A Strong Start: Class of 2025 Finds Success After Bucknell

From maintaining Navy submarines in Maine to shaping education policy in Texas, analyzing financial risk in San Francisco to pursuing law in Boston, members of the Class of 2025 are applying their Bucknell education to solve problems and create impact. Their stories reflect the many ways a liberal arts and professional education can prepare graduates to adapt, lead and make an impact in a rapidly changing world. 

The latest graduate outcomes report from Bucknell's Center for Career Advancement shows that 93% of graduates secured employment, enrolled in graduate school or pursued another meaningful opportunity within nine months of graduation. They also reported an average starting salary of $73,346, which exceeds the national average for 2025 bachelor's degree recipients.

Across industries and professions, Bucknell graduates are drawing on the critical thinking, leadership experiences and hands-on learning they acquired on campus.
 

Leo Castro '25: Supporting students through special education leadership

Leo Castro '25 is already making an impact on Texas' educational systems. As a member of the National Special Programs Department at IDEA Public Schools, he supports districtwide special education initiatives and compliance while simultaneously earning a master's degree in special education at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. He also holds a Certified Texas School Business Specialist credential from the Texas Association of School Business Officials, which certifies his knowledge in accounting, finance and business operations.

Castro says Bucknell's political science coursework, internships and leadership experiences helped him develop the analytical thinking and communication skills he relies on every day.

"Bucknell challenged me to think critically, communicate effectively and approach problems from multiple perspectives," he says. "Those experiences continue to influence how I approach complex challenges in special education and educational leadership today."

One experience proved especially formative: serving as a Congressional intern through the Bucknell Public Interest Program. "Seeing firsthand how public policy, legislation and community needs intersect taught me the importance of thoughtful implementation and strategic problem-solving," he says. "Those lessons continue to shape how I approach compliance, leadership and educational systems today."

 

Kona Glenn '25: Keeping submarines mission-ready

As a combat systems electronics engineer at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Maine, Kona Glenn '25 repairs, upgrades and tests the navigation and communication systems aboard U.S. Navy submarines. She also serves as the head girls' rowing coach at Berwick Academy in South Berwick, Maine.

"Nobody learns 'Submarine 101' in college, but the skills I developed — communicating effectively, working with a team and approaching problems logically — have been invaluable in my career," she says. 

Glenn, who majored in computer science & engineering, says she credits the College of Engineering's interdisciplinary Senior Design course and her second major, mathematics, for teaching her to break down complex problems systematically.

Beyond technical skills, Bucknell reinforced the importance of building strong teams. Glenn competed as part of Bucknell's women's rowing team and participated in Bison Athletics' Leadership Institute and the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. "Those experiences taught me to lead with confidence, set an example and put the mission and team first," she says. "I rely on those lessons every day as the navigation and communications system leader on my project. They've been especially valuable as one of the few young women in an industrial engineering environment, where confidence helps establish credibility, communicate effectively and lead others."

 

Kayla Howie '25: Combining business and law

Kayla Howie '25 is working toward a career at the intersection of law, business and leadership. She is pursuing an accelerated JD/MBA at Boston University. This summer, she serves as a law clerk in the university's Office of the General Counsel, and next summer, she'll join Paul Hastings' Boston office as a summer associate.

Her experience within the Office of Residential Education at Bucknell provided her with a foundation she now draws on in law school. "Helping first-year students understand how to navigate new systems and expectations as an RA prepared me to break down complex legal processes into meaningful information that resonates," says Howie, who double-majored in global management within the Freeman College of Management and Spanish.

Howie also credits Bucknell's alumni network with helping her chart her career path. "Dozens of kind and helpful alumni on Bucknell Connect [the University's alumni networking platform] helped me understand the various career options with a legal education," she says. "They instilled in me the power of mentorship, the impact a single conversation can have and how information and introductions can change lives."

 

Chris Kopac '25: Turning data into meaningful insights

As a digital assurance and transparency associate at PwC in Washington, D.C., Chris Kopac '25 uses data analytics to evaluate clients' financial reporting systems, transforming complex datasets into actionable insights. He says Bucknell taught him that analyzing data is only part of the job.

"It’s one thing to run an analysis, and it’s another to explain what it actually means and why someone should care," says Kopac credits his business analytics major within the Freeman College of Management, computer science minor and undergraduate research experience with Professor Sam Gutekunst, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Professor of Data Science and Assistant Professor of Computer Science, for strengthening his ability to communicate complex findings clearly.

He also points to his experience as a Division I men's swimming team captain as preparation for the demands of consulting. "When you're balancing early morning practices, travel and schoolwork, you learn fast how to protect your time and still enjoy the little things. That habit has directly translated into my busier times at PwC."

 

Vivian Kuang '25: Building a career in finance — and music

After graduating a semester early, Vivian Kuang '25 moved to San Francisco to begin her career at Silicon Valley Bank (a division of First Citizens Bank), an opportunity she first learned about through Bucknell alumna Nicole Chang '86. Kuang, who studied management in the Freeman College of Management, analyzes financial statements and assesses credit risk. Outside the office, she has built a thriving career as a concert pianist, performing at weddings, galas, corporate events and private celebrations throughout the Bay Area.

Kuang says Bucknell's culture encouraged her to embrace new opportunities, from studying abroad in Sydney and interning in Singapore through the Management in Asia-Pacific program to exploring Amsterdam during an arts immersion course — and even spending time as Bucky the Bison.

"I joke that I live a double life," she says. "By day, I'm analyzing financial statements and assessing credit risk, and by night, I'm playing Disney soundtracks for brides walking down the aisle."

Looking back, Kuang says Bucknell gave her the confidence to pursue multiple passions rather than choosing between them. "I never felt like I had to choose between business and music. Bucknell showed me that you don't have to fit into one box — you can build a career that's entirely your own."