Drawn to a community-focused approach to preparing students for careers in medicine, the biochemistry major has found mentorship, research opportunities and a strong sense of belonging at Elon.
When Emily Wright ’28 was in high school looking for strong college fits, she discovered that many universities appeared to have overly competitive programs for students who dreamed of attending medical school or pursuing careers in other areas of health care.
“I chose Elon because I didn’t want an environment where I was just a number,” Wright recalled.
She knew she wanted an environment where her professors not only knew her name but knew her as a person and were able to support her in her academic journey. And Wright found that supportive community at Elon, from classmates who study together to professors who assist her with research to staff members who help her find community.
Like many Elon students, Wright is involved in several clubs and organizations. The biochemistry major serves as vice president for the Asian-Pacific Student Organization (APSA), volunteers as a SMART mentor, works as a tour guide for the Office of Admissions, and dedicates free time to the Open Door Clinic of Alamance County.
Building Community
Wright also conducts undergraduate research in public health.
When she first arrived at Elon, Wright attended a handful of APSA events and stayed after to help clean up, which caught the attention of then-president Nhat “Ivan” Nguyen ’25, who encouraged Wright to join the executive board.
“I’m an Asian adoptee and I was like, ‘Oh, I’m not Asian enough to be on the exec board. I don’t know my native language,’” Wright said when Nguyen tried to recruit her to a leadership role in the organization.
But when Wright continued attending APSA events, Nguyen kept showing her that there is more than one way to express an Asian identity. Through APSA, Wright found that many classmates had similar backgrounds, and it was the small moments with friends where she felt most at home.
“There was a space for me that I could explore being Asian in a safer way,” Wright said.
Wright soon took Nguyen’s advice and joined the board of APSA as the events coordinator in the spring of 2025, and last fall she took over as vice president. She oversees events, planned this year’s Lunar New Year festivities, and is assisting the Center for Race, Ethnicity, & Diversity Education with its own event planning for API Heritage Month.
The Lunar New Year celebration is one of Wright’s proudest moments. She said she loved the collaboration between her fellow board members and the Truitt Center for Religious and Spiritual Life to bring people from across campus together to discover belonging.
Between Two Worlds
As an adoptee who grew up in predominantly white spaces, Wright often felt caught between identities. Her siblings were also adopted from China, and she said her mother encouraged participation in Chinese community events. But often in those events, she felt that she was “not Asian enough”.
“They could understand their native language. Their parents were from there, and I never felt like I belonged,” Wight explained.
For many Chinese adoptees, Wright said, there are a lot of unanswered questions about their origins. Wright felt grateful that her mother was able to bring her and her siblings back to China for many years, showing them where they were from, an experience not all adoptees are able to have.
At the same time, Wright said, it wasn’t until she came to Elon and met other adoptees that she felt seen in a way she hadn’t before. “It was nice to have the same experience of just not belonging anywhere,” Wright said, “so we find a place of belonging with each other.”
Mentorship
Mentorship is an important element of Wright’s collegiate experience. During her first year, Wright’s SMART mentor, Emily Cashen ’26, walked her through the process of selecting biology classes for the spring semester. Cashen’s guidance inspired Wright to become a SMART mentor herself.
In her constellation of mentors, Wright has also praised George Dou, assistant director of the Center for Race, Ethnicity, & Diversity Education who advises ASPA.
“Emily has been a great leader since she has gotten involved with APSA,” Dou said. “She’s great at planning ahead, is thoughtful about how she engages with her team and other students and is a pleasure to work with.”
While Wright is only in her sophomore year, she has found another mentor in John Moses-Brownson, the associate director of career advising for pre-health professionals, who helps Wright see the “bigger picture” of her journey to a career in health care.
“When I first met Emily the first week of her time at Elon, I knew that she was going to be a major presence on campus, and I feel that she has exceeded even my high hopes in just her first two years,” Moses-Brownson said. “Emily dreams big, and her dreams are kind, embracing of everyone, and destined to create ripples of change in her wake.”
For Wright, Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month is not just about celebration. It’s about recognition. It’s a time where she knows she is Asian enough and no one can tell her otherwise.
What once felt like a disconnect has become a point of connection with others who share similar experiences. Now, as a leader, mentor and future health professional, Wright said she hopes to continue creating spaces where others feel that same sense of belonging.
Elon honors Asian Pacific Island Heritage Month
As part of Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Elon University is sharing stories through Today at Elon that highlight Asian and Pacific Islander students, faculty and staff who contribute to a campus environment where cultural identities and experiences are celebrated year-round. Throughout the month, Elon is also recognizing API Heritage Month through a series of events and programming.