These are the awesome Leavey students that are helping with the SCU summer orientation. Learn about their majors, their favorite courses and their involvements.
Faith Dang '27, Accounting Information Systems Major from San Francisco, California
How did you select your major? I selected the Accounting and Information Systems (A&IS) major after chatting with peers and professionals about career opportunities. The major's versatility particularly appealed to me, given SCU's location in Silicon Valley.
What have been your favorite courses in your major so far or what courses are you looking forward to? I am excited to explore the intersection of business and technology in my Financial Information Systems (OMIS 105/ACTG 155) class. The content will build a valuable foundation for my upcoming Technology Risk and Assurance internship at EY.
What student organizations are you part of? Residence Life, University Honors Program (UHP), Honors Advisory Council (HAC), Beta Gamma Sigma (Leavey Honor Society), Associated Student Government (ASG), Vietnamese Student Association (VSA), Santa Clara Community Action Program (SCCAP), Accounting Association.
Any suggestions for students interested in your major? Talk to anyone and everyone! Attending career fairs, coffee chats, and other networking events early on can help you determine if this major aligns with your professional interests and goals. Even though putting yourself out there can feel intimidating, peers and professionals are eager to engage with you and share their experiences.
Ellek Garcia Martinez '29, Finance Major from San Jose, California
How did you select your major? I chose to study in the Leavey School of Business because, having access to Silicon Valley, I believe it will allow me to develop my communication skills and set me up for a job nearby. I chose to study Finance for a similar reason; I grew to have an interest in consulting. I found an interest in providing my support and expertise to various companies. I am excited to continue taking classes that will allow me to focus on my major. As mentioned before, I plan to find a job in Silicon Valley, and I believe studying Finance will significantly help me.
What have been your favorite courses in your major so far or what courses are you looking forward to? As a first-year, I would say one of my favorite courses so far has been BUSN 70, which gave us a brief overview of the different majors offered at the Leavey School of Business. In the class, I was particularly fond of the fact that we got to practice running our own bike company and got to learn different marketing, financial, and operational skills. Some courses I am looking forward to taking as a sophomore are ECON 3, ACTG 11, and MGMT 136, which will provide me with more valuable skills.
What student organizations are you part of? The main one I am a part of is Latinx Business Student Association, which I recently joined this past spring. I am a part of the External Team, where we communicate with different firms and set up office tours. Some of the companies we are communicating with are EY, BDO, and Deloitte. I am enjoying my position and am glad that I am able to learn useful skills and learn how these companies operate. This is why I believe joining a student organization can significantly benefit your learning and professional growth.
Any suggestions for students interested in your major? If students are interested in my major, I definitely recommend trying it out by joining different clubs and organizations that will allow you to learn more about the major. However, if you are undecided but have a slight interest, First-years enter undeclared at Santa Clara, and you are taking classes that give you a brief introduction to the different majors that are offered in the Leavey School of Business. You can use those classes to choose which major you would want to study.
Lasya Ram '28, Accounting Information Systems Major from San Jose, California
How did you select your major? I am an Accounting Information Systems Major in the Leavey School of Business. In my time at SCU, I changed my major a total of four times, as my interests kept changing as I took the many introductory courses that the Leavey School of Business offers. Leavey allows all students to have a very comprehensive education where they can explore a variety of subjects, and after taking my introductory Accounting course, I realized that I wanted to pursue a career in Accounting. Through talking to my professors and getting the push that I needed, I was able to immediately change my major and receive help to find an internship.
What have been your favorite courses in your major so far or what courses are you looking forward to? My favorite courses so far have been ACTG 11 and 12, which are core accounting classes that every business student must take. I also loved taking OMIS 34 (Science, Information Technology, Business & Society) as I learned how to make my own website, which was very interesting.
What student organizations are you part of? In the upcoming school year, I am thrilled to be serving as the Vice President of Events for Women in Business where I will be planning events through reaching out to companies and business leaders. I am also incredibly excited to be returning as a Community Facilitator for the Magis RLC ! I will also be a Student Inclusion Educator at the Office of Multicultural Learning, where I will be helping with programming and assisting with connecting students to resources. I am also an active part of Intandesh, which is the South Asian organization on campus. I also served as an Orientation Leader last year and am serving as an Operations Assistant this year.
Any suggestions for students interested in your major? If you are looking to explore Accounting Information Systems or Business in general, I recommend joining student organizations. It’s one of the best ways to meet and learn from peers who share similar interests and goals and form connections with mentors. Surrounding myself with many supportive communities has helped me grow as a student and as a person. I also would recommend going to your professors' office hours and really learning from them as much as you can, as all of them have professional experience that is very valuable.
