Boston College Chronicle by Boston College

The Boston College

Chronicle Published by the Boston College Office of News & Public Affairs january 19, 2016 VOL. 23 NO. 9

INSIDE a mentor, 2 •Toasting colleague and friend •BCPD gives some holiday cheer

•International student population rises examines 3 •Psychologist children and fairness •BC makes Kiplinger’s ‘best value’ list again will fund Institute 4 •Grant for Adv. Jesuit Studies’ high school program

Center welcomes 5 •Shea entrepreneur-in-residence Brian Harrington

•BC to be new home for international journal

6 •Police superintendent

speaks at BCSSW diversity conference

Light the World Co-Chairs Celebrate Campaign Success wavered.” McGillycuddy concurs. “We were cognizant of the severity of the downturn, and we had many dis“Light the World” campaign co- cussions about it, but there was no chairs Charles I. Clough, Jr. ’64, support for delaying the campaign. Kathleen M. McGillycuddy NC ’71 We were all so committed to it, and and William J. Geary ’80 had ample had great confidence that a market reasons to be concerned about the tumble would not deter us.” October 2008 public launch of the And so, amidst the worst ecolargest capital campaign in Boston nomic downturn since the Great College history. Depression — one that would ultiUniversity President William mately include a 7,000-point drop P. Leahy, SJ, and the Board of in the Dow Jones Industrial Average Trustees had already committed to and the doubling of the unemploya “stretch campaign” with an ambi- ment rate — Boston College chose tious $1.5 billion goal, more than to move forward. triple the $441 million total raised That decision was rewarded last in the “Ever to Excel” campaign of month when the University reached 1997-2003. its $1.5 billion goal, completing one And then, just 11 days before of the most successful capital camthe campaign launch, the financial paigns in American higher educamarkets collapsed. tion this decade. “It was a very difficult time for And yet, despite the campaign’s the financial sector, and many of successes, its co-chairs remain adathe trustees were connected to it,” mant that much more needs to be said Clough. “I remember that there done. were discussions about the economy “While we should be immensely and some comparisons to the 1930s, proud, our work is never done,” said but our faith in the campaign never McGillycuddy. “We are not wealthy “People in the office talked about feeling abandoned and felt pretty unhappy.” By Jack Dunn Director of News & Public Affairs

University President William P. Leahy, SJ, at the 2008 kick-off for the “Light the World” campaign, which last month officially reached its $1.5 billion goal – more than triple the amount raised by the previous campaign. (Photo by Rose Lincoln)

in comparison to peer institutions, so we must continue to focus on the future, including gifts through the end of this fiscal year. Providing financial support for the University is a lifetime commitment.” “I was a kid from inner-city Boston who grew up in a housing project and whose life was transformed by attending Boston College,” said Geary. “That need still

exists; it transcends any campaign. There is joy and jubilation around the conclusion of a campaign, but the needs do not go away, which is why we encourage all donors to continue their support, especially through May 31.” Through Light the World, Boston College has benefitted from $500 million in new initiatives in Continued on page 4

University Preparing for Nobody Left at the Water Cooler Reaccreditation Process –Michael Pratt

•Gaelic Roots series continuing •Clough Ctr. event on arts and democracy Additions; 7 •Welcome Nota Bene; BC in the Media; Briefings; Jobs

Humanities Se8 •Lowell ries spring schedule •Photos: “Endeavor”

The work-from-home model is popular – but does it have a negative impact on the office? One BC researcher thinks so. By Sean Hennessey Staff Writer

Working from home seems to be the ultimate win-win job situation: Employees are productive and happy while communicating and collaborating with colleagues at a distance; employers save money on office space and can more easily hire talented individuals even if they live in far-off locations. But a study co-authored by Carroll School of Management professor Michael Pratt argues that there are losers in this “distributed workers” model – the onsite office environment, and the employees who

remain in it. Collaboration, creativity, brainstorming, team building, and easy access to information are less common in a distributed workforce, according to the study. And there is a social cost: Offsite work may contribute to more isolation for all employees, even those who choose to work onsite at a centralized office. “We’ve focused so much of our attention on the distributed worker, that we’ve not really looked closely at what’s it like for the people who are left behind,” says Pratt, the O’Connor Family Professor in the Carroll School’s Management Continued on page 5

QUOTE:

This month, Boston College will formally begin efforts to renew its accreditation, convening a committee of faculty and administrators to direct a universitywide self-study that will be a key facet of the process. The New England Association of Schools and College’s Commission on Institutions of Higher Education (CIHE) will conduct the reaccreditation, which takes place every 10 years. A CIHE committee of educators from other institutions will visit BC in March of 2017, following completion of the University’s self-study in January of that year. The CIHE representatives will review the self-study and spend three days on campus

interviewing members of the BC community and examining supporting documents. The CIHE will consider both the self-study and visiting committee report in determining BC’s accreditation status. Good standing in a regional accreditation association is a requirement for participation in federal programs that support higher education. Special Assistant to the President Robert Newton, who chaired BC’s previous three self-studies, and Institute for Advanced Jesuit Studies Associate Director Seth Meehan will co-chair the University committee producing the selfstudy. Administrators and faculty Continued on page 3

“Cross-cultural work in developmental psychology is in its early days so the hope is that this kind of work will become more common so that we can learn more about the interaction between culture and cognitive development.” –Assistant Professor of Psychology Katherine McAuliffe, page 3

T he B oston C ollege

Chronicle january 19, 2016

A ROUND Boston College Supported Employment Program (SEP) employees got an early, and unexpected, holiday treat: brand new New Balance sneakers, courtesy of the Bos-

The University’s award-winning SEP provides jobs for adults with developmental disabilities. According to Ricciato, BCPD’s largess was spurred earlier in the

BC Police officers Michael Callahan, left, and Miguel Bueno spread some holiday cheer to employees in the University’s Supported Employment Program.

ton College Police Department. In December, BCPD Officers Miguel Bueno and Michael Callahan, accompanied by SEP Senior Job Coach Ted Hannigan, made the special deliveries. They traversed campus in an “all-wheel drive sleigh,” visiting the work sites of the 22 SEP members. “Needless to say, the SEP and staff were thrilled and overwhelmed by the generosity of the BCPD,” said Campus School Principal Donald Ricciato. “I believe that this act of compassion and generosity speaks volumes about the culture of Boston College. It is why the Supported Employment Program is so fortunate to be an integral part of the University and why the program has thrived since its inception in 1987.”

semester as a result of Bueno’s response to the medical needs of an SEP employee, for whom an emergency hospital transport was called to ensure safety. That encounter inspired the officer to organize efforts to purchase new shoes – for not only that employee, but for all SEP members, as holiday gifts. That goal was realized through donations from the Boston College Police Department Staff and Police Officers Association. SEP staff provided employee shoe sizes, the sneakers were purchased, and then gift-wrapped by Bueno’s wife. [View the BC Police Facebook posting at www.facebook.com/bcpolice/posts/924386224304561] –Office of News & Public Affairs Sean Smith

