The biggest worries for most college students might be getting to class or completing assignments. But University of Louisville senior Briana Bonham faces an even a greater challenge – Cystic Fibrosis.

At 3 months old, Bonham was diagnosed with CF, a genetic, chronic terminal disease that affects her lungs, digestive system and reproductive system. It will most likely kill her before she is 40, but Bonham doesn’t let CF control her life.

“When I look at it, everyone is going to pass away at some point so why would you waste it?” said Bonham.

Bonham is taking up to 18 hours of classes per semester and is studying to become a lawyer in medical malpractice. Each day, she carries a vibrating vest along with her books. She must put on the vest for 20 minutes to two hours, twice a day to loosen the buildup of fluid in her lungs and allow her to breathe. Bonham doesn’t ask for anyone’s sympathy, but she does inspire everyone around her.

Mark Running, one of Bonham’s biology professors, said, “She really does, I think, inspire everybody … She has Cystic Fibrosis and she’s not letting that limit her studies.”

Click to learn more about her story:

The team is celebrating UofL’s faculty and staff at its Dec. 5 game versus UT Martin. Before they take the court, we asked a few players on the team to choose a favorite faculty or staff member and interviewed the players and the professors about their experiences at UofL.

Myisha Hines-Allen, senior forward

Who is your favorite faculty member and why?
When thinking of a favorite professor three professors come to mind, Professor Hancock, Professor Presley, and Professor BJ Levis. Professor Hancock and Presley both work in the SPAD department and BJ works in the HSS department.

I have gotten to know BJ because I was in her class freshman year and ever since thenĚýour relationshipĚýhas grown outside the classroom. I help Ms. BJ with volunteer opportunities such as wheelchair basketball, kickball, dances and many others.ĚýWhen I committed to UofL I never would have known that a class could change my life for the better. Ms. BJ works with people with disabilities, which makes it even more special in my opinion because I have gotten to know a lot of them personally and have created relationships that will last a long time.

As for Professor Hancock and Presley, their classes were interesting and definitely gave me insight on more things than sports. I loved allĚýthe classes that I took with them and will never forget the things I learned in them.

Why did you choose UofL?
I chose the University of Louisville not only because of the basketball program and what it has to offer, but also because of the amazing college atmosphere, and the SPAD program was definitely a bonus.

What’s your major and why did you choose that major?
I major in Sport Administration and minor in Communication.Ěý I chose this pathĚýbecause not only is the program one of the top in America but alsoĚýI just love learning more aboutĚýsports and what it has to offer. The SPAD program at UofL is an awesome way toĚýenjoy learning more about sports, even the ones you wouldn’t think you would like. It is also cool that youĚýget to learn and explore different fields such as Sport Law, Facility Management, as well as the internship which they require you to work over 400 hours.

What’s your favorite thing about UofL?
I have a number of things that I enjoy about UofL such as all that basketball has to offer, the sense of community, professors, friends that I made here, as well as the city of Louisville itself.Ěý

BJ Levis, lecturer inĚýHealth and Sport Sciences, CEHD

How does it feel to be selected by Myisha as her favorite faculty member?
Oh my goodness, I am speechless.Ěý Myisha is a very special person.Ěý Myisha was in my class as a freshman and we instantly hit it off.ĚýHer love for people is amazing, butĚýthe love she has for people with disabilities is what I love best.ĚýI’m so blessed to have her in my life.ĚýMyisha just makes me smile.

What is one thing you hope that Myisha – or any of your students – takes away from your classes?
The one thing I want my students to take away is that people with disabilities are PEOPLE. I always say to them that we need to focus on a person’s ability.Ěý I’m a firm believer that we all have some type of disability – some are just more apparent than others.Ěý We all have the same needs and wants and that’s to be accepted and loved. If you don’t take the time to interact and speak with a person with a disability, you could be missing out on an amazing friendship.

What is one piece of advice you offer to students?
Volunteer. I hire a lot of people with my full-time job with Louisville Parks and Recreation.ĚýI always look at people that have volunteered more closely. It shows that they have initiative and that they took their own free time to give to others.Ěý Serving and helping others is very important. Not to mention, it’s a great time to get in the field and make sure that the direction you are going in is what you want to do.Ěý I feel it’s important to love what you do so that each day you go to work, it is not work – it’s a passion and a lifestyle.

