A Note From Our Director
This issue is chock-full of stories that highlight the great work of our students, alumni, and the PGCEI team. As you read about our student founders, keep in mind that their work is happening *in addition to* a full course load, often a campus job (or two), and for our student athletes, dozens of hours of other commitments each week. This is a lively and motivated bunch, and it is a privilege to support them!
An important feature of our August newsletter each year is the release of our Annual Report, which we hope you will peruse and maybe see some familiar faces. We’re keeping a close eye on their progress.
When Anna and I meet to discuss the content of each issue, we often find ourselves planning months in advance for the next great story we want to tell. The fortuitous combination of our newsworthy students, alumni, faculty and staff, and the generosity of our donors, who contribute their time, talent and treasure, is what makes this possible.
Best,
Erin Jablonski
Time to dig in!
Enjoy! If you have a story idea for an upcoming edition, send an email to Anna at anna.wiest@bucknell.edu.
Anna Wiest
PGCEI Manager of Marketing, Communications & External Relations
Innovative Communications
Kellan Guinn-Bailey ’27
This summer, Kellan Guinn-Bailey ’27, Philosophy, received a PGCEI Sherrick Summer Award to build a haptic communication device.
Kellan spent several weeks prototyping his device. When he started advertising for testers, Kellan practically had a waiting list of interested candidates lined up.
Now that dozens of individuals have tested the device, Kellan is analyzing the results and planning to improve his technology further.
The Sherrick Summer Award, alongside the Benjamin Summer Award, offers students opportunities to get paid while building their ventures over the summer. The awards also provide financial support for the projects and on-campus housing for students.
Kellan prepares Data Scientist Claire Cahoon to test his device.
Kellan tests the haptic communication device he built with PGCEI summer award funding.
Avakas Lab
SooAh Lay ’27
SooAh Lay ’27 has built the CanSat Learning Kit – an experience that enhances STEM education for middle and high schoolers.
In June, students attending Bucknell Engineering Camp used the CanSat Learning Kit to build miniature satellites, which they launched on campus.
Throughout the process, students learned about the following:
- Space & Satellite Foundations
- Engineering & Micro-Controllers
- Sensors, Data & Parachute Design
- Mission Planning & Assembly
- Launch
Read more about Avakas Lab and the CanSat Learning Kit here.
Club Ralley
Abby Platt ’26 & Jaycie Mair ’27
Club Ralley was built on the idea that people crave the social connections that sports offer. Abby and Jaycie, alongside Bucknell alumna Caroline Marcus ’25 and Whitney King ’25, created Club Ralley to maintain the connections collegiate sports provided post-graduation. With the help of Ava Sklar ’28, a beta version of Club Ralley is now available for testing. If you are interested in testing out the site, find the beta version here and the feedback form here.
Mylnk
Emannuel Mudungwe ’28
Mylnk is a digital assistant built to help college students streamline the career planning process. As a PGCEI summer award recipient, Emannuel focused on establishing pilot programs to run this fall, including one at Bucknell’s Center for Career Advancement.
Ikusasa
Omuhle Ndhlovu ’27
Ikusasa is an incubator business that will solve two problems in Omuhle’s Zimbabwe community: youth unemployment and food waste. With funds from her recent BizPitch win, Omuhle hired an in-country director who is conducting a feasibility assessment to determine the best location for a pilot site.
BuckBlock
Carter Applegate ’29, Henry Melrose ’29 & Vance Johnson ’29
Carter Applegate, Henry Melrose, and Vance Johnson know that putting their phones down to focus on their studies is not as simple as it sounds. They created BuckBlock, a device that students can tap their phones to for a few hours of uninterrupted, undistracted studying. The trio received a Benjamin Award this summer and worked to set up a pilot in the Bertrand Library. The BuckBlock app is now available for download on the Apple App Store.
Knova
Joel Langdon ’29
Joel Langdon is building Knova – an activewear brand that “backs athletes before the world does.” The recipient of a Benjamin Award, Joel spent the summer building his website and creating marketing materials for his brand, leading up the launch of his first line of clothing on August 1, 2026. Joel is connecting with athletes who are “grinding before anyone knows their name.”
