Nicholas Vasilius ’07
Major: International Political Economics and Computer Science/Business
Job Title: Manager, Advanced Analytics Center of Excellence
Organization: PACCAR, Inc.
Host Date: Tuesday, January 9, 2018
Time: 9 a.m.
Location: Renton, WA

Please note: Students that shadow Nicholas will be part of a larger group attending the PACCAR visit together.

 

What student groups/clubs/activities were you involved in when you were a student at Puget Sound?

  • Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia
  • KUPS
  • Sigma Chi
  • Imago/Cinematic Imagination agency
  • Campus Visit Assistant
  • Pep Band

How would you describe your role and organization?

PACCAR Inc is one of the world’s largest truck manufacturers in the world. Their Kenworth, Peterbilt, and DAF truck brands are known around the world for their quality and performance. Over the past 5 years, I have worked my way up from a Financial Analyst, and currently serve as the Manager of the Advanced Analytics Center of Excellence. As the manager of this group, I lead a team of highly talented data professionals in executing enterprise-wide data science projects. These data science projects use a combination of probability, statistics, computer science, and business, to help our businesses achieve more through data driven models and tools.

How would the skills and competencies gained through a liberal arts education be beneficial in the type of work you do?

My dual degrees in International Political Economics and Computer Science/Business, though often considered “strange” by my non-Puget Sound colleagues, have been a huge boon in my career. The business world is an inherently interdisciplinary one, and the interdisciplinary approach of a liberal arts education from Puget Sound has been a key factor in my success. The ability to think critically marks Puget Sound graduates as analytical leaders, while their ability synthesize divergent perspectives into new points of view helps them innovate in an ever changing business.

What can a student expect to experience by job shadowing you?

The students will join me for a tour of PACCAR’s Renton campus. This tour will include: the Kenworth truck factory, PACCAR’s IT division offices, the new PACCAR Parts Distribution Center, and PACCAR’s Research & Development Center. Following the tour, I will discuss any questions they may have regarding what they’ve seen or my experiences following my Puget Sound education, over coffee at a local coffee shop.