1. Direct quotes from recommendations and accolades I have received:
Dr. Tom Gest, Anatomy Professor (Chair) at University of Michigan Medical School
commenting on one of my speeches at The medical school's Anatomical Donations Memorial
Service:
"Zanna, your talk today was simply brilliant. You have a real gift - thanks for sharing it."
I also developed Open Source Medical Education Curriculum for the University of Michigan's
program to teach physicians in other countries by creating free access teaching materials.
Our first pilot program was tested in Ghana. Dr. Gest worked to approve my curriculum.
Please see this link:
https://open.umich.edu/education/med/m1musculo-fall2007
I would be glad to forward copies of speeches to anyone who may be interested.
Here is a section of an official Letter of Recommendation I was kindly given a copy of from
Dr. Brian Murphy, the Founder and former Director of the Honors College at Oakland
University, Professor Emeritus, and Playwright. He also holds meet-ups on Opera and one
specifically for The Beatles, in case anyone is interested! He also attended Oxford; I recall
his effort into forging the same type of close mentorships developed in intellectual
university culture in the UK, versus the US. Bravo!
"I can very strongly recommend Zanna Pillars be admitted to your program. There is plenty
of evidence as to her scholastic achievements and intellectual promise. I would like to give
you a slightly different picture of, or perspective on, her.
Early one Fall semester, I was presiding - as I had ever since 1985 - at a moderately
extravagant dinner to welcome the entering class of the Honors College. I was always rather
"pumped" on these occasions and gave my own "motivational" speech: I played Lennon's
"Imagine" and an excerpt from Beethoven's last piano sonata; I quoted from William Blake,
Milan Kundera, etc., etc.
This speech (and the dinner) had always gone over well; but even so, I was startled to see
a student, after the dinner, approach me with tears in her eyes, saying that she had always
believed college could be like this, that there was a place that really was dedicated to
beauty, the life of the mind, human development. Well! I had rarely ever gone over so
decisively as this!
That student proved to be Zanna. Obviously, her work in the sciences has given her a solid
foundation. She is also a lover of literature. She is a gifted poet, musician, and singer. Lest
anything be lacking, she has also been a committed social and political activist...
...she is one of the most inspiring students I have ever known in my 35-year career at
Oakland University."
One other mentor kindly provided me with an open Letter of Recommendation: Dr. Barry
Winkler, who heads the Kresge Eye Research Institute in Michigan:
"Throughout Zanna's undergraduate career we have had a close relationship - one of
mentor and student; I know her well. I would rank Zanna in the top 1% of all the

2. undergraduates in the sciences that I have known in my 34 years at this university. She
really is an amazing talent.
Zanna has an enormous passion for research. She has worked in several colleagues'
laboratories. Her experimental effort in Molecular Biology was the backbone of a superb
Honor's College Senior Thesis - in fact, her thesis was the best I have seen in many years...
Zanna doesn't just participate, rather she leads with enthusiasm. Everything Zanna does is
with enthusiasm.
... Zanna has desire, passion, and commitment. Moreover, Zanna is a delightful woman.
She is easy to get along with and she is compassionate. Moreover, Zanna speaks up, and
when she does, everyone listens."
I hope these personal recommendations give you a view of who I am from the perspectives
of mentors in diverse fields of study.