Jesse Nguyen

Jesse Nguyen noticed an interesting pattern. Famous comic book characters Clark Kent, Eddie Brock, Peter Parker and Lois Lane all have one thing in common: journalism.

“This made me realize that journalists have the coolest job there is,” says Nguyen, an English major with a concentration in journalism and professional writing.

Nguyen has found the perfect outlet for his passions in journalism and media at UMass Lowell by serving as editor-in-chief of The Connector, the university’s student newspaper.

“The Connector is really cool because students are able to express themselves. We write about our thoughts and opinions and what we find important, and we get to share that with the campus,” he says.

Nguyen tries to foster a sense of community for the paper’s staff members. Weekly pitch meetings are filled with music and laughter as students share story ideas that matter to them. 

“I wanted to feel like it was made by students,” Nguyen says. “We have that sense of community that makes it really easy for students to contribute and not feel intimidated.”

A lifelong resident of Lowell, Nguyen knew that UMass Lowell was the path to take.

“My freshman year really changed my outlook on school and solidified my love for English. It felt like I did belong at college,” says Nguyen, who quickly became involved on campus.

As a sophomore, he joined the Ice Hawks, where both new and experienced skaters perform at varsity and club ice hockey games.

He also landed a grant-writing internship with the Angkor Dance Troupe, a Lowell-based nonprofit that teaches and performs traditional Khmer folk dance.

“It was nice to see how they operated in Lowell and how they supported the youth,” he says.

Nguyen attends meetings with the UMass Lowell student chapter of the College Democrats and enjoys events held by the Cambodian American Student Association (CASA).

“One day, I was bored, so I went to a CASA event and immediately made friends,” he says. “We play lots of games, and it's just a good time.”

Nguyen is minoring in video games studies, which he says complements his interests quite well.

“I've always played games, but in this minor, I’ve been able to take them seriously for what they are and analyze them almost the same way as books to understand their importance in society,” he says.

During his junior year, Nguyen was nominated by English Professor Rebecca Richards for a marketing internship with The Beehive, a coworking community located in Tyngsboro. He will create social media posts — and get a jump-start on his career goal of working at a media company.

“I’m kind of geared towards video journalism,” Nguyen says. “The Connector and UMass Lowell have really helped me gain confidence for my future.”