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Phuong “Chloe” Nguyen
More Than I Imagined Seniors reflect on accomplishments and look ahead

Phuong “Chloe” Nguyen

Graduation year: 2018

Majors: International business, psychology

Activities: Vietnamese Student Association, business statistics tutor and grader, research assistant for business administration department

Internships: Human Resources intern at Chick-fil-A in Davenport, Iowa; clinical at Robert Young Mental Health Center, working with adults and children with mental illnesses and individuals with substance abuse

Post-grad plans: I am going back to Vietnam and working for my parents’ business. I will also be looking into other opportunities to pursue for a future career that incorporates my psychology degree.

Why Augustana?

The generous financial package, well-known psychology and business programs, and gorgeous campus!

Are you where you thought you’d be when you first came to campus?

I came from Vietnam and did not really expect anything prior to coming to Augustana. I still remember my post on the ‘Augustana College–Class of 2018’ group saying I wanted to major in business and engineering (haha myself for this, I was not good at physics at all!). Now I can’t stop saying how much I love psychology and enjoy all the courses the department has to offer.    

Who helped you get to where you are now?

My parents, my siblings and the whole family constantly encourage me to become a greater and better version of myself. My dear friends from across the globe have given me the opportunities to grow my cultural competence.

I benefited greatly from Augustana’s liberal arts curriculum. I would like to thank all of my professors from the business and psychology departments for providing me the tools and skills and supporting me throughout my four years. I enjoyed each class individually and as a whole when I could integrate the knowledge across disciplines.

I especially thank my research advisor, Dr. Goins, for her guidance during my research course. The project continues, and we are planning on running the additional experiment and publishing the paper. She has mentored and given me the directions to find my own answer to the question.

My sincere thanks to  Dr. Schultz and Dr. Rose for inspiring me to become a responsible and aware individual. I was able to gain invaluable experience on the trip to Guatemala. 

I would also like to express my gratitude to all the supervisors I work with on campus. I am thankful to have had the opportunity to work with you and learn from you.  

Peak experience?

It's hard to pick and choose, but I would go with the 10 days I spent in Guatemala. We learned about the country—the history, the people and the challenges that children are facing. It was a unique experience as we visited the indigenous community, schools and a variety of organizations to comprehend the social issues and the role each of us plays in contributing to the detriment or improvement. 

What surprised you?

I have learned that I can do many things and do them well if I put in the effort. I was never sure what I wanted to do, except for the desire to do good for the people and the community. With support from the school and faculty, I have pushed myself in different directions: conducting research about retirement savings from a psychological perspective, recruiting participants for a psychology research project, interning in human resources at Chick-fil-A, and doing clinical experience at Robert Young. Did it all, and will never regret any of it. 

How did you use Augie Choice?

I used it to pay for my two-week trip to Guatemala on spring break 2017. It was a one-of-a-kind experience that I will be forever grateful for. 

What will you miss the most?

I will miss my professors for all the intellectually stimulating conversations and my friends for having been an essential support network for me. 

Advice for the Class of 2022?

Life is always challenging; find the joy and meaning in the work that you do. Also, be inspired but don't be a copy.

“Don’t let her quiet demeanor and calming presence fool you. Chloe is a go-getter! With nothing more than a commercial to start with, she developed a research project on retirement saving. She has been a pleasure to work with because she thinks independently and is bright, efficient and cool under pressure. I hope to someday visit her home in Vietnam and see her efforts to raise awareness and provide services for mental health and well-being. I have no doubt in her ability to be a trailblazer!”

– Dr. Sheila T. Goins, assistant professor, business administration