Meet Delta Xi Phi: Hartwick's First Multicultural Sorority
Sisterhood. Community Service. Friendship. Increasing multicultural awareness and advancing women through higher education.
These are the pillars of Delta Xi Phi Multicultural Sorority Inc., the newest sorority at Hartwick College.
“There was a lot of interest in having a multicultural sorority,” said Mira Crawford ’26, a public health major with a minor in healthcare administration and political science who serves as the vice president of the organization. “A group of us reached out to members of the National Board of Delta Xi Phi Multicultural Sorority Inc., who came to speak with us and help us get a chapter started.”
The first line of the organization in the Alpha Gamma Associate Chapter was officially initiated at Hartwick in April, with the founding members – known in the organization as “mothers” – listed below:
#1 Rebeka Alva “Alona” ’27, president
#2 Mira Crawford “ClaraDiwae” ’26, VP
#3 Simi Kishore “Masashi” ’26, associate member educator
#4 Maya Lieberman-Bachman “Eiliona” ’26
#5 Jamie Liu-Silverstein “Ceridwen” ’27
#6 Sarah Matumbura “Zafira” ’26, event manager
#7 Xan Patat “Kimat” ’27, associate member educator
#8 Saniah Reeves “Syka” ’26, secretary
#9 Ana Sánchez “Yaeko” ’27, public relations
#10 Maria Serra “Yazari” ’26, treasurer
#11 Alexandra Vasquez “Plumetta” ’28, community service
#12 Amelia Williams “Ekemma” ’26, recruitment manager
“I’ve wanted to help create a space like this for so long. As a Black, queer student, I spent years on this campus searching for a place where I could show up as my full, authentic self,” said Saniah Reeves, a political science and French double major. “With this incredible group of women and everything we’ve accomplished together, I’ve found that—and more. I’ve found sisterhood. I couldn’t be prouder and I can’t wait to see how we continue to grow.”
The Alpha Gamma associate chapter is not only the first chapter of the multicultural sorority in Upstate New York but is also the only active chapter in the state. “The Alpha Gamma Chapter of Delta Xi Phi made history in more ways than one,” said Amelia Williams, a psychology and political science double major with a gender studies minor. “I am proud to call Delta Xi Phi my home and I’m even prouder of my line sisters.”
With education as a key pillar, their GPA requirement is 2.5, higher than the average Greek GPA requirement of 2.25. At the recent Honors Convocation, Sarah Matumbura was named a John Christopher Hartwick Scholar; Maria Serra won the John Clemens Award and was named a Faculty Scholar in Business Administration; Ana Sánchez won the Dr. Robert E. and Mrs. MaryAlice Mansbach Scholarship; Xan Patat received the Andrew B. Saxton Fellowship in Religious Studies, Rebeka Alva took home the Barbara F. Wilder H’93 & Philip S. Wilder, Jr. H’93 Citizenship Award; Simi Kishore was named a Faculty Scholar in Anthropology and Amerlia Williams won Alice Dornet Award in Political Science, each further embodying the pillar of advancement of women in higher education.
And their commitment to raising multicultural awareness means that they aim to foster safe spaces on campus for students of color and welcome transgender and non-binary members to join. “The whole point is to welcome people from any cultural background,” Crawford said.
“Being in a multicultural sorority has shown me the beauty of every culture, and what real sisterhood looks like,” said Rebeka Alva, a nursing and Spanish double major with a minor in healthcare administration. “It’s not just about shared letters; it’s truly about lifting each other up, growing together, and being in a sisterhood where you feel seen, heard, and loved.”
In their first days as an official sorority, Delta Xi Phi Multicultural Sorority Inc. joined the Take Back the Night walk in partnership with the Office of Wellness and Health Promotion, and is working with the Caribbean Student Association, African Student Association, Asian Culture Club, Latinos Unidos Association and the Belonging Center to plan events and increase awareness of the multicultural experiences of Hartwick students.
“Community service is what it’s all about,” said Crawford. “It’s important to give back to our community because when you uplift the community, you uplift yourself too.
In the fall, they will join Hartwick’s other nine fraternities and sororities for a “Meet the Greeks” interest event, where students can learn about their organization and how to join.
“We’re proud to be at Hartwick and the community has been great about welcoming us to campus,” said Crawford. “Founding Delta Xi Phi has not only given me the community of like-minded people that I’ve been searching for, but now I feel like I’ve left a mark on this campus that will outlive my time here.”
