About Us
Ascend Indiana University Bloomington is founded in 2010, as the local chapter of Ascend, the premier nation-wide professional organization dedicated to enabling its members, business partners and the community to leverage the leadership and global business potential of Pan-Asians. ASCEND provides lifelong support to members’ career and personal growth, with events and programs benefiting undergraduate members and executive level alumni alike.
Our national and regional chapter programs help us:
- Cultivate the leadership development and professional growth of members
- Build eminence and visibility for Asians and to provide role models
- Provide business growth opportunities for our members and corporate partners
- Encourage the continuous presence and influence of Asians in the global economy
- Bridge the “Cultural Difference gap between Asian and Western cultures
- Serve the public interest in the community and provide thought leadership
Ascend National's website
The benefits that you will receive as an official member includes:
1. Join our Exclusive Development Program
2. Have the opportunity to sign-up for a director position in a committee
3. Join our Student Leadership Conference later in the semester
4. Preference list for Company presentation and exclusive events that is open to official members only
Want to see an Event in Ascend? Speak to Us!
If you think Ascend should host an event, please give your suggestions to us! We love to hear them.
If your idea is chosen, we will create an event based off of your idea and will bring you into the team for the planning stage of the event.
Please forward your idea to Raymond Adijanto (radijant@indiana.edu) or to VP of Membership (tsuebwon@indiana.edu)
Why Ascend?
Ascend offers a variety of opportunities that are beneficial to anyone. Whether you are applying for jobs, seeking more information on different career, want to network with professionals, or want to develop professional and leadership abilities, we can help! Our events and workshops aim to develop Asians and Pacific Islanders as well as to connect with professionals in various careers who serve as role models.
Ascend IUB Chapter welcomes individuals of all majors, concentrations, class standing, race and ethnicity. As long as you have an interest in enhancing the presence and influence of current and future business leaders of Asian and Pacific Islander descent, we welcome you!
Benefits you can expect:
As a paid member (just $25 per calendar year), you will receive the following benefits:
- Free admission to Ascend IU Chapter events
- Attend a variety of amazing events and workshops
- Network with professional Ascend members
- Participate in our EDP program
- Participate in one of our committees, and gain leadership and a wide range of experience
How to become an Official Member:
To become an Official member, you must:
1. Go to Ascend National's website and Sign-up under the "Why Join?" for $25. Please put IU chapter as your hosting chapter.
2. Send the receipt that will be e-mailed to you to iu@ascendleadership.org for membership confirmation.
3. Wait and get an e-mail from us confirming your registration as an official member.
What's Exclusive Programs?
The Exclusive Programs is a program targeted at freshmen and sophomores. EDP seeks to enhance
students’ personal and professional development by introducing a variety of essential business skills.
How does Exclusive Programs work?
The EDP class meets every week, with weekly assignments dedicated to fundamental business topics such as: professionalism,
business attire, networking and interviewing, team-building, business presentation and event planning.
The program includes two phases: The 1st phase starts with building connections to future employees and concludes with interview
preparation. The 2nd phase focuses on how new employees (after being hired) can excel in corporate environment through teamwork,
presentation and management skills.
spans across 8 weeks and is held . Note that the first and last week of this 8-week time frame
will be set aside for introduction and reflection.
Here's the process:
PHASE 1: PHASE 2:
What is the Case Workshop ?
ASCEND Case Workshop program aims to get its participants ahead in case competitions. It provides challenging yet rewarding case workshops that develop participants’
analysis, teamwork, and presentation skills.
How does the Case Workshop work?
The Case Workshop meets weekly in a workshop format. During the workshops, selected participants will develop skills necessary to ace case competitions.
Topics covered include: case analysis, teamwork skill, slides construction, and case delivery. Our objective is to equip our graduating class with expertise
and confidence, so that they will become stronger candidates in any case competition.
The Case Workshop spans across 3 sessions and will be held on Sunday at 4pm. Note that all admitted participants are required to read the case distributed
prior to the first class meeting.
President
Raymond Adijanto
Hometown: Indonesia and Singapore
Major: Accounting, Finance
Minor: Psychology
Raymond Adijanto
Ascend is a great organization. The board of directors is full of individuals with the passion to take on challenges, and it really creates a strong synergy in working with them. In Ascend, there will always be help provided to international students who feel disconnected in the US environment.
