When Devika Nekkalapu was a child, she imagined she'd work for the Indian Administrative Service, but her fascination with technology led her down another path. In December, she will graduate with her master’s degree in business analytics.
Devika is one of more than 1,200 students eligible for fall 2025 graduation. Learn more about her time at Wichita State and what's next for the grad.
Major
Master of Science in business analytics
Hometown
Vissannapeta, Andhra Pradesh, India
High school
Sri Chaitanya Techno School
When you were a little kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
What made you choose Wichita State University?
I chose Wichita State University because of its strong focus on innovation, research and real-world learning. The hands-on opportunities here, especially through projects at National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR) and collaborations across different departments, really stood out to me. WSU encourages students to explore ideas beyond the classroom and turn them into something impactful, which perfectly aligned with my goals in AI and technology.
What has been your biggest challenge as a student, and how did you overcome it?
My biggest challenge as a student has been improving my networking skills and learning how to confidently present what I’m capable of. I’ve always been more focused on doing the work than talking about it, so putting myself out there didn’t come naturally. Over time, I’ve been taking small steps, attending events, connecting with peers and mentors, and sharing my projects, and I’d say I’ve made about 25% progress so far. It’s still a work in progress, but I’m getting better at it little by little
What applied learning experiences did you participate in during your time here?
I’ve had the opportunity to complete my internship here on campus with Ennovar, where I serve as an operations specialist on the operations team. This experience has allowed me to work alongside great leaders and colleagues while applying the knowledge and skills I’ve gained from my courses to real-world projects.
What advice would you give other Wichita State students?
Make friends who share the same drive and goals as you. It makes everything a lot more meaningful. Learn together, support each other when things get tough, and celebrate every small win as a team. College becomes a whole different experience when you grow and succeed alongside people who push you to do better every day.
What's next for this grad?
My plan after graduation is to work as an AI/ML engineer, applying everything I’ve learned to solve real-world problems. I’m excited to share that I already have a position lined up at NIAR, where I’ll continue working on AI-driven projects and expanding my experience in machine learning and data-driven innovation.
About Wichita State University
Wichita State University is Kansas' only urban public research university, enrolling more than 25,000 students between its main campus and the WSU Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology (WSU Tech), including students from every state in the U.S. and more than 100 countries. Wichita State and WSU Tech are recognized for being student-centered and innovation-driven.
Located in the largest city in the state with one of the highest concentrations in the United States of jobs involving science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), Wichita State University provides uniquely distinctive and innovative pathways of applied learning, applied research and career opportunities for all of our students. The National Science Foundation ranked WSU No. 1 in the nation for aerospace engineering R&D, No. 2 for industry-funded engineering R&D and No. 8 overall for engineering R&D.
The Innovation Campus, which is a physical extension of the Wichita State University main campus, is one of the nation’s largest and fastest-growing research/innovation parks, encompassing over 120 acres and is home to a number of global companies and organizations.
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