Student Clubs & Organizations

Check out the new Simon Club Chatter Blog here for updates on club events and announcements from all of the clubs.

School-sponsored clubs, organizations, and activities give you numerous opportunities to learn and lead—on campus and in the community. Click here for a full list of student clubs at Simon for the 2011—2012 academic year.

Our small size offers many opportunities for students to assume management roles. There are over 20 clubs, and a student newspaper. There are clubs with an academic focus, clubs relating to a specific population at Simon, as well as the Graduate Business Council which organizes extracurricular activities for all students.

View clubs and organization by topic:

• Graduate Business Council (GBC)
• Academic/Industry Clubs
• Cultural Clubs
• Social Clubs
• Sports Clubs
• Other Clubs

Graduate Business Council (GBC)

The purpose of the Graduate Business Council is to represent the interests of the graduate student body and to foster a strong sense of community within Simon. The council provides a platform for the discussion of student concerns and acts as the instrument by which student interests may be voiced to the administration, faculty, and to the broader business school community. The council organizes social events, lecture series, student forums, recreational programs, and regular dialogs with school administrators and faculty in order to enrich the academic experience at Simon. The GBC also decides on the allocation/distribution of Simon’s student activity fund and acts as a governing organization for all student-run clubs and organizations.     
President: Varun Shah
E-mail address: GBC@simon.rochester.edu

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Academic/Industry Clubs

The mission of the Consulting, Operations and Technology Association (COTA) is to establish itself as an organization pivotal to the success of students concentrating in Operation Management and Information Systems, and the consulting industry. The association will concentrate on building lasting relationships with administration and faculty, networking with alumni to encourage speaking engagements and operating facility tours, providing substantial assistance to members in securing internships and full-time positions in all three industries through targeted education and training, and developing a sense of continuity and legacy within the Simon community.
Co-Presidents:  Amanda Hecker & Surjo Dipto Kar
E-mail address:  COTA@simon.rochester.edu  

Simon Entrepreneurs (SE) is a student-run, faculty, industry, and community advised club centered at the Simon School. The club was founded in September 2005 on the following vision: We declare the possibility of instilling entrepreneurship as a way of being in all endeavors and integrating students, faculty, alumni, and external resources to create a platform for launching successful ventures and contributing to the development of a top 10 entrepreneurship program. Implicit in this declaration is the realization that entrepreneurship is a way of managing one's life and resources to undertake new ventures. It can be applied not only to emerging technologies, but also to family and small businesses, initiatives and restructuring in large corporations, social impact, and personal projects. It is the goal of SE to create an environment that fosters such thinking in all disciplines by creating a portfolio of academic, professional, and social activities that integrate entrepreneurial interests and resources from throughout the Rochester community.
President:  Matthew Tipple
E-mail address:  Entrepreneurs@simon.rochester.edu

The Financial Management Association (FMA) seeks to provide a forum in which students can learn about and discuss issues surrounding the financing of businesses around the world. The FMA draws upon knowledge found in its members, the Simon faculty, industry speakers, and the student body in general to initiate and facilitate stimulating discussions on some of the financial trends and occurrences in the corporate world. Special consideration is given to how these issues pertain to investment banking, corporate finance, securities analysis, and individual investing. The investment side of the club seeks to enhance our members' understanding of the investment industry and assist those wishing to pursue a career in the areas of corporate finance and the capital markets:  investment management and research, sales and trading, research and private banking.
President:  Aditya Bhatia
E-mail address:  FMA@simon.rochester.edu

The Simon Meliora Fund is housed under the FMA and is a portfolio that was created in the mid-1980’s through donations from a group of students and others to provide a learning tool by which students are exposed to a hands-on learning environment in the areas of security analysis and portfolio management. In May 1996, the portfolio was transferred to the University of Rochester’s endowment. In January 2001, a formal structure was created to manage the portfolio and to promote awareness and visibility among the Simon community. MBA students participate in the Meliora Fund either as a member of the Meliora Fund Committee or as an analyst. The committee is comprised of seven students selected by the previous year’s committee who manage all investment decisions regarding the fund as well as ensuring that changes to the fund are executed through the University. A formal analyst program works in conjunction with the committee to provide insights and recommendations on companies in the fund portfolio as well as new companies for potential inclusion. Analysts track a specific industry sector, perform a pitch in that sector, and provide continuing due diligence on the companies they are assigned to track. Their recommendations often form the basis on decisions made by the committee in regards to the portfolio.
President: Eric Yeh
E-mail address: eric.yeh@simon.rochester.edu

