Michelle Phương-Anh Nguyễn

Michelle Phương-Anh Nguyễn (she/her/hers)
Program: MPA-MSW Dual Degree
Concentration: International Security Policy
Hometown: San Jose, CA

Michelle Phương-Anh Nguyễn ’27 is a dual-degree graduate student at Columbia University, pursuing a Master of Public Administration in International Security Policy and Master of Social Work in Integrated Practice & Programming. She earned her B.A. in Political Science with minors in International Relations and Philosophy from Loyola Marymount University in 2020.

The daughter of Vietnamese refugees, Michelle brings a deeply personal commitment to the intersections of policy, advocacy, and social justice for marginalized and displaced communities. Prior to arriving in New York, she served in the U.S. House of Representative as a Congressional Fellow through the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies and later as a full-time aide. Her time in Congress, especially on the frontlines of refugee casework during the fall of Kabul and the invasion of Ukraine, profoundly shaped her interests in the mechanics of humanitarian response and international security.

In addition, Michelle has worked to bridge state and federal strategy, support legislative initiatives across the country, and mentor rising AAPI leaders committed to public service. At Columbia, she serves as the SIPASA Career & Alumni Affairs Chair and as a Veterans Affairs Ambassador with the Center for Veteran Transition and Integration. She is also a member of the Institute of Global Politics Student Circle. Over the summer, Michelle interned with the UN Department of Safety and Security, where she contributed to integrated risk management and strategic planning efforts.

Upon graduation, Michelle’s aspiration is to continue a life of public service. In her spare time, she enjoys reading and writing voraciously.