Elyanna Bauer: Blazing a Trail in Supply Chain Management and Finance

For Elyanna Bauer, a double-major in Supply Chain Management and Finance, choosing to attend Francis Marion University was an easy decision. Throughout high school, Bauer worked her way into leadership at Chick-fil-A and heard many of her mentors praise the strong programs and supportive faculty in FMU’s School of Business. 

Bauer arrived on campus as a freshman in the fall of 2021, and soon sought guidance from Dr. Hari Rajagopalan, Dean of the School of Business and a professor of management.

“Dr. Hari’s expertise in supply chain management made him the perfect person to consult about my career path,” said Bauer. “Many of my mentors graduated from FMU with this major and were accomplishing things in the corporate world I aspired to do, so it felt like the right choice. I’m so glad I made that decision.”

As part of FMU’s Bachelor of Business Administration program, Bauer took advanced courses in all areas of business. One course, in particular, shaped her academic trajectory.

“I absolutely loved my first finance course with Dr. Jan Serrano,” said Bauer. “It sparked my interest in the field and made me want to take additional finance courses. I ultimately decided to double-major in finance as it felt like the perfect complement to supply chain management.” 

The interdisciplinary perspective her dual majors offer is something Bauer highly values.

“One of the things I love about supply chain management is that you can see the entire business looking through that lens,” she explained. “At the same time, the financial health of an organization is crucial. Combining these fields has prepared me to contribute meaningfully to any company.”

In addition to pursuing both majors, Bauer knew having hands-on experience would be extremely important to landing a job or going to graduate school after graduation. She worked closely with the faculty in the School of Business to identify internship opportunities that would enhance her studies and align with her long-term career goals.

Her efforts paid off when she applied for a semester-long internship at BMW in Spartanburg, SC, and quickly received an interview. She was offered a position on the spot as an intern in the accounting department, where she worked from August until nearly graduation day. During this time, she gained experience working alongside accountants focused on the fixed assets of the company. 

“Interning in the accounting department at BMW was an eye-opening experience,” said Bauer. “The projects I’d completed in my college courses, especially those using tools like Excel, prepared me for the work I did during my internship. I’m especially thankful that the faculty at FMU emphasized real-world applications because they made a huge difference in my ability to do my job well.”

Bauer’s academic achievements and experiences have set her up for continued success. The new alum will begin the Master of Business Administration program at FMU in January. She will also return to BWM for another internship, this time in the logistics department. After her logistics internship concludes in May, she plans to begin a full-time career in logistics or supply chain management while completing her MBA.

“Elyanna is smart, curious, and driven to succeed,” says Dr. Hari Rajagopalan. “Her dedication combined with the education and experiences she gained at FMU, will help her excel in her career.”

With a clear vision for the future, hands-on experience, and academic excellence, Bauer exemplifies the success that Francis Marion strives to foster in its students.