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For Dillon Rust, choosing the University of Wisconsin-Superior was both practical and personal.
A short drive from his home in Esko, Minnesota, and an affordable price made UW-Superior an easy decision. But once on campus, Rust found much more. He found a field of study that reshaped his view of business and his future.
Rust, who is set to graduate Saturday, May 16, is completing the transportation and logistics management (T&L) program in UW-Superior’s School of Business and Economics. Initially, he considered pursuing a more traditional business path, such as management or marketing. It was his dad – Daniel Rust, a professor in the program and department chair – who encouraged him to take a closer look at T&L.
“He told me that with T&L, you still get all the core business classes like accounting and finance,” Rust said. “But you also get the tours, the trips and the hands-on experiences. Once I heard that, I was sold.”
What Transportation and Logistics Management Really Means
When describing Transportation and Logistics Management to prospective students, Rust breaks it down simply.
“Supply chain is the ‘what,’” he said. “Transportation and logistics is the ‘how.’ How do you move goods or services from point A to point B in a way that’s efficient, affordable and on time? Every business – no matter how small or large – needs that.”
Rust said he would encourage any student, regardless of major, to consider studying business at UW-Superior.
“These are skills you take with you anywhere,” he said. “Even if you don’t major in it, a minor or a few business classes can make a big difference. Understanding how money moves and how businesses operate is crucial in any career.”
Learning Beyond the Classroom
One of the program’s defining features is its emphasis on experiential learning. Students regularly tour companies and transportation hubs throughout the region, giving classroom concepts real-world context.
For Rust, those experiences were essential.
“It’s one thing to read about it in a textbook or hear a presentation,” he said. “But being there, seeing it in person – that completely changes your perspective on what the industry is actually like.”
Some of his favorite experiences included trips close to home, such as recent visits to Green Bay and Oshkosh, Wisconsin, where students toured Menards corporate headquarters and Schneider National. While he chose not to participate in national competitions that involved high-pressure presentations, Rust appreciated learning in a more relaxed, collaborative environment alongside his classmates.
A Unique Classroom Experience
Rust’s college experience also came with a unique dynamic: taking classes taught by his dad. While he was nervous at first, that feeling did not last long.
“After the first week, it was easy,” he said. “It’s actually been really fun. We never told people we were related at first because I wanted to be known just as me, and I wanted everything to be ethical. But it’s been a great experience.”
Student Involvement and Campus Life
Outside the classroom, Rust stayed involved through student organizations. He joined the Transportation and Logistics Club and also helped revive the Money Hive Club, the university’s finance-focused student organization.
“A friend and I are trying to breathe some life into it,” he said. “So far, it’s been going well.”
Preparing for What’s Next
As graduation approaches, Rust said he feels confident the program prepared him for life after college.
“This isn’t one of those situations where it looks good on paper but doesn’t translate to the real world,” he said. “The things I’ve learned are things I can actually use. That makes it worth it.”
Rust is currently completing an internship at Costco in Duluth, where he works in receiving and logistics operations. Although finding an internship proved challenging at first, a conversation with his supervisor opened the door to hands-on experience directly tied to his coursework.
“It wasn’t what I expected at first,” he said. “But there’s a lot of transportation and logistics happening there, and it turned out to be a great fit.”
Looking Ahead
After graduation, Rust plans to remain in the area for a year or two before eventually moving to the West Coast to grow his custom furniture and cabinetry manufacturing company.
Rust credits the School of Business and Economics with helping him understand from a practical, operations-based perspective.
“A lot of people are good at what they do, but they don’t know how to run a business,” he said. “That’s where things fall apart. What I’ve learned here helps me understand all aspects of making a business work. I learned the skills to become a skilled craftsman on my own and at my first job working in a cabinet shop. But I did not have the skills to run and grow a successful business. That’s why I chose to get my degree from UW-Superior’s School of Business and Economics.”