Gianna Sangillo '29, Accounting

"Any textbook will tell you that accounting is 'the language of business.' If I can speak the language, then I can apply what I know to the business side of healthcare and help people."

As a senior in high school, Gianna Sangillo '29 first visited Bucknell as a part of Admitted Students Day where she got the opportunity to sit in on Professor Amber Lawson's, accounting, business law and ethics class in the Freeman College of Management.

"I thought the material would fly right over my head, but she was so engaging," says Sangillo, an accounting major from New Providence, N.J. "It really did seal the deal on Bucknell."

For Sangillo, the visit to Lawson's class did more than help her choose a college; it showed her a path forward that could connect her two passions: business and healthcare. "Any textbook will tell you that accounting is 'the language of business,' " says Sangillo. "If I can speak the language, then I can apply what I know to the business side of healthcare and help people."

Sangillo had the chance to do just that before class even started. As part of the Design Thinking Leadership Pre-Orientation program, Sangillo conducted market research for Elizabeth Malley '26, biomedical engineering, and her product, ThermaIV, a self-heating, power-free IV bag designed to prevent hypothermia. "That experience ultimately inspired me to pursue a minor in entrepreneurship," says Sangillo. "I want to help bring innovative healthcare technologies and systems to market, improve patient outcomes and create value across the healthcare ecosystem."

The following summer, she participated in Bucknell's MedTech Entrepreneurship Program. Led by Charles Kim, mechanical engineering, and Bill Meek, management and entrepreneurship, this summer program allows students to research innovative business strategies for biomedical technologies. In Sangillo's case, she conducted market research for an NDA-protected healthcare management technology that was started by Sean O'Connor '26. With her team, Sangillo interviewed patients, caregivers, doctors and nurses, and took their findings to Philadelphia where they presented to healthcare leaders and private equity executives.

Outside of class, Sangillo tries to remain involved in different communities across campus. As the vice president of the Business Analytics and Intelligence Group, an organization devoted to helping students hone their data analysis and visualization skills, she identifies alumni speakers to visit campus and build connections across the Freeman College of Management. 

But Sangillo isn't all business all the time. As a varsity softball player in high school, she wanted to maintain her connection to the sport so, after Orientation, she sent a cold email to Angie Stackhouse '04, head softball coach.

"I asked if I could be involved in any way, like team manager or a bullpen catcher, so they invited me to a practice. I immediately fell in love with it," says Sangillo, who also runs the team’s social media. "Being able to stay involved in athletics is something I really love about Bucknell. Along with my Freeman connections, I have this whole big family of athletes and coaches who really make me feel like I'm a part of something."