Nick Davis ’17 did not follow a linear path after graduating from Merrimack. Instead, his career has been shaped by recognizing the transferable skills that allowed him to grow across industries, particularly communication, adaptability and relationship-building. From recruiting and education to student success and coaching, Nick credits his liberal arts education and the relationships he built at Merrimack for helping him identify opportunities that aligned with both his strengths and passions.
One of those defining moments came during his senior year when his now-wife, Adrianna (DeCicco) Davis ’18, encouraged him to attend a Merrimack Career Fair.
Nick still remembers “racing to the Kohl’s just up the street from campus to buy my first suit and tie, then practicing my pitch in front of a dorm room mirror.” While preparing for the networking event felt intimidating at first, he approached it with a simple mindset: “I simply focused on being myself and building connections however I could.”
That career fair became the starting point of Nick’s professional journey. After connecting with an employer at the fair, Nick secured his first post-graduate position in technical recruiting. While third-party recruiting helped him sharpen his communication skills, he quickly realized it was not where he saw himself long term. Transitioning into campus recruiting allowed him to focus more heavily on relationship-building and adaptability, strengths that would continue to shape his career path.
Following his time in recruiting, Nick relocated to Charlotte, North Carolina, where he pivoted into education, landing his first teaching role during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. This experience required flexibility, resourcefulness and a student-centered approach to engagement. After gaining valuable classroom experience, he went back to school to earn his Master of Science in Education with a concentration in Sport Management from the University of Kansas. Today, Nick seamlessly balances multiple roles, serving as the Program Coordinator in the Office of Academic Transition and Student Success at an independent school, while also coaching varsity football. Through each transition, Nick found that the skills he developed through his liberal arts education remained constant, even as his professional responsibilities changed.
When reflecting on the skills that carried him through multiple career transitions, Nick points directly to communication. “My communication, ability to speak and have those relationships with others has been one of the skills I have leaned on and been appreciated for.” Over time, he developed an even greater appreciation for adaptability within communication, particularly as his professional roles evolved. “The ability to be able to adapt in certain settings, like when I’m talking to my athletes on the field. I may use a different set of words and vocabulary than I do with admin[istration].”
Realizing relationships extend far beyond a single classroom, Nick continues to prioritize personal and professional connections throughout his career. He credits his women’s and gender studies minor to chair and associate professor, Debra Michals, as an important part of his Merrimack experience and personal growth. The mentorship and perspective he gained through those experiences reinforced the value of understanding and connecting with others, skills he now applies daily in both education and coaching.
Looking back on his career journey, Nick sees communication and relationship-building not simply as workplace skills, but as tools for helping others grow. “The ability to be so versatile in so many different spaces is a skill I now appreciate a lot more.”
