Punctuated by the COVID-19 pandemic, Ben Gorski’s background in Geology, GIS and academic research led him to the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s Business Analytics Master’s Program, and a partnership with the Village of DeForest through UniverCity Alliance.
Now, Gorski is working for the Village of Schaumburg in Illinois as a transportation analyst.
“My project with UniverCity Alliance really solidified my interest in working for local government,” said Gorski, who graduated with a master’s degree in business analytics in May 2025.
During his final semester, Gorski and his team developed a tool that helped local leaders understand how future capital expenditures impact municipal budget key performance indicators. Learning about municipal budgets is benefitting him now in his current role.
“It’s amazing how similar the job description at Schaumburg was to my project with UniverCity Alliance and how it supplemented my internship experience at DuPage County DOT.” Gorski said. “We did a lot of municipal financial work for the UniverCity Alliance project, and that has built directly into what we’re doing (in Schaumburg).”
Read more about Gorski’s experiences in this Q&A.
What was your path to enrolling in the Wisconsin School of Business’ graduate program in business analytics?
I graduated from high school in 2020. Before the pandemic started in March, I was unsure about where to go to college. Then when the pandemic started, I thought to myself, ‘where do I go from here?’ I decided to go to the University of Dayton, but I only stayed for four days… I went home. It was a very difficult decision, but I couldn’t justify the cost of a four-year degree while being quarantined in the dorm. So, I decided to enroll at Waubonsee Community College back home. After a year at Waubonsee, I decided to transfer to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where I studied geology and geographic information science. I graduated a semester early because of the opportunities presented to me at community college.
During my senior year at the University of Illinois, my original plan was to pursue an Earth Science PhD where I could utilize my background in geology, geography, and data analytics. But as the application process went on, I got cold feet. I reflected on what I was truly looking to accomplish in my life, and I concluded that a PhD in a distant city wasn’t the path forward for accomplishing my goals. I was most interested in moving back to the Chicago area so I could be close with my friends and family, to have a fruitful career, and to eventually start a family of my own. So, I completely changed my original plan and started researching business programs that would help me achieve these goals. Thankfully, I stumbled upon the business analytics master’s program at UW–Madison, which ended up being a life-changing opportunity. Not many people have such a niche background in geology, GIS, and data analytics, and the MSBA Program allowed me to pivot into a new career with ease.
What has been your experience with local government?
While I was an undergrad at the University of Illinois, I had a summer internship with DuPage County, which was the first experience I ever had with local government. I enjoyed my time at DuPage County, but I still wasn’t sure of my career ambitions. Then, during the business analytics program, I worked as a student consultant for the Village of DeForest. Thanks to UniverCity Alliance and Jay Page (Director of Experiential Learning), it convinced me that this was the direction I wanted to take my career.
Did your experience with the Village of DeForest through UniverCity Alliance influence the direction of your career?
My project with UniverCity Alliance really solidified my interest in working for local government. When I participated in the project with the Village of DeForest, it showed me that I enjoy working for local government. It’s a culture that meshes well with my personality, and I also just find it more meaningful to provide a service to people. I’m so thankful to the people at UniverCity Alliance for providing me another opportunity to work with a local government, as it has set me on a great career path.
What are you doing now?
I’m the transportation analyst at the Village of Schaumburg. My interests are geography, transportation planning, and data analytics. My position incorporates all these different interests. The skillset I learned at UW–Madison prepared me for this role and played a significant part in getting the job.
What benefit do you think these types of university-community partnerships bring to UW–Madison students?
From my experience, when most people pursue a graduate degree in business, they are of the mindset that they need to work for a big corporation. Their business degree can prepare them for a plethora of different careers in many sectors. I just don’t think a lot of people know that local government is an option, and the salaries are very competitive. You’re also connected to your local community too, which brings meaning to the work. Local governments can be overlooked as a career option, but I think you can be well off in it, and at the same time, it can be a lot more fulfilling. University-community partnerships bring a new perspective to UW-Madison students that can help them achieve their goals and dreams.
This Q&A was edited for brevity and clarity.
—Abigail Becker