letter gamma represented a voiced velar stop . In Modern Greek, this letter re ...

Chapter, its first president was Betty Zapater de McConnie. The chapter was officially recognized by University Authorities by November 1955. By the early sixties sisters at the

Inter American University The Inter American University of Puerto Rico (Spanish: ''Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico''; often abbreviated to ''UIPR'' or ''Inter'') is a private Christian university with its main campus in San Germán, Puerto Rico. It also has c ...

at San Germán organized the Delta Chapter, it was led by Martita Mercado, Sally Zaragoza, Laira González Rigau and Berníe Pabón, among others. Two years later Mu sisters led by Leila Padilla de Balaguer and Katherine Morell de Domínguez at Arecibo requested a charter; it was granted and thus the

Epsilon Epsilon (, ; uppercase , lowercase or lunate ; el, έψιλον) is the fifth letter of the Greek alphabet, corresponding phonetically to a mid front unrounded vowel or . In the system of Greek numerals it also has the value five. It was der ...

chapter came to be. This chapter closed and was later re-opened in 1985. Since so many chapters were being created by 1950 a central governing body was created called "Honorable Consejo Supremo". Its first president was Judith Mercader de Sifre. Two alumni chapters, Chi Alumni in Cabo Rojo and Gamma Alumnae in Ponce, were established; both chapters were closed. Nevertheless, Alumni Chapters or "Zonas" were then established for sisters who had graduated, were married, or had other interests than those of the student sisters. The first "Zona" was established in Ponce by 1979 and called Zona Ponce. In San Juan the Alumni chapter was reopened as Zona Alpha Alumnae. By 1985, the Zona Beta was founded in Mayagüez and in 1989, the Zona Epsilon was founded in Arecibo. Furthermore, in 1992 Zona Phi Alpha was founded in San Juan, in 1993 the Zona in San Germán was founded: Zona Delta. The newest Zona was founded in October 2016 : Zona Orlando, counting with approximately 70 members living in Florida. The sorority has many notable members such as Lueny Morell, Engineer and Professor of Chemical Engineering; Rosario Ferré, business woman;

Melissa Marty Melissa Marty Caro (born July 26, 1984, in Mayagüez) is a Puerto Rican beauty pageant titleholder and TV Host. Marty placed as a semi-finalist in Miss Puerto Rico Universe 2008, competing as "Miss Caguas." She then became a contestant on the ...

, winner of Nuestra Belleza Latina 2008; and,

Janina Irizarry Janina Maria Irizarry Nazario (or simply Janina) is a Puerto Rican singer and actress more known for being the winner of the first season of ''Objetivo Fama'', a singing talent contest held in Puerto Rico. Janina has also hosted several televis ...

, winner of Objetivo Fama, now a famous singer and actress...

Chapters

Notable members

References

{{Authority control Fraternities and sororities in Puerto Rico 1927 establishments in Puerto Rico Student organizations established in 1927

History

Chapters

Notable members

See also

References