26 Apr Spring 2025 Expansion
For nineteen new brothers, joining the world’s largest Asian-interest fraternity wasn’t just about letters—it was about rewriting the script on brotherhood.
When Alok Karkare first arrived at Vanderbilt University, building something historic was not on his immediate to-do list. But on March 23rd, he and nine young men chartered Lambda Phi Epsilon on campus, marking the newest addition to the fraternity’s southeast region.
Just weeks later, a thousand miles north, another group of students at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee crossed the same chartering threshold on April 5th, broadening Lambda Phi Epsilon’s growing Midwest presence.
For both groups, the journey was anything but a smooth start.
“Despite the numerous challenges and hiccups we faced in the journey of chartering, I’ve learned so much and formed incredible relationships with so many people,” laughs Karkare, now president of the Vanderbilt Associate Chapter. “I’m incredibly proud of everything we’ve accomplished together so far, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for us here at Vanderbilt.”
The expansion is part of Lambda Phi Epsilon’s strategic push into new markets, bringing its 43-year-old legacy of leadership and Asian American advocacy to campuses where such spaces are rare. With these additions, the fraternity has now established 78 chapters globally.
At UW-Milwaukee, President Derrick Huynh admits he was initially unsure about Greek life. “Walking into it, I didn’t know what to expect,” he says. “But the process accelerated us to rely on each other in ways I never expected. We didn’t just join a fraternity—we grew into better versions of ourselves.”
The new chapters leaned on mentorship from nearby brothers at UT-Knoxville and UW-Madison, who guided them through the intentional intake process.
John Bui, the fraternity’s Expansion Coordinator, sees the growth as a sign of shifting tides. “This remarkable continuous achievement stands as a testament to continuous interest from students to bring our organization to their campus,” he says. “The establishment of these new chapters underscores our dedication to providing a space where students can find belonging, leadership, and purpose.”
With interest forms already flooding in from more campuses, Lambda Phi Epsilon’s expansion epic is onto its next installment. Students interested in chartering a new chapter of Lambda Phi Epsilon may learn more on the International Fraternity website and express their intent by completing an expansion interest form.
Vanderbilt University Associate Chapter
The Associate Chapter at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville guided the Vanderbilt Charter Class to achieve this milestone. The ten new members were initiated into the International Fraternity on March 23, 2025 are as follows:
1. Alok Karkare
2. Jayden Park
3. David Cho
4. Joseph Bank
5. Daniel Sung
6. David Sung
7. Kaden Chan
8. Chris Lee
9. Evan Yoon
10. Justin Oh
Supervising their intake process, Gabe Godish (UTK), Sterling Crane (UTK), and Justin Le (UTK) from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville Associate Chapter served on their New Member Education team, empowering the Vanderbilt Charter Class through their journey to becoming Lambda Phi Epsilon brothers.
University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee Associate Chapter
The Associate Chapter at the University of Wisconsin–Madison guided the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee Charter Class. The following nine new members were initiated into the International Fraternity on April 5th, 2025:
1. Nathan Vang
2. Jayden Truong
3. Charley Cha
4. James Lor
5. Derrick Huynh
6. Dillon Her
7. Kongmeng Lor
8. Anthony Main
9. Aj Yang
Supervising their intake process, Andy Vue (UWM), Colin Yang (UWM), Ulysses Vang (UWM) and Johnny Lee (UWM) from the University of Wisconsin, Madison Associate Chapter served on their New Member Education team, empowering the Milwaukee Charter Class through their journey to becoming Lambda Phi Epsilon brothers.
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About Lambda Phi Epsilon
Founded in 1981 at Los Angeles, California, Lambda Phi Epsilon International Fraternity, Inc. has grown to become the world’s largest Asian-interest fraternity. Lambda Phi Epsilon (ΛΦΕ, also known as LFE) aims to guide men on a lifelong discovery of authenticity and personal growth. To learn more, visit https://lambdaphiepsilon.com.
Lambda Phi Epsilon Contact
David Kim, International President
Lambda Phi Epsilon International Fraternity, Inc.
contact@lphie.org
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