Joo Ae Chu, SCET’s Academic Program Manager, Receives UC Berkeley’s 2024 Advising Innovation Award
Congratulations to Joo Ae Chu, the Sutardja Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology’s (SCET) Academic Program Manager, for her selection to receive UC Berkeley’s 2024 Advising Innovation award.
The UC Berkeley Excellence in Advising and Student Services Awards program recognizes outstanding work and innovation in advising and student support. Awards are made to individuals and teams who have been nominated for their significant positive impact on students, student support programs, and/or the student services community as a whole and will be honored at a celebration taking place later this year.
As one colleague wrote, “Joo Ae Chu’s ambition is clear in her constant efforts to innovate and improve programming.” As the Academic Program Manager for SCET, she has been described by another colleague as someone who “pioneers innovation by working with students to empower them, create community, and collaborate on new programming.”
Joo Ae Chu joined the SCET team in 2022 as the Academic Program Manager. In her role, Joo Ae wears many hats, serving as the sole student services and academic advisor for SCET, managing enrollment, scheduling, the SCET certificate program, recruitment, as well as instructor and student assistant support. Each year, SCET’s 25-30 entrepreneurship and innovation courses attract 1,700-2,000 students from across UC Berkeley. Despite students’ often brief interaction with SCET, Joo Ae strives to foster a lasting connection by creating inclusive and impactful programming that aligns with Berkeley’s Advising & Student Services Guiding Principle: cultivating a shared sense of belonging and a lifelong relationship to the University.
One shining example of Joo Ae’s dedication is her management of the Collider Cup, SCET’s end-of-term showcase and pitch competition. Since stepping into her role in 2022, she has focused on making the event more inclusive and meaningful. One instructor noted Joo Ae’s initial efforts to “listen to feedback to ensure everyone felt included” in order to improve student engagement with SCET allowed her to introduce improvements that significantly enhanced the competition’s impact. She created mentoring and networking prizes for winning teams, curated a panel of judges to provide a real-world pitch experience, and developed an “At Large Bid” system that allows second-place teams to compete based on a popular vote from their peers. Her cultivation of student engagement and community building didn’t stop there. Joo Ae also added an alumni showcase at the beginning of the Collider Cup to engage SCET alumni teams and highlight their company progress. These additions have generated heightened interest in the Collider Cup, drawing a record-breaking audience. By fostering such engagement, Joo Ae has transformed the Collider Cup into a highly anticipated SCET program, creating a sense of excitement and community among participants.
Her efforts to build community are not limited to events. Joo Ae has also focused on cultivating a sense of belonging among SCET’s large team of student assistants, who provide operational, marketing, and networking support for SCET classes. Recognizing their potential as ambassadors of SCET’s mission, she revamped the recruitment and onboarding process, and established monthly training workshops and social events. This has increased student assistant engagement and retention, while creating a more cohesive and supportive environment. Instructors have noted the positive effects, with one remarking, “At a time when others may say ‘it’s not my job,’ Joo Ae’s kindness, insights, and initiative are critical to SCET’s success.”
Joo Ae’s ability to execute high-impact programming has transformed the student experience at SCET. Her initiatives have strengthened students’ sense of belonging and engagement with SCET, as well as fostered their connection to the broader UC Berkeley community. One student expressed their appreciation, saying, “She has created a community among students that was non-existent before, and it’s amazing to be a part of it.” A colleague added, “Her commitment to helping students succeed is undeniable, as seen in her initiatives to provide valuable opportunities for student growth.” What is so exciting is that this is just the beginning of Joo Ae’s impact at UC Berkeley. She continues to set her sights on new opportunities to enhance student engagement and build a stronger, more connected community for SCET as well as UC Berkeley’s entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem.