Gamma Alpha Omega

{{Infobox Sorority

| name = Gamma Alpha Omega

| letters = {{lang|grc|ΓΑΩ}}

| crest = The_crest_of_Gamma_Alpha_Omega_sorority.jpg

| image_size = 180px

| founded = {{start date and age|January 25, 1993}}

| birthplace = Arizona State University

| affiliation = Independent

| former_affiliation = NALFO

| status = Active

| type = Social sorority

| emphasis = Service

| scope = National

| motto = {{lang|la|Nos Una Crescemus}}
"United We Will Grow"

| philanthropy = Education (mentoring youth)

| nickname = Gammas, Tigresas

| publication = The ROSE Vine

| chapters = 28 collegiate
13 alumnae

| lifetime = 1,500

| colors = {{color box|#0B6623}} Forest Green, {{color box|#052C53}} Navy Blue, and {{color box|#FFFFFF}} White

| jewel = Diamond, sapphire, and emerald

| flower = White thornless rose

| free_label = Fruit

| free = Classic red Apple

| mascot = White Bengal tiger with blue eyes

| pillars = Honesty, Integrity, Leadership, Scholarship, and Unity

| vision =

| mission =

| address = P.O. Box 1916

| city = Tempe

| state = Arizona

| ZIP code = 85280

| country = United States

| homepage = [http://www.gammaalphaomega.org www.gammaalphaomega.org]

}}

Gamma Alpha Omega ({{lang|grc|ΓΑΩ}}) is a Latina-founded Greek letter intercollegiate sorority, established in 1993 on the campus of Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona. The sorority has installed 28 collegiate chapters and 13 alumnae chapters.

History

Gamma Alpha Omega was founded at the Arizona State University on {{dts|1993|01|25}} as a multicultural sorority for Latina women.{{Cite web |date=2015 |title=Greek Spot Light: Gamma Alpha Omega |url=https://sydney.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/fulldisplay?docid=proquest2149997120&context=PC&vid=61USYD_INST:sydney&search_scope=MyInst_and_CI&tab=Everything&lang=en |access-date=2019-04-14 |website=University Wire |via=The University of Sydney Library}}{{Cite web |title=Quick Facts |url=https://www.gammaalphaomega.org/about/quickfacts/ |access-date=2025-03-12 |website=Gamma Alpha Omega |language=en-US}}Lurding, Carroll and Becque, Fran. (January 13, 2025). "[https://uofi.app.box.com/v/womens-pdf-folder/file/459802684836 Gamma Alpha Omega]". [https://www.library.illinois.edu/slc/national-fraternity-collections/fraternity-sorority-almanac/ Almanac of Fraternities and Sororities]. Urbana: University of Illinois. Accessed March 12, 2025. It founders were eight Latina students: Amy Alvarez, Annette Escalante, Patsy Guardado, Clara Lopez, Valerie Mendoza, Roxana Quinones, Sandra Saenz, and Michelle Seañez.{{Cite web |title=National |url=http://www.ewugammas.com/national.html |access-date=2019-04-10 |website=Gamma Alpha Omega Sorority, Inc. |language=en}}

Gamma Alpha Omega was formed to promote "achievement and quest of higher education amongst all women". Although established by Latinas it was open from the start to women of all backgrounds.{{Cite web |title=Gamma Alpha Omega Sorority, Incorporated {{!}} Husky LInk |url=https://huskylink.washington.edu/Account/Login?ReturnUrl=%2Forganization%2Fgaouw |access-date=2025-03-12 |website=University of Washington}} Its mission is noted with four goals:{{Cite web |date=2014-08-27 |title=Gamma Alpha Omega Sorority, Inc. {{!}} Office of the Dean of Students |url=https://studentlife.oregonstate.edu/chapter-profile/gamma-alpha-omega-sorority-inc |access-date=2025-03-12 |website=Oregon State University |language=en}}

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.

The sorority founded its second chapter at the University of Arizona on August 8, 1993.{{Cite web |title=About |url=https://gaobeta.wixsite.com/uofa/about |access-date=2025-03-12 |website=Beta Chapter GAO |language=en}} On January 24, 1997, Gamma Alpha Omega expanded beyond Arizona with the founding of Gamma chapter at the University of Washington. In 2000, the sorority became a founding member of the National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations (NALFO) when it emerged as a national association of Latino fraternal groups.{{Cite web |title=Member Organizations |url=https://nalfo.org/member-organizations/ |access-date=2025-03-12 |website=National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations}}

Gamma Alpha Omega incorporated in the state of Arizona in April 2001.{{Cite web|url=http://wsugreek.orgsync.com/org/gao/home|title=WSU {{!}} GAO|website=wsugreek.orgsync.com|access-date=2019-04-14}} In January 2016, Gamma Alpha Omega withdrew from NALFO alongside several other founding fraternity and sorority members of the council.

Symbols

File:Gamma Alpha Omega whiterosebluediamond logo.jpgGamma Alpha Omega's motto is {{lang|la|Nos Una Crescemus}} or "United We Will Grow". Its pillars are honesty, integrity, leadership, scholarship and unity.

At its founding the sorority chose the colors forest green, navy blue and white. Its mascot is a white Bengal tiger with blue eyes.{{Cite web |title=Gamma Alpha Omega Sorority, Inc. |url=https://uhd.campusgroups.com/gao/home/ |access-date=2025-03-12 |website=University of Houston-Downtown}} Its flower is the white thornless rose. Its jewels are the emerald, sapphire and diamond. Its fruit is the red apple.

The sorority publishes a digital magazine twice annually called The ROSE Vine.{{Cite web |title=The ROSE Vine |url=https://www.gammaalphaomega.org/about/rosevine/ |access-date=2025-03-12 |website=Gamma Alpha Omega |language=en-US}} Its nicknames are the Gammas and Tigresas.{{Cite web |date=2024-05-09 |title=Chi Chapter, Gamma Alpha Omega Sorority, Inc. {{!}} Fraternity & Sorority Life |url=https://fsl.wisc.edu/staff/chi-chapter-gamma-alpha-omega-sorority-inc/ |access-date=2025-03-12 |website=University of Wisconsin-Madison |language=en-US}}

Activities

Gamma Alpha Omega's national philanthropies are Emeralds for Education and HIV Awareness. Emeralds of Education is a youth mentoring program established by the sorority in 2011.

Governance

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.{{Cite web |title=Leadership |url=https://www.gammaalphaomega.org/leadership/ |access-date=2025-03-12 |website=Gamma Alpha Omega |language=en-US}} 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. Its national headquarters are in Tempe, Arizona.

The sorority meets in a national convention every two years during odd-numbered years.{{Cite web |title=Programming |url=https://www.gammaalphaomega.org/about/programming/ |access-date=2025-03-12 |website=Gamma Alpha Omega |language=en-US}} Regional conferences are held in the off years between national conventions.

Chapters

= Collegiate chapters =

In the following list of Gamma Alpha Omega collegiate chapters, active chapters noted in bold and inactive chapters or institutions noted in italics.{{Cite web |title=Chapter Locator |url=https://www.gammaalphaomega.org/membership/chapter-locator/ |access-date=2025-03-12 |website=Gamma Alpha Omega |language=en-US}}

