Penn State Multicultural Greek Chapters Seek New Members

Student leaders are working to bolster membership and ensure the survival of their organizations on campus.

Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in College Life

Bold vector editorial illustration of a laurel wreath and an open book on a wooden surface, representing campus community organizations. — Multicultural Greek organizations at Penn State are launching recruitment drives to ensure their community presence as current student leaders approach graduation. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Multicultural fraternities and sororities at Penn State are actively recruiting new members to maintain their presence at the university. Leaders are focusing on succession planning to ensure these organizations continue to provide community for underrepresented students.

Why it matters

These groups provide vital support and cultural community for students at a predominantly white institution. Active recruitment is essential for these organizations to sustain their operations as current leadership approaches graduation.

Christopher Karavas of Lambda Sigma Upsilon and Alixannah Gonzalez of Mu Sigma Upsilon are currently the sole active members of their respective chapters on campus. These organizations remain focused on succession planning to preserve their presence.

The players

Christopher Karavas

He is the president of the Zikhari chapter of Lambda Sigma Upsilon and is a student at Penn State.

Mitzsuko Zist

She serves as the president of Lambda Theta Alpha at Penn State.

Alixannah Gonzalez

She is the president of Mu Sigma Upsilon at Penn State.

The details

Student leaders are collaborating with the Multicultural Greek Council to increase visibility and train remaining members. While Karavas and Gonzalez are currently the only active members in their groups, they aim to recruit new members before they graduate to ensure the organizations endure.

Christopher Karavas joined his fraternity in Fall 2023.
Mitzsuko Zist joined her sorority in Fall 2024.
Christopher Karavas is scheduled to graduate in Spring 2027.

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Culture Shift

These recruitment efforts reflect the broader trend of minority-focused student organizations fighting to maintain institutional memory and presence at large, predominantly white universities. As campus demographics shift, these groups must balance member retention with the need for constant recruitment.

Students interested in community support and cultural representation can seek out these fraternities and sororities during recruitment drives. These organizations provide a unique social environment that differs from traditional Greek life options at State College.

The takeaway

Maintaining specialized cultural organizations requires proactive leadership development and constant community outreach. Students looking for support systems at large universities can benefit by engaging with these groups early in their academic careers.