MedTech Demo Day
PGCEI Faculty Fellows Charles Kim and Bill Meek led 13 students throughout four weeks of rapid experiential learning this summer. The program involved conducting interviews to determine if real medical technology ideas had markets.
After conducting dozens of surveys and creating prototypes, the students traveled to LLR Partners in Philadelphia to present their findings to a panel of Bucknell alumni – all industry experts and investors.
Design-Thinking-Leadership
The Perricelli-Gegnas Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation was fortunate to work with first-year students through the Design-Thinking Leadership Per-Orientation program. Our Campus Shop, which is a hub for Bucknellian artists and makers to sell their work, was a client for a group of five incoming students. We challenged them to rethink our business model and strategize how we can attract more makers and shoppers to our Market Street space.
This group went above and beyond our expectations. They suggested we make the Campus Shop a venue for pop-up events featuring Bucknellian creators.
That’s just what we plan to do! We are actively working to recruit artists and makers who are interested in selling and/or showcasing their work during Family Weekend. If this interests you, please fill out this form, and we will be in touch.
Also, follow the Campus Shop on Instagram @bucknell_campus_shop_creatives to stay up-to-date on planned events.
The App MakerSpace
The Perricelli-Gegnas Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation, in partnership with faculty gurus, is excited to announce a new interdisciplinary endeavor now operating in Taylor Hall 210.
The App MakerSpace is a workshop that provides the infrastructure, expertise, and support that student entrepreneurs need to transform their ideas into tangible, market-ready applications.
“Faculty Gurus” Joe Meiser and Brian King are lending their expertise to bring the App MakerSpace to life.
As an art professor specializing in digital art and sculpture, Joe works with computer-aided design, procedural systems he programs himself, and AI-driven processes to make exhibition-ready works of art.
Computer Science Professor Brian King teaches AI, machine learning, data science, and extended reality (XR) development, bringing experience with AI tools and game and XR development into the App Makerspace to help students build real, working apps.
For more information or to schedule a consultation with the App MakerSpace, visit our website and follow @bucknell_app_makerspace on Instagram. Also, join us for the space’s Grand Opening on Friday, Sept. 18 at 4:30 in Taylor Hall 210.
Joe Meiser, Associate Professor of Art in Sculpture
Brian King, Associate Professor of Computer Science
Masters in the Making
We are excited to work with Graduate Studies to launch two new year-long Master of Science programs in June 2027.
The Creative Enterprises and MedTech Innovation Master’s Programs operate as a cohort and will lead to Master of Science degrees for students from any undergraduate program. Applications for both programs will open in September 2026.
The 8-course programs include a sequence of two summer courses followed by three courses in each of the fall and spring semesters.
Students from any of Bucknell’s three colleges are welcome to apply.
Creative Enterprises
The Creative Enterprises Master’s Program creates a collaborative environment across disciplinary boundaries.
The program will offer coursework in project management, innovative design, entrepreneurship, and business operations and finance, as well as impactful experiential learning elements. This interdisciplinary approach will empower students to launch their own creative careers, found new organizations, or lead initiatives within existing organizations.
The program addresses the growing demand for graduates with cross-functional skills and entrepreneurial mindsets.
If you are interested in the Creative Enterprises program, please submit this form.
MedTech Innovation
The MedTech Innovation Master’s Program will equip students with specialized knowledge and skills in medical technology development, regulatory navigation, and entrepreneurial strategy.
The interdisciplinary curriculum provides a collaborative environment in which students from diverse undergraduate disciplines will enrich their STEM expertise with business skills.
Leveraging existing expertise in medical technology/device research and development, innovation programs, and entrepreneurial pursuits, this graduate program offers a credentialed pathway to high-growth sectors such as medical technology products and services, digital health, and biomedical innovation.
Find more information on the +1 cohort master’s programs here.
Tami and Campus View Consulting help high school students and their families throughout the college search and admissions process. Before she founded Campus View Consulting, Tami was a finance and consulting professional, during which she developed valuable skills in data analysis, creative problem-solving, communication, and decision-making.
