Majors: Communication and economics, with a concentration in financial economics
When Linh Nguyen ’18 first came to Denison from Hanoi, Vietnam, she found the new culture around her fascinating, especially American TV. Amazed by U.S. media, Nguyen signed up for a communication class and followed that with many more. These courses, in addition to working as public relations chair for Denison’s Asian Culture Club and interning with a PR agency in London, solidified Nguyen’s ambition. She wanted to work professionally in marketing, so she combined studies in communication, economics, and financial economics to make it happen.
You are the first Denisonian to graduate with a concentration in financial economics. How did this area of study add to your education?
I decided that I wanted to pursue more courses related to business so I would be prepared to enter the corporate world. Shortly after, Denison added the financial economics concentration. These classes explain how the financial industry, banking systems, and government regulations work. I can open the newspaper to the stock section and understand what’s going on. I was able to use this training as an intern at RF|Binder in New York City, where I supported clients who work in the financial services industry.
How do you see the various topics working together as you begin to pursue a career?
I used creative critical thinking in communication classes to dissect how humans communicate and the impact of their messages. Economics classes taught me to identify and solve problems using statistic strategy. So, together, I use both the left and right side of my brain, which allows me to better understand how the world is working. I can identify a problem and come up with a tool to solve it.