Missouri State University alumna Christina Nguyen has transformed her passion for marketing, leadership and community service into a growing career in Kansas City’s advertising industry.

From serving as student body vice president at Missouri State to earning recognition from the Kansas City advertising community, Nguyen has embraced each experience as an opportunity to grow.

“I try to take every opportunity as a chance to grow and learn, there’s always a lesson in every failure, just as much as there is in a success.”

Building a Foundation at Missouri State

Nguyen graduated from Missouri State with a bachelor’s degree in marketing and a concentration in advertising and promotion. During college, she participated in several organizations and leadership opportunities that helped prepare her for her career.

She served as a resident assistant and vice president of the Student Government Association. She was also involved with the Student Affairs Advisory Board, Asian American Pacific Islander Committee and the Homecoming Court.

Nguyen received several honors for her contributions, including Cabinet Member of the Year for SGA, Outstanding First Year Residence Hall Advisor of the Year and recognition as an Inclusive Excellence Scholar.

Of all her college experiences, serving as student body vice president had the greatest impact on her.

When reflecting on her time as student body vice president, Nguyen said the experience was unmatched.

“It gave me the chance to give back to a university that had done so much for me and advocate for its students, but also allowed me to rebuild how things ran internally from the ground up within the organization. Very on-brand for a project manager, right?”

From Internship to a Growing Career

Networking and internship experience helped Nguyen begin her advertising career. Connections within Kansas City’s advertising community introduced her to Signal Theory, a brand development, marketing and design firm with offices in Kansas City and Wichita.

Nguyen started at Signal Theory as an intern before joining the agency after graduation. She now works as a project manager, helping oversee creative projects, budgets and client relationships.

This summer, Nguyen celebrated three years with the agency.

Reflecting on her career growth, Nguyen shared:

“I’m still at Signal Theory and really enjoying my time here. I celebrated three years with the agency this summer, which is honestly wild to think about since I feel like just yesterday I had graduated from Missouri State University!”

Recognition in Kansas City’s Advertising Community

Outside of her role at Signal Theory, Nguyen serves on the Kansas City Ad Club’s board of directors. Earlier this year, she was named the 2026 KC Ad Club Board Member of the Year during the American Advertising Awards.

The award recognizes a board member who goes above and beyond to support the growth of Kansas City’s advertising industry.

Reflecting on receiving the award, Nguyen shared:

“It was surreal to be recognized in front of so many advertising agencies, but the award really highlighted what I’m passionate about: making processes more efficient and fostering collaboration within our community. I’m incredibly grateful to have been recognized for that work.”

Nguyen was also selected for the inaugural Kansas City cohort of Young Advertising Professionals.

Making an Impact Through Marketing

Nguyen uses her professional skills to support the Kansas City community. At Signal Theory, she took over the agency’s annual United Way Week campaign and developed new activities and ways for employees to participate.

Her approach helped employees better understand the purpose of the campaign and the impact of their contributions. Under her leadership, participation increased and the campaign raised more money than in any previous year.

Nguyen also leads Signal Theory’s employee resource group, Babes Helpin’ Babes, which empowers marginalized employees through discussions and events.

Advice for Marketing Students

Nguyen encourages current marketing students to build professional connections and pursue internships that allow them to explore their interests.

Offering advice to current marketing students, Nguyen shared:

“Keep networking and lean into internships. Apply for roles that help you narrow down your interests early on that way, you can make sure you’re pursuing the right path.”

She added that because marketing and advertising can apply to many different fields, gaining specific experience early can help students identify the career path that best fits them.

Outside of her professional responsibilities, Nguyen values making time for new experiences and personal growth.

Nguyen’s journey demonstrates how campus involvement, internships, professional relationships and a willingness to learn can create meaningful opportunities. As she continues building her career in Kansas City, she remains committed to strengthening the advertising community and helping others succeed.