A trace of new-fallen snow last week adorned the recently completed staircase connecting the McGuinn Hall parking lot to the Campus Green. Director of NEWS & Public Affairs Jack Dunn Deputy Director of NEWS & Public AFFAIRS Patricia Delaney Editor Sean Smith

Contributing Staff Melissa Beecher Ed Hayward Sean Hennessey Rosanne Pellegrini Kathleen Sullivan Photographers Gary Gilbert Lee Pellegrini

SHE KNEW THEM WHEN Last month a group of administrators gathered for lunch to celebrate the birthday of University Controller Joyce King, but the luncheon was really more of a reunion. Attendees Executive Vice President Michael Lochhead, Financial Vice President and Treasurer John Burke and Chief Investment Officer and Associate Treasurer John Zona all once worked as student employees under King’s supervision. “Joyce was selfless in her approach to working with students. She gave us her time and her energy,” said Zona. “She was a role model for me in terms of her work ethic and her commitment to BC.” The student employment positions in BC’s financial division are highly coveted posts typically reserved for accounting majors who are recommended by Carroll School of Management faculty. “It was a highly competitive, rigorous screening process,” recalled Zona, noting that the position came with the opportunity to make real contributions and have a meaningful paraprofessional experience. “As a mentor, no one works harder than Joyce,” said Burke, who worked with King in Student Loans and Accounts. “I was amazed at how much time and energy she gave to all her students, sitting sideby-side with them to explain things. She was eager to share her knowl-

Lee Pellegrini

BCPD GENEROSITY

C AMPUS

University Controller Joyce King at her birthday luncheon with (L-R) Chief Investment Officer and Associate Treasurer John Zona, Financial Vice President and Treasurer John Burke and Executive Vice President Michael Lochhead – all of whom worked for her as BC undergrads.

edge and she made it seem effortless.” “I think at heart Joyce is a teacher,” said Lochhead, who worked with King in the Controller’s Office his senior year. “She always took the time to explain not only what to do, but also why you were doing it. She put things in context. She’s had a big impact on my career.” Burke, who returned to work at BC in 2008, echoed that sentiment, crediting King’s mentoring for much of his career success. King started at BC in 1972, working in what was then Student Loans and Accounts. In 1980, she earned an accounting degree

through the Woods College of Advancing Studies and later moved to the Controller’s Office, serving as the associate controller and then director of financial services and reporting. She was named University Controller in 2013. King has stayed in touch with many of her former student employees over the years. In a recent interview, she said that “mentoring students and staff has been one of things I most enjoy about my job. I still wake up looking forward to going to work every day.” –Kathleen Sullivan

BY THE NUMBERS Boston College’s international student population has nearly doubled in the past decade, as has the number of research scholars from abroad, according to a recent report by the Office of International Students and Scholars. According to the OISS, there are 754 undergraduates and 736 graduate students from other countries enrolled for the 2015-16 academic year; the total of 1,490 (which includes exchange students) compares to the 2005-06 figure of 776. There was a 7 percent rise in undergraduates from 2014-15, 9 percent among graduate students. Research scholars at BC number 262 this academic year; the total in 2005-06 was 130. BC’s current international pop-

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ulation of 2,278 also includes 362 students undertaking a period of practical training, and 164 dependent spouses or children. China (613) and South Korea (169) continue to have the largest contingent of international students at BC – as has been the trend for at least the past decade – followed by Spain (40), Canada (36) and India and Italy (34). Sixty-three percent of BC international students are from Asia, making it by far the most-represented region (Europe is next with 17 percent). But BC also is hosting students from 96 countries in most every corner of the world, including Nicaragua, Kazakhstan, Burkina Faso, Saudi Arabia, Georgia, Nepal, Barbados, Norway, Singapore, Hon-

duras, Israel, Argentina, Jamaica, Zimbabwe, Lebanon, El Salvador and Uganda. Most of the 2015-16 undergraduate international students are enrolled in the Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences (377), and most are studying economics (160). Other popular fields of study include finance (69), psychology (65) and communication (38). Among graduate students, 234 are in MCA&S, 225 in the Carroll School of Management; accounting (98), theology/ministry (82), economics and management (62 apiece) and finance (61) are the most popular fields of study. The OISS report is available at http://bit.ly/1OVcjUc. –Office of News & Public Affairs

The Boston College Chronicle (USPS 009491), the internal newspaper for faculty and staff, is published biweekly from September to May by Boston College, with editorial offices at the Office of News & Public Affairs, 14 Mayflower Road, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467 (617)552-3350. Distributed free to faculty and staff offices and other locations on campus. Periodicals postage paid at Boston, MA and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: send address changes to The Boston College Chronicle, Office of News & Public Affairs, 14 Mayflower Road, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467.

A flipbook edition of Chronicle is available via e-mail. Send requests to chronicle@bc.edu.

T he B oston C ollege

Chronicle january 19, 2016

BC Psychologist Co-Authors Global Study on How Fairness Develops in Children Children around the globe recognize and respond to scenarios that put them at an unfair disadvantage to their peers, while children in only a few societies correct conditions that place them at an unfair advantage over others, a Boston College researcher and her colleagues reported in a recent edition of the journal Nature. Assistant Professor of Psychology Katherine McAuliffe was among a team of psychologists, anthropologists and evolutionary biologists that devised a pioneering experiment to study how fairness develops in seven different societies. The researchers used an economic game – where candies and snack pieces served as rewards – to conduct their study with 866 pairs of children between the ages of four and 15, living in the nations of Canada, India, Mexico, Peru, Senegal, Uganda and the United States. “This is the first study to look at how fairness develops across different societies and highlights interesting variation in the onset of responses to both forms of unfairness,” said McAuliffe, a leading co-author of the report, “The Ontogeny of Fairness in Seven Societies,” along with Peter Blake of Boston University. “Crosscultural work in developmental psychology is in its early days so the hope is that this kind of work will become more common so that we can learn more about the interaction between culture and cognitive development.” The team measured two aspects

Lee Pellegrini

By Ed Hayward Staff Writer

Katherine McAuliffe

of fairness in decision-making: how children react to disadvantageous inequity – where one child saw her peer receive a greater reward – and how they react to advantageous inequity – a reversed scenario where the child received the larger reward. In all seven countries, taking steps to avoid being put at an unfair disadvantage emerged across all populations by middle childhood, the team reported. But children responded very differently when they were placed in a position of unfair advantage. In only three countries – the US, Canada and Uganda – did an aversion to an unfair, superior position emerge and when it did, the children were in late childhood, or about nine or 10 years old, the researchers found. The experiment is the first in an emerging inter-disciplinary effort to understand how humans in very different societies develop a sense of the seemingly universal value of fairness. Prior research suggested that adults