class="sortable wikitable"
Chapter ! Charter date and range ! Institution ! Location ! Status ! Reference
Alpha \| {{dts\|1993\|01\|25}} \| Arizona State University \| Phoenix, Arizon \| Active \|
Beta \| {{dts\|August 8, 1993}} \| University of Arizona \| Tucson, Arizona \| Active \|{{Cite web \|date=2023-02-10 \|title=Gamma Alpha Omega Sorority, Inc. {{!}} Fraternity & Sorority Programs \|url=https://greek.arizona.edu/gamma-alpha-omega-sorority-inc \|access-date=2025-03-12 \|website=University of Arizona \|language=en}}
Gamma \| {{dts\|1997\|01\|24}} \| University of Washington \| Seattle, Washington \| Active \|
Delta \| {{dts\|1998}} \| Washington State University \| Pullman, Washington \| Active \|{{Cite web \|title=Gamma Alpha Omega Sorority Inc. \|url=https://www.espanol.wsu.edu/student-organizations/gamma-alpha-omega-sorority-inc/ \|access-date=2025-03-12 \|website=Washington State University \|language=en}}
Epsilon \| {{dts\|1998}}–20xx ? \| University of Wisconsin–Parkside \| Somers, Wisconsin \| Inactive \|
Zeta \| {{dts\|1998}}–200x ? \| Loyola University Chicago \| Chicago, Illinois \| Inactive \|
Eta \| {{dts\|1999}} \| University of Idaho \| Moscow, Idaho \| Active \|{{Cite web \|title=Gamma Alpha Omega Sorority \|url=https://www.uidaho.edu/student-life/greek/community/multicultural/gamma-alpha-omega \|access-date=2025-03-12 \|website=University of Idaho \|language=en}}
Theta \| {{dts\|1999}}–xxxx ?; 2022 \| University of Wisconsin Oshkosh \| Oshkosh, Wisconsin \| Active \|{{Cite web \|title=Sorority Life at UW Oshkosh {{!}} Student Engagement & Campus Life at Reeve Union \|url=https://www.uwosh.edu/reeve/involvement/greek/sororities/ \|access-date=2025-03-12 \|website=University of Wisconsin Oshkosh \|language=en-US}}
Iota \| {{dts\|October 29, 1999}} \| Texas Tech University \| Lubbock, Texas \| Active \|{{Cite web \|title=Home \|url=https://ttugammas.wixsite.com/iotachapter \|access-date=2025-03-12 \|website=Gamma Alpha Omega Sorority, Inc at Texas Tech University \|language=en}}
Kappa \| {{dts\|2000}} \| Oregon State University \| Corvallis, Oregon \| Active \|
Lambda \| {{dts\|2000}} \| University of Houston \| Houston, Texas \| Active \|
Mu \| {{dts\|2001}} \| University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee \| Milwaukee, Wisconsin \| Active \|
Nu \| {{dts\|April 12, 2002}} \| Baylor University \| Waco, Texas \| Active \|{{Cite web \|title=Chapter HerStory \|url=https://gammasatbaylor.weebly.com/chapter-herstory.html \|access-date=2025-03-12 \|website=Gamma Alpha Omega Sorority, Incorporated - Nu Chapter \|language=en}}
Xi \| {{dts\|2001}} \| University of Houston–Downtown \| Houston, Texas \| Active \|
Omicron \| {{dts\|2002}} \| Northern Arizona University \| Flagstaff, Arizona \| Active \|{{Cite web \|title=Chapters in our community \|url=https://in.nau.edu/dean-of-students/fsl-chapters/ \|access-date=2025-03-12 \|website=Northern Arizona University \|language=en-US}}
Pi \| {{dts\|2002}}–20xx ? \| California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt \| Arcata, California \| Inactive \|
Rho \| {{dts\|2003}}–20xx ? \| California State University, Northridge \| Northridge, Los Angeles, California \| Inactive \|
Sigma \| {{dts\|2003}} \| University of the Pacific \| Stockton, California \| Active \|{{Cite web \|title=Multicultural Greek Organizations \|url=https://www.pacific.edu/student-life/fraternity-sorority-life/multicultural-greek-organizations \|access-date=2025-03-12 \|website=University of the Pacific \|language=en}}
Tau \| {{dts\|2008}}–20xx ? \| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign \| Champaign–Urbana, Illinois \| Inactive \|
Upsilon \| {{dts\|2009}} \| University of Oregon \| Eugene, Oregon \| Active \|{{Cite web \|title=Untamable Upsilon Chapter \|url=https://untamableupsilon.wixsite.com/gaoupsilonchapter \|access-date=2025-03-12 \|website=Gamma Alpha Omega Sorority Upsilon Chapter \|language=en}}{{Cite web \|title=Multicultural Sorority and Fraternity Council {{!}} Fraternity & Sorority Life \|url=https://blogs.uoregon.edu/uofsl/msfc/ \|access-date=2025-03-12 \|website=University of Oregon}}
Phi \| {{dts\|2010}}–20xx ? \| University of Wisconsin–Whitewater \| Whitewater, Wisconsin \| Inactive \|
Chi \| {{dts\|September 30, 2011}} \| University of Wisconsin–Madison \| Madison, Wisconsin \| Active \|
Psi \| {{dts\|2011}} \| Eastern Washington University \| Cheney, Washington \| Active \|{{Cite web \|title=Diversified Greek Council – Student Engagement \|url=https://inside.ewu.edu/student-engagement/sorority-and-fraternity/diversified-greek-council/ \|access-date=2025-03-12 \|website=Eastern Washington University \|language=en-US}}
Omega \| \| \| \| Memorial \|
Alpha Alpha \| {{dts\|2012}}–20xx ? \| University of New Mexico \| Albuquerque, New Mexico \| Inactive \|
Alpha Beta \| {{dts\|2013}} \| California State University, Fresno \| Fresno, California \| Active \|{{Cite web \|title=Student Affairs and Enrollment Management at Fresno State \|url=https://studentaffairs.fresnostate.edu/studentinvolvement/fraternity-sorority-life/unitedsororityandfraternitycouncil.html \|access-date=2025-03-12 \|website=California State University, Fresno \|language=en}}
Alpha Gamma \| {{dts\|2017}}–20xx ? \| New Mexico Highlands University \| Las Vegas, New Mexico \| Inactive \|
Alpha Delta \| {{dts\|2018}} \| Heritage University \| Toppenish, Washington \| Active \|{{Cite web \|title=Student Clubs At Heritage University {{!}} Get Your Club On! \|url=https://heritage.edu/student-life/clubs/ \|access-date=2025-03-12 \|website=Heritage University \|language=en-US}}
Alpha Epsilon \| {{dts\|September 4, 2019}} \| Texas A&M University \| College Station, Texas \| Active \|{{Cite web \|title=Gamma Alpha Omega \|url=https://mgc.tamu.edu/chapters/gammaalphaomega/ \|access-date=2025-03-12 \|website=Multicultural Greek Council at Texas A&M University}}
Alpha Zeta \| {{dts\|2020}} \| Carroll University \| Waukesha, Wisconsin \| Active \|{{Cite web \|title=Fraternity and Sorority Life \|url=https://www.carrollu.edu/campus-student-life/things-to-do/fraternity-sorority-life \|access-date=March 12, 2025 \|website=Carroll University}}
\| Alpha Eta \|February 17, 2024 \|Xavier University \|Cincinnati, Ohio \|Active \|{{Cite web \|last=Eremionkhale \|first=Thelma \|title=Xavier welcomes first Latina sorority: Gamma Alpha Omega \|url=https://www.xavier.edu/now/2024/xavier-welcomes-first-latina-sorority-24 \|access-date=2025-03-12 \|website=Xavier University \|language=en}}

