Every year, The School of Business honors graduate students who have made a lasting impact during their time at PSU. Selected through nominations from faculty, staff, and Academic Directors, these students have demonstrated excellence in the classroom, leadership in their communities, and dedication to their professional and personal growth. Their accomplishments showcase the talent, perseverance, and forward-thinking mindset that define PSU graduate students. As they prepare for what comes next, the Class of 2026 represents the future of business leadership and innovation.
Can you share a little about your background and what inspired you to pursue supply chain management at PSU?
I was born and raised in Portland, Oregon. After high school, I joined the Oregon National Guard to help pay for college, which allowed me to earn both my bachelor’s and master’s degrees debt free. I originally started as a nursing major at another institution but quickly realized that the medical field was not the right fit for me.
At the time, I was working at a ramen shop, and my former boss, who had a background in supply chain, recommended that I investigate PSU’s supply chain program. After taking BA 339, I was immediately hooked. I became interested in how supply chains connect people, production, operations, and strategy, and I knew it was a field where I would be able to continue to learn and grow.
You earned both your BS in Global Supply Chain Management and your Master of Science in Global Supply Chain Management from PSU. What motivated you to continue your education and build on your experience in the field?
I wanted to challenge myself and continue building on what I had learned during my bachelor’s program. After completing my undergraduate degree, I felt there was still so much more to understand about supply chain management, especially from a global and strategic perspective.
I attended an information session hosted by Professor Daniel Wong, and I remember thinking “This guy seems motivated and knowledgeable about supply chain.” At the time, I knew a little bit about Professor Wong, but I did not realize he was the Academic Director of Global Supply Chain Management. His enthusiasm and passion for the field made me realize that PSU had more to offer through the master’s program. That helped motivate me to continue my education and deepen my knowledge of supply chain.
Throughout your academic and professional journey, how has keeping an open mind helped shape your career path and opportunities?
I wanted to challenge myself and continue building on what I had learned during my bachelor’s program. After completing my undergraduate degree, I felt there was still so much more to understand about supply chain management, especially from a global and strategic perspective.
I attended an information session hosted by Professor Daniel Wong, and I remember thinking “This guy seems motivated and knowledgeable about supply chain.” At the time, I knew a little bit about Professor Wong, but I did not realize he was the Academic Director of Global Supply Chain Management. His enthusiasm and passion for the field made me realize that PSU had more to offer through the master’s program. That helped motivate me to continue my education and deepen my knowledge of supply chain.
You are now working full-time as a supply chain professional at Boeing. What has been most exciting or rewarding about your experience in the industry so far?
I wanted to challenge myself and continue building on what I had learned during my bachelor’s program. After completing my undergraduate degree, I felt there was still so much more to understand about supply chain management, especially from a global and strategic perspective.
I attended an information session hosted by Professor Daniel Wong, and I remember thinking “This guy seems motivated and knowledgeable about supply chain.” At the time, I knew a little bit about Professor Wong, but I did not realize he was the Academic Director of Global Supply Chain Management. His enthusiasm and passion for the field made me realize that PSU had more to offer through the master’s program. That helped motivate me to continue my education and deepen my knowledge of supply chain.
Looking back on your time at PSU, are there any experiences, classes, or connections that had a lasting impact on you?
I wanted to challenge myself and continue building on what I had learned during my bachelor’s program. After completing my undergraduate degree, I felt there was still so much more to understand about supply chain management, especially from a global and strategic perspective.
I attended an information session hosted by Professor Daniel Wong, and I remember thinking “This guy seems motivated and knowledgeable about supply chain.” At the time, I knew a little bit about Professor Wong, but I did not realize he was the Academic Director of Global Supply Chain Management. His enthusiasm and passion for the field made me realize that PSU had more to offer through the master’s program. That helped motivate me to continue my education and deepen my knowledge of supply chain.
As you continue growing in your career, what are your goals for the future and what kind of impact do you hope to make in the supply chain field?