BRANCH OPERATION With the holidays over, a different kind of tree-trimming took place on Linden Lane last week. (Photo by Sean Smith)

have widely different approaches to fair resource sharing, which pointed to the potential role culture plays in shaping the development of fairness during childhood. Earlier studies by other researchers have found generosity increases with age, and children in non-Western societies tend to share more than their peers in the West. However, the question remained: How and when do children in very different societies start to enforce fairness? In all seven populations studied, children would sacrifice a food reward to prevent their peer from receiving a greater amount, the team found, indicating that an aversion to disadvantageous inequity “is a more general feature of human behavior” – perhaps influenced by a need to maintain competitive standing among peers. Or, according to McAuliffe and her colleagues, the results could reflect what children learn from their elders. Children rejected disadvantage as early as age four, and as late as age 10, giving researchers a sense that rejecting disadvantage could also be influenced by cultural factors. These findings, as of yet, may have no clear-cut explanations, according to the team, which included researchers from Harvard University, Simon Fraser University, St. Francis Xavier University, the University of Utah and Senegal’s University of Cheikh Anta Diop. Previous research indicated that Western societies tend to place an emphasis on equality, which may have created social pressure on the children to act on that sense of fairness at an earlier age. That Uganda was the only nonWestern society where children in the experiment rejected advantageous inequity may be a function of the emphasis on fairness in Ugandan society. But it could also be tied to the fact that the students who were part of the experiment attended schools where Westerners teach and may advance their own cultural norms, said McAuliffe. “This is the kind of thing we really want to go back to and understand,” she said. The findings may be just a start to better understand why people around the world behave similarly or differently, the societal and cultural forces at play upon children and adults, and the varied experience of childhood development. “This is a very nice, isolated case of distributive justice – more versus less,” said McAuliffe. “In the real world, it is a much more complex scenario. But this allows us to begin to develop a picture of how justice develops from the ground up.” To read “The Ontogeny of Fairness in Seven Societies” in Nature, see dx.doi.org/10.1038/nature15703. Contact Ed Hayward at ed.hayward@bc.edu

Reaccreditation Process to Begin This Month Continued from page 1 members playing leadership roles in the self-study include: Kelli Armstrong, Julian Bourg, John J. Burns, Patricia DeLeeuw, Jessica Greene, Louise Lonabocker, Arthur Madigan, SJ, Katherine O’Dair, Michael Pimental, Akua Sarr and Nanci Tessier. Provost and Dean of Faculties David Quigley has made recommendations for involvement by students and additional faculty members. “Reaccreditation offers us an opportunity to take a look at how the University has progressed since 2007 and also how the broader context of higher education has changed,” said Quigley. “I look forward to welcoming the visiting team to campus in early 2017.” “Boston College has always taken a positive attitude toward the accreditation process,” Newton said. “It provides an opportunity both to examine how BC is functioning and using its resources to fulfill its mission and also to invite colleagues from other institutions to give us feedback on how we can do better.” Added Meehan, “What the last few months have impressed upon me is the sheer scope of the review process. The self-study responds to standards that examine every aspect of the University’s operations, doing so with extensive and complicated demands. Addressing those demands is a real challenge but also an opportunity for the University community.” The BC self-study will respond to a list of standards developed by the CIHE that reflect key issues and topics in academics, student life, organizational effectiveness and other areas. Accreditors have been under fire from the federal government in recent years, Newton and Mee-

han noted, and this criticism has led to a different tone in many of the standards, emphasizing accountability, transparency, public disclosure and integrity. The self-study will also direct attention to four issues that have attracted significant interest at Boston College in recent years: student formation, the renewal of the core curriculum, integrated science, and assessment. Assessment of learning outcomes will be a key focus, said Newton and Meehan: Boston College will present not only the systems it has developed in academic affairs, student affairs, and mission and ministry but also the concrete results of assessment activities of the past five years. The self-study process will include various opportunities for the University community to offer comments and reactions, the co-chairs added. “In the almost four decades I have been involved with accreditation in higher education, the biggest substantive change has involved the shift from a focus on inputs – like faculty credentials and library resources – to outputs, such as what students are learning and accomplishing,” said Newton. “The other major structural change in the past decade has been the involvement of the federal government in regulating accrediting agencies. In previous eras, the government trusted the judgments of the accreditors; today, regulation has replaced trust. This has had a major impact on accrediting standards: Today, articulation of outcomes and evidence of their achievement are at the center of what is expected in a self-study, and what the visiting committee for Boston College will be looking for.” –Office of News & Public Affairs

BC on Kiplinger’s ‘Best Value’ List Boston College ranked 19th on the latest list of the top 100 values in private universities compiled by Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, its highest position on the annual survey to date. Kiplinger’s compiles its yearly listing of 100 private universities and 100 liberal arts colleges based on high-quality academics at a reasonable cost. The selected schools exemplify the attributes parents and students look for in higher education, including small class size, a good freshman retention rate and a high four-year graduation rate, according to Kiplinger’s. Princeton, Harvard, Vanderbilt, Rice and Yale were the five “best values” on the 2015 list. Other institutions cited by Kiplinger’s included Duke (sixth), MIT (eighth), Stanford (ninth), Dartmouth (11th), Penn (13th), Notre Dame (16th), Georgetown (17th), Tufts (22nd), USC (26th) and Brandeis (34th). The Kiplinger’s College Rankings section is at www.kiplinger. com/fronts/special-report/college-rankings/index.html. –Office of News & Public Affairs

T he B oston C ollege

Chronicle january 19, 2016

Campaign Brings Long-Term Benefits first campaign to actually fund programs that would directly benefit BC students. It had a building and infrastructure component, but it also provided the opportunity to

Gary Wayne Gilbert

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Clough: “There were discussions about the economy and some comparisons to the 1930s, but our faith in the campaign never wavered.” $100 million for BC Athletics, all of which have helped fuel the momentum that has enabled the University to rise to 30th in the US News rankings, its highest position to date. The campaign led to the naming of the Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences, and to the construction of several landmark campus facilities including Stokes Hall, the new McMullen Museum of Art and the 490-bed residence hall at 2150 Commonwealth Avenue that will open this summer. It has also led to the establishment of 31 assistant and full professorships, and to the endowment

of several critical BC programs and positions including the Gabelli Presidential Scholars Program, the Cooney Family PULSE Directorship, and Powers Family Deanship at the Carroll School of Management. In addition, Light the World has funded several major research centers, such as the Institute for the Liberal Arts; Shea Center for Entrepreneurship; Winston Center for Leadership and Ethics; Corcoran Center for Real Estate and Urban Action; Clough Center for the Study of Constitutional Democracy; Rappaport Center for Law and Public Policy; Lynch Leadership Academy; Roche Center for Catholic Education; McGillycuddy-Logue Center for Undergraduate Global Studies and the Institute for Advanced Jesuit Studies, among others. In total, 130,000 BC alumni, parents and friends have made contributions to Light the World, and annual giving to Boston College has doubled from an average of $60 million in 2003 to $120 million today. Altogether, these successes have placed Boston College in the top five percent among educational institutions in the United States, according to the Voluntary Support for Education’s annual report, published by the Council for Aid to Education. By every measure, Light the World has been a resounding success. “The earlier campaigns were designed to fund specific needs,” said Clough. “Light the World was the

