Nancy Napier, a distinguished professor emerita and coach for the College of Business and Economics’ executive master of business administration (MBA) program published a book on one part of Vietnam’s history, The Bridge Generation of Vietnam: Spanning Wartime to Boomtime. The book was co-authored by Boise State graduate Dau Thuy Ha (MBA, ’99) who founded a consulting firm and educational nonprofit in Vietnam.
Napier and Ha compiled profiles and essays relating to three critical time periods in Vietnam’s recent history. The book focuses on a group of people who grew up during wartime, lived through a devastating period of famine and hunger, and are now leading the country in its economic boom. The book divides these experiences into three parts, mirroring the time periods: the American War ending in 1975, the subsidy period from 1975-1986, and the country’s shift toward a market economy to present day.
The book is available to purchase on Amazon.
Boise State’s relationship with Vietnam dates back to 1994, when the university offered its MBA program in Hanoi, the country’s capital city. The program primarily was aimed at training National Economics University (NEU) faculty to launch their own MBA program but offered the degree to some businesspeople as well. That partnership established the first MBA degree program ever offered by a Vietnamese university.
As part of Boise State’s current executive MBA program, participants experience a one-week international residency in Hanoi to gain a first-hand understanding of the managerial, political and cultural issues that influence and drive international business. With NEU, Boise State also launched a 2+2 program that encourages Vietnamese students to study for two years in Hanoi and two years in Boise, and then receive degrees from both NEU and Boise State.
Jade Chase, a graduate of the executive MBA program and owner of 18Ninety Creative, a Boise-based marketing and advertising agency, has produced a cultural documentary about hunger, war and prosperity in Vietnam. The documentary stemmed from profiles in Napier’s book. The documentary, We to Me, looks at misunderstandings between generations of Vietnamese, some from the Bridge Generation and from young people today. It has been showcased and won awards at several international film festivals, and is slated to be released in late 2020.