San Francisco State University business student Iana K. Lim will be honored by Assemblymember Phil Ting during the California State Assembly’s 11th Annual Veteran’s Recognition Luncheon, June 20, 2018, which recognizes veterans from across California who have had a distinguished military career and have significantly contributed to the community.
Like many veterans returning to college, Iana Lim was nervous that she wouldn’t fit in with the other students whose life experiences had differed so much from her own. Iana is a United States Navy veteran who served as a machinist mate second class (MM2) servicing steam powered ships. After her honorable discharge from active duty, she enrolled at San Francisco State University where she will graduate May 24, earning her bachelor of science in business administration, with a concentration in international business, and a minor in marketing.
While at San Francisco State, she served the veteran community as a supervisor for Veterans Administration Work Study, as the president of the Veterans at San Francisco State (V.E.T.S.@SFSU), and as chair of the committee on Veterans Issues for Women. During her tenure as president of V.E.T.S@SFSU, active membership increased by more than 800 percent, and educational seminars included personal finance, converting military experience to civilian language, coding in the python and SQL languages—veterans from Salesforce and Apple were represented at this event—and veteran advocacy through a partnership with LinkedIn.
San Francisco State University provides services to more than 1,300 veterans and dependents of veterans and active duty members each semester. Lim chose San Francisco State in part because of the fact that its Veterans Center is directed by a certified veteran, rather than a civilian, who was able to relate to her and provide her with the support she needed.
“The diversity of opinions at SFSU really impressed me, as well,” says Lim. “The professors value learning from their students and make us feel open to discuss our opinions, which helped me to build my identity.”
Following her graduation, Iana plans to pursue a master’s in business administration, saying her ultimate goal is to do something that positively impacts people around her and affects change in the world.