Finding community and career direction in logistics

When senior logistics management and marketing major Lucia Allen from Loganville, Georgia came to Central Michigan University, she was looking for both a career path and a sense of belonging.

“I had just moved 600 miles from home and felt unsure of where I belonged,” Allen said. “I knew I wanted to pursue a career in business, but I didn’t know what direction that would take. I started as a marketing major and soon noticed how closely marketing aligned with logistics management at CMU.”

Curious, she attended her first logistics info night.

“I walked in nervous but left feeling inspired,” she said. “I was welcomed by friendly, driven students from the Supply Chain Management Association and Logistics Management Council on campus who made me feel like I had found a community.”

From curiosity to passion

That night sparked a shift in her studies.

“I started with marketing because it was what I was most familiar with. Then I noticed that everyone I talked to in marketing was also doing logistics, so I wanted to dive deeper into that. I had no idea what logistics was when I started, so I went to the information night—and it definitely helped. It made a lot more sense after that.

“I’d say I ended up liking logistics a lot more than marketing. It’s funny—I didn’t even really know what it was at first. And now it’s like, yeah, this is my passion. This is what I want to do. I really enjoy it.”

Hands-on growth

Her involvement grew quickly.

“I attended career-building and networking events, connected with corporate partners, and landed my first internship at Rock City Logistics, working alongside their carrier team. I later joined the SCMA executive board as Membership Coordinator, became a member of LMC, and even competed in my first case competition, the LUCC at CMU, where my team earned first place.

“Most recently, I accepted a procurement co-op with Kimberly-Clark in Roswell, Georgia, and now serve as president of SCMA. Looking back, I’m incredibly proud of how much I’ve grown — professionally and personally. SCMA helped me find not only my career path, but also a sense of belonging. I’m excited to lead the organization that helped shape me, and I look forward to the opportunities ahead.”

Two organizations, two paths

Allen now leads SCMA, which focuses on professional development events, networking, and building community.

“Honestly, one of the really cool parts about SCMA is that there are so many people involved that walking around campus, you run into a lot of people and it’s good to see familiar faces,” she said. “It’s really good for career building and practice with networking and meeting different corporate partners, faculty, and students.”

The Logistics Management Council offers a different experience, blending case competitions, corporate projects, and travel to conferences. Senior logistics management and marketing student Savana Stewart from Jackson, Mich., leads the organization this year.

“Being a member and now serving as president has truly fast-tracked my career development, boosted my confidence in tackling real-world problems, and greatly improved my communication and leadership abilities,” Stewart said. “LMC has created a tight-knit community within the logistics major at CMU. The organization has given me the chance to build strong connections with peers who share similar career interests, collaborate on meaningful projects, and support each other’s growth.”

Faculty and program support

Allen pointed to the faculty as one of the program’s biggest strengths.

“The faculty is very involved and very willing to help with anything,” she said. “They’re willing to help reach out to different companies or corporate partners. They’re always giving advice.”

Fred Lawrence, faculty advisor for SCMA, said that focus on community is intentional.

“A stronger sense of belonging in academic programs like logistics is linked to greater engagement, stronger academic performance, and lower dropout rates — especially for first-generation and younger students,” Lawrence said. “Our logistics program has always had a very strong community, and I think that’s why we also have one of the largest and most supportive alumni bases in the CBA.”

Looking ahead

From her first info night to leading SCMA, Allen said her experiences have shaped both her career path and her sense of belonging.

“When I walked in, I didn’t even really know what logistics was,” she said. “Now it’s like my passion and what I want to do.”