Nicholas Shuckerow (MSBA ’22), shares about his experience moving from a military to civilian career during his time at Rady.
Nick Shuckerow
Why Rady’s MSBA was the Perfect Transition for this Veteran
The career trajectory for veterans is anything but standard. For Nick Shuckerow (MSBA ’22), this is especially true. After graduating from college in Vermont, Shuckerow joined the U.S. Marines, where he served for six years as an engineer — most of his time stationed here in San Diego.
His military career proved to be exactly what he had envisioned — an opportunity to serve his country, gain new experiences, and develop skills that would benefit both in his military career — and his future as a veteran.
It was during his service that Shuckerow developed a keen interest in data. While working on aircraft systems, he was drawn to the data that went into optimizing their performance, which ultimately sparked his interest in data analysis. Driven by his curiosity, and the desire to understand both the “how” and the “why” of complex systems, Shuckerow soon began to understand the critical value of translating technical and analytical expertise into business insights and strategy.
Nick served for six years as an engineer in the U.S. Marines.
Navigating from the Marines to Life at Rady
In late 2022, Shuckerow was ready for a new adventure. To support his career transition, he researched master’s programs with a specific emphasis on data analytics. Shuckerow wanted a technical and data-driven education — not just an MBA. He wanted to understand the processes, algorithms, and calculations behind business decisions, rather than simply focusing on business strategies. That’s when he discovered the MSBA program at Rady, which offered the perfect blend of technical rigor and business context.
“The MSBA program was exactly what I was looking for. It’s not just about the execution, but understanding the theory, math and processes that drive business decisions behind-the-scenes. I wanted to understand why something was done a certain way, not just how it was done.” — Nick Shuckerow, MSBA ’22
The program’s emphasis on data science, quantitative analysis, and real-world business applications aligned perfectly with his career goals. Shuckerow found the program’s blend of theoretical learning and hands-on application to be especially valuable in building a deep understanding of the concepts he knew he’d use throughout his career.
Shuckerow also appreciates how supportive Rady is of their veteran student community. From a straightforward GI Bill process to resources uniquely offered for veteran students, Rady made the transition from active service to graduate school easier than anticipated.
Nick and his wife Joana Shuckerow.
"The process for veterans using the GI Bill is incredibly streamlined," Shuckerow says. "They made everything really simple and easy, and I never had any issues. I think any veteran would feel very comfortable here."
How the MSBA Delivered Beyond Expectations
One aspect of the MSBA program that surprised Nick was the amount of coding involved. Although the program provided resources like DataCamp to become familiar with coding languages, he hadn’t anticipated just how technical the coursework would be. As it happened, this turned out to be a critical part of his experience. The program didn’t just focus on executing code — it provided a deep understanding of why certain methods, formulas, and processes were used.
"Sometimes, in undergrad, you learn the 'how' but don’t always get the 'why,'" Shuckerow explains. "In the MSBA program, you get to understand the context and reasoning behind the methods we use. It was a pleasant surprise to realize how much coding and mathematical concepts are integrated into solving real-world problems within the coursework."
Why the Faculty at Rady Make All the Difference
After leaving a military career in which benefitting from the wisdom of leadership is built into your every day, Shuckerow wasn’t certain what he could anticipate from the faculty at Rady. But he was happy to find that he could look to his professors as leaders in helping him shape both his classroom experience, and his future.
For example, Professor Vincent Nijs, known for his clear and thorough teaching style, made complex systems more accessible, allowing students to grasp even the most challenging concepts. The combination of practical examples and his no-nonsense approach also made difficult topics more memorable — knowledge that has been invaluable as Shuckerow continues work on his capstone project.
"Some of the most complex topics we covered were in Professor Nijs’ courses. He did an amazing job explaining them," says Shuckerow. "We still refer back to his lessons in our capstone projects, and his thoroughness really helped solidify these concepts for me."
Real-World Application Through the Capstone Project
The MSBA capstone project provides students with an opportunity to apply their newly acquired knowledge to real-world business challenges. Shuckerow’s capstone has been particularly rewarding, as it involves analyzing data and solving problems in a way that reflects the skills he’s learning in real-time.
"The capstone is definitely one of the highlights of the program. It’s so well thought-out and allows you to apply everything you’ve learned in a very meaningful way," Shuckerow explains. "We’re using code and processes we’ve learned throughout the program, and it’s all coming together in a way that is both practical and insightful."
For Shuckerow, the capstone project has underscored the importance of the program's technical focus and how it translates into real-world business analytics.
How Life at Rady Drives Strong and Lasting Connections
While Shuckerow has spent a lot of time in San Diego having been stationed there previously, his student experience is also unique in that he flies in each week from the East Coast to attend classes. But he’s happy to share that his physical distance from campus hasn’t limited his ability to make lasting connections with his fellow students. In fact, he’s formed strong relationships with classmates, many of whom, like him, come from diverse backgrounds and are at various stages in their careers.
"The flexibility of the program means we’re all in different places in life, but we share a common mindset of wanting to dive deeply into the technical aspects of business analytics," Shuckerow says. "Even with limited on-campus time, I’ve made great friends and formed strong professional connections."
Shuckerow also appreciates the program's welcoming and inclusive atmosphere. Whether interacting with professors, teaching assistants, or fellow students, everyone is eager to help each other succeed.
Preparing for What’s Ahead
Looking to the future, Shuckerow is excited about his career journey ahead.
"The MSBA program has definitely set a solid foundation for my future," says Nick. "The flexibility, the depth of the content, and the ability to apply everything in real-world scenarios have made this journey incredibly valuable. I’m excited about where this degree will take me."
Currently, Shuckerow is a Principal Systems Engineer at Pratt and Whitney. And he hopes to soon move into a role that combines data analytics and engineering.
To those currently serving in the military, or to his fellow veterans, Shuckerow encourages anyone interested in pursuing a career in data analytics to consider the MSBA program at Rady.
“If you’re someone who wants to understand the ‘why’ behind business decisions, and you’re drawn to the technical side of that process, the MSBA program at Rady will give you the tools you need to succeed, the faculty leadership to guide you, and the peers and network access that will support you well into the future.”
