35 under 35
Bella Rainey, M.A. Omicron Omicron - Lindenwood University
Instructor of Visual and Communication Arts, Avila University
Which of the Delta Zeta shared values resonates with you the most? Empowerment
Can you share a brief 5-7 sentence biography about yourself, highlight key moments in your career that have shaped who you are today?
I’m originally from the St. Louis area and attended Lindenwood University for my undergraduate and graduate degrees. I studied advertising, English, fashion business and management and followed up with an M.A. in Art and Design with a Project Management emphasis. In my undergrad I had the opportunity to get involved in everything from Student Government to residential life to activist groups, but most importantly, Delta Zeta. DZ is where I flourished as a leader and went on to be Panhellenic President. After I completed both degrees in five years, I went on to work in the communications industry in everything from professional sports to agency life to local journalism, leading me to the other side of the state: Kansas City. I also published my first book titled, ”The First Year” which details my experience grieving my father in 2021. Now, I am an Instructor of Advertising + PR at Avila University and serve as the Advisor for Collegiate DECA.
Who has been an invaluable mentor for your professional career? What did you learn from this friendship?
One of my most invaluable mentorships that has blossomed into a beautiful long-term friendship is Carrie Buente. Carrie was my boss at Lindenwood Residential Life when I was just 18 years old. Carrie is a founding member of the Iota Phi Chapter of Phi Sigma Sigma at LU and now works for their headquarters (because she is amazing!). Carrie was my emotional and professional sounding board at residential life, giving me opportunities to try new things and teaching me many of the ins and outs of student affairs. She was always encouraging my go-getter mentality and believed I could accomplish all of my lofty, bright-eyed goals. Now, years later, she is someone I still go to with questions, rants and celebrations about my career, and even got to attend her wedding and Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour together. Carrie taught me to be persistent, to love steadfastly and to stay connected to those who you care about — even if you are miles away.
How did you discover your passion and what opportunities have helped shape your curiosity for what you do?
I discovered my passion for higher education through a multitude of opportunities, the first being my level of involvement in my undergrad endeavors. Between being the Panhellenic president, Student Government vice president, and being on the DZ executive board, I was very in love with making positive experiences for students! From there, I started substitute teaching during the pandemic because there was a shortage of subs. I never considered teaching before, but it was through subbing that I found a true passion for education. I considered becoming a high school English teacher but ultimately knew I wanted to be in the big leagues on the college level. When I moved to Kansas City and discovered a massive discrepancy in the quality of public K-12 education, I knew I wanted to work for an institution like Avila that values access to all students. Every day, I have the opportunity to follow the path of curiosity and let it shape my teaching style, lesson planning and approach to change in higher education. While many are afraid, I am choosing to be curious about where higher education is going in the next 10-15 years and embracing those changes with an intention of justice and access for my students.
Looking ahead in your career, how do you envision continuing to incorporate generosity into your leadership style and professional endeavors?
As someone who works with a large demographic of students who come from some background of being underserved on the K-12 level, it is vital to lead with generosity in any of my endeavors, let alone my leadership style. I have many hopes and dreams to advance in higher education leadership one day, and I know the road to arriving at those aspirations is continuing to incorporate DZ values into my leadership style. Inside and outside of the classroom, I want to make waves in the ways students get to learn and how they digest information based on changes in technology and society. I want to be generous with my time, patience and knowledge to help create the next generation of young leaders.
How has your community helped you professionally? Is there a friend (or Delta Zeta sister) that has been behind you every step of the way on your career journey?
My best friend and Delta Zeta sister, Erika Hatfield, is truly the perfect example of this. Erika is one of the first people who taught me what real community looks like and introduced me to this lifelong sisterhood I had yet to experience. Whether it’s double-checking my resume, offering to fly with me across the country for an internship interview or being there every step of the way during a period of grief and loss, she has exemplified the importance of community in my career and professional journey.
What does empowerment mean to you, and how have you worked to empower others in your career or personal life?
Empowerment, to me, means looking at yourself in the mirror and owning every single part of yourself: inside and out. In my career and personal life, I am always looking to empower others. With my students, I seek ways to empower them by offering them real-world learning opportunities and two-way feedback systems. In my personal life, I am always celebrating my community, no matter how big or small the win is. We empower one another by caring about what is beneath the surface, and I do my best to incorporate that into all levels of relationships in my life.
What does it mean to you to create an environment of belonging for others, and how do you carry that lesson into your personal and professional life?
At the end of the day, we are all looking to belong to something: a club, a clique, a career path. When that desire isn’t met, it can knock down so much of our self-perception and internal empowerment. I like to view myself as the kind of person who will always sit on the floor to allow someone else a seat at the table because all that matters to me is that we all get the chance to be together. That is what belonging is really about. My office at work is known for being loud and packed with people because I know that for some of my students or peers, that is the only part of their day where they get the chance to relax or to talk through their problems with the people they know care about them. An environment of belonging is not always just a place though, it is a feeling and a practice. It is a learned skill that we have to fine-tune forever to ensure we are creating an atmosphere where not only do we feel like we belong, but that we are extending that same gratitude to those around us.