McGillycuddy: “Light the World has solidified our place globally as a top-tier Jesuit, Catholic institution with great clarity about who we are and what we want to do.” improve the quality of academic life on campus and the student experience, which was important to its success.” Added McGillycuddy, “I attribute the success of the campaign to how tightly our communication was attached to our strategic vision and objectives, and how grounded it was in who we were as a university. It was an easy story to tell because it was so solidly built on the successes of the previous 145 years.” “What Light the World did was to raise everyone’s sights relative to the incredible journey of Bos-

ton College,” said Geary. “It was another step in the evolution of Boston College from a regional to a national to a global university and thought leader. It has put BC on a very different plane and trajectory, perhaps more than anyone could have imagined.” Looking back, the co-chairs agree that Light the World was an unforgettable experience that will have a lasting impact on Boston College. “More than anything, Light the World has solidified our place globally as a top-tier Jesuit, Catholic institution with great clarity about who we are and what we want to do and be,” said McGillycuddy. “What we did in this campaign is reach a new group of donors, including the generation of alumni who graduated in the 1980s and ’90s and BC parents whose resource commitment was a major part of our success,” said Clough. “For me, the sense of unity and the unwavering enthusiasm among alumni, parents, and friends, particularly during the uncertain times of 2008, is something I am very proud of and will never forget.” The co-chairs offer praise for Fr. Leahy and Senior Vice President for Advancement James Husson, whose leadership and globe-trotting solicitations ensured the campaign’s success. “Fr. Leahy and Jim Husson are the heroes of this campaign,” said McGillycuddy. “Both were tireless in their efforts and showed exceptional leadership and commitment. It would not have happened with-

out them. And the unsung heroes are the dedicated Advancement staff and the countless alumni, parents and friends who supported this effort.”

Gary Wayne Gilbert

Continued from page 1 support of academic excellence, $293 million for financial aid, $188 million for campus construction projects, $101 million for studentformation programs and more than

Geary: “[The Light the World campaign] has put BC on a very different plane and trajectory, perhaps more than anyone could have imagined.” Added Geary, “A successful campaign comes down to the team of people assembled. Fr. Leahy and the entire BC administration were adept at citing needs and making the strategic initiatives intensely personal to supporters within the BC community. Boston College helps form great human beings. That is the ultimate measure of its success, and this campaign will enable us to provide that same opportunity for current and future generations of BC students.” Contact Jack Dunn at jack.dunn@bc.edu

With $600K Grant, Institute to Launch Program for High School Students Supported by a recent $600,000 grant from the Lilly Endowment Inc., the Institute for Advanced Jesuit Studies (IAJS) at Boston College will establish a program to help high school students deepen their spiritual lives while strengthening their leadership qualities. The Ever to Excel program, which will debut this summer, will draw on Jesuit education and spirituality for its five days of workshops, discussions, presentations and other activities. Program content will include elements from BC’s student formation initiatives, as well as newly developed resources by the Institute that build on its existing offerings for high school students. “This grant for the Ever to Excel program will aid Boston College and the Institute for Advanced Jesuit Studies in their efforts to promote the history, spirituality, pedagogy and educational heritage

of the Society – in this case, with studies – the institute offers “The special focus upon the young,” said Summer List,” a guided summer Casey Beaumier, SJ, the center’s di- reading program for high school rector. “The Ever to Excel program and first-year college students prewill engage the hearts and minds of senting supplementary materials to high school leaders through inten- selected Jesuit readings. Its inausive experience of Jesuit spirituality gural text, A Purposeful Path: How and education.” Far Can You Get with Launched in 2014, Institute Director Casey $30, a Bus Ticket, and the Institute for Ad- Beaumier, SJ, says the a Dream?, written by vanced Jesuit StudFr. Beaumier, explores grant will aid efforts ies is, in partnership “to promote the history, the Jesuit tradition of with other BC departbegging pilgrimages spirituality, pedagogy ments, offices and through his own exprograms, a locus for and educational heri- perience. courses, workshops, tage of the Society – in Boston College is publications, scholarly one of 82 schools parthis case, with special symposia and other focus upon the young.” ticipating in the Lilly events and activities Endowment Inc.’s that convey the charHigh School Youth acter and nature of the Jesuit mis- Theology Institutes initiative, sion. which seeks to encourage young Among its programs and ac- people to explore theological trativities – including a nine-credit ditions, ask questions about the Certificate in Jesuit Studies and an moral dimensions of contempointernational symposium on Jesuit rary issues and examine how their

faith calls them to lives of service. Although some schools are independent, many reflect the religious heritage of their founding traditions, including Baptist, Brethren, Lutheran, Mennonite, Methodist, Presbyterian, and Reformed churches, as well as Roman Catholic, non-denominational, Pentecostal and historic AfricanAmerican Christian communities. The $44.5 million in grants awarded by the Lilly Endowment are a commitment to identify and cultivate a cadre of theologically minded youth who will become leaders in church and society. “These colleges and universities are well-positioned to reach out to high school students in this way,” said Christopher L. Coble, vice president for religion at the Lilly Endowment. “They have outstanding faculty in theology and religion who know how to help young people explore the wisdom

of religious traditions and apply these insights to contemporary challenges.” Fr. Beaumier expressed gratitude to Senior Associate Director for Corporate and Foundation Relations Megan Welch and Raymond Rivera, director of business affairs in the Office of the President, for their roles in helping the institute develop and present its proposal. He also noted that IAJS Assistant Director for Marketing and Programming Kendra Butters will play a leading role in the piloting of the Ever to Excel program. “Through Ever to Excel, these students will have the opportunity to strengthen their faith, deepen their prayer life, become more effective leaders, serve in the community, explore possible paths for their future, and discover the great tradition of Jesuit spirituality and education,” he said. –Office of News & Public Affairs

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Chronicle january 19, 2016

Working at Home’s Effect on the Office Continued from page 1 and Organization Department, who led the study with Professor Kevin Rockman of George Mason University. “We found the strongest predictor of why people work from home wasn’t work/family balance or all these reasons we often hear about. It was, ‘Few, if any, of my co-workers are around in the office much, so I don’t see the benefit of going there.’” The study, titled “Contagious Offsite Work and the Lonely Office: The Unintended Consequences of Distributed Work” and published in the Academy of Management Discoveries, is among the first to examine the consequences of what happens to the onsite work environment when employees begin to migrate offsite. The authors studied a Fortune 100 high-tech firm with a worldwide workforce of 100,000 whose employees are free to choose where they work. Looking at interviews and surveys from more than 600 of the company’s employees, Pratt and Rockman concluded that “distributed work can take on a life of its own,” thanks largely to a domino effect: More workers choose to work from home, which decreases the number of employees at the office and changes the experience for those who remain. Ultimately, say Pratt and Rockman, “a tipping point” occurs when coming to the office isn’t desirable, spurring yet more employees to work offsite. “Our findings suggest

