INTRO SPOTLIGHT: Hannah Bollinger
Tell us a bit about yourself?
I am a rising third-year law student at the University of San Diego School of Law and a cyclist enthusiast from Ithaca, New York. Before Circulate, I worked as a Research Assistant to the law librarians at the University of San Diego law library. Outside work, you can find me biking, jigsaw puzzling, or editing law journal articles.
Prior to starting law school, I spent time in Paris, France, as a paralegal at an international law firm. I loved living in France, and I hope one day I can live there again.
In 2019, I graduated from Cornell University with a B.S. in Industrial & Labor Relations. While in college, I wrote my thesis on worker misclassification and competed on the swim team. Although my main event was the 500 yard freestyle, I am yet to attempt an open water swim in San Diego!
How did you become interested in Circulate San Diego?
When I moved to San Diego in 2023, I hadn’t had a car for 8 years. In Paris, I mostly relied on the metro, and anywhere I could not walk, I biked. I love how public transportation connects you to where you want to go, and I am excited to work with an organization that prioritizes public transportation and safe biking in San Diego.
I will be working on a Density Bonus Law project this summer, and I am looking forward to learning more about housing policy and what we can do to increase the volume of affordable housing in San Diego.
What's your most memorable face palm moment? Or what is your biggest acheivement to date?
A couple of weeks ago I was biking around Mission Bay, and as I was slowing down to get off the road, I underestimated how much sand had piled up and slid out on the sand. It was a slow motion fall, so I was okay, but it was still very embarrassing.
If you could choose anyone, who would you pick as your mentor?
If I could choose any mentor, I would pick my grandma. I never met her as an adult, but I think we would have had a lot in common, and I would have loved to learn more from her.