Market TIMER Club is dedicated to enhancing the technical knowledge of students interested in careers in Trading, Investment Management, and Equity Research from a practical point of view by educating them about the industries and the real-world job functional aspect. Membership to the club is merit based and members will be retained based on their active participation in the club activities in terms of attendance in the knowledge sharing sessions, seminars, group discussions, and submission of research reports. These research reports will undergo two rounds of review prior to being forwarded to alumni and thus be used as a medium to improve the marketability of the club member in terms of internship search and full time positions.
President: Manhar Khanna
E-mail address:  MarketTimerClub@simon.rochester.edu

Health and Science MBA (hasMBA) is a collaborative effort of students and faculty focused on fostering the understanding of the rapidly changing health care environment. hasMBA provides opportunities to support and develop student interests in pursuing careers in businesses related to health care and the life sciences including biotechnology, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, information and biomedical technology, venture capital, consulting, and investment banking. Club members attend executive seminars, recruiting trips, conferences, and brown bag discussions to help prepare them for interviews, internships, and future positions in the health care industry.
President:  Alexandra Pavlenko
E-mail address:  SHS@simon.rochester.edu

The Simon Marketing Association (SMA) brings together students, faculty, and business leaders who share a common interest in marketing. Top executives discuss their individual roles, as well as the marketing strategies they employ in fields as diverse as advertising, consulting, financial marketing, market research, product development, retail marketing, and brand management. Companies participating in these activities have included Procter & Gamble, Johnson and Johnson, Reckitt Benckiser, Microsoft, Bausch + Lomb, Eastman Kodak Company, Kraft, PepsiCo, General Mills, Pillsbury, and Xerox. In addition to presenting speakers, building marketing skills with hands-on activities, and offering students networking opportunities, the SMA sponsors the annual interschool Simon Marketing Case Competition, which brings together top marketing talent from many of the best MBA programs in the country.
President:  Kathryn Baumbach 
E-mail address:  SMA@simon.rochester.edu

Simon Accounting Association (SAA) is a group of students interested in pursuing long-term careers in accounting in a variety of functions and industries. The SAA is committed to increasing the visibility of the Simon MS accounting program, as well as the accounting concentrations in the MBA and EMBA programs.
The SAA seeks to provide first- and second-year students with the resources that will prepare for successful careers by:1. Coordinating with faculty, alumni, students, and accounting professionals to enhance accounting skills beyond the classroom to better position students in the eyes of potential employers and to better acquaint them with various aspects of the accounting field.2. Acting as a liaison to Simon’s Career Management Center to provide resume assistance, interview preparation, and corporate relationships for Simon students to facilitate job searches.  3. Providing networking opportunities to assist with students’ full-time and internship searches and long term career paths. 4. Creating a sense of community and support for other accounting students through mentorship programs and social events.
E-mail Address: SimonAccountingClub@simon.rochester.edu.

The Part-Time Advisory Council (PTAC) is an organization of part-time students committed to the continuous improvement of the University of Rochester's graduate business school part-time program. Our main function is to improve the visibility and involvement of part-time students who attend the  Simon School.                                                             
E-mail address: ptac@simon.rochester.edu

As the Simon Graduate School of Business seeks to become the recognized leader within academia, the Simon Pricing Club will help better align the demands and needs of the pricing industry with those of the Simon student body. On multiple levels, the Pricing Club will seek to be an arena for students to develop practical pricing skills beyond the classroom and develop solid foundations for careers in the field. We will achieve our purpose through a number of regularly scheduled initiatives in conjunction with the Simon Pricing Center including, but not limited to:

• Organizing educational sessions focused on pricing such as the Pricing Lunch & Learn series.
• Connecting club members with the Professional Pricing Society (PPS).
• Hosting on-campus career events such as the SKP sales and negotiation case competition.
• Executing educational series provided by outside firms.