ing in the office strongly influenced some employees to choose to work from home, the study found, even though their preference was to work onsite in a more collective environment. “The net result was that the office became more impersonal, and Lee Pellegrini by consequence, a lonelier place to work.” Given the technological advancements allowing offsite workers to stay connected and productive, says Pratt, there’s a certain sense of inevitability that the offsite office is the future. But he and Rockman found that companies with the most success in managing teams of distributed workers were those that made the effort to bring employees Michael Pratt says the findings from together at least a few times a year. his co-authored research suggest Based on the results of the study, that the “distributed worker” model Pratt hopes companies with distribmay have “many benefits for the offsite worker, but some serious uted workforces pay more attention drawbacks for those left behind.” to the office environment, and the leagues they know aren’t there, and employees who still work in it. “Just because we can have peonor are their work needs: I don’t have the casual interactions around ple work offsite doesn’t necessarily the water cooler, and if I have a mean it’s a good thing. I get all the problem with something, I can’t go economic reasons for it, but I think down the hall to see if you’re there. we miss some of the closeness and People in the office talked about camaraderie. A lot of managers I feeling abandoned and felt pretty spoke with talked about wanting to create a group that would have unhappy.” For these employees, being at these kinds of accidental interacthe office was akin to working regu- tions so its members could be more larly in a coffee shop, the study creative. All that becomes really diffound – “surrounded by people ficult if there are not people around that you might recognize but do the office.” not really know.” Contact Sean Hennessey at This perceived loss of the social sean.hennessey@bc.edu and productivity benefits of workthat these types of flexible work policies may have many benefits for the offsite worker, but some serious drawbacks for those left behind.” “The problem is for the people who aren’t telecommuting,” explains Pratt. “Their social needs aren’t being met, because the col-

Lykes to Co-Edit Journal on Transitional Justice Lynch School of Education Professor M. Brinton Lykes, associate director of the Boston College Center for Human Rights and International Justice, has been named coeditor of The International Journal of Transitional Justice, which focuses on efforts to deal with human rights abuses and effect social reconstruction in the wake of widespread violence. With Lykes’ appointment, Boston College will become the institutional home for the journal, which is published by Oxford University Press. Among the topics it typically covers are truth commissions, victim and perpetrator studies, reparations, international and domestic prosecutions, ex-combatant reintegration, post-conflict social reconciliation, and other strategies employed by states and international institutions to mitigate the legacy of human rights abuses.

Articles in its recent editions have included “Reconciliation and Perpetrator Memories in Cambodia,” “Kenyan Civil Society Accountability Strategies and Their Enemies” and “Reparations for ‘Guilty Victims’: Navigating Complex Identities of Victim-Perpetrators in Reparation Mechanisms.” Lykes is an expert on the impact of state-sponsored terror and organized violence, and human rights policy and mental health interventions, among other areas. Last year, she was part of an international delegation that took part in the Women’s Walk for Peace in Korea, which included visits to both North and South Korea. “I have served on the editorial board of The International Journal of Transitional Justice since its inception almost a decade ago and am delighted to be assuming additional responsibilities in joining Hugo van

der Merwe as co-editor-in-chief,” said Lykes. “The journal is a critical venue for cutting-edge scholarship and for giving greater visibility to voices from the global south who confront the challenges of transitional justice on a daily basis. “The Center for Human Rights and International Justice and the Lynch School of Education are delighted to provide a US base for the journal for the next five years. Its move from the University of California at Berkeley to Boston College recognizes the important work in this field at the University and gives greater visibility to the activist and interdisciplinary scholarship being generated by the CHRIJ. We look forward to the engagement of BC students in the work of the journal and to hosting scholars affiliated with the journal on an annual basis.” –Sean Smith

New Resource, Program for Shea Center

By Sean Hennessey Staff Writer

The Shea Center for Entrepreneurship is kicking off the semester with a new addition to its staff and a new program to help students move forward with business ideas they formulate. Joining the Shea Center as entrepreneur-in-residence (EIR) is Brian Harrington, who will advise and mentor students interested in entrepreneurship as well as those students pursuing their own ventures. A 1989 Carroll School of Management graduate, Harrington boasts 25 years of experience in start-ups, early-stage companies and more established companies. He previously served as executive vice president and chief marketing officer at Zipcar. Harrington also ran his own consultancy, Little Harbor Group, and held leadership roles at Boathouse, a brand communications agency, and I’m in!, a leisure travel website he co-founded. “It’s great to be here and I look forward to contributing,” said Harrington. “I’ve seen and done a lot, and I’d like to use my experience to emphasize thoughtful decision-making by founders during the early stages of a company’s existence.” Officially launched last November, the Shea Center for Entrepreneurship supports the growing startup culture at BC by fostering collaborations between students, faculty and private sector experts. Shea Center Executive Director Jere Doyle, a successful entrepreneur himself, said adding Harrington as the entrepreneurin-residence means more real-world bench strength that can only help students. “We are very excited about our EIR program, and Brian is the perfect person to kick this off for us at the Shea Center,” said Doyle. “He brings a wealth of entrepreneurial experience to campus and students will get immediate and up-close personal access to him through office hours, drop-ins and larger group sessions. The consistent mentoring that Brian will provide will be invaluable. The EIR program is something we want to build and expand on at the Shea Center, and we hope to bring in multiple entrepreneurs across a wide range of functions and experiences.” Harrington sees himself as a sounding board who will help students navigate the complexities of turning an idea into reality. “Sometimes, students get caught up in the perceived attractiveness of an idea without really asking basic questions such as: Does the idea solve a problem for a customer? How large is the addressable market? What factors influence whether the business can scale successfully? I want to expose students to this broader level of thinking when they come to the Shea Center,” he explained. “It’s also very challenging to take

Brian Harrington ’89 will be the Shea Center’s inaugural entrepreneur-inresidence. (Photo by Lee Pellegrini)

an idea that has potential and give it the support it needs to grow and thrive. The Shea Center helps answers questions such as how to sell an idea to investors, what’s the right product feature set, how to acquire customers, and how to hire employees and get them to believe in the idea. Decisions on these issues happen quickly in an early-stage company. Our goal at the center is to provide guidance on how to think about and act on these critical questions.” Harrington will also assist with the pilot accelerator program’s curriculum, speakers, and content. He says coming back to BC was an easy decision, given all that he has to offer. “Business schools traditionally have not done a great job on educating students on the skill set needed for start-up environments. I’ve always been passionate about innovation, challenging convention and thinking of things in different ways. There’s a ton of smart students with smart ideas on campus and I want to help them succeed.” The other new addition to the center is Accelerate@Shea, a sevenweek program that provides student start-ups with mentors, space, and money to launch and grow their ideas. More than 30 teams went through an extensive application process involving interviews and assessments on the viability of their start-up ideas. The 15 teams accepted will participate in a round-robin workshop, where they will meet with experts in a format similar to speed-dating. The experts come from various fields including venture finance, tech and law. The startup teams will rotate through and talk to each for a few minutes, receiving feedback and guidance on their idea. Teams also will take part in four speaker sessions, be paired with BC alumni who will be their mentors, and take part in several class bonding sessions with other members of the entrepreneurial teams who are going through the same challenges to help develop their ideas. “It’s important to build on the entrepreneurial ecosystem that exists at Boston College,” said Kelsey Kinton, the center’s assistant director. “Those class bonding sessions are really important. We want teams to start talking to other people on campus that are working on other ideas and build that community within BC.” [Read the full version of this story at www.bc.edu/chronicle]