Sophia See '29, Accounting & Information Systems Major from Muntinlupa City, Philippines
How did you select your major? Growing up, my mom always told me that one of the most important parts of running a business is understanding the financial side of it: where money comes from, where it's going, and how those decisions shape the future of a company. Because of that, I always knew I wanted to study accounting. When I committed to SCU, I decided to major in Accounting & Information Systems (AIS) instead of traditional Accounting. Being in Silicon Valley, I realized how important technology has become in the business world, and I loved that AIS combines accounting, business, and technology. I also really appreciated Leavey's emphasis on developing ethical leaders, because I believe good business isn't just about making smart decisions, it's about making the right ones.
What have been your favorite courses in your major so far, or what courses are you looking forward to? One of my favorite classes so far has been my Intro to Spreadsheets class (OMIS 15). The class taught me how powerful and versatile Excel can be and how it can be used to optimize many aspects of business decision-making. Another class I've really enjoyed has been Ethics in Business (PHIL 26). It challenged me to think beyond numbers and profits by asking what businesses should do, not just what they can do. We discussed topics like stakeholder responsibility, ethical leadership, corporate social responsibility, and how personal values influence business decisions. It reminded me that integrity and character are just as important as technical skills, especially in careers like accounting where trust is everything.
What student organizations are you part of? On campus, I am currently involved in the: SCU Orientation Leaders, Leavey Ambassadors, ACE Leadership Program, Fluidity Fashion Show, EcoFashion Show. I was also previously involved in the Images Dance Showcase when it opened in February of this year.
Any suggestions for students interested in your major? My biggest piece of advice is to meet with an academic advisor and create a four-year plan as early as possible. AIS is a bit of a hefty major with a lot of moving pieces, and mapping everything out early makes course registration much less stressful. It also helps ensure you're on track to graduate in four years, or even earlier if that's one of your goals. I would also highly recommend joining ISA Student Network (ISN). It's a student organization for MIS, AIS, and Business Analytics majors that does an amazing job of connecting students with the business and tech industries. ISN regularly hosts company information sessions, workshops, office tours, and networking events with top Bay Area companies, including the Big 4 accounting firms. They also organize BroncoHack, an annual hackathon where students collaborate to solve real-world problems, as well as mentorship opportunities and alumni panels that can help you explore career paths and build your professional network. It's a great way to gain industry exposure outside the classroom while meeting other students with similar interests.
Bradley Kemp '29, Undeclared from Santa Clara, California
How did you select your major? I am Undeclared, but I am considering majoring in Finance. The professors and resources at SCU have guided my understanding of what to major in. Conversations I’ve had with upper-division students as well as my professors have helped me gauge what majors best suit different career paths.
What have been your favorite courses in your major so far or what courses are you looking forward to? My favorite courses in the business school have been BUSN70 with Professor Ionescu and OMIS34 with Professor Sur. My professors were extremely supportive, and they fostered engaging class environments. I made many friends in these classes who I still spend time with. The Mike’s Bikes simulation in BUSN70 is also a core experience for all business students.
What student organizations are you part of? I am part of the Accelerated Cooperative Education (ACE) Leadership Program, Associated Student Government, Ruff Riders (Sports) Marketing Team, and I have an on-campus job at the Malley Fitness Center.
Any suggestions for students interested in your major? All students in the business school are Undeclared, and you do not have to declare a major until the end of your sophomore year. There is no rush to declare a major, and there are many resources on campus to help you decide, such as Faculty Advisors and major-specific clubs.
Crystal Chen '29, Management Major from San Francisco, California
How did you select your major? I always knew I wanted to pursue something in Business. What's great about Santa Clara is that all incoming students within the business school come in as undeclared. You're given the opportunity to explore without having to declare your major right then and there. The first business class I took was BUSN70 and I was able to explore the different sectors of Business such as Finance and Accounting to name two. I was really able to narrow down what I wanted to pursue. For me, Management was something I felt drawn to as it's an incredibly versatile major that allows you to study specifically leadership and ethical decision making.
What have been your favorite courses in your major so far or what courses are you looking forward to? My favorite course so far has been BUSN70 with Professor Nik Tehrani. I really enjoyed taking his class and appreciated him as a professor. I'm looking forward to taking upper division management courses.
What student organizations are you part of? The on-campus organizations I'm currently involved in or have been a part of include Mindset Scholars, Orientation, ACE Leadership, LSB Peer Advising, Phi Chi Theta, Retail Management Institute, and DayBreak.
Any suggestions for students interested in your major? For students interested in studying Management, I would suggest talking to students who are currently pursuing Management as a major as well as talking to the Management department. For incoming Business students who aren't set on what they want to study, I would suggest exploring what each major has to offer and pursuing what is the most interesting to them.