class="sortable wikitable"

Chapter

! Charter date and range

! Institution

! Location

! Status

! Reference

Alpha

| {{dts|1993|01|25}}

| Arizona State University

| Phoenix, Arizon

| Active

Beta

| {{dts|August 8, 1993}}

| University of Arizona

| Tucson, Arizona

| Active

|{{Cite web |date=2023-02-10 |title=Gamma Alpha Omega Sorority, Inc. {{!}} Fraternity & Sorority Programs |url=https://greek.arizona.edu/gamma-alpha-omega-sorority-inc |access-date=2025-03-12 |website=University of Arizona |language=en}}

Gamma

| {{dts|1997|01|24}}

| University of Washington

| Seattle, Washington

| Active

Delta

| {{dts|1998}}

| Washington State University

| Pullman, Washington

| Active

|{{Cite web |title=Gamma Alpha Omega Sorority Inc. |url=https://www.espanol.wsu.edu/student-organizations/gamma-alpha-omega-sorority-inc/ |access-date=2025-03-12 |website=Washington State University |language=en}}

Epsilon

| {{dts|1998}}–20xx ?

| University of Wisconsin–Parkside

| Somers, Wisconsin

| Inactive

Zeta

| {{dts|1998}}–200x ?

| Loyola University Chicago

| Chicago, Illinois

| Inactive

Eta

| {{dts|1999}}

| University of Idaho

| Moscow, Idaho

| Active

|{{Cite web |title=Gamma Alpha Omega Sorority |url=https://www.uidaho.edu/student-life/greek/community/multicultural/gamma-alpha-omega |access-date=2025-03-12 |website=University of Idaho |language=en}}

Theta

| {{dts|1999}}–xxxx ?; 2022

| University of Wisconsin Oshkosh

| Oshkosh, Wisconsin

| Active

|{{Cite web |title=Sorority Life at UW Oshkosh {{!}} Student Engagement & Campus Life at Reeve Union |url=https://www.uwosh.edu/reeve/involvement/greek/sororities/ |access-date=2025-03-12 |website=University of Wisconsin Oshkosh |language=en-US}}

Iota

| {{dts|October 29, 1999}}

| Texas Tech University

| Lubbock, Texas

| Active

|{{Cite web |title=Home |url=https://ttugammas.wixsite.com/iotachapter |access-date=2025-03-12 |website=Gamma Alpha Omega Sorority, Inc at Texas Tech University |language=en}}

