Fowler Scholars Program Student Spotlight: Khai Nguyen

Khai Nguyen, Fowler Scholar Class of 2023

The Fowler Scholars Program was created to educate and prepare a select group of Fowler College of Business students for accelerated and lasting leadership roles in global business and society. Each year, the college selects a new group of freshmen from the local San Diego area to become Fowler Scholars. The students who are selected for the program have demonstrated leadership, ethical conduct, and exceptional academic and collaborative abilities. 

Khai Nguyen, a class of 2023 Fowler Scholar, is a sophomore majoring in marketing with a specialization in professional sales and sales management. Nguyen has been involved in several on-campus organizations including Alpha Psi Rho (ΑΨΡ) and Andres Bonifacio Samahan. Nguyen discusses his college experience, describes what being a Fowler scholar means to him, shares advice for current Fowler students, and more. 

Q: What does it mean to you to be a Fowler Scholar? 

To be a Fowler Scholar is to be a student who represents the Fowler College’s core values on and off campus. The program has broadened my ethical business leadership skills and inspires me to embrace SDSU’s endless opportunities.

Nguyen and the rest of the Fowler Scholars outside of Petco Park before meeting Ron Fowler.

Q: Can you describe a little bit about yourself and how/when you decided to pursue marketing as an area of study?

I’m a second year student at SDSU! I’m majoring in marketing with  specialization in professional sales and sales management. From an early age, I knew I wanted to pursue a career within business because my hobbies and interests always followed a business path. I began selling candy at my elementary school starting in second grade. Later in middle school, I began selling kendamas. In high school, I started an online business selling clothes and sneakers. High school was the turning point for me. I knew I liked selling and wanted to pursue it. 

Q: If you’re involved in SDSU student organizations on campus or affiliated with any organizations off campus, can you share why you got involved and what your experience has been like so far?

On campus, I am a member of A.B. Samahan, a Filipino Cultural club that offers mentorship, and Alpha Psi Rho, the only Asian/Pacific-Islander Fraternity on campus! My experience with both organizations has been amazing! I’m currently serving on Alpha Psi Rho’s executive board as Treasurer and am excited for the semester! 

Nguyen after a hike with some of his Alpha Psi Rho fraternity brothers.

Q: What experience in the Fowler Scholars Program has been the most impactful?

The biggest takeaway from the program is the opportunity to meet with so many business leaders in various industries. Before joining the program, I really had a one-way mind of thinking and I didn’t take other perspectives into account. Meeting with so many different people expands my thinking and gives me what I like to call “brain juice.” I can definitely see my thought processing changing as time goes on.

Q: Who inspires you and why?

My mother inspires me because of her resilience. I know many people go through hardships throughout their lives but knowing my mother’s story makes me feel so proud to be her son and makes me want to work hard for her. She had to give up her college education in order to raise her younger brother. As a result, she never got her degree but today she is an accountant at a non-profit cancer research organization in La Jolla.

Nguyen poses for a photo at the Kuya Ate Ading (KAA) reveal, the mentorship program with AB Samahan. Kuyas are male mentors, Ates are female mentors and adings are the coed mentees. Pictured are Khai’s ates Rachel and Audrey! His twin ading is Cindy.

Q: What has been your favorite SDSU memory so far?

My favorite SDSU memory has been getting my mentor from AB Samahan. Her name is Rachel Lee and she has done more for me than I could have ever expected. She provides me with constant advice and encouragement, pushing me to do better and not fall behind in my academics. Aside from academics, Rachel pushes me to get out of my comfort zone and build my confidence. I’m so glad to have met her and hope to make a similar impact on my future mentee.

Q: If you could go back to your freshman year, what advice would you give yourself?

I would tell myself to not be scared to get out of my comfort zone. To talk to more people and give out more business cards to build my network. To project myself and voice more so I could make stronger impacts. Oh and not to procrastinate on online assignments, no matter how tempting it seems. 

*All group photos were taken prior to March 2020.