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Despite the retirement of its founder, Seamus Connolly, the Gaelic Roots Music, Song, Dance and Lecture Series will continue, with three events scheduled for the spring semester. The series – sponsored by the Center for Irish Programs in collaboration with University Libraries and the Boston College Alumni Association – will be directed this semester by Sheila Falls, an accomplished fiddler and Irish Studies faculty member. On Feb. 4, cellist Natalie Haas and guitarist/vocalist Yann Falquet will perform a concert of Scottish, Quebecois and Celtic music. Haas – a former Boston resident and Berklee College of Music faculty member – has played a foundational role in bringing the cello to prominence in folk and traditional music, through her partnership with Scottish fiddler Alasdair Fraser, as well as collaborations with Irish bands Altan and Solas and fiddler Liz Carroll, among many others. Haas’ husband Falquet, a Montreal native and cofounder of the inventive Quebecois trio Genticorum, has become versed in music from traditions of Brittany, Scandinavia, Ireland and North America through his various musical projects. Natalie Haas Two other Gaelic Roots concerts will feature some of Ireland’s most influential and active traditional musicians. On March 22, Michael Tubridy – a founding member of The Chieftains, one of Ireland’s most famous bands – will return to campus, this time with accordionist James Keane. Tubridy is widely known for his excellent flute, tin whistle and concertina playing, and also is an accomplished “old style” step dancer. Keane is one of the finest accordion players of his generation – Italy’s Castagnari accordion company created a line of signature instruments named for him – and has performed and recorded with numerous leading figures in Irish music. On April 7, Gaelic Roots will host Kevin Crawford (flute, whistles) and Cillian Vallely (uilleann pipes, flute, whistles). Both are members of renowned Irish band Lúnasa but also have many other successful pursuits: Crawford has released four solo albums and in recent years has teamed up with fiddler Martin Hayes and guitarist John Doyle as the trio The Teatotallers; Vallely toured with the show “Riverdance” and has accompanied the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Natalie Merchant, Tim O’Brien and Mary ChapinCarpenter. Crawford and Vallely have recorded a CD together, “On Common Ground.” The concerts are free and will take place on Brighton Campus in the Cadigan Alumni Center (Feb. 4 and April 7) or the Theology and Ministry Library (March 22), beginning at 6:30 p.m. For directions, as well as updates on other Gaelic Roots events, see www. bc.edu/gaelicroots. –Sean Smith

Clough Center Event to Examine Role of Visual Arts in Democracy Poet Edward Hirsh, sculptor Liza Lou, painter Ramiro Gomez and New Yorker writer Lawrence Weschler will discuss the role of contemporary visual arts in “creating, defining and critiquing the American democratic vision” at a Clough Center for the Study of Constitutional Democracy event on Jan. 21. The panel discussion, titled “The Visual Arts and the Visionary,” takes place at 6 p.m. in Devlin 101. In addition, works by Gomez that depict the unseen roles of service workers in maintaining American affluence will be on display throughout the day in Devlin 101 and the Office of Undergraduate Admission reception area. Co-sponsors include the McMullen Museum of Art and the School of Theology and Ministry. For more information about the event, see http://bit.ly/1l6CKi1. –Office of News & Public Affairs

By Sean Smith Chronicle Editor

The grim realities of law enforcement intruded on the Boston College School of Social Work’s Diversity and Alumni Awards Conference on Jan. 8, when guest speaker Boston Police Superintendent-in-Chief William Gross had to cut short his remarks after receiving word that one of his officers had been wounded by a gunshot. Gross was finishing up his talk on the challenges in nurturing positive police-community relations when he was notified of the shooting. He then shared the news with the audience gathered in McGuinn Auditorium. As he departed, Gross urged community members and leaders to maintain a constructive dialogue with police. “It’s so important to work together. Never, ever, ever be negative.” [The officer, Kurt Stokinger, was hit by a bullet in the leg during a traffic stop in Dorchester, but was released from the hospital two days later and is expected to make a full recovery.] The event was held as part of a BCSSW initiative to explore the intersection of diversity-related issues with social work practice. Alumni joined administrators, faculty, staff and students at the conference, which examined the potential roles for social workers in developing strategies to prevent community violence and enhance social justice. News of the shooting brought a sobering contrast to what had been an upbeat talk by the gregarious, plain-speaking Gross, a 32-year BPD veteran and first African-American to serve as the department superintendent, a post to which he was appointed in 2014. In his introduction, BCSSW Dean Alberto Godenzi praised the leadership of Police Commissioner William Evans, Gross and others in the BPD in the department’s efforts to forge good community relations, at a time of intense national debate about community policing. Godenzi touched on Gross’ experience over the years in Gang and Drug Control units, his work with district captains in developing strategies to address crime trends, and his presence at community meetings to discuss neighborhood crime concerns. Gross said Boston has the “number one community policing model” in the US, built on years of hard work and patience – both on the part of BPD and members of the community – a willingness to “always learn from your partners” and the ability to handle “constructive criticism.”

Photos by Lee Pellegrini

Gaelic Roots Continuing This Semester Under New Leadership

At BCSSW Event, BPD Superintendent Makes the Case for Community Policing

Boston Police Superintendent-in-Chief William Gross speaking at the Boston College School of Social Work Diversity and Alumni Awards Conference.

He contrasted the non-militarized BPD response to Occupy Boston and other recent protest activity with authorities’ handling of situations in Ferguson and other flashpoints. Instead of brandishing riot gear or otherwise running the risk of provoking confrontations, Gross said, the BPD has often had representatives of the community present – such as the clergy or members of the NAACP – when dealing with protestors, to help defuse tensions. “This shows that Boston is not like other cities,” he said. “We may have issues, but not people showing the ignorance of destruction or causing violence. Because if you act in that way, it will keep people from listening to you.” Gross credited the Boston TenPoint Coalition, an ecumenical group of Christian clergy and lay leaders that has worked for two decades to address gang and youth violence, with helping foster good community relations. He also singled out programs such as YouthConnect, which places social workers in BPD stationhouses and specialized units to work with atrisk youth and their families; the program is currently directed by Andrea Perry MSW ’99, a BCSSW adjunct faculty member – she and Suffolk County House of Correction Mental Health Director Melanie Robinson Findlay MSW ’09 were the respondents to Gross’ talk.

