History

National History

In the spring of 1996, Melissa Jo Murchison-Blake sought a sisterhood that openly embraced all women and crossed cultural boundaries. As a bi-racial woman, she did not want to choose between historically Caucasian or African-American sororities. Murchison-Blake felt that if she did choose one, she would be denying half of her heritage.

Murchison-Blake recruited six other women who would become the national founders of Theta Nu Xi Multicultural Sorority. In the early days of its existence, the Sorority met resistance from its campus of founding. The Director of Greek Affairs at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill advised the national founders to consider joining an existing organization, expressing his concern that a new Greek organization based on the principle of multiculturalism, would not survive at UNC. Despite such resistance, the national founders' continued efforts set the stage for Theta Nu Xi's presence in the Greek, non-Greek, and surrounding communities.

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill officially recognized Theta Nu Xi Multicultural Sorority as the Alpha Chapter on April 11, 1997. To commemorate the end result of their perseverance, the national founders - now known as the Founding Monarchs - acknowledged April 11, 1997 as the official founding date of the organization. With the collaborative efforts of the Founding Monarchs and the initiates of Spring 1998, the organization grew exponentially.

The earliest members of Theta Nu Xi addressed an immediate need to develop an official process of expansion which would support new entities as well as serving the interests of the Sorority. Under the visionary guidance of Anna Lamadrid, two new chapters of the Sorority were founded in the spring of 1999 - one at North Carolina State University and one at UNC Greensboro. The three groups of women designated themselves Alpha, Beta, and Gamma, respectively, and thus the notion of expansion was born.

The Sorority incorporated on April 29, 1999 and with the participation of the Alpha Chapter and Beta and Gamma Colonies, the National Organization was established at the first annual National Convention on August 21, 1999. The first out-of-state expansion effort resulted in the founding of a chapter Utah State University in the spring of 2000.

In 2001, Theta Nu Xi offered full membership through an established Graduate, Alumnae and Professional (GAP) program. Four women were initiated at this level by the spring of 2001 and, on April 11, 2002, the first GAP chapter was founded in New York City. The GAP Program continues to serve the needs of mature, professional women whose priorities lie with their families and careers.

Chapter History

After extensive research, Founding Sister Boydston found a sorority whose motto, tenets and mission statement embodied everything for which she had been searching. She found Theta Nu Xi Multicultural Sorority, Inc. Excited at the prospect of joining a sisterhood undivided by race, culture, religion, background or lifestyle, she contacted the Sorority to begin the expansion process for Muhlenberg College. Founding Sister Boydston began to gather women with similar experiences and aspirations in an effort to form a multicultural sisterhood in Allentown, PA. The response was astounding as women from all areas and disciplines began to gather with the hopes of uniting through multiculturalism. The Founding Sisters were active members of various clubs, societies and volunteer organizations. They also held leadership positions on and around campus. Still, they all sought something more.

Founding Sister Kramer wanted an all-encompassing organization that embodied leadership, multiculturalism, sisterhood, and scholarship in addition to service. Founding Sister Villegas wanted to leave a legacy. Founding Sister Lundy hoped to extend her volunteerism and tutoring to impact and help diversity grow on campus. And although Founding Sister Liciaga had served in leadership positions on Student Council and in other organizations, she still searched for an effective way to promote diversity and overcome her personal experiences with racism. Together, these five exceptional women embarked on a mission to embody sisterhood while promoting their consistent commitment to leadership, service, scholarship and multiculturalism. In the end, there was one vision, one dream and five minds.

On April 27th, 2003, the Rho Colony of Theta Nu Xi Multicultural Sorority Inc. was formed. Rho Chapter is the first undergraduate citywide chapter and is based in Allentown, PA. The Rho Chapter hopes to expand its efforts and mission to other women with this same goal and vision.