Marietta College alumnus, researcher, and MD-PhD Candidate to deliver keynote address at 2024 Commencement
Marietta, OH (03/11/2024) — Marietta College is pleased to announce that Brendan Adkinson '16 will present the keynote address at the 187th Commencement ceremony scheduled for Saturday, May 4, at 1:00 p.m. in the Dyson Baudo Recreation Center.
"Brendan exemplifies the commitment to learning, leadership, and service that energizes others," said Dr. Margaret L. Drugovich, President of Marietta College. "He built the foundation for his early research career at Marietta. We are proud of his success, and I am confident that our graduating seniors and their families will appreciate and enjoy his remarks."
Adkinson graduated from Marietta College with a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and Neuroscience and a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish. He was the first graduate from Marietta's Neuroscience program. He is enrolled in Yale University's MD-PhD program and will complete his PhD in Neuroscience in 2025 before returning to Yale for the final two years of medical school.
Since graduating from Marietta, he has conducted, presented and published neuro-behavioral research that focuses on the intersection of artificial intelligence, mental health, and rural healthcare. He is the lead or co-author on many scientific research articles. He received a $120,000 grant from the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities focused on how healthcare algorithms may be biased in underrepresented populations. Adkinson has also founded a startup that uses AI to make admissions consulting more accessible.
"I was delighted to receive President Drugovich's invitation," Adkinson said. "Marietta College and its close community mean a lot to me. I'm grateful for the opportunity to inspire others in the place where so many people inspired me."
In addition to his research, Adkinson is an advisor to a nonprofit organization focused on health and education access in rural Ghana. He hopes to establish a new research division at an academic institution that promotes rural health research and partnerships.
In fall 2023, Adkinson received the Maria Leonard Fellowship from Alpha Lambda Delta in recognition of his academic achievements.
For details about Commencement, visit www.marietta.edu/commencement.
Located in Marietta, Ohio, at the confluence of the Muskingum and Ohio rivers, Marietta College is a four-year liberal arts college. Tracing its roots to the Muskingum Academy, founded in 1797, the College was officially chartered in 1835. Today, Marietta College serves a body of 1,200 full-time students. The College offers over 40 majors and is consistently ranked among the top regional comprehensive colleges by U.S. News & World Report and The Princeton Review. Marietta was selected seventh in the nation according to the Brookings Institution's rankings of colleges by their highest value added, regardless of major.
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