Sam Fuehring, junior forward

Who is your favorite faculty member and why?
My favorite faculty member would be Professor (Ralph) Merkel. The video communication class he teaches is fun. He interacts with the class and I feel like he gets to know everyone. He has a funny side to him.Ěý You can joke with him and he will joke back. He also is my snack buddy. When I bring snacks to class, I’ll share with him.

Why did you choose UofL?
I chose UofL for the basketball program and the chance to win a National Championship. The fan base and atmosphere that surrounds the program also caught my attention. UofL offered a lot of opportunities for me.

What’s your major and why did you choose that major?

My major is Sport Administration with a minor in Communication. I decided to choose that major because I wanted to still have a part of the sports world when I stop playing basketball. I am not quite sure what I want to do with the major yet, maybe become a coach or an athletic director.

What’s your favorite thing about UofL?

My favorite thing about UofL would be the sports programs. I feel like every sport is in good standing. Other than sports, my favorite thing would be campus. The size of the campus isn’t too big but it also isn’t too small. With that being said, I can walk campus within 10 to 15 minutes, which is very convenient.

Ralph Merkel, professor of communications, College of Arts and Sciences

How does it feel to be selected by Sam as her favorite faculty member?
I’m delighted Sam chose me as her favorite, she lets me steal her snacks. She’s the perfect example of a student athlete, excellent in the classroom and on the court.Ěý

What is one thing you hope that Sam – or any of your students – takes away from your classes?
I ask students to treat class like a job: be prepared and punctual. Sam demonstrates both traits flawlessly.

What is one piece of advice you offer to students?
College is challenging, but you can succeed if you properly balance class duties with your free time. Of course you’re going to have fun — just remember to do the necessary class work daily. Post-school life won’t allow you to ‘cram.’ The habits you develop during college will serve — or hinder— you for a lifetime.

Arica Carter, junior guard

Who is your favorite faculty member and why?
My favorite teacher is Professor Jessica Gibb. She was the first professor I had in my major classes. She made sure that my fellow classmates and I understood the curriculum, and if we didn’t she found a way to help us. She was always willing to help me whenever I needed it. To be honest all of the teachers that I have had for my major classes are all great.

Why did you choose UofL?
I chose UofL because I am a very family-oriented person and when I came on my visit, it felt like a family. Also after being here for a few years, I feel that with my team but also with the other sports teams. Another reason I chose UofL was because of the fan support here. We have the best fans in the nation.

What’s your major and why did you choose that major?
My major is Exercise Science and I am minoring in Psychology. I originally chose that because I thought that I wanted to be a physical therapist, but I have realized that that isn’t what I want to do. Now, I would really like to be a sports psychologist or a coach.

What’s your favorite thing about UofL?
My favorite thing about UofL is the connection between the community and the university.Ěý

Jessica Gibb, program director/instructor, Health & Sport Sciences,ĚýCEHD

How does it feel to be selected by Arica as her favorite faculty member?
I am honored to be selected by Arica as her favorite faculty member. It is wonderful to know she had a positive experience while enrolled within my courses.

What is one thing you hope that Arica – or any of your students – takes away from your classes?
An appreciation for the field of exercise physiology.

What is one piece of advice you offer to students?
Get involved. The more opportunities students take advantage of while in school, the more opportunities they will have available to them after graduation.

Tickets to the Dec. 5 UofL women’s basketball game at the KFC Yum! Center are available for $3 per person for faculty and staff. and use the promo code Martin.

“It’s important we have an active dialogue to make sure we are understanding what it is we want for this university going forward,” he said.

Postel opened the forum with an introduction of a new social media campaign, #WeAreUofL, launched last week in the midst of the news about an active FBI investigation into the men’s basketball program.

“What this means is this is our university. We are tough. We are resilient. We’ve gotten through all types of problems and we’ll get through these,” he said.

Updates on SACS and athletics

Prior to introducing the panel of UofL leaders, Postel provided updates on the SACS accreditation process and the latest news from athletics. Last week, SACS sent six visitors to campus to gauge UofL’s progress in addressing the organization’s concerns that initiated probationary accreditation status last year. Specifically, SACS representatives were looking at 10 issues and UofL was cleared on eight of them.

