Boston College Chronicle

The Boston College

Chronicle Published by the Boston College Office of University Communications december 13, 2016 VOL. 24 no. 8

Students Offer Praise for BC’s New MHA Program

INSIDE hands for 2 •Helping Cambridge fire victims

By Sean Hennessey Staff Writer

•Fr. VerEecke retains his ties to BC •Photos: Entertainer Eric Nam visits alma mater

Teixeira earn 3 •Young, scholarly honors Research and 4 •Advancing Scholarship Day •Tracking the Greenland ice sheet program hits the 5 •4Boston quarter-century mark

workplace.”

Rebecca Cyr, operations coordinator at Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital, says she enjoys combining the MHA program with her professional life activities “because it not only allows me to make well-informed contributions, but also allows me to educate my supervisors and colleagues about the health care system. The more time I spend in the program, the more confident I become making decisions in my professional life.”

Aligned with the needs of health care employers, the MHA’s live, online peer collaboration enhances learning and professional development to help students take on significant challenges faced by health care professionals today.

Students not only learn from accomplished faculty, but from each other.

“Our students benefit from bringing all of their health care Continued on page 3

Nearing the end of its second term, Boston College’s new online Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) program – offered through the Woods College of Advancing Studies – is earning rave reviews from students who applaud its peer collaboration, The Boston College University Chorale performed the annual convenience and lessons that help Christmas concert at St. Mary’s with everyday decisions in the Hall last Thursday, as the Uniworkplace. versity celebrated the holiday “The curriculum has already season. More photos on page 8. taught me to view and amend (Photos by Lee Pellegrini) aspects of my current strategies around workplace communication, motivation, and leadership,” said Corey Deixler, who is senior vice president of physician services for the Bon Secours Charity Health System Inc. “And the class discussions – based on topics STM Dean reflects on his experience as a delegate endemic to health care, coupled with theories supported by peerat the Society of Jesus General Congregation reviewed research – have helped in Simboli Hall, Fr. Stegman – many of my initiatives in the

By Kathleen Sullivan who represented the Wisconsin Staff Writer Province – reflected on his time Boston College School of The- at GC36, which featured not only ology and Ministry Dean Thomas the appointment of Fr. Sosa but a A former presidential candidate will be visiting Stegman, SJ, was a participant visit from Pope Francis. professor at BC Law School for the spring semester “One of the highlights for me in history when he served as a

By Sean Smith delegate to this fall’s 36th General was meeting with and being with Chronicle Editor Congregation of the Society of great Jesuits from all over the Jesus (GC36) in Rome, where world. On the one hand, it was Former Maryland governor and experiencing the Arturo Sosa, SJ, of recent presidential candidate Marcommonality of our Venezuela was elect- “We left with optitin O’Malley – who has cited his vocation because it ed the 31st superior Catholic faith and Jesuit education mism and energy, is grounded in the general, succeeding as integral to his personal and proAdolfo Nicolás, SJ, grounded in the real- Spiritual Exercises, fessional life – will be the Jerome but on the other who had held the Lyle Rappaport Visiting Professor ity that this is a world hand, it was getposition since 2008. at Boston College Law School for A general congre- in need of salvation ting a sense of the the spring 2017 semester, the Rapbreadth and width gation is a rare event paport Center for Law and Public more than ever.” of the wonderful in the Society of JePolicy announced. sus. Only 36 have –Thomas Stegman, SJ things that are being Known for his use of perfordone throughout the taken place during mance management systems and Martin O’Malley world.” the 476 years since analytics while serving as Maryland ences to address societal issues with Other GC36 delegates with the Jesuits’ founding, convened governor and mayor of Baltimore, public leaders. upon the death or resignation of BC affiliations included Joseph O’Malley will teach a course, LeadHe is the first to hold the profesthe head of the Society in order to Costantino, SJ, a member of the ership and Data Driven Govern- sorship since the Rappaport Center choose his successor, or to legislate University’s Jesuit Community ment, and take part in several panel for Law and Public Policy moved to changes in the structure and/or and pastor of St. Ignatius Church, discussions as part of the Rappaport the Law School in 2015. and James Gartland, SJ, rector of work of the Society.

Distinguished Public Policy Series, “Boston College is a rich ecosysSitting recently in his office Continued on page 6 which sponsors forums and conferContinued on page 5

Helping Make History

From Campaign to Classroom

former A&S asso6 •Obituary: ciate dean Marie McHugh Additions; BC 7 •Welcome in the Media; Quote/Unquote; Jobs

•Obituary: Gail Darnell of Development, Alumni Relations senior Christy Coco 8 •BC eyes stage, screen career

QUOTE:

“The 4Boston students are really passionate. There’s a lot of loyalty for the placements. Students are really busy, so for them to commit five-plus hours a week to being part of a group like this is incredible. It’s inspiring and hopeful to be working with [these] students.”