When Tami’s children were young, she stopped working full-time, but continued doing a bit of business consulting. Tami and her son, who was preparing to graduate high school, began the college search process early, which was fortunate, given that the world shut down in 2020, as his junior year of high school came to an end. “When COVID hit, he had a lot of friends who hadn’t visited anywhere when the world shut down,” Tami said. As an experienced analyst, Tami found herself with a massive spreadsheet of college data she had gathered throughout the search with her son. She started helping the young adults in her life, sharing her research and knowledge, when people began suggesting she should do so professionally.
With a degree in finance, Tami felt like it was the practical thing to return to, but ultimately decided, “helping kids figure out where they want to grow into who they want to be feels really meaningful…”
Tami took the leap, pursuing relevant professional development and credentialing, and since then, has brought together a team of five who work with students and their families.
To me, success is making sure that the list of schools they apply to would all be great fits for them, so wherever they end up, they end up happy.”
Campus View Consulting offers complimentary consultations. Schedule one online here.
Interview Prep LLC
Alison Slater ’07
Alison helps prospective students approach each interview with confidence and a plan. To her, interviews are the most exciting part of the admissions process.
“A memorable interview is a game-changer in standing out from the crowd, and interviewers can become advocates when selecting candidates for admission, awards, or employment,” she said.
Through Interview Prep, Alison Slater helps students make strong first impressions during interviews related to undergraduate, graduate, and professional school admissions, as well as scholarship interviews.
Alison worked in selective college admissions for 15 years. She continues to work one-on-one with students throughout their college searches.
“Doing something with purpose really resonates with me. I want to help students approach their interviews in that way—knowing what is important to share about themselves and which questions to ask about a school—before the interview even starts.”
Check out free resources on the Interview Prep LLC website. To schedule a call with Alison and Interview Prep, fill out a contact form here. Alison is offering 10% off any services booked this year with code BUCKNELL26.
Andrew Vinnik ’17, Elias Strizower ’17 & Lucas Colagrossi ’17
In July, 16 members of our Alumni Angels group met with Andrew Vinnik, Elias Strizower, and Lucas Colagrossi to hear their plans for Wellnest, a new AI venture in health, wellness, and aging, with pilots already running inside major health systems.
The session was filled with engaging conversations, resulting in several connections made and valuable advice shared.
Check out Wellnest online at www.hellowellnest.com and on Instagram at @hello_wellnest.
If you are interested in joining the Alumni Angels group, email pgcei@bucknell.edu.
Similar meetings are in the works. Keep an eye on the Bucknell Entrepreneurship Network for more information.
Fall Founders
This fall, we will host Bucknellians from various industries who will speak at weekly Fall Founders events. Check out the impressive individuals we will welcome ➡️
Daniel Anastasio, Pianist, creative innovator
All are welcome to join us at noon in Taylor Hall 210 for entrepreneurial and innovative insights (and free lunch). Here’s our full Fall Founders lineup:
Introducing the App MakerSpace, featuring Faculty Gurus Joe Meiser & Brian King
Uttam Kumaran, CEO of BrainforgeAI
Fern Morrison, CEO of IronGrid
Jordan Rice, Vice President of Innovation Portfolio, Partnerships & Engagement at Nike
Daniel Anastasio, Pianist, creative innovator
Anna Wiest, Marketing Your Brand
Cristiano Bierrenbach, Heritage Auctions, “Always Being Entrepreneurial”
Doug Fastuca, “How to Buy a Business as an Individual”
BizPitch Info Session
Get Involved
🧾Mentor students and young alumni
🏬List your company in the Alumni Marketplace Directory
💻 Email pgcei@bucknell.edu for more information on Design-Build-Launch and
Micro-Internships and the Entrepreneurship through Acquisiton Network.
Support
Your support makes this work possible. Please consider making a gift that will enhances opportunities for students to pursue their passions.
Follow
Contact
Erin Jablonski
Director
erin.jablonski@bucknell.edu
Julie Guinn-Bailey
Administrative Coordinator
julie.guinn-bailey@bucknell.edu
Anna Wiest
Communications Manager
anna.wiest@bucknell.edu
Abby Gulden-Luthi
Liaison, Strategic Philanthropy Programs
afgulden@bucknell.edu