Advancement Ambassador Moves Her Family Legacy Forward

When Michelle Chen (’24) graduated in December, she not only put her degree from the C. T. Bauer College of Business Honors Program to work but also continued an impressive family legacy. Her parents, who emigrated from Taiwan before Chen was born, both attended graduate school at UH. Her mother earned a Master of Education, while her father completed his master’s and doctorate in economics and now teaches at University of Houston-Victoria. He also served in a different role of significant personal importance — Chen's campus tour guide when she was first applying to college. 

In a speech she gave at the National Development Council earlier this fall, Chen recalled, “Walking alongside him as he shared stories from his time here, I could see how much the campus has changed and blossomed into what it is now. Visiting the business building, I felt a strong sense of calling.”

Along with the scholarships she received, the diversity of the student body, the proximity to family and the vibrancy of Houston, it was ultimately the Bauer Business Honors Program — with its smaller class format and focus on student resources — that led her to choose UH over other top schools in Texas. She majored in supply chain management with a minor in management information systems and already has a post-graduation job lined up at Chevron Phillips Chemical in Houston.  

“I feel every company needs a solid and strong supply chain that is resilient and has people that are resilient in the work that they do,” she explains, describing supply chain management as the backbone of a business necessary to run smoothly. She also appreciates how the role allows her interpersonal skills to shine through.