Over the last 20 years, Vietnam native Zoom Nguyen worked her way up from a laundry operator to a managerial role at Micron Technology in Boise.
“I started to take classes to become a technician once I started moving up, which led to earning an associate of arts and sciences degree at the College of Western Idaho,” she said. “At that time, I didn’t understand that I couldn’t continue onto an engineering bachelor’s degree. I didn’t want to start over.”
Fortunately, Nguyen found out about Boise State University’s online Bachelor of Applied Science through an information session a couple of years later during COVID-19.
“I talked with (student success coach) Scott Erickson and asked him what higher education I could pursue with the Bachelor of Applied Science,” she said. “He told me I could get pretty much any master’s degree I would like. That’s when I decided to go back to school.”
After graduating from the program in August 2023, Nguyen enrolled in the Online Master of Business Administration in Management at Boise State. Her husband, Derrick Lee, is also a Boise State alum. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2022.
“The online format has made it very convenient,” she said. “I finished the bachelor’s degree in two years and two months. It was really nice.
“COVID-19 made it possible to have more online classes in the summer, so I could take any classes I needed throughout the year. It was convenient to earn a degree while still working full-time.”
Red, white, blue and orange
Nguyen had a difficult childhood before she came to America. After her family fled their home country as self-described “Vietnamese boat people” to Hong Kong to pursue a better life, she spent part of her childhood in a refugee camp with poor living conditions.
“While at Whitehead Detention Center, “I remember the three occasions of tear gas treatment,” she said. “One was in 1991, which was in powder form, where it reactivated upon touching days later, was used to control conflicts between detainees.
“In 1995 and 1996, detainees started rioting inside the camp after it was announced that all asylum seekers must return to Vietnam as Hong Kong prepared to return to China. The tear gas was used this time to suppress rioting. According to internet reports, there were 500 canisters of tear gas fired at detainees in 1995 and hundreds of canisters in 1996.”
The family eventually returned to Vietnam when Hong Kong returned to China’s rule. She came to the United States to marry her husband in 2004. They have three children — DJ Nguyen (18), a nursing student at Boise State, Bryson Lee (17) and ZakaRyan Nguyen (15).
Nguyen graduated from the College of Western Idaho (CWI) with a degree in advanced mechatronics engineering technology in 2018 before enrolling at Boise State.
“My husband was going to school at CWI during COVID-19 when he saw a flier that said Boise State was having an information session for the Bachelor of Applied Science,” she said. “I was off that day, so I checked it out. I was one of three people on the Zoom meeting.”
The information that Nguyen learned in both Boise State degree programs is applicable to her role at Micron, wafer fabrication real-time defect analysis and metrology shift lead engineer II. It’s her seventh position at the company.
“I did the +Business concentration thesis with some leadership classes in my undergrad, which helped with my real-life experience at Micron,” she said. “I especially liked the Leadership and Communications class in the MBA program.
“Communication is huge in any field — especially management. I learned a lot of skills from my professor in that course, like how to communicate and to lead myself and others in organizations. It helped me understand the reasons for why I am doing what I’m doing, my strengths and opportunities.”
Nguyen believes that earning an MBA will solidify her leadership role, which she hopes to continue to expand as she works toward a 2025 graduation date.
“I like to do good work, and I also like to support and bring people around me up,” she said. “That’s why I chose leadership. The reason I did an MBA is to gain advanced leadership skills to effectively manage people and projects. I also want to make more impactful changes in policy.”
Taking center stage
Nguyen had no plans to walk in commencement to receive her Bachelor of Applied Science degree in person, but her husband reminded her of their deal.
“I made him walk when he graduated from Boise State,” she said. “He told me, ‘When it’s your turn, you have to walk, too.’ It was a good experience and good to influence my children about the importance of higher education and the growth mindset.”
Although being in school for five years to earn two degrees isn’t easy, Nguyen said her family and friends are behind her all the way.
“They think I’m crazy for staying in school for so long, but they’re very supportive,” she said. “The online programs at Boise State are very well-designed. I am on the path to be able to finish the MBA in two years while working full-time. I love that.”
Nguyen is appreciative of her time as an online student. She especially enjoyed being able to choose an emphasis area for the Bachelor of Applied Science.
“It’s important to select an emphasis you love to pursue, then enjoy the journey,” she said. “In addition to +Business emphasis, I took two leadership classes.”
Since graduating with an undergraduate degree, Nguyen has become a de facto recruiter for Boise State at Micron.
“I try to get so many people to go back to school,” she said. “My co-workers joke that Boise State needs to pay me for all of the people I got to go back to school.
“I believe I got four people to enroll in the Bachelor of Applied Science program; one is going as soon as he finishes his associate degree. I also got a manager to go into the MBA program with me. I love it.”
Zoom, indeed.
Learn more about the applied science program or the Online MBA
Earning an online degree from Boise State University can open doors to new opportunities and a brighter future — and we’re here to support you every step of the way. Whether you’re exploring if an online degree is right for you or need help transferring credits, connecting with a student success coach is the perfect first step.
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