Kappa

| {{dts|2000}}

| Oregon State University

| Corvallis, Oregon

| Active

Lambda

| {{dts|2000}}

| University of Houston

| Houston, Texas

| Active

| {{dts|2001}}

| University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee

| Milwaukee, Wisconsin

| Active

| {{dts|April 12, 2002}}

| Baylor University

| Waco, Texas

| Active

|{{Cite web |title=Chapter HerStory |url=https://gammasatbaylor.weebly.com/chapter-herstory.html |access-date=2025-03-12 |website=Gamma Alpha Omega Sorority, Incorporated - Nu Chapter |language=en}}

| {{dts|2001}}

| University of Houston–Downtown

| Houston, Texas

| Active

Omicron

| {{dts|2002}}

| Northern Arizona University

| Flagstaff, Arizona

| Active

|{{Cite web |title=Chapters in our community |url=https://in.nau.edu/dean-of-students/fsl-chapters/ |access-date=2025-03-12 |website=Northern Arizona University |language=en-US}}

| {{dts|2002}}–20xx ?

| California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt

| Arcata, California

| Inactive

Rho

| {{dts|2003}}–20xx ?

| California State University, Northridge

| Northridge, Los Angeles, California

| Inactive

Sigma

| {{dts|2003}}

| University of the Pacific

| Stockton, California

| Active

|{{Cite web |title=Multicultural Greek Organizations |url=https://www.pacific.edu/student-life/fraternity-sorority-life/multicultural-greek-organizations |access-date=2025-03-12 |website=University of the Pacific |language=en}}

Tau

| {{dts|2008}}–20xx ?

| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

| Champaign–Urbana, Illinois

| Inactive

Upsilon

| {{dts|2009}}

| University of Oregon

| Eugene, Oregon

| Active

|{{Cite web |title=Untamable Upsilon Chapter |url=https://untamableupsilon.wixsite.com/gaoupsilonchapter |access-date=2025-03-12 |website=Gamma Alpha Omega Sorority Upsilon Chapter |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Multicultural Sorority and Fraternity Council {{!}} Fraternity & Sorority Life |url=https://blogs.uoregon.edu/uofsl/msfc/ |access-date=2025-03-12 |website=University of Oregon}}

Phi

| {{dts|2010}}–20xx ?

| University of Wisconsin–Whitewater

| Whitewater, Wisconsin

| Inactive

Chi

| {{dts|September 30, 2011}}

| University of Wisconsin–Madison

| Madison, Wisconsin

| Active

Psi

| {{dts|2011}}

| Eastern Washington University

| Cheney, Washington

| Active

|{{Cite web |title=Diversified Greek Council – Student Engagement |url=https://inside.ewu.edu/student-engagement/sorority-and-fraternity/diversified-greek-council/ |access-date=2025-03-12 |website=Eastern Washington University |language=en-US}}

Omega

| Memorial

Alpha Alpha

| {{dts|2012}}–20xx ?

| University of New Mexico

| Albuquerque, New Mexico

| Inactive

Alpha Beta

| {{dts|2013}}

| California State University, Fresno

| Fresno, California

| Active

|{{Cite web |title=Student Affairs and Enrollment Management at Fresno State |url=https://studentaffairs.fresnostate.edu/studentinvolvement/fraternity-sorority-life/unitedsororityandfraternitycouncil.html |access-date=2025-03-12 |website=California State University, Fresno |language=en}}

Alpha Gamma

| {{dts|2017}}–20xx ?

| New Mexico Highlands University

| Las Vegas, New Mexico

| Inactive

Alpha Delta

| {{dts|2018}}

| Heritage University

| Toppenish, Washington

| Active

|{{Cite web |title=Student Clubs At Heritage University {{!}} Get Your Club On! |url=https://heritage.edu/student-life/clubs/ |access-date=2025-03-12 |website=Heritage University |language=en-US}}

Alpha Epsilon

| {{dts|September 4, 2019}}

| Texas A&M University

| College Station, Texas

| Active

|{{Cite web |title=Gamma Alpha Omega |url=https://mgc.tamu.edu/chapters/gammaalphaomega/ |access-date=2025-03-12 |website=Multicultural Greek Council at Texas A&M University}}

Alpha Zeta

| {{dts|2020}}

| Carroll University

| Waukesha, Wisconsin

| Active

|{{Cite web |title=Fraternity and Sorority Life |url=https://www.carrollu.edu/campus-student-life/things-to-do/fraternity-sorority-life |access-date=March 12, 2025 |website=Carroll University}}

| Alpha Eta

|February 17, 2024

|Xavier University

|Cincinnati, Ohio

|Active

|{{Cite web |last=Eremionkhale |first=Thelma |title=Xavier welcomes first Latina sorority: Gamma Alpha Omega |url=https://www.xavier.edu/now/2024/xavier-welcomes-first-latina-sorority-24 |access-date=2025-03-12 |website=Xavier University |language=en}}