On January 15, 1908, 16 illustrious women came together to create a legacy unforgotten, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. Ethel Hedgemen Lyle, who was the moving spirit, dreamt of and put into action a sisterhood that would serve all mankind. Her dream of the first Greek-letter organization established by and for black women was made a reality on Howard University's campus over 90 years ago.

To ensure perpetuity, 6 illustrious women came together and incoporated our sisterhood on January 29, 1913. Through the success of incorporation, the ladies of Alpha Kappa Alpha continue to uphold the values of our founders by promoting unity and encouraging scholastic aptitude amongst college women.

Today our organization has grown to more than 160,000 women, including over 960 chapters and will continue to grow as far as our eternal love will take us.

The Lambda Zeta Chapter has a proud history that has continued to shape the paths of its past and current members. In October of 1976 Marsha Lindsey and eighteen other women came together to form a group called TIAKA, which stood for Those Interested In Alpha Kappa Alpha. Jacqueline Wright, who was at that time a perspective, suggested that the group talk with her sister Cheryl Wright from the Xi Omega Chapter about becoming members, and the steps needed to do so. TIAKA performed many service projects and on February 22, 1977, nineteen young women were inducted into the ivy leaf pledge club.

On February 25, 1977, the charter members were initiated into Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. The Lambda Zeta Chapter was chartered at American University on February 26, 1977. At one time the Lambda Zeta chapter included young women from Mount Vernon College, which is now George Washington University at Mount Vernon, and Georgetown University, until the city chapter, Omicron Pi was chartered. Sheri Deboe served as the first president of the Lambda Zeta chapter. Cheryl Wright was the chapter’s first graduate advisor, and Mildred Stuart was the Regional Director at that time. Since then there have been 23 groups of young women, which have come through the Lambda Zeta chapter. The chapter boasts such prominent members as The View’s Starlet Jones, who was initiated in 1980. Many of our members have run for and won seats on International Committees within the sorority. In December of 2000 a former Basileus of Lambda Zeta chapter, Soror Evelyn Sample was elected Basileus of her graduate chapter, Rho Theta Omega in Philadelphia. The Lambda Zeta chapter to date remains an influential part of American University’s campus life.

The first Lambda Zeta line was called "Salongo," Zairian for "We come together to create something beautiful out of love."