President: Brian Lobenstine
E-mail address: SimonPricingClub@simon.rochester.edu

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Cultural Clubs

Jewish Association of MBAs JAMBA seeks to function as a resource to develop, inform, support, and enrich an active Jewish community on campus. JAMBA organizes and promotes a variety of social and professional activities with the aim of building a strong network of future business leaders. We also wish to serve as an educational resource to the greater Simon school community. The organization will serve multiple goals. JAMBA will encourage student participation in Jewish events, build stronger ties among Jewish students and to Jewish organizations in the community, and foster a sense of commitment to Jewish values. JAMBA will serve as a point of contact for prospective Jewish applicants to inform them about Jewish life in Simon and in the greater Rochester community. JAMBA will connect with Jewish alumni from Simon and maintain an active relationship with them, via networking and inviting them to Simon as guest speakers, for the benefit of the Simon community. Lastly, JAMBA will provide a platform to enable students from all backgrounds to learn more about the Jewish culture
President: Daniel Yuabov
E-mail address: JewishMBAs@Simon.Rochester.edu

Latin American Student Organization of Simon (LASOS) will provide incoming and second-year students with business knowledge and network opportunities in the US and Latin American markets as well as increase the exposure of the Simon students to the business environment. LASOS is permanently developing many activities towards career development and information exchange in partnership with other Simon clubs, national Latin associations and top business schools. It is also our objective to assist the Simon School in fulfilling the expectations and needs of Latin Americans and other international students. LASOS also plays an important role in supporting incoming students to adapt and adjust to the student life in a new environment through a friendly and close environment based in small events. Members include Latin, and Hispanic-American students and all Simon students interested in the Latin economy, culture, and diversity. Our diverse club has students not only from Latin America, but also from the USA, eastern Europe, Germany, Spain, and Japan.
Co-Presidents: Hilda Aguilar & Byron Miller                                                                                                           
E-mail address:  LASOS@simon.rochester.edu

The Simon Asian Club welcomes all students who are interested in exploring the business dynamics and cultural diversity of Asia. Our goal is to provide current members with opportunities to learn about business related issues in the Asia-Pacific region and the US, to network with alumni and corporate speakers and to foster friendships with other Simon students through social activities.
President:  Yun-Chieh Huang
E-mail address:  PBF@simon.rochester.edu

Simon Association of Women MBAs (SWiB) is a non-profit national organization dedicated to supporting business women both during their tenure at graduate school and in the years that follow. SWiB is a professional organization that strives to enhance the Simon experience for all MBA women. The organization coordinates efforts in career services, professional development, and mentoring. In addition, SWiB fosters camaraderie throughout Simon's female community through a variety of social activities. SWiB started a scholarship fund which recognizes Simon's exceptional women leaders.
President:  Gunjan Bothra
E-mail address:  SAWMBA@simon.rochester.edu

Simon National Black MBA Association (SNB) is a student chapter of the National Black MBA Association. This was a strategic move to align the club with a renowned national MBA organization which would allow for greater depth and reach when implementing programs. The purpose of SNB is to provide a forum for students who are interested in the issues concerning the economic advancement of African Americans in the United States. Our members participate in activities designed to promote and enhance professional, academic, and personal achievement. Throughout the school year, SNB members strive to enrich each club member's MBA experience, the Simon School, the University of Rochester, and the Rochester community.
President:  Byron Taylor
E-mail address: SNB@simon.rochester.edu

SimonUnited was created to bring the Simon community closer together: younger and older, domestic and international, female and male. Its purpose is to encourage Simon students to further their cultural awareness and attain a sense of tolerance and understanding; to foster unity within our diverse community and the greater global society; to help members appreciate and understand each other and our society's diversity, recognize unfairness if it exists, and take personal leadership in confronting bias. SimonUnited provides guidance and support in dealing with culture shock of business school, the US or traveling overseas. The events, organized by SimonUnited, point out the great importance of curiosity, direct observation, contemplation, and self-evaluation in the process of forming ourselves as future business leaders.
President:  Amy Cope
E-mail address:  SimonUnited@simon.rochester.edu

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Social Clubs

Simon Dance Club was organized to help students to move “gracefully” in a few major dance styles, to increase their knowledge and awareness about dances in various cultures, and to keep fit and appear as dynamic and presentable businesspeople. The various events the club plans will also provide Simon students with the opportunities to network with their peers, alumni, employees at University of Rochester, dance professionals, and more.
President: Chris Short
E-mail: SimonDanceClub@simon.rochester.edu

Simon Partners: The Simon Partners Club is a casual social club operated by the significant others of Simon students. The Partners Club is an excellent opportunity for Simon students’ partners to obtain career and volunteer contacts in the local area. Additionally, it is designed to provide partners of students coming to the Simon School an opportunity to build friendships.

