Twenty-two undergraduate women founded Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. on January 13, 1913 at Howard University. These young women wanted to use their collective strength to promote academic excellence and to provide assistance to persons in need.

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority is a private, non-profit organization whose purpose is to provide services and programs to promote human welfare.

The Grand Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. has a membership of over 200,000 predominately African-American, college-educated women. The Sorority currently has 900-plus chapters located in the United States, Tokyo, Japan, Okinawa, Japan, Germany, Bermuda, the Bahamas, Seoul, Korea, and St. Thomas and St Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

On May 29,1976, the legacy continued when the Nu Iota chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. was chartered on the campus of Southern Methodist University under the auspices of nine courageous women. These nine women have appropriately been referred to as the 'Divine Nine'. Since that time, Nu Iota has been pro-active in all areas of our illustrious sisterhood. The 'Divine Nine' graduated and left a legacy of sisterhood and community service unparalleled by any other organization on SMU's campus. We will be forever indebted to these ladies for their visionary efforts to pave the way for our chapter to become what it is today. Their indelible work will always be a part of Nu Iota.

Nu Iota Founders
Algrita Evans	Debra Enge	Donna DeVaugh
Iva Nolden	Jacquelyn Love	Laura Pleasant
	Viki Hicks
Not Pictured: Gwen Redd and Murial Johnson