Students in the Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers can be found at movie nights with ramen in hand. Other times, they’re teaching others how to make rice balls, dumplings and popping boba.
From kimchi-making events to mock case studies, the Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers (SASE) combines culture with professional development — providing students with a space to embrace their culture and grow.
Anin Mae Truchan, ‘28, serves as the society’s external relations chair. She said with the influx of first-years coming to Lehigh, she wants the club to be a safe space.
“We want to make sure that they (first-years) know there’s a support network here that can support them culturally, academically and even emotionally,” Truchan said.
Vicki Ma, ‘28, serves as co-president of the society. She said the club mixes career enrichment, community involvement and culture, which sets it apart from other clubs on campus.
Established in the early 2010s, the society has a strong community within Lehigh and nationwide.
The club annually attends the national Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers conference, where members have the opportunity to meet students with similar passions and network with entrepreneurs in the STEM field.
Beyond Lehigh, the society’s impact persists after students graduate.
The society has a network of alumni who return to Lehigh to support students through their career journeys.
Mikaela Villajoaquin, ’29, the society’s media chair, said students are sometimes offered jobs or internships on the spot because of alumni presence across the country and connections made at national conferences.
The Lehigh chapter’s alumni network brings businesses directly to campus, exposing members to their career paths and opportunities.
In October, the club is hosting an event with Lincoln Financial — an American financial services and insurance holding company — for students to build their network and learn from professionals.
“Being able to see Asian business leaders and the industries they’re working in, and (first-years) being able to see them and think, ‘Oh, that’s where I could be,’ is a big thing that we harp on,” Truchan said.
For Truchan, joining the society helped her find her identity, something she struggled with as a first-year. Truchan said she hopes to recreate this environment, supporting others who are beginning college with uncertainty.
The society has a mentor-mentee program that provides students with mentors both in the professional world and Lehigh. Students are matched based on their majors and interests, allowing them to form friendships across grades and learn from each other.
“I really want to be able to give back to Lehigh SASE because they’ve done so much for me,” Truchan said.
Mentorship coordinator Pious Le, ‘28, joined because of his interest in creating an inclusive environment, bridging the gap between upper and underclassmen.
Opportunities are available for members to get involved early on, and it creates a mock workplace environment for underclassmen through an internship program.
In this program, club members form a team to take on roles such as secretary, project coordinator and marketing director.
Working together, they practice facilitation skills by hosting two events each semester. In the past, interns commissioned Christmas carols to be sung throughout Lehigh’s campus.
The society functions on three pillars: professional development, community service and culture. According to Ma, this year’s goal is to push their community pillar by offering more volunteer opportunities for students in the Bethlehem community.
In September, club members are encouraged to volunteer for Spacefest on Mountaintop Campus where activities are aimed at helping Lehigh Valley kids explore science and space.
Ma said the current executive board hopes to expand the society and further curate a community that allows students to embrace Asian culture and grow professionally.
“I want people to look at this space and know that it’s a great place for opportunity and a great place to discover yourself,” Ma said. “College is all about that. What do you want to do in the future? Who do you want to be? Where do you want to go?”
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