Through her teaching, research and campus involvement, Bethanny Sudibyo is creating spaces where students feel a sense of belonging, something she says first drew her to Elon.
As Elon University commemorates Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Bethanny Sudibyo is helping expand what it means to be seen, represented and heard on campus.
Sudibyo, an assistant teaching professor of Spanish who joined Elon in 2023, brings a global perspective shaped by her Indonesian roots and academic journey. Through her teaching, research and campus involvement, she is creating spaces where students feel a sense of belonging, something she says first drew her to Elon.
“I really enjoyed the company of my colleagues, and they were such wonderful people,” Sudibyo said of her first visit to Elon. “Then the students, during my teaching demo, were all engaged, and it just felt like a great place.”
Being from Indonesia, Sudibyo describes her academic path as somewhat “random.”
“We don’t speak Spanish in Indonesia, it’s not our national language and we don’t have a lot of connections to the Spanish-speaking world in that way,” said Sudibyo, who decided to major in Spanish.
Now, as a professor, Sudibyo focuses on bridging those connections, encouraging students to think beyond traditional cultural boundaries, particularly through her research studying the intersections of the Asian and the Spanish-speaking world. Her scholarship highlights stories that, she says, are often overlooked, including the history of the Philippines under Spanish colonial rule and the presence of Asian voices within Hispanic culture.
“Something I’ve discovered that is not talked about a lot are the Hispanic Philippines,” she said. “There are a lot of cultural productions, all in Spanish, and it was never taught to me as a graduate student. It became very personal.”
By bringing these perspectives into her courses, including “Women’s Writing in the Hispanic World,” Sudibyo is broadening how students understand language, culture and identity, while also increasing visibility for Asian narratives in traditionally Eurocentric spaces.
Outside the classroom, Sudibyo continues that work as a faculty-in-residence in the Danieley Neighborhood, where she connects with students on a more personal level.
“It’s a very rewarding experience because you get to interact with students outside of class,” she said. “They get to see me as a human being.”
She also serves as an advisor to the Polyglot Living Learning Community, helped launch the Spanish Club in Fall 2025, and channels her passion for event planning into creating inclusive, community-building experiences.
For Sudibyo, mentorship is one of the most meaningful aspects of her role, and central to creating spaces of belonging.
“Seeing the students’ growth and seeing them reaching the goals that they’ve said they wanted to do—I think that’s the most rewarding part,” she said.
That impact is also felt by her students.
“Dr. Sudibyo has impacted me at Elon by being a mentor for me as a student but also as a person,” said Hailey Landers ‘28, president of the Spanish Club and a dance science major from Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina. “Her guidance and genuine support have made a lasting difference in both my personal and academic journey.”
During API Heritage Month, Sudibyo’s presence on campus also carries deeper significance. As one of the coordinators of Elon’s API Employee Resource Group, she is intentional about increasing visibility and challenging narrow perceptions of what it means to be Asian.
“When we say ‘Asian,’ a lot of us think of East Asia,” she said. “For me, it’s important to show up because it shows Asia is a diverse continent with so many cultures and so many languages.”
Through her teaching, mentorship and advocacy, Sudibyo is helping ensure that diversity is not just acknowledged at Elon but actively understood, represented and celebrated.
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.