Elmhurst University - Class of 1988
Volleyball
• 1985 Volleyball First Team Academic All-America
• 1986 Volleyball Second Team Academic All-America
• 1987 Volleyball First Team Academic All-America
Therese (Dorigan) Cullen represents a commitment to academic excellence, but stands out as a legendary athlete in her sport and a national champion.
An Elmhurst University athletics Hall of Famer, Dorigan posted a remarkable 140-46 (.760) record during her years on the volleyball team. She helped the team win four straight conference championships, two in the Chicago Metro Conference and two in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW). Additionally, Dorigan was a part of the 1985 Bluejay volleyball team that won the NCAA Division III national championship and the 1987 team that finished as the runner-up.
Her personal accolades include two consecutive Elmhurst Female Athlete of the Year honors, and in 1987 she was named Asics Tiger Player of the Year. In her two years playing in the CCIW she was named the conference’s player of the year. Lining up at setter/outside hitter, Dorigan was a force for the Bluejays.
Dorigan was a finalist for the NCAA’s Top Six Award, recognizing academic success for the top student-athletes in the country. After graduating from Elmhurst, she returned to the volleyball team in 1990 as an assistant coach. Dorigan was also the only player from the 1980s to be named to the NCAA Division III 25th Anniversary Team, announced in 2005.
Dorigan was selected as an Academic All-American three times, making the first team in 1985 and 1987. She double majored in chemistry and business while achieving a 4.0 grade point average throughout her undergraduate courses. She was a member of the Omicron Delta Kappa (leadership/scholarship), Phi Kappa Phi (all academic fields), and Phil Lambda Epsilon (chemistry) honors societies.
Dorigan shed light on those who uplifted her success on and off the court, “This is further representation of not only my past activities and dedication over my collegiate career, but the commitment, care, devotion and love of my team, coaches, trainers, classmates, professors and teachers, and most importantly, my family, husband and friends. Thank you for this recognition and all that it represents to me.” She also gave recognition to her chemistry lab partners that went the extra mile for her during volleyball season.
In 1994, Dorigan went on to earn a Juris Doctor (JD) law degree from the University of North Carolina. She practiced environmental law before engaging in multiple work opportunities and landing at All4 LLC as a global client director where she handles full service environmental health and safety. In 2007, she was the lead author for a paper that was presented to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.
Dorigan currently supports the Catch a Lift Fund (CAL), which enables post-9/11 combat wounded veterans to regain and maintain their physical and mental health by providing gym memberships, fitness programs, in-home gym equipment, fitness and nutrition coaching and a peer-to-peer support network. She served on CAL’s Board of Directors for multiple years.
“Thank you very much to the Hall of Fame Committee and various CSC members for their time, dedication and support of my nomination and selection,” said Dorigan. “I am deeply humbled by this honor, which was unexpected to say the least, and feel extremely privileged.”