For Marisa Chen ’20, winning the Oregon State University Foundation and Alumni Association’s Changemaker award was an honor that underscored her commitment to making a positive impact on the fashion industry in Portland and worldwide. A global marketing professional, popular content creator and mentor, Chen creates meaningful connections in her design community and fosters relationships between College of Business students, recent graduates and design professionals. Here, product and merchandising management senior instructor Brigitte Cluver speaks to Chen about her college experience, her career trajectory and what it means to win the Changemaker award. What drew you to OSU and majoring in merchandising management? The first time I stepped onto the Oregon State campus I knew I could see myself there for the next four years. When I discovered that merchandising management was a possibility for me to study, I said, ‘Check. That’s everything I want for my education. The blend of fashion and business piqued my interest personally and set me up well to work in the industry.’ What was your experience in the program like? I felt so supported, whether it was by a professor, Career Success Center staff or alumni I met through networking events. The dedication and commitment from the faculty was always really encouraging. You are all incredibly engaged with the student population and the industry. So many of the principles I learned from merchandising classes apply in my job now, so I feel like it really prepared me for the job I have today. Alumna Marisa Chen is an Oregon State University 2025 Changemaker Forward FASHION Photography by @korithompsonphoto 10 | College of Business
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