BROTHERS FIND A SECOND FAMILY

By Amy Lynch

Austin Claiborne UC Riverside ’13 and Adrian Claiborne Jr. UC Berkeley ’21 aren’t just brothers in Phi Kappa Psi. They’re also brothers by blood.

Born and raised in Riverside, California, the Claibornes found their way to Phi Psi at different times and different schools. For Austin, a business administration major, networking aspects were what drew him in.

“I knew that fraternities were very connected, and I was looking for a great group of guys with a strong alumni base,” he explained. “When I went to Rush, I found friends I didn’t even know were already Phi Psis.”

Since his graduation in 2016, Austin has come to treasure the lasting friendships he’s made with brothers from across the country and around the world. A self-professed introvert, he credits Phi Psi with bringing him out of his shell and honing skills that initially supported his career as a program manager for the Golden State Warriors Community Foundation and now as a social impact community relations specialist for Pacific Gas & Electric Company.

“My social skills came from Phi Psi, learning how to communicate with all kinds of people from different walks of life,” he said.

Austin is happily paying it forward by helping younger Phi Psis make their own connections and advising college members of the University of California Berkeley chapter, including his own brother. Adrian graduated in May 2024 with a political economy degree and is teaching English at the Gyeonggido Institute for Lifelong Learning in South Korea.

“I didn’t think I would join a fraternity, but after meeting Phi Psis through Austin and the guys at Berkeley, I realized I loved it,” Adrian shared.

When he was a young kid, Adrian would visit Austin at Riverside, getting to know some of the brothers and seeing first-hand what being part of a fraternity was really like.

“UC Riverside is a big commuter campus; it’s secluded in a way because students go back home in the evening and on weekends,” Austin said. “For that reason, we had to be very creative and intentional in planning Phi Psi events like barbecues and basketball tournaments.”

“It was fun being able to spend time with Austin at those events and being embraced by the Phi Psi Brothers at such a young age,” Adrian added.

Because he rushed and pledged during the Covid-19 pandemic, it took a little while for Adrian to get into the full swing of the on-campus fraternity experience.

“As schools started to re-open, we were able to host more events,” he recalled. “I met a lot of older alumni who are people I may not have ever gotten to talk to. They’ve taught me so much, and I’ve really enjoyed getting to know them. I was also a member of the men’s basketball team, and one of my core memories was having my Phi Psi brothers come to my games. It was something we celebrated together.”

Though the Phi Psi friendships Austin established at Riverside have evolved through the years, many are still firmly intact. As a recent graduate, Adrian is looking forward to maintaining the connections he fostered at Berkeley, and to expanding his own network of contacts.

“For me, the concept of brotherhood has shifted more in the direction of finding ways to give back,” Austin said. “Everyone in our family works in nonprofit or education, so it only seems natural that Adrian and I would find our own ways into those areas. I didn’t expect the values Phi Psi instilled in me to continue so much beyond graduation, but they certainly have. That’s been surprisingly meaningful.”

Adrian declares himself a self-starter but is quick to acknowledge that his brothers have played an instrumental role in guiding him to resources and helping with his professional development.

“When I decided to teach in Korea, one of the Phi Psis I know from Berkeley connected me with his brother who had taught here, too,” he explained. “I really appreciated the chance to reach out to him; he shared some great ideas on places to go and insider tips.”

Both Austin and Adrian urge their fellow Phi Psis to participate in as many college and alumni events as possible and to take advantage of relationship-building opportunities because you never know when you’ll need a brother.

“I love to travel, and it’s comforting to know that wherever I go in the world, there’s always someone I can call,” Adrian said.

“It’s like having a second family,” Austin agreed. “I never pushed Adrian to join Phi Psi, but having him get to be a part of that and share this whole experience with me in his own way has been beyond memorable.”

Do you have a brotherhood story to share? Let us know: marketing@phikappapsi.com