Nu Gamma Alpha Explained

Nu Gamma Alpha
Letters:	Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΝΓΑ
Crest:	The crest of Nu Gamma Alpha.png
Birthplace:	Howard University
Type:	Social
Affiliation:	Independent
Status:	Active
Scope:	National
Emphasis:	African American
Pillars:	Empowering, Enhancing, Engaging and Enduring, Professionalism, Unity, Loyalty, and Integrity
Colors:	Burgundy and White
Chapters:	1 active collegiate 4 alumni
Address:	P.O. Box 37661
City:	Raleigh
State:	North Carolina
Zip Code:	27627
Country:	United States

Nu Gamma Alpha Fraternity, Gents, Ltd. (NGA or ) is an African American social fraternity. It was established in 1962 at Howard University in Washington, D.C. It has chartered at least twenty chapters in the United States.

History

Ronald Gilkes and Robert Coates established Nu Gamma Alpha in 1962 at Howard University in Washington, D.C.^{[1] [2] [3]} It was a "quasi-serious" fraternity modeled after established Black Greek-letter organizations.^[4] It charter members came from Howard and American University, including:A second chapter, Beta, was formed at Lincoln College (now Lincoln University) in 1966. The fraternity was incorporated in the State of North Carolina.^[5]

As of 2024, the fraternity had chartered at least twenty collegiate chapters, with its only active chapter being the newly reestablished chapter at Shaw University.^[6] Its main activities take place through its four alumni chapters. The fraternity's mission includes fostering brotherhood, spiritual values, social change, and economic resources.^[7] Member raise funds for scholarships and volunteer for community organizations. Its national headquarters is in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Symbols

The Greek letters Nu Gamma Alpha were selected to stand for "No Gottum Average" because "anti-intellectualism" and a grade point average under 3.0 were conditions for membership. The fraternity's colors are burgundy and white. Its principles or pillars are Empowering, Enhancing, Engaging and Enduring, Professionalism, Unity, Loyalty, and Integrity.^[8]

Chapters

Collegiate chapters

Following are the college chapters of Nu Gamma Alpha, with active chapters indicated in bold and inactive chapters in italics.^[9]

Chapter	Charter date	Institution	Location	Status	References
Alpha	1962	Howard University	Washington, D.C.	Inactive
Beta	1966	Lincoln College	Lower Oxford Township, Pennsylvania	Inactive
Gamma	November 1967	Livingston College	Salisbury, North Carolina	Inactive
Deta	Spring 1968	Johnson C. Smith University	Charlotte, North Carolina	Inactive
Epsilon	Fall 1968	North Carolina A&T State University	Greensboro, North Carolina	Inactive
Zeta	1969	Winston-Salem State University	Winston-Salem, North Carolina	Inactive
Theta	Spring 1970	North Carolina Central University	Durham, North Carolina	Inactive
Iota	October 5, 1971	University of Arkansas Pine Bluff	Pine Bluff, Arkansas	Inactive
Kappa	Fall 1970	St. Augustine's College	Raleigh, North Carolina	Inactive
Lambda		Virginia Union University	Richmond, Virginia	Inactive
Nu		City College of New York	New York City, New York	Inactive
Omicron	Fall 1968–1979; Spring 2024	Shaw University	Raleigh, North Carolina	Active	^[10]
Pi		Bennedict College	Columbia, South Carolina	Inactive
Rho		Kean College	New York City, New York	Inactive
Omega	Sprnig 1974	North Carolina State University	Raleigh, North Carolina	Inactive
Beta Kappa	197x ?	Chicago State University	Chicago, Illinois	Inactive
Sigma Nu	Spring 1977	Aurora University	Aurora, Illinois	Inactive
Sigma Tau	Spring 1979	Northeastern University	Boston, Massachusetts	Inactive
		Cheyney State University	Cheyney, Pennsylvania	Inactive
		Knoxville College	Knoxville, Tennessee	Inactive

Alumni chapters

Chapter	Location	Status	References
Arkansas	Arkansas	Active
Atlanta	Atlanta, Georgia	Active	^[11]
Raleigh	Raleigh, North Carolina	Active
Triad	Greensboro, High Point, and Winston-Salem, North Carolina	Active

Notable members

• Larkin Arnold (Alpha), entertainment lawyer, talent management executive, and vice president of Capital Records and Arista Records, and CBS/Sony Music^{[12] [13]}
• James E. Cheeks (Alpha, honorary), president of Howard University

See also

• List of African American fraternities and sororities
• List of social fraternities

Notes and References

1. Web site: Hazelwood . Janell . 2018-02-21 . Black History Month: The Divine Nine . 2024-10-20 . Black Enterprise . en-US.
2. Web site: 1966-03-01 . The New Breed . 2024-10-20 . Newspapers.com . The Lincolnian . Oxford, Pennsylvania . 2 . en-US.
3. Web site: History . 2024-10-20 . Nu Gamma Alpha . en.
4. Web site: Ellison . Julian . 1966-03-01 . Withdrawal Symptoms . 2024-10-20 . Newspapers.com . The Lincolnian . Oxford, Pennsylvania . 7 . en-US.
5. Web site: History Nu Gamma Alpha Fraternity, Inc. . 2024-10-20 . Nu Gam Atlanta Chap. . en.
6. Web site: Chapters Nu Gamma Alpha Fraternity, Inc. . 2024-10-20 . Nu Gam Atlanta Chap. . en.
7. Web site: About . 2024-10-20 . Nu Gamma Alpha . en.
8. Web site: Home . 2024-10-20 . Nu Gamma Alpha . en.
9. Web site: Chapters . 2024-10-20 . Nu Gamma Alpha . en.
10. Web site: 2024-05-03 . ShawU Student Experience Bear-y Good . 2024-10-20 . Shaw University . en-US.
11. Web site: Nu Gamma Alpha Fraternity, Inc. . 2024-10-20 . Nu Gam Atlanta Chap. . en.
12. Web site: Larkin Arnold . October 20, 2024 . The HistoryMakers.
13. Web site: Rock and Roll; Make it Funky; Interview with Larkin Arnold [Part 1 of 2] ]. 2024-10-20 . Open Vault from WGBH.