As I continue growing in my career, my goal is to keep developing into a supply chain leader. I want to become a well-rounded supply chain individual and build experience across planning, procurement, operations, analytics, artificial intelligence and continuous improvement so I can better understand the full supply chain from end-to-end.
Long term, I hope to move into leadership roles where I can help teams improve performance, lead problem solving, and create more efficient supply chains.
Can you share a little about your background and what inspired you to pursue your MBA at PSU?
I’m from New Jersey and spent much of my early 20s long distance hiking. I moved to Portland in 2020 and decided to go back to school at the start of Covid to complete my undergrad in history at PSU. Towards the end of my undergrad, my statistics professor Malek convinced me to take his project management certificate at Linfield College. After his continued encouragement, I realized I could set a higher ceiling for my career.
I’ve always liked PSU because of the school’s strong ties to the Portland community and focus on non-traditional students. I knew I wanted to do an in person program and knew that the community would be as valuable as the academics. PSU’s evening classes and pacing meant I could continue working for the first year of the program.
As a part-time MBA student, how have you balanced graduate school with your professional and personal commitments?
It was tough and I’m not sure I ever got the balance perfect. Going to grad school as an adult is going to be challenging no matter how you slice it but the most important thing for me was getting very clear on my priorities. Knowing which of the things in my life are glass balls which I can’t drop and which are rubber balls which will bounce back if I miss something.
I worked full time the first year and made a difficult decision to stop working in the second year to hold my personal development as a glass ball and, while it was challenging at times, betting on myself is a decision I will make every time.
I also learned that relationships with my teammates, network, friends and professors are glass balls. An assignment or a job search is temporary, but my relationships are incredibly important.
You’ve been highly engaged within the MBA cohort and broader business community. What have been some of the most meaningful connections or experiences during your time at PSU?
The most meaningful experiences have been getting to know my cohort, the professors and having an excuse to go out and meet people in business community. Getting to meet people from such diverse backgrounds and learn from their perspectives has been incredibly impactful for my personal and professional development.
Our leadership immersion class was the most impactful moment for me in the program as it was the first time that I’d integrated a more Amazon style of leadership with everything I’d learned in the program to serve as the group’s Project Manager. Our group was full of highly intelligent, driven people and it was an honor to both have their trust to lead and be grounded in my own experience to effectively manage the process. Thanks to my teammates Kostas, Austin, Khoa, Keegan and Mandeep.
Your peers and faculty often describe you as a collaborative and supportive team member. How has working closely with others shaped your MBA experience and professional growth?
It has taught me to be more confident in my capabilities and those of my teammates. At the start of the program, I didn’t have a clear understanding of the value I brought to my teammates or at work. I felt like I needed to justify that I was contributing.
Over time I learned how valuable my complex operations and systems experience was and realized that labor planning for teams of up to 700 people was transferable, durable, and something I could use to help manage constraints across roles.
I learned how to take up space by seeing my own value, but equally as important I learned to step back and see where others bring unique value.
Throughout your academic journey, what are some important lessons you’ve learned about leadership, resilience, or personal growth?
I learned that resilience comes from believing in yourself and knowing that it doesn’t matter where you started, it matters what you do with where you are now that matters. Finding other people who can support you in that process and who you can support is pivotal to growth.
I also learned that having a growth mindset, consistent effort and a strong internal locus of control are my superpowers. When I started the program and was learning new business concepts each week, I realized that there is a huge difference between I am not good at this and I am not good at this yet.
In the first year, I didn’t know accounting, economics, marketing, or business strategy, by the second year I was able to teach others what I’d learned.
Looking ahead, what are your goals for the future, and what kind of impact do you hope to make through your career and involvement in the business community?
Short term I want to continue moving upward in operations, continue solving increasingly complex business challenges and continue being the best people leader I can. While my career is focused in the private sector, I would like to use some of the time I am getting back after finishing the program to volunteer my time in the non-profit sector.
