Meet Jonna
With her family's nonprofit dedicated to aiding children with rare diseases, Jonna has seamlessly blended her love for business and healthcare at Cornell. This unique combination empowers her to continue making a difference for rare disease patients. On top of that, Jonna has found incredible support for her own health condition through campus resources and the unwavering encouragement of her professors, forging strong, impactful relationships along the way.
What clubs/activities are you involved with on campus?
I have been heavily involved in several business organizations on campus, including Dyson Ambassadors, the Dyson Undergraduate Council, and A Seat At The Table, which is Cornell’s premiere student business ethics organization. I have also served as a Resident Advisor at Barbara McClintock Hall, and have held course assistant positions for AEM 2100 (Introductory Statistics) and AEM 2700 (Management Communication)!
What is your academic passion?
My academic passion lies in the intersection of business and healthcare. By combining my major in Applied Economics and Management with a minor in Health Policy, I have been able to pursue this passion through my coursework. Thanks to this diverse degree, I have been able to hone my marketing, strategy, and finance skills while also learning about current events in the healthcare industry that will impact my future career in helping rare disease patients!
Why is the Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management a great fit for you?
Dyson's motto is “Our Business is a Better World”, which resonated with me greatly. In 2015, my family and I founded a nonprofit foundation called Fighting H.A.R.D. Foundation, which helps kids with rare diseases to not feel alone in their battles. Since then, we have raised over $600,000, which has gone directly to families in our community. I have always been passionate about giving back, and at its core, Dyson revolves around teaching business in a way that inspires us to accomplish that goal. Every day, I am influenced by those around me who are also working towards conducting business in a way that puts humanity over profit.
What is your favorite thing about Cornell?
My favorite thing about Cornell is how every person you meet has a passion. I have met peers from all over the world with different life experiences, with each person having something unique that drives them. The professors here are compassionate and are truly invested in their students, helping them bring their passions to reality. Each student here has their own story, but come together to help each other. Everyone always says that college can be competitive, but I have seen collaboration change lives, which is incredibly special.
Tell us about an off-campus program you’ve participated in.
I had the amazing opportunity to participate in the Cornell Summer Program in Turin, which was focused around a public policy class. We spent three weeks in northern Italy, where we had the chance to meet Italian students and local communities, learn about their culture through guided tours and guest lectures, and visit famous landmarks including the Mole Antonelliana. A small group of students in the program also took the chance to travel over the weekends, allowing us to visit Milan, Lake Como, and Noli. This was my first time in Europe and an incredible experience that I will never forget!
What are your go-to campus resources? How did you discover them?
As someone who has a chronic health condition, Cornell Health and the Office of Student Disability Services have been important resources to me. These two offices have allowed me to manage my health condition while at school and get the accommodations I need in order to be successful as a student! They have helped me find the best ways to discuss my accommodations with my professors, navigate transportation and housing concerns, and are great resources when I have questions.
I am also a big advocate for professor office hours! On such a large campus, it is always helpful to know professors on a more personal level.
Hometown
Howell, New JerseyGraduation Year
2026College/School
- Cornell SC Johnson College of Business
Majors
- Applied Economics and Management
Minors
- Health Policy
Pull Quote
What is one piece of advice or something you wish you knew when you were applying?
My one piece of advice for those who are applying to college would be to soak it all in. Make sure to enjoy the experience. It can be stressful and overwhelming at times, but no matter what the outcome is, be sure to celebrate the wins and take the time to appreciate every step of the process! It goes by a lot faster than you think.
When you were applying, why did you choose Cornell?
When applying to colleges, I wanted to go to a large university, but I also really wanted to be a part of a smaller, close-knit community. Dyson was exactly the type of program that I was looking for - a small program with around 200 students per class year, but also part of the larger Cornell population. The minute I received my acceptance letter, I knew that I had found my home for the next four years.
What is your favorite class so far and why?
My favorite class so far has been PAM 3110 - Pharmaceutical Management and Policy. I took this class for my Health Policy minor, and it was the most interesting class that I've taken during my time here! As someone who plans to work in the healthcare environment, this class has taught me about FDA rules and regulations, as well as the process of a drug from development all the way to distribution. I loved that we had the opportunity to research a drug of our choosing and spend the entire semester applying what we learned to research. We also had guest speakers from different areas of the pharma and biotech industries, which allowed me to get a better understanding of what it might look like to work in the space!
Tell us about your favorite place to study.
My favorite place to study is the atrium area of Mann Library. This is a perfect spot because there are always people around if you want to study in a group or you like having a louder study environment. At the same time, you can pop some headphones in and get some work done by yourself. I love seeing my friends in Dyson and working together with them in this space!
Tell us about your favorite spot on campus or in Ithaca.
My favorite spot on campus has to be Libe Slope. I know that this is a bit of a cliche answer, but nothing makes me happier than sitting on the slope and watching a sunset. The views are just absolutely incredible and it reminds me that there is a bigger world out there. If you look through my camera roll, about half of my pictures are slope sunsets! Outside of campus, I love going to the Ithaca Farmers Market. The local vendors always have beautiful creations and I enjoy sitting by Cayuga Lake.