Growing up in Santa Ana, Anthony Nava Camacho always wanted to study at Cal State Fullerton.
“When I returned home after serving for four years in the Marines, I knew it was time to focus on earning my degree. I applied to multiple schools in Southern California, but Cal State Fullerton was always where I wanted to be,” said Nava Camacho ’25 (B.A. business administration-information systems), who is currently pursuing his master’s degree in information systems.
After enrolling in a data analytics course in the College of Business and Economics, Nava Camacho discovered his passion for using statistics to identify patterns, build models and drive data-informed decision-making.
Inspired by his newfound interest, Nava Camacho joined the Business Data and Analytics Club, where students learn about data analysis tools and statistical methods that are used to solve real-world issues.
Club members network with industry professionals and develop their technical skill sets through specialized workshops that focus on various analytics programs. Nava Camacho said these workshops taught him how to use professional platforms like Tableau to analyze large data sets and create portfolios.
“I’m building connections with future industry experts and professionals,” explained Nava Camacho. “These relationships will be helpful as I establish my career.”
In addition to the connections he’s making as a graduate student, Nava Camacho is already part of a Titan business network that is more than 88,000 alumni strong and is a driving force in the Southern California business community.
Nava Camacho credits business faculty member Majid Kermani for encouraging him to pursue information systems and for writing a letter of recommendation that helped him secure a spot in the M.S. in Information Systems graduate program at CSUF.
“Anthony consistently demonstrated remarkable analytical skills, intellectual curiosity and a strong commitment to excellence. His professionalism, integrity and exemplary conduct made him a standout student,” said Kermani, lecturer in information systems and decision sciences.
As a student veteran, Nava Camacho said he’s also found community and camaraderie in the university’s Veterans Resource Center, which provides academic support and professional resources to help students achieve their goals.
“There’s a solid community there,” said Nava Camacho, who worked as a student assistant in the center. “It’s nice to connect with and talk to people who can relate to my experience and understand what it means to transition from military service to college.”
The former Marine was honored for his service at Cal State Fullerton Angels Night at Angel Stadium: “That was a moment of pure pride for me. It means a lot when people recognize veterans and the work we do.”
After completing graduate school, Nava Camacho plans to pursue his doctorate in statistics before launching a career as a data scientist in the financial industry.
“Cal State Fullerton has prepared me to achieve my academic and career goals,” said Nava Camacho. “We’re not just learning about different theories and concepts. We’re learning how to apply what we’ve learned to real-world issues that we’re going to face in the industry.”