We welcome all partners (engaged, married, or other) of students and their families to the Simon community, even if your partner will just be visiting for the weekends. Simon Partners events take place in a casual and relaxed setting. There are no dues or fees, other than expenses incurred at planned activities.
President: Amanda Bartleson
E-mail Address: simonpartnersgroup@gmail.com

Simon Says (Follies) strives to develop a professional and personal community among Simon students, faculty, administration, and alumni through an artistic, creative, and social outlet. Our goal is to produce a full-scale, satirical musical comedy or a show of a similar quality to be performed during the spring quarter each year. In addition, a networking reception with alumni will complement the performance. We will conduct regular meetings and rehearsals throughout the year, allowing students to nurture lifelong friendships and networking opportunities.

Students will be provided the opportunity to obtain real-world business experience within the support structure of the Simon School through marketing, fundraising, operations, strategy, management, and investing activities. The production will not only focus on entertainment value, but rather will contribute to the Simon curriculum, further enhance the Simon brand image, and develop a rich tradition within the Simon community. Additionally, we will add value to the recruiting efforts of the school through low cost exposure and marketing as well as through collaboration with organizations of a similar structure at other top ranked business schools.
E-mail: SimonSays@simon.rochester.edu

Simon UNcorked was founded with the belief that our students should take advantage of every opportunity to set themselves apart from other members of the business community. Like golf, wine has become an important part of the business networking culture. Without a solid foundation, you can find yourself in embarrassing situations. For example, suppose you are hosting a business dinner. You carefully researched the restaurant's wine list in preparation for the dinner and selected a wine you thought would be ideal. Upon being seated at dinner, the waiter informs you that they are out of the wine and asks you to make another selection.
President:  Geoff Fesko
E-mail address:  Uncorked@simon.rochester.edu

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Sports Clubs

The goal of the Simon Golf Club is to provide all Simon students with the opportunity to learn and play golf, capitalize on the game's connection with the business world, and generate networking opportunities with classmates, faculty, administration, alumni, and corporate representatives. The Simon Golf Club will coordinate a variety of golf outings throughout the school year at some of the 60+ area courses. These outing will be the primary vehicle used to introduce members to fellow classmates, Simon faculty and administration, area alumni and business executives. The Simon Golf Club will provide students with the chance to develop and refine their golf skills, and stresses the importance of golf as both a social and networking opportunity. Our club will plan lessons, driving range outings, basic course outings, tournaments, and other social events. These events will be open to the Simon community, including students, faculty, partners, alums, and friends. In addition, speakers will be scheduled to discuss golf etiquette, networking, and the impact on the business world.
President:  Mark Smeltzer
E-mail address:  golfclub@simon.rochester.edu

The mission of the Soccer Club is to provide opportunities for students to play soccer, while promoting the Simon School. The leadership and teamwork demanded by this sport can also be translated into success off the field. In addition, it gives the student not only a break from the books and the demanding academic environment, but also a unique opportunity to network and share experiences with other MBA students and Simon alumni. The school participates in many tournaments in the US throughout the academic year. The tournaments usually take place at Yale during the fall and at Tuck during the spring. These tournaments gather the leading US and European business schools, such as Harvard, Wharton, Yale, Columbia, London Business School, and Tuck, among others. For the last five seasons, the club traveled to Connecticut and New Hampshire to take part in the Yale MBA Tournament and to the Tuck MBA Cup, respectively. Despite our smaller class size, Simon has competed on an even level with the top-ranked business schools.
Coaches: Byron Taylor, Alexander Smith, Nicholas Bucukovski
E-mail address: Soccer@simon.rochester.edu 

The Simon Tennis Club strives to develop friendship and networking opportunities to all members of the Simon Community, as well as professional and personal platform, among other business schools. Business executives often play tennis as a means of business communication. By gathering for practice sessions and playing with other top business schools, we seek to increase the exposure of Simon students to the business environment by forming a bond between alumni and students from different and similar backgrounds.
President:  Warren Dang
E-mail address:  SimonTennisClub@simon.rochester.edu

The Simon Squash Club provides an opportunity for students, faculty, and alumni to interact with each other while learning the game of squash. The mission of the club is to enjoy the game of squash at all levels. Since Squash is a popular sport in the business community, especially on Wall Street, students will not only benefit from the excellent workout and enjoyment of the game, but also from the networking opportunities provided for business professionals after Simon.
President:  Adrian Cosma
E-mail Address:  SimonSquashClub@simon.rochester.edu

