For decades, San José State University faculty have been sought after by news media to provide commentary on events making headlines. Whether for black and white print, radio or on camera, our subject matter experts do more than share informed opinions, they also lend valuable contextual details.
In the Lucas College of Business, our faculty are quite familiar with this type of activity. In the past two months, however, Caroline Chen has been particularly busy discussing U.S. tariffs and the “Latino Freeze” and economic blackout against U.S. retailers.
Chen, an associate professor of taxation in the accounting and finance department, has participated in at least nine interviews, including one with SJSU’s own Update News, to weigh in on two of the hottest topics dominating the news cycle.
KCBS Radio, Public News Service and, most notably, NBC Bay Area, have kept Chen busy. She has been one of the go-to experts for NBC Bay Area veteran reporters Scott Budman and Damian Trujillo. Trujillo, who also reports for Spanish-language station Telemundo 48, has interviewed Chen for their broadcast as well.
News appearances by Chen and other faculty only amplify the Lucas College of Business as being a source for reputable information. She says she stays current on the headlines in her area of expertise by checking several news organizations that report on economics and tax daily.
“I also listen to NPR daily news that provides headlines about the economy and tariffs so if there is a headline that is interesting, I will research that topic more in depth,” Chen added.
To prepare herself for interviews, she begins by asking the reporter what topics will be covered and then she ensures she is as up to date as possible about them. Her advice to other faculty who might be tapped for an interview is straightforward and succinct.
“I think that when you’re being interviewed by the news media, it’s important to remember that you should use simple terms and speak a bit on the slow side for maximum impact,” Chen suggested. “Try to limit the amount of ‘um’ and ‘ah’ while speaking and have fun.”
When asked about being recognized on TV, Chen shared that many of her students have seen her and some have even emailed her about it.
“The emails have all been very nice and they have told me how excited and proud they were to tell their families that I was their professor.”
To catch up on Chen’s appearances, you can find links below organized by topic.
U.S. Tariffs:
“President Trump’s steel and aluminum tariffs plans”, NBC Bay Area News, February 10, 2025
“Trump plans tariffs on Mexico and Canada, while doubling existing 10% tariffs on China”, NBC Bay Area News, February 27, 2025
“California consumers, business owners brace for Trump tariff fallout”, KCBS Radio, March 6, 2025
“Stock market tanks as recession concerns grow”, NBC Bay Area News, March 10, 2025
‘Latino Freeze’ and Economic Blackout:
“‘Latino Freeze’ grows as part of backlash against companies rolling back DEI programs”, NBC Bay Area News, February 11, 2025
“’Latino Freeze’”, San José State University Update News, February 20, 2025
“Latinos in NM, nation urged to boycott national retailers over DEI curbs”, Public News Service, February 27, 2025
“National economic boycott held in response to dismantling of DEI policies”, NBC Bay Area News, February 28, 2025
“Así se vivió el “apagón económico” en el Área de la Bahía”, Telemundo 48, February 28, 2025
Lucas College and Graduate School of Business faculty, staff, students and alumni consistently make a significant impact in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond. Many graduates have gone on to excel in various industries, with a notable presence in Silicon Valley. These organizations recognize and value the exceptional education and skills our alumni bring to their roles, making San José State University a key contributor to the region’s thriving economy. With competitive tuition and outstanding career outcomes, our college is among the top institutions for return on investment (ROI), delivering unparalleled value for money in higher education. We offer MBA, PMBA, MSFA, MSAA and MSTM degrees at the graduate level and 14 different BSBA concentrations at the undergraduate level, the largest set of offerings among the CSUs. These include accounting, accounting information systems, business analytics, corporate accounting & finance, entrepreneurship, finance, general business, hospitality, tourism, & event management, human resources management, international business, management, management information systems, marketing, and operations & supply chain management.