Founding Date

Nov 9th, 2019

The history of Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) is a visionary one built on support for providing higher education opportunities in Southwest Florida. Area citizens began the initiative to bring a state university to this part of Florida, and their early requests were quickly supported by elected officials at the local and state levels. Southwest Florida’s support for a university was never more evident than during the next year, when private landowners offered more than 20 gift sites for the university campus. The vision for the university was one that would address emerging higher education needs for the 21st century, including the use of technology in the learning/teaching process and multi-year contracts as an alternative to faculty tenure. The Board of Regents approved an agreement in May 1995 with the United Faculty of Florida allowing FGCU to offer a contract system for faculty. The first FGCU student was admitted in January 1997, and the first commencement was held in May 1998, with 81 FGCU graduates. The establishment of Theta Zeta included events led by Haley Corley and Madison Ravarino, Collegiate Development Consultants assigned to support the chapter. “Infoviews” between potential members, Fraternity staff and volunteers, and a preference event with sisters from Gamma Theta-Florida and Epsilon Theta-Tampa were held in September, 2019. The establishment events culminated in fall 2019 with the pledging of the charter members of Theta Zeta-Florida Gulf Coast and a Bid Day celebration. The chapter selected Julie Prell to receive the charter from 2018-2020 Fraternity President Wilma Johnson Wilbanks, Alpha Psi-Mississippi. Theta Zeta and its 92 charter members join the sisterhood of over 230,000 living members with their November 9, 2019 Initiation and Installation. Theta Zeta celebrates becoming Delta Gamma’s 204nd chapter since 1873, and the 153nd active chapter of Delta Gamma on college campuses today.