Race to 100 Alumni

Anthony Tantuccio  

Engineering Science Major
KCC Class of 2006
Current Title/Profession: Fellow Director, Continuous Tableting and Technology Intensification at Hovione

Nominated by: Mary Dawson 

Anthony Tantuccio's path to becoming a leader in pharmaceutical manufacturing science is a testament to the power of determination, community, and the willingness to start over. Before enrolling at Kingsborough Community College at age 23, Anthony had been working whatever jobs came his way, without clear direction or path. Earning his GED and returning to school marked the turning point that would set him on course towards a distinguished career in the pharmaceutical industry.  

At Kingsborough, Anthony worked to immerse himself in both campus life and the academic community. He earned a 4.0 GPA, served as Vice President of the Math and Science Council, and participated in student government. A study experience in Salzburg, Austria marked first time in Europe and opened his eyes to the world beyond Brooklyn. KCC became a second home for Anthony, offering a place of focused ambition, lasting friendships, and genuine belonging.  

The academic foundation he built at Kingsborough carried him to The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, where he earned a Bachelor of Engineering in Chemical Engineering on a full scholarship. At Cooper, Anthony led the AIChe Student Chapter and helped win a national championship with the Chem-E-Car team. Though the transition from top student at KCC to newcomer in a rigorous program was humbling, he credits that challenge with teaching him resilience in professional settings.  

After graduating and spending time completing research internships in nanotechnology and biomimetics, Anthony went straight into the pharmaceutical industry. He spent 17 years between Merck and Bristol-Myers Squibb, rising to Principal Scientist while developing novel manufacturing technologies, including work conducted in Antwerp, Belgium. He then joined Hovione, a contract development and manufacturing organization, where he now serves as a Fellow Director, specializing in continuous tableting and oral solid dosage manufacturing.  

Continuous manufacturing describes the shift from traditional batch production to uninterrupted, automated processes within pharmaceuticals, and is a field Anthony has helped define throughout his career and research. He publishes regularly, speaks at international conferences, and serves as a subject matter expert and internal consultant as he continues driving technology intensification across the industry. At the heart of all the work he does is his simple mission of making safe medicines for people who need them.  

Outside of work, Anthony is a devoted husband and father to his son, Logan. He channels his love of design and engineering into hobbies like woodworking, metal and 3D printing, and hands-on building/crafting projects. He finds these activities serve as an extension of the same curiosity and problem-solving instincts that have guided his entire career.  

For students that are still finding their footing in the vast world of higher education, Anthony's advice involves getting involved, building your community, and not stopping your learning when the school year ends. He implores, "Opportunities are about the networks you build, so get to know people and establish yourself. School goes further than just your grades."