The vice president of Kappa Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc., Elon University's first and only Asian-interest sorority, describes her values and approach to cultural representation during Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.
When Bella Pelini ‘27 moved from the multicultural heart of Chicago to attend Elon University in North Carolina, she anticipated the typical challenges of college life — new classes, new friends and adjusting to life away from home.
What she did not expect was the huge cultural shock that came with leaving one of the most diverse cities in the country for a predominantly white campus and region.
“I feel like the hardest part when I came to Elon was that my family was so far away, I was alone and didn’t have a support system,” Pelini said. “There was also a culture shock, but I have now found a community of friends and people where we share cultural interests.”
Now a sophomore cinema and television arts major, and the vice president of Kappa Phi Lambda Sorority, Elon’s first and only Asian-interest sorority at Elon, Pelini has become a leader in creating space and visibility for students of Asian descent.
Her experience highlights the growing conversation around cultural representation, identity and belonging on college campuses.
Not only is Pelini part of the first and only Asian-interest sorority, she continues to be a trailblazer as she is also talking about establishing a Filipino student union.
“We have an overall Asian-Pacific Student Association, but there is quite a big Filipino community on campus and the culture is so distinct,” she said.
Established by students who saw the need for a supportive, culturally affirming space, the sorority was founded on March 9, 1995, with a chapter established on Elon University’s campus in 2022.
“I joined as a second-semester freshman, so I’m going to be the first freshman to be in the sorority all four years,” Pelini said. “I’ve been able to get in touch with other Asian cultures, and it’s been really nice to build community and sisterhood with others who I share a cultural background with.”
As May marks Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are being celebrated for their rich culture, history, and contributions. For Pelini, this month holds special meaning because not only is this a time to reflect on her identity, but also to recognize the groundbreaking role she plays in Elon’s history.
Pelini is also one of the four founders of the Multicultural Greek Council. This council serves as the governing organization for culturally based fraternities and sororities, working to enhance the campus environment by fostering diversity and promoting unity.
“This semester, as our first official semester as a council and we have been finding ways for all of the Multicultural Greek organizations to intersect,” Pelini said. “We are excited to have a presence on campus and are looking forward to collaborating with the National Pan-Hellenic Council and Panhellenic Association.”
For Pelini, joining Kappa Phi Lambda Sorority was more than a personal milestone; it was an act of visibility.
“I was struggling with connecting to my culture on campus,” she said. “I’m an Odyssey Program scholar and one of my mentors who is a part of Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity, introduced me and from there I’ve been super involved.” Pelini received the Heinrich Family Odyssey Program scholarship.
Today, the chapter is growing in number of sisters from diverse Asian and Pacific Islander backgrounds, united by their commitment to sisterhood, service and cultural diversity.
“Bella is a passionate student who’s been involved in a lot of things with the community,” said George Dou, assistant director of the Center for Race, Ethnicity & Diversity Education. “She’s been super pivotal in planning, but also does a lot of work on the side to help document important moments throughout the year with her photography.”
Pelini points to diversity within the greater Asian Pacific American community and the need for more representation and understanding of various Asian cultures.
“There is so much diversity within the API communities and people don’t talk about it,” she said. “People always think of the big three in Asia: Chinese, Korean, Japanese, but there’s so much more than that.”
As Elon continues to recognize the importance of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders representation, Pelini said, she and her sorority are standing at the forefront – and their presence is a reminder that building community can spark change.
“I’m excited to have that spotlight on my culture and be able to share that culture on campus,” Pelini said. “It’s been wonderful to get in touch with other Asian cultures and (share) my culture with the community.”