Being Her Genuine Self

John M. Holleran Fund

Enriching the future of science through undergraduate scholarships

Established as part of a generous bequest of more than $500,000 with the intention of championing self-identified gay or lesbian undergraduates, the John M. Holleran Fund supports students majoring in chemistry, biology or physics. For the 2021–22 academic year, the Holleran Scholarship was awarded to first-generation college student and neurobiology major Zoe Zacharakis ’23.

When she was a first-year student, Zoe took a class titled The Languages and Cultures of America, which sparked her interest in the field of neurolinguistics, the study of how language is stored in the brain. Inspired to investigate medical diagnostic techniques and medical neurosciences, she began to develop research skills to help her become a clinical neuropsychiatrist.

Zoe is taking on the challenge of putting herself through school, and the Holleran Scholarship is helping her expand her horizons. As a member of UC San Diego Out in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (oSTEM), a campus organization that imagines an intersectional world in which LGBTQIA+ individuals in STEM achieve success and are celebrated, Zoe is finding a shared love of science among her peers. “I hope this scholarship shows others that it is possible to be active in both scientific academia and the LGBTQ+ community without limiting one’s opportunities,” she said.

Scholarships give students opportunities to develop the skills they need to create a more just, equitable society. The Holleran Scholarship supports undergraduates seeking academic growth and personal strength in community, making a significant impact on dedicated science students, like Zoe, in perpetuity.