Gamma Alpha Omega was founded at the Arizona State University onJanuary 25, 1993 as a multicultural sorority for Latina women.[1][2][3] It founders were eight Latina students: Amy Alvarez, Annette Escalante, Patsy Guardado, Clara Lopez, Valerie Mendoza, Roxana Quinones, Sandra Saenz, and Michelle Seañez.[4]
Gamma Alpha Omega was formed to promote "achievement and quest ofhigher education amongst all women".[2] Although established by Latinas it was open from the start to women of all backgrounds.[5] Its mission is noted with four goals:[6][2]
Increase the number of women with college educations and advanced degrees.
Provide mentors for youth, women and underrepresented communities,
Support individual leaders in each member
Provide lifelong support for sisters, rooted in the pillars of Honesty, Integrity, Leadership, Scholarship and Unity.
Gamma Alpha Omega incorporated in the state of Arizona in April 2001.[9] In January 2016, Gamma Alpha Omega withdrew from NALFO alongside several other founding fraternity and sorority members of the council.[8]
ΓΑΩ's official logo, the White Rose within a Blue Diamond.
Gamma Alpha Omega's motto isNos Una Crescemus or "United We Will Grow".[2] Its pillars are honesty, integrity, leadership, scholarship and unity.[2]
At its founding the sorority chose the colors forest green, navy blue and white.[2][6] Its mascot is a white Bengal tiger with blue eyes.[2][10] Its flower is the white thornless rose.[2][10] Its jewels are the emerald, sapphire and diamond.[2][10] Its fruit is the red apple.[2][10]
The sorority publishes a digital magazine twice annually calledThe ROSE Vine.[11] Its nicknames are the Gammas and Tigresas.[6][12]
Gamma Alpha Omega's national philanthropies are Emeralds for Education and HIV Awareness.[6][13] Emeralds of Education is a youth mentoring program established by the sorority in 2011.[13]
Governance of the sorority is vested in a National Executive Board, including a national president, vice president, vice president of collegiate affairs, vice president of communication, vice president of expansion, vice president of finance, vice president of programming, vice president of standards, and vice president of alumnae affairs.[14] In addition, its national administration also contains regional and national directors that assist with the different regions, areas, and departments with the national office and headquarters.[14] Its national headquarters are inTempe, Arizona.[3]
The sorority meets in a national convention every two years during odd-numbered years.[15] Regional conferences are held in the off years between national conventions.[15]
In the following list of Gamma Alpha Omega collegiate chapters, active chapters noted inbold and inactive chapters or institutions noted initalics.[3][16]