Long-term I want to blend my technical and people management to influence decisions at a large scale and am already starting to plan continuing certifications and education.
Personally, I want to travel more, spend time in nature and find some time to read for fun.
Can you share a little about your background?
I earned my Bachelor of Science in Accountancy in the Philippines, which provided me with a strong foundational understanding of the field. Beyond the professional milestones, this journey is incredibly meaningful to me: I will be the first in my family to earn a master's degree abroad. I owe that drive to my late mother. Though she wasn't able to complete high school herself, she raised me to deeply value education. Pursuing this advanced degree at PSU is the ultimate realization of the importance of learning that she instilled in me.
What led you to pursue a Master of Taxation at PSU?
When looking at graduate programs, Portland State University immediately stood out to me because the MTax curriculum is co-developed directly with industry practitioners. I’m not just looking to learn how to fill out returns; I want to understand tax as a dynamic business lever. Having evaluated the high caliber of PSU’s programs from the inside, I knew that this was the exact environment where I wanted to challenge myself, bring my international perspective, and launch the next chapter of my professional life.
As an out-of-state student, what made you choose PSU, and what has your experience been like engaging with the program remotely?
Choosing an out-of-state program always comes with unique logistical considerations, but PSU’s intentional hybrid design made it the perfect fit. Engaging with the program from Saipan in the Northern Mariana Islands—a U.S. territory in the Pacific region—certainly requires a high level of discipline due to the massive time zone difference. The asynchronous materials allow me to digest complex tax codes at my own pace, while the structured virtual touchpoints keep me deeply connected to the faculty and my peers. Managing the distance has not only sharpened my time-management skills, but it has also proven that a collaborative, high-touch academic community can thrive regardless of geography.
What does your current professional work involve, and how does it connect to the tax field you’re studying?
My professional journey bridges global operations, private wealth, and public tax administration. Early on, I worked on international cruise ships alongside teams from 48 different nationalities, which sparked my fascination with cross-border dynamics. I brought this global perspective into the casino industry, managing relations and financial operations for Ultra-High-Net-Worth clients. To balance that private-sector experience, I completed a year-long internship with our local Division of Revenue and Taxation, gaining hands-on insight into regulatory compliance. PSU’s Master of Taxation program perfectly synthesizes these diverse threads, providing advanced framework I need to become a successful strategic advisor.
What’s one specific concept, course, or experience from the program that has stood out as especially valuable or eye-opening?
The International Taxation course has been the most eye-opening experience for me, and the connection is deeply personal. I realized that I’m not just dealing with numbers—I’m dealing with complex, overlapping jurisdictions, cross-border compliance, and the intricate tax treaties between nations. The course challenged me to think globally and strategically about how individuals and businesses manage wealth while maintaining compliance in multiple countries. What made it especially valuable was how directly it connected to my career goals. I learned in class with my personal perspective as a dual citizen has given me a unique edge.
As you prepare to graduate, what does completing your Master of Taxation represent for you at this point in your journey?
On a personal level, walking across that graduation stage is the ultimate fulfillment of the values my late mother instilled in me. Being the first in my family to earn a master's degree abroad proves that her sacrifices and her unwavering belief in the power of education were not in vain. It is a tribute to her legacy, rooted in the Philippines and realized here in the United States. Thanks to PSU’s rigorous curriculum and global perspective, I am not just graduating with a diploma; I am stepping out as a well-rounded, confident strategic advisor ready to navigate the complexities of tax law. It represents the moment my past experiences and future ambitions align, and I could not be more grateful for the journey.
What are you hoping to pursue next after graduation, and what direction do you see your career taking from here?
Having navigated high-stakes operations across 48 nationalities on cruise ships, managed ultra-high-net-worth clients in the private sector, and regulated tax codes at the government level, I want to position myself as a unique bridge for clients operating across jurisdictions. PSU has given me the ultimate toolkit to step into these elite advisory roles, and I am excited to launch this next global chapter.