Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. is a public service organization dedicated to scholarship, service and sisterhood with an emphasis on Black communities. Twenty-two dynamic Black undergraduate women founded the sorority on January 13, 1913 at Howard University. The Lambda lota Chapter was chartered in March 30, 1974 at Brown University. The Lambda Iota chapter dedicates itself to empowering the Black communities in Rhode Island.
Teresa Cheeks, Renee Hill, and Lori Hollins, established their friendship through this sorority. Cheeks earned her SB in material science and engineering, Hill earned her SB in psychology, and Hollins earned her SB in biomedical engineering. They all graduated with the class of 1979.