There is no magic involved in building a working relationship between police and communities, Gross said, nor is there anything easy about it. “I’ve been called the ‘n’-word, an Uncle Tom, a sellout,” said Gross, a Maryland native who came to Dorchester at age 12, during Boston’s school busing crisis. “You have to learn to deal with people, and treat them the way you want to be treated.” Relations between the BPD and neighborhoods of color were often troubled in past years, Gross acknowledged. “As a black police chief, I own all of the negative history of the Boston Police Department. But those moments in time are teachable moments. “You have to show that you remember history,” he said, “and then be willing to make changes.” Earlier at the event, the 2016 Distinguished Alumni Awards were presented to Daniel Gill MSW ’06, an administrator for a veterans supported housing program in the Department of Veterans Affairs VA Maryland Health Care System; and Judith S. Willison MSW ’87, an assistant professor in the Bridgewater State University School of Social Work who teaches social work practice courses, including one focused on a multisystemic approach to addressing violence. Contact Sean Smith at sean.smith@bc.edu

Before his talk, Gross spoke with BCSSW Dean Alberto Godenzi. Gross had to leave early when he received news of a police officer’s shooting.

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BOSTON COLLEGE IN THE MEDIA An introduction to new faculty members at Boston College

Nathaniel J.S. Brown

Associate Research Professor of Educational Research, Measurement and Evaluation Lynch School of Education DEGREES: Harvey Mudd College (BS); Cambridge University (MSc); University of California, Berkeley (PhD) WHAT HE STUDIES: Quantitative and qualitative methods of research and analysis in areas of educational measurement and science education, including instruction, assessment and student achievement. WHAT HE’S TEACHING: Classroom Assessment; graduate courses in Fundamentals of Data and Assessment Literacy, Assessment and Test Construction and Introductory Statistics What is your philosophy about testing? “Educational tests should be as valid, reliable, informative, and useful as medical tests. I work on ways to measure and support learning the way we measure and support health.”

Kristin Heyer

Professor of Theology Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences DEGREES: Brown University (BA); Boston College (PhD) WHAT SHE STUDIES: Social ethics; migration ethics; Catholic social thought; religion and politics; moral agency WHAT SHE’S TEACHING: Exploring Catholicism I and II; Modern Catholic Social Teaching Immigration and refugees have been in the news a great in the past several months. What do you feel needs to be an essential part of that conversation? “Contemporary debates about duties to migrants and refugees too often exclude the complex transnational contexts of such displacement. Honest assessments of the ways in which private and state actors contribute to destabilizing refugee-producing regions or exacerbating push-pull factors could better hold stakeholders accountable and address root causes. Amnesiac scapegoating or enforcementonly responses frame migration questions in terms of crisis management rather than contextual assessments of what enduring economic and political dynamics the crises reveal. In the US context in particular, expedient political rhetoric similarly masks complicity, abets human rights violations, and betrays the nation’s founding principles.”

Juan S. Montes

Assistant Professor of the Practice, Management and Organization Carroll School of Management DEGREES: IESE Business School – University of Navarra, Barcelona (PhD); Universidad de Chile, Chile (JD) WHAT HE STUDIES: Strategy, Strategy Implementation, Organizational Behavior, International Business, and Public Policy WHAT HE’S TEACHING: Strategic Management (undergraduate); Managing People and Organizations (graduate) You actually climbed Mt. Everest? “I was part of a small sport expedition that attempted the remote and very technical Kangshung Face on the east side of Mt. Everest. After two years of preparation and two months on the mountain, We made it to the summit. In more than 20 years after our ascent, our route has been repeated only once because of its difficulty. It was an extraordinary experience of teamwork and adventure.”

X. Peter Zhang

Professor of Chemistry Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences DEGREES Anhui Normal University (BS); Beijing Normal University (MS); University of Pennsylvania (PhD) WHAT HE STUDIES: Development of new catalysts to promote chemical reactions for use in the synthesis of molecules that can advance biological and pharmaceutical research and innovation. WHAT HE’S TEACHING: Organic Chemistry; graduate course in Organic Synthesis What appeals to you about organic chemistry? “I am excited by my work because every day is a new opportunity, a chance to explore the unknown. Every day in the lab you deal with something unexpected. We are working with this idea to do organic synthesis differently and we hope to one day open a new field. That is our dream. Right now we are opening windows and eventually we hope to open big doors.”

–Ed Hayward, Sean Hennessey and Kathleen Sullivan Photos by Lee Pellegrini

Prof. Juliet Schor (Sociology) was among thought leaders asked by The Atlantic to provide reasons for optimism and pessimism regarding climate change. An essay by Director of American Studies Prof. Carlo Rotella (English) in tribute to pedal steel guitar virtuoso Buddy Emmons, who popularized the instrument in jazz, country, and western swing bands, was included in the New York Times Magazine’s annual “The Lives They Lived” issue. Boston Magazine ran a feature on

Prof. Arch Woodside (CSOM) gave the advanced-degree Commencement address at his alma mater Kent State University and received an honorary Doctor of Letters degree. Ferris Professor of Management and Organization Jean Bartunek, RSCJ (CSOM), received an honorary Doctor of Business Administration degree from the University of Bath (UK), where she has been a scholarly collaborator and supporter. Asst. Prof. Emily Thorson (Political Science) published “Belief Echoes: The Persistent Effects of Corrected Misinformation” in Political Communication. Frederick J. Adelmann, SJ, Professor of Philosophy John Sallis

Prof. Paul Lewis (English), who along with his students recovered a trove of forgotten poems written by everyday Bostonians in the years after the Revolutionary War; the poems will be published in an anthology to be released in April. Assoc. Prof. Daniel Lyons (Law) offered his views to the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, WBUR-FM and WRKO-AM on NBC’s announcement that it will drop its affiliation with WHDH-TV and launch a new network-owned station in Boston in January 2017, the biggest shake-up in the Boston

presented a series of lectures in China and Taiwan dealing with his philosophical work. At Tongji University in Shanghai, he spoke about philosophical exchanges between American and Chinese philosophers; his lectures were organized in connection with the publication of a Chinese transla-

BC BRIEFING tion of his book Chorology. At Tunghai University in Taichung, he presented an introduction to his recent work on the philosophy of nature, and at Chingchi University in Taipei he spoke about the dialogue between philosophy and painting. During his visit, Sallis met with several prominent Chinese artists whose artistic work is

NOTA BENE

television market in two decades. Office of Health Promotion nutritionist and Connell School of Nursing faculty member Sheila Tucker said in an interview with ABC News that recently announced changes to federal dietary guidelines are a natural result of more research and study into nutrition over the last 35 years. “Finding my faith and its role in my life has been a challenge, but well worth it,” wrote Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences student Zoe Silsby ’19 in an essay for America.

the subject of his current research. Prof. Maxim D. Shrayer (Slavic and Eastern Languages) presented “Pavel Antokolsky as a Witness to the Shoah in Ukraine and Poland” at the conference of the Association for Jewish Studies in Boston, where he also served as a discussant in a panel on Soviet anti-Semitism. Two chapters from Shrayer’s memoir Waiting for America were translated into Italian and published in a special issue of the magazine eSamizdat. Part-time faculty member Ruth Sondermann (German Studies) co-authored an advanced Germanlanguage audio program that has appeared in the acclaimed Pimsleur Series of instructional tapes.

