Benjamin Bolger

Benjamin Bolger
Benjamin Bolger
Born	Benjamin Bradley Bolger; 1975 (age 48–49); Flint, Michigan, U.S.
Education	Muskegon Community College (AA); University of Michigan (BA); Yale University; University of Oxford (MSc); University of Cambridge (MPhil); Stanford University (MA); Columbia University (MA, MSc); Harvard University (MDes, DDes); Brown University (MA); Boston College (MA); Dartmouth College (MA); Brandeis University (MA); Skidmore College (MA); Ashland University (MFA); University of Pennsylvania; Georgetown University; College of William and Mary; George Washington University; Ithaca College; Cornell University

Benjamin Bradley Bolger (born 1975) is an American perpetual student who has earned 16 degrees as of March 2022^[update]^[1] and claims to be the second-most credentialed person in modern history after Michael W. Nicholson (who has 30 degrees).^[2] Like Nicholson, Bolger is from Michigan.

Biography

Benjamin Bolger was born to Donald, an engineer with General Motors, and Loretta, a teacher, and was raised in Grand Haven, Michigan. At the age of two, his parents were both seriously injured when the family was involved in a near-fatal car accident caused by a drunk driver; Bolger says this encouraged him to make the most out of his life.^[1]^[3]

In first grade, he was diagnosed with dyslexia. Special education programs did not help him, and in fourth grade, his mother began home-schooling Bolger, while undergoing a divorce.^[4] At the age of 12, Bolger began taking classes at Muskegon Community College, graduating with an A.A. by the age of 17. He then transferred with those credits to the University of Michigan, majored in sociology, and graduated summa cum laude with a 4.0 grade point average.^[5] From there, he took an internship with the Clinton Administration with Press Secretary Mike McCurry.^[6] Bolger's mother has moved with him to each college and university he attended and helps him by reading his assignments to him aloud.^[3]

Bolger entered Yale Law School when he was 19, but dropped out when he was unable to compensate for his dyslexia.^[6] After receiving additional training for his dyslexia, he enrolled at Oxford University, thus beginning his quest for degrees. After accumulating several master's degrees, he received his first doctorate in 2008 at the age of 33, in Design from Harvard Graduate School of Design. He has also studied in graduate programs at the University of Pennsylvania,^[7] Georgetown University, the College of William and Mary, and Dartmouth College.^[8] His mother accompanied and supported him through much of his education to help with his work, from Ann Arbor to Oxford.^[3]

As of March 2022^[update], he teaches a General Education course at Harvard College and is working remotely toward a 17th degree, from Cambridge University.^[1]

Degrees

1992 – Muskegon Community College (Associate of Arts)^[5]^[6]
1994 – University of Michigan (Bachelor of Arts in sociology)^[3]
1997 – University of Oxford (Master of Science in sociology)^[5]
1998 – University of Cambridge (Master of Philosophy in sociology and politics of modern society)^[5]
2000 – Stanford University (Master of Arts in education)^[5]
2001 – Teachers College, Columbia University (Master of Arts in politics of education)^[5]
2002 – Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation, Columbia University (Master of Science in real estate development)^[5]
2002 – Harvard University (Master of Design in urban planning and real estate)^[3]
2004 – Brown University, Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs (Master of Arts in developmental studies)^[5]
2004 – Dartmouth College (Master of Arts in liberal arts)^[1]^[5]
2007 – Brandeis University (Master of Arts in coexistence and conflict)^[5]
2007 – Skidmore College (Master of Arts in Humanities)^[5]
2008 – Harvard University (Doctor of Design in urban planning and real estate)^[3]
2014 – Ashland University (Master of Fine Arts in creative writing)^[9]^[10]

He has also completed some coursework at Yale Law School (in 1995, towards a JD) and at Boston College's Lynch School of Education (in 2004, towards an MA in higher education).

Personal life

Bolger endeavors to sleep only 4–5 hours a night.^[1] He has two children, who are homeschooled.^[1]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Fergus, June K.; Weber, Graham R. (March 31, 2022). "Benjamin Bolger Has No Post-Graduation Plans". The Harvard Crimson.
^ McEnroe, Tess (January 19, 2009). "Twenty-seven degrees and counting: Kalamazoo man enjoys the 'freedom' of intellectual pursuits". Kalamazoo Gazette.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Dry, Rachel E. (February 27, 2003). "Battle of the Bolger". The Harvard Crimson.
^ "'U' alum, 19, overcomes challenges, heads to Yale Law". Yale Daily News. September 27, 1995. Archived from the original on 2007-02-06 – via University of Michigan.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k Lipka, Sara (June 6, 2008). "A Perpetual Student Pursues Education to the Nth Degree". The Chronicle of Higher Education.
^ ^a ^b ^c Zagursky, Erin (June 9, 2008). "Bolger overcomes dyslexia, earns 11 graduate degrees". News & Media. College of William & Mary. Retrieved 2020-12-01.
^ Snyder, Susan (June 7, 2008). "For Penn student, a matter of (11) degrees". Philadelphia Inquirer.
^ Clark, Kim (April 15, 2010). "You Can Work Your Way Through 11 Grad Degrees: Benjamin Bolger slept little, ate cheap, cold-called for TA jobs". U.S. News & World Report.
^ "Ashland University MFA Graduate Sets Record with 12th Graduate Degree". Ashland University. 5 August 2014. Retrieved 2020-12-01.
^ Strong, Rebecca (August 19, 2014). "12 Graduate Degrees and Counting: One Student's Yearning for Learning". U.S. News & World Report. Archived from the original on 2014-09-12.

External links

Official web site
Bolger, Benjamin. "A Dartmouth Pedagogy" (PDF). Alumni Profile. MALS Quarterly. Dartmouth College. pp. 23, 24, 28.

[Crimson-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Fergus, June K.; Weber, Graham R. (March 31, 2022). "Benjamin Bolger Has No Post-Graduation Plans". The Harvard Crimson.

[2] McEnroe, Tess (January 19, 2009). "Twenty-seven degrees and counting: Kalamazoo man enjoys the 'freedom' of intellectual pursuits". Kalamazoo Gazette.

[harvard-3] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Dry, Rachel E. (February 27, 2003). "Battle of the Bolger". The Harvard Crimson.

[umich-4] "'U' alum, 19, overcomes challenges, heads to Yale Law". Yale Daily News. September 27, 1995. Archived from the original on 2007-02-06 – via University of Michigan.

[chronicle-5] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k Lipka, Sara (June 6, 2008). "A Perpetual Student Pursues Education to the Nth Degree". The Chronicle of Higher Education.

[williamandmary-6] Zagursky, Erin (June 9, 2008). "Bolger overcomes dyslexia, earns 11 graduate degrees". News & Media. College of William & Mary. Retrieved 2020-12-01.

[7] Snyder, Susan (June 7, 2008). "For Penn student, a matter of (11) degrees". Philadelphia Inquirer.

[8] Clark, Kim (April 15, 2010). "You Can Work Your Way Through 11 Grad Degrees: Benjamin Bolger slept little, ate cheap, cold-called for TA jobs". U.S. News & World Report.

[9] "Ashland University MFA Graduate Sets Record with 12th Graduate Degree". Ashland University. 5 August 2014. Retrieved 2020-12-01.

[10] Strong, Rebecca (August 19, 2014). "12 Graduate Degrees and Counting: One Student's Yearning for Learning". U.S. News & World Report. Archived from the original on 2014-09-12.

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