“I chose not to go home for the summer, which was a pretty big decision considering I live on the other side of the world,” said Minh Le ’19.
“It was the best decision I have made so far.”
Spending the summer on campus after his first year at Gustavus gave him the opportunity to serve as social media and audience engagement intern for the prestigious Nobel Conference (September 27 and 28 on campus. Tickets still available.)
Minh, who is from Hanoi, Vietnam, has long been interested in writing, communication, and marketing. He was a founding member of a popular soccer fan website in Vietnam called 4231.vn and plans to declare a double major in communications and marketing or English.
His internship with the Nobel Conference had him developing audience and communication strategies for the Conference, which this year brings renowned economists and scholars (and thousands of visitors) to Gustavus to discuss global economic inequality. Minh worked closely in collaboration with Nobel Conference director and philosophy professor Lisa Heldke ’82 and fellow student and intern Rebecca Awe ’17.
“The very first thing we did was discuss ideas, where we wanted to go, what we wanted to create,” Minh said. “I started out as a relatively shy kid, so I learned about brainstorming and group discussion. I learned to contribute to the process and show my disagreement.”
He also developed research and analytical skills, seeking out and reviewing social media usage and presence among visiting experts, their organizations, and other influencers. And he often played enthusiastic pick-up soccer with professors, staff, and students on campus.
Each task paired nicely with a passion. Since researching social media for the Nobel Conference, “I’ve been doing a lot of scouting with my soccer work too, figuring out little details,” he said. As a communicator in digital spheres looking to make it his profession, he can see how thoughtful strategy builds interest and excitement. “I am definitely thinking about how my ideas will affect and benefit events and organizations—I’m happy to be able to contribute to the success of the Nobel Conference,” he said.
And knowing what he knows now about the Conference topic and its presenters, he has much to look forward to on Tuesday when the Conference begins. “After doing my social media research, I know that Dan Ariely is a person with a lot of humor. I look forward to his lecture quite a lot,” he said.
“Economics is a subject that really affects everyone, including me. Especially the topic of economic equality. I have my views, and I am looking forward to what the speakers have to say.”
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