JOBS The following are among the most recent positions posted by the Department of Human Resources. For more information on employment opportunities at Boston College, see www.bc.edu/offices/hr:

Carroll School of Management seniors Marissa Giannetto and Claudio Quintana were included among the “Best and Brightest Business Majors Class of 2016,” as compiled by Poets & Quants for Undergrads, a business-focused higher education site founded by former editors of Fast Company and BusinessWeek magazines.

Assistant Director, Core Curriculum, Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences

Law School Professor Ray Madoff has been named “Philanthropy Critic of the Year” by Inside Philanthropy for leading an inquiry into some key problems in philanthropy through BC Law’s new Forum on Philanthropy and the Public Good [see http://bit.ly/1S8RIT3].

Graduate Programs Assistant, Carroll School of Management

Madison’s Hand: Revising the Constitutional Convention, by Law School Professor Mary Sarah Bildner, was selected among the “Books of the Year” by Legal Theory Bookworm.

Communications Student Services

Swiss author Christian Kracht’s novel Imperium, translated from German to English by Assistant Professor of German Studies Daniel Bowles, was selected as one of the top books of 2015 by Publishers Weekly and the Huffington Post.

Development Assistant, Annual Giving, Development Office Research Economist, Center for Retirement Research

Production Manager, Catering and Events, Dining Services Director of Compliance, Office of General Counsel Specialist,

Associate Director, Procurement Services Staff/Editorial Assistant, Law School Investment Officer, Endowment/Investment Head Librarian, Public Services & Engagement, O’Neill Library

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Chronicle january 19, 2016

MORE CAMPUS ARTS ON PAGE 6 *Gaelic Roots series to continue *Visual arts and the American democratic vision

The Lowell Humanities Series once again boasts a robust line-up of speakers, among them Irish novelist Colm Tóibín, author of Brooklyn – now a critically acclaimed film – and 2003 alumnus Lev Golinkin, whose Jan. 27 appearance kicks off the spring semester schedule. “We look forward to another Diana P. Lang

Lev Golinkin ’03

semester of stimulating debate, dialogue and conversation with an exciting line-up of speakers,” said Associate Professor of English James Smith, the series director. Golinkin, whose talk takes place at 7 p.m. in Gasson 100, chronicled his family’s 1990 immigration from Soviet Ukraine to the West when he was nine years old, and his experience as a child refugee, in his 2014 book, A Backpack, a Bear, and Eight Crates of Vodka. His op-eds and essays on the Ukraine crisis have appeared in prominent publications. Golinkin’s appearance is made possible by the Gerson Family Lecture Fund, established by John A. and Jean N. Gerson P’14. [Read a Boston College Magazine piece on Golinkin, drawn and adapted from his book, at http://bit.ly/1RAuENk]

The rest of the Lowell Humanities Series schedule: Candlemas Lecture with Mary Catherine Hilkert, OP: “The Word of God Entrusted to the Entire Church and the Voices of Women”; Feb. 8, 7:30 p.m., Gasson 305–Sister Hilkert, author of Naming Grace: Preaching and the Sacramental Imagination and Speaking with Authority: Catherine of Siena and the Voices of Women Today, was the first recipient of Washington Theological Union’s Sophia Award for Theological Excellence in service of ministry and received Barry University’s Yves Congar Award for Theological Excellence, among other awards. Cheron Price

bilities, texture, and limits of compassion, it was named one of the year’s best by National Public Radio, The New York Times and Publishers Weekly. Colleen Kinder

Leslie Jamison

Colm Tóibín: “The Knowledge and the Power: Writing and Violence,” March 16, 7 p.m., Gasson 100–The author of eight novels, including Brooklyn and Nora Webster and two collections of stories, Tóibín has been shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize three times. His play, “The Testament of Mary,” was nominated for a Tony Award in 2013 and his work has been translated into more than 30 languages. His appearance is co-sponsored by

Mary Catherine Hilkert, OP

Brigitte Lacombe

Leslie Jamison: “The Empathy Exams,” March 2, 7 p.m., Gasson 100–Jamison’s most recent work, The Empathy Exams, is a collection of essays which won the 2012 Graywolf Press Nonfiction Prize and was on the New York Times bestseller list. A book about medical acting, ultra-runners, prison, parasites, silver mines, gang tours, and — beyond and beneath all else — the possiColm Tóibín

BC SCENES

Culture Ireland and is part of the University’s centenary commemoration of the Easter 1916 Rising, a foundational event in the emergence of the Irish nation state. Linda Colley: “Publishing the Word: Constitutions, Print, and War in the Age of Revolutions,” March 30, 7 p.m., Gasson 100–A leading historian whose work has been translated into 10 languages, Colley specializes in Britain, empire and nationalism. Her books include In Defiance of Oligarchy: The Tory Party 1714-1760, Lewis Namier, Captives: Britain, Empire and the World 1600-1850 and The Ordeal of Elizabeth Marsh: A Woman in Peter Hurley

Linda Colley

World History, which was named among the 10 best books of the year by The New York Times. Britons: Forging the Nation 1707-1837 won the Wolfson History Prize, and her most recent book, the acclaimed Acts of Union and Disunion –based on a BBC radio series broadcast ahead of the Scottish independence referendum – examines what has held the United Kingdom together, and what might drive it apart.

Poetry Days with Afaa Michael Weaver: “Headphones and Speakerphones, Ideas of Voice in Contemporary Poetry,” April 6, 7 p.m., Devlin 101–Despite the poverty of the East Baltimore neighborhood where he grew up, Weaver Rachel Eliza Griffiths

Afaa Michael Weaver

forged a life that his sharecropper father may have dreamed of for his son. As University of Maryland-College Park student, he began writing poetry about love and social justice; by age 27, he was publishing in small magazines and his verses – often presented as dialogue – evolved into playwriting. In addition to an NEA grant, he has received numerous awards including the prestigious Kingsley-Tufts Award. Weaver has authored 12 books of poetry, numerous essays, and has had two of his plays produced. For more information on speakers, see www.bc.edu/lowellhs. Lowell Humanities Series events are free and open to the public. The series is sponsored by the Lowell Institute, BC’s Institute for the Liberal Arts and the Office of the Provost. –Office of News & Public Affairs

AN ENDEAVOR OF EXPLORATION

Sophomores in the Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences took part in “Endeavor: The Liberal Arts Advantage for Sophomores” last Thursday and Friday, a new program developed by the Career Center to help students consider the benefits of a liberal arts education in pursuing career aspirations. “Endeavor” featured career coaching, network training, panel discussions, activities to identify students’ skill areas and career treks into the city of Boston.

Photos by Lee Pellegrini