The two that remain a concern have to do with the university’s affiliated entities and the qualification of administrators.

Postel said a memorandum of understanding is being created to define UofL’s relationship with the UofL Real Estate Foundation and the Pediatric Medical Office Building to close the first loop. He added that many searches are underway for administrative positions and he hopes to name a few permanent positions soon to help with the second concern.

More information about the SACS visit is .Ěý

On the athletics side, Postel said the “bombshell” news about the FBI investigation has consumed a lot of time and he is very concerned about how it is going to play out.

“I’m not going to downplay this. I love this place and it makes me sick that we have to continue to dodge things that hurt our reputation like this,” Postel said. “There is a lot that we still don’t know. It is an ongoing criminal investigation.”

Postel added that he is working to make the best decisions to protect the university and its reputation and that these decisions are not being made in a vacuum.

“There are no personal issues here. I am having many thoughtful conversations with the boards and we are approaching these issues as a team to acknowledge what is necessary to protect the University of Louisville,” he said.

2020 Plan

Postel then pivoted to the panel, brought together to examine UofL’s progress and discuss ideas for the future related to the five pillars in the 2020 plan.

• łÉČËÖ±˛Ąal excellence: Interim Provost Dale Billingsley led the conversation on educational excellence, soliciting ideas on how to best increase enrollment while simultaneously increasing our graduation rate.

Professor Al Futrell suggested using distance education as a strategy to do both: “Distance education has played a major role in helping us get to where we are now. We need more of a focus on it as a legitimate strategy,” he said.

It was also suggested to increase a focus on our international student program. The graduation rates of international students are higher and “if we provide them with a good undergraduate experience, they may be more likely to choose UofL for their graduate studies.”

A concern was raised about who is going to teach all of these extra students if we hit ambitious enrollment goals in the next few years, since faculty resources are already compromised.

A suggestion was made to create a committee to focus on innovative ways to retain and develop adjunct faculty, since about 70 percent of classes are taught by adjuncts.

• Research, scholarship and creative activity: Bill Pierce, EVP for Research and Innovation, noted the dramatic increase in research output from 1997 through 2007-08 and said if UofL would like to continue in the top tier of research institutions, a business plan needs to be devised. He added that the IPR site is a major opportunity for the university.

“Most research institutions in metropolitan areas would kill to have 40 acres of land contiguous to their engineering school,” he said.

It was also suggested that the university focus more on undergraduate research as much as graduate research. This would overlap other priorities, such as educational excellence and recruitment of faculty.

• Diversity, opportunity and social justice: Mordean Archer-Taylor, vice provost for diversity, said there is a compelling interest in diversity, as it intertwines with all of the pillars. Also, a diversity plan has been approved by the CPE and the board of trustees and will be online soon. She noted it is a live document and is focused on the diversity of students and our workforce, as well as cultural competency programs.

• Community engagement: Ralph Fitzpatrick, interim VP of community engagement, noted that UofL is a national leader in community engagement. His goal is to become a national model. He provided a brief overview of some of successes in this area, including the Brandeis Human Rights Advocacy Program, which was recently named as an exemplary designee by the Engagement Scholarship Consortium and the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities as an outstanding model of community engagement. Fitzpatrick also said UofL is in the midst of helping with the major revitalization of the Russel neighborhood in West Louisville, and is heavily involved in health care projects, especially for indigent communities.

“We are a major player in helping to strengthen regional economies and revitalize neighborhoods. We are a national leader. I believe we can become a national model. We stand ready,” Fitzpatrick said.

• Creative and responsible stewardship: Finally, Bryan Robinson, interim vice president of advancement, said his department is getting back to the basics of accountability and transparency. The team is improving the information flow to donors, including annual reports, and it is communicating more closely with deans and faculty to understand unit priorities and how endowment should be spent. The department created an office of stewardship to fulfill this objective.

Postel concluded the forum with a financial update, noting that UofL finished ahead of budget for 2016-17, and is on budget for 2017-18.

“We are just scratching the surface today,” Postel said. “We will continue to obtain input and spend time and consideration to decide what makes sense and find resources to make it possible.”

.Ěý