Serving & Educating Through Our Diversity
Sirviendo y Educando A Traves De Nuestra Diversidad
Sorority Herstory.
Seventeen wonderful and dedicated women of diverse backgrounds founded Omega Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated (OPBSI) on March 15, 1989 . It was the first Latina-Oriented sorority on the SUNY Albany campus.
The seventeen women established OPBSI with the purpose to serve and educate people of diverse backgrounds through sisterhood, leadership and guidance. As positive role models, we promote unity of all cultures, focus on the empowerment of our gender and raise the standards of excellence in our academic, social and personal endeavors.
Our organization has quickly grown over the years and we have chapters and colonies throughout Northeast, Eastern Seaboard, Midwest and West Coast. To learn more about our sorority and all of our chapters we encourage you visit our national website. In addition you can find a listing of all our current chapters on our national site as well.
OPBSI, envisions a world without oppression, where every woman and girl is able to live a life free of violence and is empowered to act as resources in the advancement of their communities.
Our sorority philanthropy is raising awareness of violence against women.
Chapter Herstory.
Charter Secured: March 8, 2003
Location: Utica College (now known as Utica University), Hamilton College
Jennifer, the first beta at Utica College, was initiated in the Spring of 2000 through Syracuse University's Xi Chapter. her deans Violet Alvino and Theresa Wright, along with the other radiant sunflowers at Xi Chapter: Nicole Asencio, Zugely Saez, Giselle Rosado and Raven Roman, guided her on her challenging journey towards sisterhood.
Jenn's accomplishments and her motivation to undergo the intake process by herself, as a solo, did not go by unnoticed. Her hard work on the Utica campus attracted many others and in Spring 2002 three more women reached the radiant light, helping her establish the colony at Utica College. Giselle, Elizaveta, and Jenny worked with Jennifer endlessly until the colony finally gained chapter charter status on March 8, 2003 becoming the Tau Chapter of OPBSI.
As the first national Latina-Oriented sorority on campus many struggles were endured, but that did not deter the sisters at Tau from pushing on towards achieving their goals. in February 2004 Tau Chapter gained campus recognition and was admitted into the Inter-Greek council at Utica College.
That same year we saw two strong little women from Hamilton College who would let nothing stand in the way of their goals and aspirations. They came, saw, and conquered by setting out on a journey that tested their limits, creativity, and dedication. In the end this journey rendered them ground breakers; bringing something to Hamilton College that has never been seen before. They became not only the first Latino-Oriented organization on their campus, but the first national sorority in Hamilton’s history.
On April 22, 2004 Virginia and Gabriela were welcomed into OPB, expanding Tau Chapter to include Hamilton College, in Clinton N.Y. and quickly gaining campus recognition at Hamilton.
Today the chapter continues to thrive on two campuses making history everyday with a reputation for quality programming, outstanding community service, and above all dedication and perseverance.
Total sisters: 34
Total classes: 17
Total ethnicities: 12
African American, Dominican, Egyptian, Guyanese, Irish, Italian, Jewish, Mexican, Panamanian, Puerto Rican, Russian, Trinidadian
Chapters & Collectives.
Region 1: Upper Eastern New York
Region 2: Long Island/New York City
Region 3: Western New York
Region 4: New England
Region 5: Upper Mid Atlantic (NJ/DC/MD/PA)
Region 6: Lower Mid Atlantic (VA/NC/SC/TN/KY)
Region 7: FL, GA, AL & MS
Region 8: Midwest
Region 9: Texas
Region 10: Northern California
Region 11: Southern California
Expansion team: Unassigned areas (black)
Differences between collegiate chapters and collectives
Collegiate Chapters are recognized and chartered entities at accredited 4-year colleges and universities, typically composed of undergraduate members. collegiate collectives are generally new entities that have not achieved a chapter charter with the sorority. They are still fully recognized by, and operate in, accredited 4-year colleges and Universities and are composed primarily of undergraduate members.