Graduate Student Ambassadors

Through their personal experience as graduate students in our Applied Economics and International and Development Economics programs, our Student Ambassadors are a valuable point of contact for prospective students. Student Ambassadors are available to connect with interested applicants, answer questions, and held navigate resources available at USF and the Economics department. 

If you are a prospective or admitted student, please feel free to reach out to our Student Ambassadors. 

Student Ambassadors will not be able to provide guidance on specific questions regarding applications and admissions policies and procedures, or any questions that involve specific personal information. Please contact the Admissions Team, via econ@usfca.edu (for MS AE) or idec@usfca.edu (for MS IDEC), for these types of questions.

Meet our Graduate Student Ambassadors

Mai Nguyen

Hi! I’m Mai Nguyen, a rising second-year student in the MS in Applied Economics program at USF. I hold a Master’s in Business Analytics from Purdue University and a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from San Jose State University.

Before joining USF, I worked as a Data Analyst in the education sector, where I used analytics to support equity-focused policy decisions and inform pre-graduation career interventions at the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office.

I chose USF because of its strong focus on blending traditional econometric methods with cutting-edge data science, the opportunity to deepen my skills in econometrics and causal inference, and its location in the heart of San Francisco — a hub for tech, policy, and innovation, where I hope to transition my career next.

I’d be happy to chat about coursework, adjusting to grad school, finding internships, or balancing work and study life. I’m currently working as a Data Science Intern at USF, where I lead projects that surface high-value donor insights, helping fundraising teams prioritize outreach and increase donor conversion rates.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out — I’d love to help however I can! 

Contact Mai at xnguyen2@dons.usfca.edu