Sigma Psi Zeta Sorority, inc. is the FIRST Asian-interest sorority on the East Coast. We were founded on March 23, 1994 at SUNY Albany by ten ambitious women.
We have and are currently expanding to well over 30 chapters and thousands of SYZters across the nation.
Our Founding Mothers observed that of the existing Greek Letter organizations already established at the university, none were able to provide the kind of community they sought. No existing organization could nurture the bonds of sisterhood beyond the collegiate experience while focusing on the unique needs of a newly emerging multicultural population. Our founders set out to meet the needs of this demographic by creating a new sisterhood.
Sigma Psi Zeta has since grown to embody the beliefs of our Founding Mothers. We have become a sorority that celebrates the foundational things we have in common as well as our unique cultural backgrounds and individual experiences. The activities in which we participate increase our awareness of the multitude of cultures that have contributed to our history. Our philanthropic activities increase our understanding of the timeless struggles faced by women of color everywhere. We continue to pursue the end of violence against women in all of its forms - particularly within communities of color.
Our Founding Mothers established an organization encompassing the strength of multicultural women thriving in a world with difficult odds. Since then, the sisterhood has grown exponentially, developing leaders who have pledged to continue to uphold the fundamental tenets of the sorority.
Eta Chapter History
The birth of the Eta Chapter of Sigma Psi Zeta Sorority is a testament to the power of everlasting friendship. What started as a close group of young women attending high school together has become an influential organization of dynamic individuals committed in our dedication not only towards each other, but also to our academic campus and the community at large.
The desire to be a part of a socially responsible organization devoted towards breaking the stereotype surrounding the image of Asian-Americans and women as a whole, while creating a positive and nurturing environment for its members, led Patricia Cheung to seek the establishment of an Asian-interest sorority on her academic campus.
After extensive research and deliberation, Miss Cheung, along with five other dedicated young women, Yan Cai, Jennifer Kui, Donna Sung, Sandy Vien, and May Vuong, set their minds on making this desire a reality. It took a year of hard work and unwavering dedication to their cause for these six women to finally realize their dream. On May 20, 2000 they crossed into sisterhood and became the Charter Class of the Eta Chapter of Sigma Psi Zeta.
In the Spring of 2013, the Eta Chapter was officially affiliated with Stony Brook University. The goal of the Eta Chapter is to promote the awareness of Asian and Asian-American culture on the University's campus as well as educate others about the rising issue of domestic violence.
