CHAPTER HISTORY
Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Incorporated established its first chapter in New England in 1984 with the establishment of Kappa Nu Chapter based at Northeastern University. Sigma Gamma Rho quickly spread - establishing Mu Kappa chapter in 1992 at Brown University (now, established at Johnson and Wales University in Providence, RI), Mu Iota at American International University (Springfield, MA) also in 1992 and Nu Mu at the University of Connecticut at Storrs in 1993. These budding undergraduate chapters soon gave way to the formation of alumnae chapters Zeta Nu Sigma, Boston metro in 1986 and Theta Alpha Sigma, Greater Hartford.
Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority was first introduced to the campus of the University of Massachusetts in the spring of 2000 as a colony of the Northeast Region. With the help of Sorors Mounira Morris, Leslie Farrior and Mary Leech, three women were inducted that spring, Sorors Melissa McPherson, Erika Lawson and Megan Marcano, giving birth to the Northeast Region Chapter at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Two of these women were seniors, leaving just one member on the campus. Her work as an undergrad created a buzz, capturing the attention of four new women, Sorors Ursula Roseburo, Shauna Rigaud, Ajara Bomah and Felicia Lundquist.
Although the last of the historically Black Greek lettered organizations to be chartered at UMass Amherst, it has since become a thriving chapter, creating programs and hosting events to benefit the campus and surrounding communities - holding its annual Night of Royalty, creating programming around World AIDS day, participating in Can Food Drives, and organizing a mentoring program for young women of color at Amherst Regional High School.
Members of the organization have also been active in other student run organizations: the Black Student Union, English Speaking Caribbean Association (now SOCA), Haitian American Student Association, African Student Association, and Black Mass Communication Project. Our chapter has worked in collaboration with the Everywoman's Center, Stonewall Center, Office of Greek Affairs and The ABCD House.
The Northeast Region chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst was officially chartered as a chapter, earning the letters Pi Xi on May 29, 2004 after the induction of four women. The chartering members of the chapter are Sorors Alexis Smith, Mamei Willie-Bonglo, Marsha Binns, Nina Nwaroh, Michelle Udezue and Renee Brand.
Sigma Gamma Rho continues to expand in New England with the introduction of the Northeast Region Chapter at The University of New Hampshire, Iota Chi Sigma Alumna Chapter of New Haven, Connecticut and the newly chartered undergraduate chapter at The University of Bridgeport, Rho Alpha.