Meet Nikita Tran ’26

Where are you from and what is your background?
I'm a first-generation Vietnamese American, born in Honolulu, Hawaii, and raised primarily in Sacramento, California. I was raised by a single mother who was in a domestic violence situation, and I later lived with my grandparents after escaping that environment. After reuniting with my mother, we faced years of homelessness, which worsened when she became pregnant with my younger brother. After overcoming these challenges, my mother secured stable housing, and my brother became a key source of joy and inspiration in my life. His upbringing motivated me to pursue a career in education, and I received my BA in Liberal Studies at California State University, Sacramento. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I transitioned into social work because of my background, focusing on advocacy for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking.

Why did you apply for this graduate program and decide to study at USF?
I applied to the Master of Global Studies program to study international law, global relations, migration, and human rights. USF’s mission of cultivating a community that cares for its growing diverse community aligns with my values and what I envision for our future. I wanted to attend a university that invites students to collaborate about addressing social issues during these unprecedented times of the rising level of humanitarian crises we are seeing today. I am excited to be part of this collective that shares the same enthusiasm about global work this graduate program offers.

What impacts has the Dean's Scholarship had on your ability to further your studies?
The Dean's Scholarship has allowed me to invest in my education by supporting a portion of my tuition throughout my first year of graduate school. This has provided much financial relief and also helps with my commute from Sacramento to get to my classes twice a week. I was so surprised and grateful to have had this opportunity.

What are your career ambitions?
My goals for pursuing an MA in Global Studies are to use my experience from working in the anti-trafficking field at an international non-governmental organization (NGO) to focus on current issues our world has today, with the hope of being able to do work about those issues on a larger scale. I aspire to create more programs needed for vulnerable populations or contribute to developing and implementing policies surrounding anti-trafficking.