Business Matters

“Forget about the college rankings you see on U.S. News Best Colleges — Oregon State University is more than just an academic institution; it’s a community we call Beaver Nation.” Chien-Hua Nicholas “Nick” Lin has strong words of praise for OSU, backed by years of experience. 

“I have two distinct career goals,” he said. “One is to become a professional content creator in a major sports league like the NBA, NFL or MLB. The other is to leverage both my engineering and business degrees to pursue a career in engineering project management within the tech industry. I’m simultaneously developing both skill sets until one of these dreams comes true.” 

Lin is an international student from Taiwan and a current graduate student at the College of Business. After earning his undergrad degree from OSU in electrical engineering with a minor in computer science and photography in 2022, Lin decided to pursue an MBA through the graduate business programs. His next steps tell a tale of choices. 

Lin has made a name for himself at OSU by taking advantage of the built-in networking opportunities everywhere.  

During his undergraduate years, Lin participated in internships and various student-led organizations. Early on, he joined the on-campus fashion magazine, DAMchic, where he discovered a passion for photography. Developing this skill set has led to jobs as a photographer for campus Greek life and Beaver Athletics. During his final year earning his bachelor’s degree, Lin interned at NASA and collaborated with the on-campus student rocketry team, University Student Launch Initiative, to help develop a high-power rocket.  

“Everyone can be a resource,” Lin said. “Building connections is incredibly important. If you’re seeking help or looking for an opportunity, always reach out to people who might assist you. Even if they don’t have the answer, they can often point you in the direction of someone who does. These connections can come from anywhere — your professors, Greek life leaders or even employees in companies you admire.”

A great benefit to Lin’s goals has been that graduate business programs at OSU can be completed online, in Portland or Corvallis with full-time and part-time options. This flexibility has allowed a student like Lin to earn his MBA while continuing to work on photography and social media as an intern for Beaver Athletics as well as take on new opportunities like his recent position as a graduate program assistant to Dr. Omar Trinidad — working with international students in the College of Business. 

“Being able to engage with students from all around the world is incredibly rewarding,” Lin said. “Coming from their home countries to the United States can be challenging, as they face not only culture shock but also language barriers. I help international students navigate both their academic and professional careers.”  

Lin speaks highly of opportunities and resources that OSU provides its students — one being the Career Success Center located in Austin Hall, the home to the College of Business. They provide invaluable services such as résumé workshops, mock interviews, and one-on-one career coaching to help students move closer to landing their dream jobs. 

But above all else — the jobs, the internships, the student life — “it’s the people,” Lin says, “the Beaver Nation community constantly shows love and support to those around them.” 

For those considering joining the College of Business to earn their graduate degree, Lin promises that the experiences will be unforgettable, academically, from highly experienced professors who bring to the classroom a wealth of knowledge and real-world experience to OSU’s location. 

“We are at the heart of innovation in Oregon, with access to major global companies like Nike, Adidas, Intel, HP and NVIDIA,” he said. “These strong connections to top companies not only enhance our academic programs but also open up incredible opportunities for internships, networking and hands-on projects. Whether you’re interested in business, engineering or design, OSU’s ties to these industries ensure that our students gain practical experience and are well-prepared for competitive careers.”