AEL "Alpha Epsilon Lambda" ASSOCIATION
Alpha Epsilon Lambda
Alpha Epsilon Lambda was formed in 1990 by a University of Florida graduate student, John Capece, who provided the concept, structure and resources for the society. Carole Glover, a Ph.D. candidate at American University, served as co-founder of the society and developed the name of the society. Suresh Ramamurthi, graduate student at New Jersey Institute of Technology also assisted in formation of the society and served as the organization's first president. AEL's purpose is to promote ethics, intellectual achievement, and leadership among graduate students. Before AEL, no honor society was devoted exclusively to recognizing graduate students.
AEL began as an organization of individual members at campuses throughout the country. In 1992 the first chapters were formed at University of Florida (Alpha Chapter), University of Miami (Beta Chapter) and Kutztown University (Gamma Chapter). Chapter growth has continued to its current 37 chapters. University of Miami students Celestino Corral and Manny Tejeda provided the leadership in developing the first AEL chapters. Dr. Wm. Bruce Ezell provided the initial leadership among the graduate school deans which led to the creation of additional chapters and the formation of a national advisory council composed of graduate school deans.
The founders designed AEL with the intention of promoting greater interaction and cooperation between the campus graduate student advocacy organizations (graduate student associations, councils, senates, unions, etc.) and the graduate school (faculty and administrators). This was to be accomplished by providing a forum in which advocacy issues would not be a focus, thus allowing students, faculty and administrators the opportunity for shared leadership and participation in an organization intended to simply recognize the achievements of graduate students and to provide service to the graduate students and college.
