Nicholas James MUELLER

Stepping Out of Comfort Zone and Embracing New Opportunities

Mr Nicholas James MUELLER is a graduate of 2016 in Master of Science in Human Resource Management and Organisational Behaviour (HRMOB). As an adventurer who loves to embrace new challenges and opportunities, Nicholas has switched over different majors throughout his academic journey from finance, Accounting to Human Resources Management;  he travelled to different cities in U.S. for study and work, such as Columbia, Charleston, Boston and New Orleans. Today he teaches at Coastal Carolina University as an assistant professor in the Department of Accounting, dedicated to inspiring students and giving back to society with his expertise.

Love the Beautiful Campus and Gratitude towards Lingnan

After completing his first master degree in accounting at College of Charleston in South Carolina, Nicholas learned about the postgraduate programmes in Lingnan University from Prof Nancy CHEN Yi-feng and successfully secured a scholarship to study here. Setting foot in Asia for the first time with a journey to Hong Kong, Nicholas was filled with joy and excitement. Upon arrival, he was pleasantly surprised by the Lingnan campus. He remarks, “I wouldn't consider Lingnan campus as small. It feels more like a college, which is great because we get an actual campus with a field and gates, unlike many other universities in the U.S. with dispersed buildings.” Among all the landscape features, the mountains in the back were one of his favourites. “We went on hikes behind campus once a week, had a picnic on the top, and then walked down to the beach.”

As an international student, Nicholas experienced a range of orientations during his first few weeks of school. He recalls, “Setting up a bank account was one of my biggest concerns, but with the help of different office staff, the process ended up being very easy. We also did some departmental trips, team building activities and so on.” He found the entire orientation process very helpful and informative. He expressed his gratitude towards Lingnan for the care and support he received, which helped him settle into life in Hong Kong smoothly.

Unforgettable Campus Life and Experience of Cultural Differences between East and West

Nicholas cherished his time living in the student hostel alongside schoolmates from around the globe. “We had a very good mix of ethnicities. My roommate was from Russia, and we had floormates from Canada, Colombia, India, and so on. My programme also consisted of students from various countries, such as America, Nigeria and mainland China.” He regrets that such diverse combinations are becoming less common, as people often stick to their own circles and ethnic groups. “We used to bring drinks, play cards, and chat in the lounge of the student hostel every night. When we’re off campus, we’ve also been to Lan Kwai Fong! One time the Americans got homesick and we made a Thanksgiving dinner for everyone! We hiked to the top of the mountain, brought a barbecue tool set with us, and made hamburgers together.” In addition to the bonds with peers, Nicholas points out that the faculty-student relationship in Lingnan is incredibly intimate. Looking back on the photo album, Nicholas says he had a wonderful year in Hong Kong. “We had activities almost every weekend. Professors would take us to try different kinds of seafood. We visited many islands and I remember one place where we enjoyed a giant seafood hot pot.” He explains that in U.S. the relationship between teachers and students only stay within the classroom. “We would never take students out to lunch as a group or go on trips like that. That's just not part of our culture in the U.S.. But in Hong Kong, we'd visit different temples and sites. We'd go to dinner with the faculty and the students. That was really enjoyable!

One of the most striking cultural differences Nicholas encountered in Hong Kong was the emphasis on collectivism over individualism. “In the U.S., people tend to be more individualistic, whereas in Hong Kong, we do everything as a group. For example, we always go out to eat together, sitting at a round table, and seldom have dinner by ourselves.” Although Nicholas has been going on a social media detox, he maintains contact with friends through email. He describes Hong Kong as a multi-faceted place and marvels at the city's unique blend of cultures and landscapes. “Instead of ‘cultural shock’, it was a surprise to me! It is a metropolis like New York, with developed transportation like London and natural surroundings of Hawaii, with mountains and crystal-clear water—this is our picture of Hong Kong!”

Engagement in both Academic Research and Community Service as an instructor

Growing up in a family of academics, Nicholas was determined to pursue a career in academia since he was small. “I love the work and life in academia. Instead of following my parents' path in marketing and management, I preferred focusing on quantitative finance and accounting,” he said. After graduating from Lingnan University, Nicholas received an offer to work in the finance department at Dell EMC in Boston. While the job was stable, he soon realized it did not align with his desired lifestyle. “I had to leave the house at 5 am and wouldn't get back until 8 pm. It took me a total of four hours to commute to and from work every day, and not much flexibility could be enjoyed in time management.” he recalls. Therefore, he began looking for academic positions. It was the time when an opportunity arose from one of his professors. “I was informed that someone had dropped out of a PhD programme at Louisiana State University, so I decided to apply. Having successfully passed the interviews and tests, Nicholas was accepted and spent the next five years in Louisiana, staying in Baton Rouge and New Orleans to complete his PhD programme.

In 2022, Nicholas started his current position in the Department of Accounting at Coastal Carolina University, specializing in accounting systems and analytics. He shares that he not only plays the role of teaching and research, but also in community service. “We have a programme called the Community and Business Engagement Institute (CoBE), which encourages students to engage with local businesses for various consulting projects and apply their theoretical knowledge to solve real business challenges. For example, I worked with some students to study the feasibility of a statewide litter cleanup programme, examining costs and potential impacts on tourism revenue. I provided guidance and support along the way and they presented their findings to the state house.” Nicholas is also actively involved in supporting student organizations, including professional fraternities, sororities, and business associations. “In a small town like ours, the university plays a significant role in the local economy. There is a strong connection between the community and the university because we have the ability to mobilize resources,” he explains. Nicholas enjoys the project-based work that benefits the community. “For example, we have a new library in town, not affiliated with the university, and I was still invited to lead free technology classes for citizens because of my position in university.” Nicholas finds his service work very meaningful and fulfilling, as it allows him to give back to society, aligning perfectly with Lingnan's motto, “Education for Service.” “Nowadays many top-ranked universities are research oriented. I believe research is important, but sometimes I think service and teaching are just as crucial,” he concludes.

Advising the Younger Generations to Stay Open-minded and Expand Social Network

Nicholas is currently in his third year on the tenure track. Looking ahead, he is focused on completing his research papers and securing tenure. “After 11 years of traveling, schooling, and moving around frequently, I believe it’s time to settle down. My partner and I have bought a house and hopefully will start a family soon. We love the area. We’re close to both my family and hers. It’s an ideal location with a great job which I love. I don’t think I’ll ask for more!”

Nicholas encourages young Lingnanians to be open-minded and embrace every opportunity. “Don’t overthink it. Just say yes! Every experience is valuable, and things will work out in the end.” He notes that one of the most unwise behaviours among international students is only socializing with people from their own country, missing out on broader experiences. He advises students to expand their social network. “For instance, in the U.S., we don’t have hot pot. But now I have three hot pot cookers in my house, and we host hot pot dinners weekly for our neighbours!” Nicholas's time in Hong Kong has provided him with many interesting stories to share with friends and colleagues. “If you don’t go out and seek new experiences, you’ll miss the opportunity to bring those experiences back with you and start new traditions.” He suggests international students making good use of their time abroad to explore and learn new things. “Don’t waste your time by sitting in your room watching TV! Hong Kong is unique — it’s one of the few places where you can be in a city, the countryside, and at the beach all in the same day. Take full advantage of everything it has to offer and say yes to new experiences!”