American University PANHELLENIC

Sigma Delta Tau empowers each member to reach her fullest potential…” a line from our mission statement that I strive to fulfill and work towards every day.

 

Being a sister of Sigma Delta Tau has changed my college experience. Starting my freshman year in the fall of 2020, I was at home, taking classes online, and worried about making friends and finding my place at American University. I decided to go through recruitment that spring, and have not looked back since. I found a community of hard working, dedicated, strong sisters who support each other. Each member welcomed me with open arms, and I am proud to call them my sisters. They have stuck with me through the good times, and the bad, and allowed me to grow into the woman I am today, pushing me to reach that fullest potential we hear about every Sunday. The members of this chapter have fostered an environment that allows each member to grow and learn more about themselves, and I am honored and grateful that they have trusted me to lead them through this year.

 

Our values of individuality, connection, engagement, and community guide our chapter every day, enriching the environment where we can make memories of a life time and build friendships that will last beyond our college years. My sisters encourage and inspire me every day, exemplifying themselves through scholarship, philanthropy, inclusivity, and leadership, all while supporting each other in whatever challenges and endeavors we may face. My sisters, whom I proudly serve and lead, are some of the kindest, most genuine people I have ever known; they always speak out for what they believe in, and make me proud every singe day.

 

Sigma Delta Tau was founded in 1917 on the principle of inclusivity by women who could not join other sororities because of their religious beliefs, and each day we strive to promote and create an inclusive community for all. In our 30 years at American University, the Gamma Delta Chapter has encouraged our sisters to embody our values, and uphold a sisterhood that creates leaders, builds lasting relationships, promotes civic responsibility, and fosters personal growth. 

 

The members of Sigma Delta Tau want to welcome you. We hope to see you soon!

 

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Margaret Fenton she/her/hers

President of Sigma Delta Tau - Gamma Delta Chapter

 

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Individuality: Enable each member to be their authentic self and empower them to reach their fullest potential through leadership and personal skills for academic and professional success.

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Connection: Create a sense of belonging and meaningful relationships for sisters, not only in the sorority, but also within the community and world around them.

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Engagement: Participate in a lifetime experience which provides opportunities and a network of personal and professional support for every phase of a sister’s life.

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Community: Instill a sense of philanthropy and generosity in sisters and build purposeful partnerships to enhance the mission and goals of the Sorority.

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Sigma Delta Tau empowers each member to reach her fullest potential by enriching the experience of women with similar ideals, building lasting relationships, promoting civic responsibility and fostering personal growth. Being a Sig Delt means upholding our values of community, connection, individuality, and engagement every day of our lives.

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In 1917, at Cornell University, seven Jewish sisters gathered to create an all-inclusive sorority after being barred from Greek life due to their religion. Those women were our founders, Dora Bloom Turtletaub, Amy Apfel, Marian Gerber, Grace Srenco, Inez Ross, Regene Freund, and Lenore Rubinow - the DAMGIRLs. 

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Our sorority was founded on the principles of diversity, fraternity, democracy, humanity, hope, and acceptance. Today, our chapter at American University - founded in 1987 - continues to instill these values in the hearts of our members, while amalgamating these, among other convictions, with the addition of each new member.  

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Sigma Delta Tau has three national philanthropies and one local philanthropy.

• Prevent Child Abuse America (PCAA): PCAA helps families identify the signs of child abuse and neglect through programs such as Healthy Families America®, bullying prevention and day-to-day prevention strategies. In the spring we hold a philanthropy event called Sig Delt Survivor, a field day with minute-to-win it games for the AU campus.

• Jewish Women International (JWI): JWI works to ensure that all women thrive in healthy relationships, control their financial futures, and realize the full potential of their personal strength. JWI has several programs such as Safe Smart Dating, the first national program on healthy relationships in college and the signs of abuse. Every fall we do Week of Service for JWI to give back to our community and we do Safe Smart Dating.

• Sigma Delta Tau Foundation: The Sigma Delta Tau Foundation is committed to empowering Sigma Delta Tau sisters to grow personally and professionally through annual scholarship opportunities.

• The Light the Night Walk for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society: Our sister Sabrina passed away due to post transplant lymphoma after having a heart transplant. We honor her and others with the same condition by participating in the Light the Night Walk every fall on the National Mall.

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The Gamma Delta chapter of Sigma Delta Tau is committed to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in all aspects of our chapter, and our chapter is actively working towards making meaningful change in our community. These values within DEI are what makes SDT the community that it is and is what I believe to be the most important aspect of our chapter.

• Hannah Tell, she/her/hers, Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

 

What makes our sisterhood so special is that we keep our sisters in mind with everything we do. Whether it’s sending a sister something that remind us of them or shouting out sisters’ accomplishments, we always celebrate each other and aim to lift everyone up. All these little things add up and create such a strong sisterhood with an unbreakable bond. 

• Ruby Coleman she/her/hers, Vice President of Philanthropy and Service

 

In my current position of VP Greek Engagement and External, I have had the opportunity to give back to an organization that has given so much to me. I have found my forever friends, who allow me to be my best self. As an executive board member, I am able to foster new connections with sisters in my organization, as well as other Panhellenic members. I can confidently say that joining Sigma Delta Tau will be one of the best decisions I made during my time in college. 

• Chloe Weitzman she/her/hers, Vice President of Greek Engagement and External Affairs

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I chose Sig Delt because I found a community and a group of people who are always there to support me. I cannot imagine my time in college without SDT! - Avery Zabar, she/her/hers

 

“I chose Sig Delt because there was a genuine atmosphere of love! The values of individuality and engagement resonated with me especially because I could see them at work in the minds of each sister. There was such a deep sisterhood that I was excited about and saw myself joining. I was looking to find my home at AU and something felt right about SDT!”

• Morgan Goldberg she/her/s

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• President: Margaret Fenton she/her/hers, sdtpresidentgammadelta@gmail.com

• Vice President of Membership Recruitment: Elisabeth Prioletti, sdtrecruitmentgammadelta@gmail.com