Sigma Delta Mu had its foundation in Sigma Delta Pi, the nation’s largest honor society in the field of foreign language. It was begun in 1979 and was developed by the enormous energy and talent of Dr. T. Earle Hamilton, who formed the society and served as its first president. Dr. Hamilton’s fifteen years as president of Sigma Delta Pi and his years of devotion to Hispanic studies gave Sigma Delta Mu a foundation of high standards and recognized excellence. Establishment of the office of the executive secretary and expansion of Sigma Delta Mu chapters nationwide were directed with success and dedication by Professor Lawrence R. McCarty of Community College of Philadelphia.

In August 1992, Donna Wilson of Highline Community College in Des Moines, Washington, became the new executive secretary, and Anne Fountain of Peace College in Raleigh, North Carolina, was named president of Sigma Delta Mu. The Vice-Presidents were Nancy Zechiedrich- Southwest, Westark Community College, Fort Smith, Arkansas; Bertha Arias-Midwest, Joliet Junior College, Joliet, Illinois; Judith A. Laurie-Northeast, Ocean County College, Toms River, New Jersey; Marilyn L. Terry-Southeast, Shelton State Community College, Tuscaloosa, Alabama; Mercedes Aguirre Batty-West, Sheridan College, Sheridan, Wyoming.

In 1998, Cynthia Bingham of Chandler-Gilbert Community College in Mesa, Arizona, became the new executive secretary, and Nancy Zechiedrich of Westark College in Fort Smith, Arkansas was named president of Sigma Delta Mu. The Vice-Presidents were Carmen Vigo Acosta-Southwest, Mesa Community College, Mesa, Arizona; Bertha Arias-Midwest, Joliet Junior College, Joliet, Illinois; Alfonso Garcia Osuna and Julio Hernandez-Miyares-Northeast, Kingsborough Community College, Brooklyn, New York; Marilyn L. Terry-Southeast, Shelton State Community College, Tuscaloosa, Alabama; Mercedes Aguirre Batty, Sheridan College, Sheridan, Wyoming.

In January 2000, Cynthia Bingham, Chandler-Gilbert Community College, continued to be Executive Secretary while Mercedes Aguirre Batty, PhD of Northern Wyoming Community College District-Sheridan College in Sheridan, Wyoming was elected president of Sigma Delta Mu. The Vice-Presidents are Maria J. Fraser-Molina, PhD-Southeast, Durham Technical Community College, Durham, North Carolina; Carmen Vigo-Acosta -Southwest, Mesa Community College, Mesa, Arizona; Berta Arias, EdD.-Midwest, Joliet Junior College, Joliet, Illinois; Alfonso Garcia Osuna, PhD, Kingsborough Community College, Brooklyn, New York and and Julio Hernandez-Miyares-Northeast, Long Island University, C.W. Post, Brookville, NY; Carol Beresiwsky-West, Kapiolani Community College, Honolulu, Hawaii.