E. Brennan Bollman, a biological sciences major from St. Joseph, Mich., has been named valedictorian of the 2009 University of 91³Ô¹Ï graduating class and will present the valedictory address during Commencement exercises May 17 (Sunday) at 2 p.m. in the Joyce Center arena.
Bollman earned a 4.0 grade point average and was a member of the Glynn Family Honors Program. A peace studies minor, she received the 2008 Yarrow Award from 91³Ô¹Ï’s Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies in recognition of outstanding academic performance and service. She also was a member of the Dean’s List each semester.
Bollman served as a research assistant in 91³Ô¹Ï’s Haiti Program for the Elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis, conducting field work in Leogane and Port-au-Prince, Haiti. She participated in the University’s Summer Service Learning Program twice—first in Rochester, N.Y., where she worked for ten weeks at a Catholic Worker women’s emergency shelter; and then in Cambodia, where she taught courses on current world affairs to Cambodian university students.
As coordinator of the Pathos Project Humanistic Medicine Program, Bollman initiated a student-organized academic course on humanistic medicine that now is offered through 91³Ô¹Ï’s Department of Preprofessional Studies. She also is a member of VOICE, the student advisory board for the University’s Center for Social Concerns, and is a student board member of the Dooley Society, 91³Ô¹Ï’s organization for medical alumni, and ND-8, a student club that focuses on millennium development goals.
The Commencement invocation will be offered by Adrienne Murphy, a history and Spanish literature major from Dallas, who will graduate with a 3.98 grade point average.