December 15, 2021 — The Master of Supply Chain Transportation & Logistics program (MSCTL) has named incoming student Marc Ackermann (MSCTL ’23) an awardee of a 2021 SCTL Scholarship, selected from this year’s applicants for admission to receive $5,000 towards tuition expenses.
Ackermann graduated from Boise State University with a BBA in Supply Chain Management, and then began a career with the BNSF Railway. He worked in two operations supervisory roles in Spokane, Washington, managing rail yard operations and later overseeing local freight services across approximately 200 miles of railroad territory. He now works in a role planning traffic into the ports and refineries in Washington and British Columbia, among other responsibilities.
We connected with Ackermann to discuss the award and enrolling in the program.
SCTL: What are you looking forward to over the next two years in the program?
Ackermann: I am most looking forward to building relationships with the faculty and my classmates. I learn best through collaboration and I love working with people from different backgrounds and learning about their workplaces and approaches to problem solving. I am also excited (and a little nervous) about the Practicum, as I anticipate it will be an excellent opportunity to practice real-world skills.
SCTL: How did you decide to apply for the Supply Chain Transportation & Logistics Master’s degree program?
Ackermann: I researched a large number of supply chain management and logistics Master’s programs and chose this one because of the focus on understanding supply chain, logistics, and transportation comprehensively, and the ability to study remotely while also engaging in real-time collaboration. I don’t have the ability to attend a program fully on-campus at this time, but I also want to have an interactive educational experience. Thus, the Residency week and live classes drew me to this program.
SCTL: What made you decide to pursue a Master’s degree?
Ackermann: I am always looking to challenge myself and grow by trying new things, and I anticipate that pursuing this program will give me new ideas for my career and present opportunities that I may otherwise have missed.
SCTL: What do you like about working in the supply chain industry?
Ackermann: I have always enjoyed learning about how things move, so supply chain and logistics has been a natural fit. I also enjoy working in a hands-on, active environment, so I love being out in the field working with logistics on a daily basis. It’s very dynamic and new, unexpected challenges continually arise to make the job interesting.
SCTL: Who influenced your career path?
Ackermann: I charted my own path to my current employer (I was the first ever BSU grad to start in my program at BNSF), but several of my coworkers at the BNSF have been outstanding role models for me in my career and have encouraged me to pursue new and challenging roles while also demonstrating the skills needed to be an outstanding leader.
SCTL: What do you hope to do after you graduate?
Ackermann: I hope to continue moving forward in the railroad and transportation industry and work in a variety of positions to challenge myself in different ways. I try to see life as an adventure and while I don’t know where the road will lead, I am open to whatever comes next!
Learn more:
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About the Master of Supply Chain Transportation & Logistics degree program: A work-compatible hybrid online program, the Master of Supply Chain Transportation & Logistics (MSCTL) degree is designed to enable early- and mid-career professionals to advance in their careers. Our innovative curriculum provides students with a 360-degree view of all aspects of supply chain and logistics — facility design, inventory management, data analysis, risk, IT systems, business strategy, freight transport, and performance management — so students graduate ready to make evidence-based decisions and navigate complex real-world problems.