Erica Perez '18 earned her B.B.A. in management science and a certificate in business analytics at UTSA.
(June 22, 2018) -- Grateful to find a career path that she loves, Erica Perez '18 graduated this May with a bachelor’s degree in management science and a certificate in business analytics.
But that path took many turns as Perez explored careers in accounting, music and logistics before finding the right fit in business analytics.
“I’ve always been attracted to the field of business,” said Perez, a member of the Honors College. “I enjoyed the quantitative side, but I was looking for something that also spoke to my creative nature.”
A native of Menard, Perez was a Terry Scholar, a scholarship program which recognizes high-achieving students. Active while at UTSA, Perez marched with the Spirit of San Antonio marching band, was a member of the Business Scholars Program for first-generation business students, volunteered as an ESL tutor and conversation partner and participated in an international immersion to Japan.
She also participated in several internships including KIPP Public Schools, Trans-Expedite and Coastal Life Technologies.
“Each of my internship positions provided me with valuable and transferable work experience,” said Perez, who also completed a research project in the Undergraduate Research and Creative Inquiry Showcase. “They taught me how to apply the methods I had learned in my classes.”
Determined to find a job upon graduation, she began applying for jobs at the beginning of her senior year. Utilizing skills she learned from the college’s Career Action Program, she researched companies and positions that she was interested in pursuing.
During the UTSA Career Fair in February, her research was rewarded with interviews at EY and USAA.
“I explained to the recruiters the benefit of a candidate with a management science degree,” she said. “We have the technical skills of a STEM student, but we also have a business mindset.”
Competing with numerous students from large universities, Perez participated in a technical interview at USAA that required her to write code and answer questions related to the intelligence analytics position.
“Talking with my peers, I was surprised at how advanced my skillset was even against the master’s students,” she said. “I’ve had really good teachers at UTSA, and the result was that I knew what I was talking about.”
Recognizing that talent, she will begin a position as a business intelligence analyst with USAA next month.
She credits the entire Management Science department including faculty members Joey Campbell, Jerome Keating, Mark Leung, Raydel Tullous and Daniel Sass with helping her reach her dream. “In the beginning the classes were hard, but the teachers went the extra mile to help us,” said Perez.
Looking back, Perez notes that she has found a perfect environment to thrive. And, she credits her UTSA experience with helping her succeed.
“That’s what I like about UTSA, everyone wants to help you be successful,” she said. “Get involved, don’t be afraid to ask for help, and don’t be afraid to try new things. You never know where they’ll lead you.”
Learn more about UTSA’s Management Science degree program and Business Analytics certificate.
Connect with UTSA online at Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram and LinkedIn.
UTSA Today is produced by University Communications and Marketing, the official news source of The University of Texas at San Antonio. Send your feedback to news@utsa.edu. Keep up-to-date on UTSA news by visiting UTSA Today. Connect with UTSA online at Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and Instagram.
Join the PEACE Center and Wellbeing Services for Denim Day, a day of learning about the importance of consent and why we wear denim on the last Wednesday of the month each April during Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Stop by our Denim Day display to take a photo in front of our Denim Wall, spin the "Is It Consent?" Wheel, and get a Concha or goodie.
Student Union Window Lounge, Main CampusLearn to use Zotero®, a citation manager that can help you store and organize citations you find during your research. Zotero can generate bibliographies in various styles, insert in-text citations and allow you to share sources with collaborators.
Virtual EventThis event will acknowledge graduating seniors from the McNair Scholars program at UTSA before inducting the new cohort of scholars into the program.
North Paseo Building (NPB 5.140), Main CampusAt this memorable celebration, UTSA graduates will be introduced one-by-one to cross the stage and accept their doctoral degrees.
Arts Building Recital Hall, Main CampusRoadrunner Walk is an event for graduating students to have a memorable walk on campus to celebrate an important milestone and their achievements. Graduates will walk along the Paseo while being celebrated by the UTSA community, friends, and family members.
Student Union Paseo, Main CampusCelebrate the accomplishments of College of Education and Human Development, College for Health, Community and Policy, College of Sciences and University College.
Alamodome, 100 Montana St.Celebrate the accomplishments of Alvarez College of Business, College of Liberal and Fine Arts and Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design.
Alamodome, 100 Montana St.The University of Texas at San Antonio is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through research and discovery, teaching and learning, community engagement and public service. As an institution of access and excellence, UTSA embraces multicultural traditions and serves as a center for intellectual and creative resources as well as a catalyst for socioeconomic development and the commercialization of intellectual property - for Texas, the nation and the world.
To be a premier public research university, providing access to educational excellence and preparing citizen leaders for the global environment.
We encourage an environment of dialogue and discovery, where integrity, excellence, inclusiveness, respect, collaboration and innovation are fostered.
UTSA is a proud Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) as designated by the U.S. Department of Education .
The University of Texas at San Antonio, a Hispanic Serving Institution situated in a global city that has been a crossroads of peoples and cultures for centuries, values diversity and inclusion in all aspects of university life. As an institution expressly founded to advance the education of Mexican Americans and other underserved communities, our university is committed to promoting access for all. UTSA, a premier public research university, fosters academic excellence through a community of dialogue, discovery and innovation that embraces the uniqueness of each voice.
