Dior Tran holds the door open for others while forging her path as a first-generation college student
By Hunter Anderson
First-generation student Dior Tran lives with intention, using her background as motivation to hold the door open for others.
Tran’s perspective is rooted in her family and the values that shaped her.
“I grew up in a very entrepreneurship-minded family,” she said. “We learned through doing more than formal business language, and that experience fuels my motivation to hold the door open for others.”
Tran transferred to The University of Alabama in Huntsville as a junior from the University of California, Davis, bringing with her a strong sense of purpose and a desire to lead.
“The transition was ‘barbecue chicken’ — everything just fell into place,” Tran said.
Once on campus, she quickly sought out leadership opportunities that would allow her to support others navigating college life.
“As a freshman and sophomore, I was heavily involved in clubs like the Vietnamese Student Association and Pre-Law Society at UC Davis,” she said. “I remember how the upperclassmen worked hard to make those spaces welcoming. When I became a junior, I knew it was my time to step up and do the same.”
Tran now serves as a College of Business ambassador, a role that has expanded both her network and perspective.
“Being an ambassador has opened a lot of doors for me,” she said. “I’ve been able to connect with incoming students, learn their stories and meet impactful people within the Huntsville community.”
She said the College of Business actively supports student success through hands-on learning opportunities.
“When you think about ‘fuel, spark, launch,’ they help you do those things,” Tran said. “Whether it’s the 24-hour challenge or business etiquette dinners, they’re preparing you to succeed in the real world.”
In addition to her ambassador role, Tran is president of Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA), vice president of the Economics Association and director of communications for Accounting Connections and Conversations.
“Being DECA’s president has taught me how different leadership really is,” she said. “You can’t really prepare for it — you just have to dive in and be willing to learn.”
Tran encourages new students to take simple steps to get involved.
“My advice is just two words: ‘Say hi,’” she said. “Everyone in the College of Business is friendly and willing to help. Taking that initiative can open so many doors.”
Tran is also gaining professional experience as a finance intern at Hexagon, where she has worked on financial projections and project accounting while expanding her technical skills.
“My experience at Hexagon has been great,” she said. “It’s a close-knit team, and I’ve been able to learn a lot, including traditional accounting.”
After graduation, Tran plans to pursue a master’s degree in business analytics at UAH. Long term, she hopes to build a career in a major city such as New York or Boston before eventually launching her own business.
An experience that further shaped her perspective was attending the Out for Undergrad conference in New York.
“That experience reinforced my belief in holding the door open for others,” she said. “When I was an underclassman, just one mentor made a huge difference. Now, I try to do the same — creating a community where we’re all helping each other move forward.”
