about us

Almost a hundred years ago, seven women attending Cornell University were amongst many women who were discriminated against by Greek organizations since they were part of a minority. In response to such exclusion, these women decided to establish their own sorority that would respect the individuality of its members. Thus, Sigma Delta Tau was founded at in 1917 at Cornell University. At the present time, SDT exists as a National Sorority that is a member of the National Panhellenic Conference.

The mission of Sigma Delta Tau is “to enrich the college experience of women of similar ideals, to build lasting friendships and to foster personal growth. Sigma Delta Tau shall encourage each member by providing intellectual, philanthropic, leadership and social opportunities within the framework of mutual respect and high ethical standards.”

The Gamma Tau Chapter of Sigma Delta Tau was founded at Columbia University in 1992. We include a number of girls from very diverse backgrounds and are all involved in various activities all over New York City. Just look our continually growing list of involvement!

Activities...

clubs, organizations, sports, internships, etc. (both in and outside of school) that our sisters are involved in:

In school:

• Clubs/Organizations:
  • Amnesty International
  • Barnard Student Government
  • Cents Ability
  • Colleges Against Cancer
  • Columbia College Student Council
  • Columbia Mentoring Initiative
  • Columbia Women's Business Society
  • CU Couture
  • EcoReps
  • HootMag
  • JumpStart
  • MCAC (McIntosh Activities Council)
  • Musical Theatre Society
  • Now!Here
  • Order of Omega
  • One-to-One Tutoring
  • Peer Health Exchange
  • Performing Arts League
  • Spectator
  • Varsity Show actresses
• Jobs:
  • Barnard Admissions Office
  • Columbia Admissions Office
  • Biology TA
  • Religion TA
  • Resident Advisors
• Sports:
  • Ski team
  • Archery

Marla Lipsyc

"I have been the Survivorship Chairperson on the planning committee for the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life at Columbia for two years now, and every year my SDT sisters support me by forming one of the largest teams and raising one of the largest funds of money to a cause that is near and dear to my heart- fighting cancer!! Kim and Gina are also Relay Chairs and made everything SO much easier and way more fun!!"

Outside of school:

• Jobs:
  • On the voting committee for the SAG awards
  • Founded Teens for the Cure
  • Broadway actress
  • Board of a UN Children’s Education group
  • Ivy League Tutors
• Internships:
  • Attorney General
  • BlackRock
  • Elle Magazine
  • Merrill Lynch
  • Mount Sinai
  • NBC Digital Media
  • New York Presbyterian Hospital
  • Olympics
  • Prada
  • Seventeen Magazine
  • SONY/Columbia Pictures
  • Urban Girl Squad
  • Vogue

Jackie Fields

“I just started volunteering for Let's Get Ready, a non-profit organization that helps underprivileged high school students prepare for the SAT, and college in general. I coach a classroom of students on the verbal section of the SAT, and I serve as a mentor and friend. I would never have heard about LGR unless my SDT sister, Serena Piol, recommended it to me. She knows that I'm considering being a teacher after graduation, and she suggested I try it out! I'm so thankful she did.”