Soror Mary M. Thompson was disappointed to discover that there was no graduate chapter of our beloved sorority in the area when she moved to Cambridge, MD. There were graduate sorors all over Maryland's Eastern Shore, and an undergraduate chapter, Eta Beta, at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. Soror Thompson convened an informal meeting of sorors in the Cambridge area who wanted to start a chapter. Sigma Brother Coach McPherson, a UMES instructor, had expressed similar enthusiasm. Finally, Brother McPherson and Soror Thompson connected and organized a meeting for all known graduate Zetas in the area.
On October 17, 1979 Iota Chi Zeta Chapter was chartered. The The chapter was chartered in Cambridge, Maryland. The Chartering members are Soror Mary McEachin Thompson, Triumphant Soror Janice Jones-Lake, Soror Deborah Shockley- Dillard, Soror Alice Davis-Mitchell, Soror Theresa Molock Stafford, Soror Norby Molock-Lee, and Soror Darlene Burke. The chartering ceremony held at Waugh Chapel United Methodist Church, Cambridge, MD. Words of inspiration were delivered by Sigma Brother Reverend Dr. Edwin Ellis, then pastor of Waugh.
The first initiates of Iota Chi Zeta Chapter include Sorors Pauline Pinkett and Sarah Hicks Jolley on September 12, 1980. While, Iota Chi Zeta Chapter has a home in Cambridge, Maryland, the chapter has grew to include sorors from Dorchester, Wicomico, Talbot, Queen's Anne, Kent, Somerset, Worcester Counties; as well as west of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge.
Since 1979, Iota Chi Zeta Chapter has been busy serving the community, supporting National, Regional, State, Local initiatives and expanding its membership. Some chapter accomplishments are listed below:
- 2014- Served as the host chapter for the Maryland State Leadership Conference as which Choptank Elementary School in Cambridge, MD was adopted as the State Adopted School.
- 2012- Established the Sarah Hicks Jolley Scholarship
- 2021- Established the Mary McEachin Thompson Scholarship
- 2022- Z-Excellence Award Recipient for Outstanding Social Action/Get Engaged Service
Iota Chi Zeta has served with the March of Dimes and supported the Healthy Babies Initiative; as well as received a grant for the chapter's Stork's Nest, which educates and provides needed items for mothers. meals are provided. The chapter also participates in the Cambridge Cold Weather Shelter yearly through the winter months. Iota Chi Zeta established the Sara Jolley Scholarship ; which awards scholarships to two deserving high school seniors on the Eastern Shore of Maryland.