Secretary & Treasurer
Ben Hyunbin Cho
Hometown: South Korea
Major: Finance,Accounting
Minor: Chinese
Ben Hyunbin Cho
Drafting E-mails in the most concise and engaging manner, recording meeting minutes and sending it out on a timely basis.
Reserving rooms on time and meeting the requirements of the VPs, and communication and contribution during the board's meeting
Olivia Wiranata
Hometown: Indonesia
Major:Economic Consulting
Olivia Wiranata
Managing cash inflow and outflow, reimbursement and being a liason between Ascend and the Student Organization Account Office
External Committee
Florence Man
Ascend External Committee focus on hosting events that develop members’ professionalism and increase their community involvement. Our key partners include the big four accounting firm, corporations such as Cummins, and non-profit organizations such as Hoosier Food bank. Our goal is representing Ascend in a professional way to external parties; at the same time, we aim at maintaining and building bridges between members and external parties through events.
Florence Man
Hometown: Beijing, China
Major: Accounting
Directors:
- Aimeng Zhang, Junior, Accounting and Finance
- Bowei (Joseph) Hu, Senior, Accounting and Finance
Internal Committee
Jeff Chen
The internal committee creates and organizes any event that does not involve outside companies, but may include other clubs at Indiana University. These sorts of events may include social events like call out meetings, paintball trips, or social nights. Or, the committee may be in charge of professional events like the major introduction session, UCSO student panel, mock career fair. Come join us!
Jeff Chen
Hometown: Naperville, IL
Major: Marketing, Finance
Directors:
- Jiaoyang (Joyce) Li, Sophomore, Accounting and Finance
- Zhenqi (Kay) Huang, Senior, Accounting, Finance
- Economic Consulting
Exclusive Professional Development Committee
Siyi Xu
committee provide exclusive programs developing students' fundamental business skills and enhancing professionalism.
Siyi Xu
Hometown: Shanghai, China
Major: Finance
Minor: Accounting
Directors:
- Steven Chengyuan Li, Sophomore, Accounting and Finance
- Trang Michelle Tran, Junior, Accounting and Finance
- Shengming Ouyang, Junior, Management
Finance Committee
Jiaying Li
Finance Committee is responsible for raising funds to operate the whole Ascend organization. These fundraising events include but not limit to pitching presentations, social organizing events and sponsorships with local and national companies. Finance Committee is keen on providing capacities to help Ascend expand our event base.
Jiaying Li
Hometown: Nanjing, China
Major: Finance, Accounting
Directors:
- Ruqing Zhou, Senior, Accounting Finance
- Lambert Chan, Junior, Finance
Membership Committee
Theerapitchya (Paul) Suebwonglee
The membership committee's ultimate goal is to improve the quality of the experience Ascender's will achieve upon signing up to be a part of Ascend. We strive to provide the most benefits to all student member regardless of their class standing. We are also looking for ways to improve Ascend in general, bringing the standard of all events and activities up to its optimal level.
Theerapitchya (Paul) Suebwonglee
Hometown: Bangkok,Thailand
Major: Entrepreneurship & Corporate Innovation
Directors:
- Hyung Jik Lee, Sophomore, Marketing
- Jun Sun, Junior, Accounting, Finance
- Wen Qin, Junior, Accounting
IT Committee
Jiawen Wei
From website to forum to photography to social media, we're not only a group of tech savvies. Beyond the traditional view, we're helping Ascenders to have a place to learn, to connect, and to ascend.
Jiawen Wei
Hometown: Shanghai, China
Major: Informatics
Directors:
- Hang Zhou, Sophomore, Informatics
- Fan Wang, Senior, Accounting and Finance
Faculty Advisor
April A. Heltsley
Senior Lecturer
Operations and Decision Technologies Department
Kelley School of Business
Indiana University
Joyce Byrer
Senior Lecturer
Operations and Decision Technologies Department
Kelley School of Business
Indiana University
Student Advisor
Minghan Wang
Master of Science in Information Systems
Kelley School of Business
Indiana University, Bloomington
Unee Yi
Former External Committee VP
Kelley School of Business
Indiana University, Bloomington
