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 alumnae and university chapters across the island and an alumni chapter in Orlando, Florida.
History The sorority that pioneered the Greek world movement for women on the island was established in the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras campus in 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 chapter was established at the College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts 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 chapter.
In June 1950, sorority sisters at Universidad Católica de Santa María, later called Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Puerto Rico, organized the Gamma chapter, its first president was Betty Zapater de McConnie. The chapter was officially recognized by University Authorities by November 1955. By the early 1960s, sisters at the Inter American University at San Germán organized the Delta chapter, it was led by Martita Mercado, Sally Zaragoza, Laira González Rigau and Berníe Pabón.
Two years later, Mu sisters led by Leila Padilla de Balaguer and Katherine Morell de Domínguez at Arecibo requested a charter for the Epsilon chapter 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 in 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. In1989, Zona Epsilon was founded in Arecibo. In 1992, Zona Phi Alpha was founded in San Juan, and in 1993, Zona Delta.formed in San Germán. Zona Orlando was founded in October 2016, with approximately 70 members living in Florida.
Chapters
Collegiate chapters Following is a list of the collegiate chapters of Mu Alpha Phi. Active chapters are indicated in bold. Inactive chapters are in italics.
ChapterCharter date and rangeInstitutionLocationStatusAlphaUniversity of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras CampusSan Juan, Puerto RicoActiveBetaUniversity of Puerto Rico at MayagüezMayagüez, Puerto RicoActiveGamma Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico Ponce, Puerto RicoActiveDelta – ; 1986Interamerican University of Puerto RicoSan Germán, Puerto RicoActiveEpsilon1963–; September 1985 – 2004; 2010University of Puerto Rico at AreciboArecibo, Puerto RicoActive
Alumnae zones Following is a list of the alumnae zones or chapters of Mu Alpha Phi. Active chapters are indicated in bold. Inactive chapters are in italics.
ChapterCharter date and rangeLocationStatusAlpha Alumnae Passive chapter1930–19xx ?San Juan, Puerto RicoActiveGamma Alumnae1965–1966Ponce, Puerto RicoInactiveChi Alumnae1965Cabo Rojo, Puerto RicoInactiveZona Delta–198x ?; 1995San Germán, Puerto RicoActiveZona PoncePonce, Puerto RicoActiveZona Alpha Alumnae1984San Juan, Puerto RicoActiveZona Beta Mayagüez, Puerto RicoActiveZona EpsilonArecibo, Puerto RicoActiveZona Phi Alpha 1992San Juan, Puerto RicoActiveZona Orlando Florida, United StatesActive
Notable members
Name Chapter Notability Delis CastilloFormer mayor of PonceMaría del Carmen GonzálezJournalistMercedes Marrero de BauermeisterFormer Director of Administración de Tribunales de Puerto RicoJaninaSinger and actressMelissa MartyNuestra Belleza Latina 2008Rosarito FerrerBusiness womanRosita VelázquezActress, comedian, and singerSor Isolina FerrerHumanitarianLcda Ana Margarita MateuFirst Lady of Ponce
See also Concilio Interfraternitario Puertorriqueño de la Florida Puerto Rican fraternities and sororities List of social sororities and women's fraternities
Notes
References