About Us
The Heart of Educators,
“with” The Precision of Consultants.
At Ascender, our philosophy is simple: coach the applicant, not just the application. We see students as curious thinkers who are capable of growth and ownership. Through coaching enriched by mentorship and consulting skills, we turn the application process into a transformative journey of self-discovery—preparing students not only for admission to their best-fit university, but also for lifelong success.
Ascender was founded by two partners who bring together more than four decades of combined expertise in education and consulting.
Pornthep Srisuttiyan (“Kru A”) has spent over 30 years as an educational tutor, guiding students in IB, A-Level, AP, and other international curricula. Beyond improving grades, he leverages his long-standing network of former students, now professionals across diverse industries, to connect today’s learners with authentic mentors and career perspectives. In this way, he embodies the role of a coach who also mentors, strengthening academic performance while inspiring students to see their future more clearly.
Pimchanok Wangveeramit holds an M.Arch in Real Estate Development from Columbia University. She is a business consultant with over 10 years of experience in real estate and strategic planning, having worked across New York, Europe, and Asia. She brings structure, discipline, and problem-solving to the application process, treating it as a project with clear goals, timelines, and measurable outcomes. As part of Ascenders’ coaching model, she contributes a consultant’s perspective on process and clarity, ensuring that students not only stay on track but also learn how to manage complex tasks with confidence.
Core Team
Strategy Consultant
Led exclusively by Kru A, the strategy consultant helps unsure students explore interests safely, understand themselves, and see what skills they can gain in college, then builds a clear roadmap, personal branding, college list, academics, and activities all aligned to a thoughtful long-term plan.
Program Supervisor
The program supervisor, led by Pimchanok, oversees the system around each student, aligning timelines, deliverables, and team members. She makes sure everyone works together effectively so that the process feels structured, on time, and consistently high-quality from start to finish.
Writing Specialist
The writing specialist helps students express themselves clearly in English while keeping their authentic voice. They tailor essays to each university’s style—whether creative or formal—and guide students to meet expectations for tone, structure, and depth without sounding over-edited or artificial.
Community Manager
The community manager acts as the student’s organizing partner, coordinating schedules, reminders, and communication. Their role is to reduce stress, keep the workflow smooth, and make sure students always know what to do next and who they are meeting with.
Support Team
Peer Reviewers
Often alumni from target universities review applications through the lens of an admissions reader. They assess essays for clarity, credibility, and persuasiveness, and help students refine how they present themselves to their top-choice schools.
Test Preparation Tutor
Test prep tutors support students in strengthening key subjects and exam techniques. They focus on clarity, practice, and strategy, helping students boost grades and approach school exams or standardized tests with more confidence and less anxiety.
Personal Project Mentor
Personal project mentors share a similar field or interest with the student, such as design, law, engineering, or business. Drawing on their own experience, they guide students in shaping and executing a project that is realistic, meaningful, and aligned with future academic or career directions.
Former Admissions Officer
A former admissions officer offers an independent, experienced eye on the application. With a background in reviewing real files, they help students understand how their profile may be read, refine their positioning, and avoid common patterns that weaken otherwise strong applications.
Research Team
Our research team tracks updated information on universities, courses, and academic opportunities. They provide clear, up-to-date insights on what makes each program unique, helping students and coaches make informed decisions about fit, pathways, and long-term options.