Student Highlight: Nyah Beck
Meet Nyah Beck, a multifaceted and passionate graduate student at California State University, Long Beach. Nyah earned her undergraduate degree from UC Irvine in 2023 and is now pursuing a master’s in sports management while following her love for gaming. Her mission is to put a spotlight on underrepresented issues in the gaming industry by leveraging her knowledge and enthusiasm for the field. With persistence and determination, Nyah has even launched her own gaming company, creating a lasting impact on both the gaming industry and the Black community.
Nyah chose Cal State Long Beach because of its nationally recognized Sports Management program, ranked among the top three in the country. She values collaborating with professors and peers who are deeply experienced in traditional sports. One of her proudest accomplishments at The Beach is her tenacity in completing her program ahead of schedule, enabling her to pursue her dream of joining Korea’s Gen. G Esports program.
To stay motivated, Nyah draws inspiration from leaders like iAsia Brown and Gordon Bellamy of Xbox, as well as Zaid Gale from Peace4Kids. She admires their leadership and authenticity, especially those who embrace their uniqueness as queer individuals, which encourages her to show up for her community with the same courage. Above all, Nyah credits her mother as her greatest supporter; her unwavering encouragement has been the foundation of Nyah’s success.
Beyond academics, Nyah actively contributes to organizations such as CSULB Esports, Peace4Kids, and Game Hers. As a coach for CSULB Esports, she helps academy players develop skills to compete at the varsity level while honing her own gaming abilities. Her long-standing involvement with Peace4Kids reflects her family’s commitment to the organization, and her work with The Game Hers has earned her awards for outstanding contributions to gaming.
Nyah’s passion and consistency led her to create The Black Gaming Society, a company dedicated to increasing visibility and representation in gaming. This organization left an impact on not just other Black gamers, but also for a younger version of Nyah. Her vision is for The Black Gaming Society to gain global recognition and become a prominent name in Los Angeles, the city where her journey began.
When ayah reflects on what it means to be a Black scholar, one word comes to mind: resilience. She understands the challenges of navigating higher education as a Black woman and sees similar struggles among her peers. For Nyah, resilience is essential so that Black scholars’ hopes and dreams never waver, even when the odds seem stacked against them. 