The Simon School Basketball Club seeks to provide Simon students with the opportunity to get together to enjoy the international game of basketball and foster strong relationships between classmates, faculty, administration, and alumni who enjoy the game. The Simon Basketball club will coordinate weekly pick-up basketball games in the Goergen Athletic Center, as well as games between Simon and other business schools. The Simon Basketball Club will provide students with a positive avenue to achieve physical fitness and will be a viable networking opportunity with both members of the Simon community as well as other business schools.
President: Pedro Guirola
E-mail Address:  SimonBasketballclub@simon.rochester.edu

The goal of the Winter Sports Club is to provide the Simon community with the opportunity to develop friendship and networking opportunities through the practice of winter sports. Business executives participate in winter sports as a means of business communication and leisure. We believe that the practice of such disciplines will give Simon students unique tools to succeed in the business world. Indeed, unlike in other areas of the world, the weather in the Rochester area is perfect for this type of recreation.
By founding this club we plan to enhance the Simon experience by giving to the Simon students a framework to increase their abilities and strengthen their relationships thereby providing another point of pride for the Simon School.
President: TBD
E-mail address: simonwintersports@simon.rochester.edu

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Other Clubs

Business Christian Fellowship is devoted to making God's love known by serving the entire Simon community. Members assemble weekly to pray for the Simon School, to study the Bible, and to assist those who need our help. The BCF provides a chance for members to support each other, to grow spiritually by experiencing the inward transformation, and to learn God's power through prayer. Bible study groups, church visits, and consulting can be arranged upon request.
E-mail address:  BCF@simon.rochester.edu

Simon Ambassadors play a major role in the prospective student's visit to, and impression of the Simon School. As a Simon Ambassador, you will spend a morning with an applicant escorting him or her to a class before taking the perspective students on a tour of the business school and campus. During the visit, you will introduce the applicant to your fellow classmates and discuss life at Simon from a student's perspective while having lunch  at the best cafeteria in the University. The time you spend as a Simon Ambassador is valuable for another reason. Your input on the prospective candidate will provide the Admissions Committee with additional information, making you an important part of the admissions process.
Co-Presidents:  Marais Lombard, Audrey de Graaff, Peter Kungu (MS Rep)
E-mail address: Ambassadors@simon.rochester.edu

Simon Net Impact is an organization of new-generation leaders using business for social impact. It is a network of more than 13,000 new-generation leaders committed to using the power of business to improve the world. It is also one of the most innovative and influential networks of MBAs, graduate students, and young professionals in existence today. Our members believe that business can both earn a profit and create positive social change. Through a central office in San Francisco and more than 100 chapters in cities and graduate schools around the globe, Net Impact offers a portfolio of programs that enable members to transform this ideal into measurable results. Net Impact’s mission is to improve the world by growing and strengthening a network of leaders who use the power of business to make a positive net social, environmental, and economic impact.
Presidents:  TBD
E-mail address:  NetImpact@simon.rochester.edu

Simon Toastmasters is certainly one of the most fun clubs at the Simon School. Every week, we offer members the opportunity to practice public speaking in a relaxed, casual setting. At each meeting, volunteers give prepared speeches, impromptu speeches, offer constructive evaluations or simply tell a joke. We also present awards every quarter to outstanding participants, and yearly rewards for best speaker and most improved speaker. Trust us these are not your typical, dry and boring debates in any sense of the imagination! Public speaking is unavoidable at Simon, as well as life after business school. But we take the edge off of it! Simon Toastmasters promises you the opportunity to develop the communication and critical thinking skills you need to be successful in a non-threatening and supportive environment.
President:  Carolyn Romney
E-mail address:  TOASTMAST@simon.rochester.edu

The goal of Simon Volunteers is to positively represent the Simon School in the greater Rochester community. Simon Volunteers specifically aims to enhance the lives of community members through building character in ourselves. Members of Simon Volunteers realize that there is more to business than simply profitability. More importantly, we understand that we can make a difference in the lives of others through social responsibility and involvement in the community. Examples of projects include the Secret Santa Program, Rochester City School Literacy and Math Program, Rochester Children’s Scholarship Fund Mentoring Program, Earth Week Clean-up, Breast Cancer Walk, Polar Plunge, Habitat for Humanity, and food/clothing drives.
President:  Brennan Day
E-mail address: Volunteers@simon.rochester.edu 

World According to Simon (WATS) The World According to Simon (WATS) is the Simon School of Business’ student newspaper. It is our mission to provide a voice for the students on school issues and events, as well as to provide a forum of communication and exchange between faculty, staff, alumni, and students.
Editor-in-Chief: Vincent Pelletier
E-mail address:  WATS@simon.rochester.edu

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