–Campus Minister Carly Anderson, director of 4Boston, page 5

T he B oston C ollege

Chronicle december 13, 2016

2

A ROUND

C AMPUS

GIVING SPIRIT Like many other people, Boston College School of Social Work student Nicolas Gonzalez was horrified at the news that flashed throughout the Boston area Dec. 3 and 4: a 10-alarm fire rages through an East Cambridge neighborhood, damaging 16 buildings and displacing more than 125 people.

But for Gonzalez, the blaze had an all-too-personal connection – he knew one of the families who had lost their home and possessions, including their car.

would want to help,” he said, “but the response has just been above and beyond what I expected. Some people haven’t just donated used items, they’ve gone out and bought new stuff. There are no words to describe how grateful I am, and I know the families are, too.”

Gonzalez’s experience might well serve as a case study for the power of social media, and its potential to do good rather than simply wreak havoc or cause headaches. Many of his fellow International entertainment star Eric Nam ’11 returned to Boston College recently to speak to an audience of some 400 about his career, as well as his student days at the Heights. Nam, who earned a degree in international studies with a minor in Asian studies, discussed his efforts to take a leadership role: being involved in the Shaw Leadership Program and UGBC; creating a service trip to India; and fighting for more Asian-American visibility in media by founding Kollaboration Boston. He also talked about his decision to change his career path from microfinance and become an entertainer, and how he seeks to continue with his entrepreneurial ambition as an investor. After taking questions from the audience, Nam sang three of his songs. [See Eric Nam’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ ericnamofficial.]

School of Social Work student Nicolas Gonzalez has been gratified by the response to his collection drive for families affected by a fire in Cambridge earlier this month. (Photo by Sean Smith)

So within a couple of days, Gonzalez had set up a collection box in the BCSSW student lounge in McGuinn Hall, and posted a plea via social media for donations to the family.

The response has been heartening.

By last Friday, the collection box in McGuinn was overflowing with clothes, food and other items, including toys for the family’s two-year-old child. What’s more, Gonzalez had collected more than $1,000 in monetary and gift card donations.

In fact, the family – who were first placed in a shelter but are now living with in-laws – has almost more donations than it can handle, and plans to share them with others displaced by the fire, according to Gonzalez.

“I was pretty sure that people

BCSSW community members shared the request for donations via their professional and personal networks, as did Gonzalez himself, increasing the exposure exponentially.

Gonzalez said he plans to keep the collection box in McGuinn until Friday, Dec. 16. He also invites persons with questions about donations to contact him at gonzalnk@bc.edu.

Don’t be surprised if you have a little trouble reaching him, though: Besides keeping up with his BCSSW and work commitments, Gonzalez has spent a fair amount of time this past week or so picking up and transporting donations.

“It’s been busy,” he said, “but I don’t mind. You really like to see how caring people can be.”

–Sean Smith

ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT of UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONs 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 Siobhan Sullivan Photographers Gary Gilbert Lee Pellegrini

Photos and text by Christopher Huang

BC STILL ON DANCE CARD FOR ‘FR. BOB’ During his 38 years at Boston College as Jesuit Artist-in-Residence, Robert VerEecke, SJ, (known to many as “Father Bob”) became renowned for integrating dance and religious expression, and for his creation of many acclaimed dance productions for stage and sanctuary.

Fr. VerEeecke – who also served as pastor of St. Ignatius Church for 27 years during that period – created signature works like “A Dancer’s Christmas” and “Christmas Reflections,” both of which were performed at BC and became holiday traditions with a loyal following of performers and audience members alike. He also had the opportunity to teach undergraduates classes, “especially Elements of Dance, which proved to be

The Boston College

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very popular,” he said.

So even after transferring to his new role of pastor at St. Francis Xavier Parish in New York City in August, Fr. VerEecke has been able to continue his artistic relationship with the University community, through a three-year appointment as Visiting Jesuit Artist.

This semester, he worked with Theatre Department Assistant Professor of the Practice Sun Ho Kim in the Elements of Dance course, where he taught classes in sacred and liturgical dance, and 17th-century dance in Jesuit schools.

He also hopes to continue to make connections with BC alumni in New York.

This holiday season, Fr. Ver Eecke debuts a new work, “Christ-

mas Revelations,” which uses elements of previous performances and children’s stories he has written. Appropriately, a number of BC alumni actors and dancers are involved in the production – including Christopher Tocco ’06 in the major male acting role – which will be presented this weekend at the Sheen Center for the Performing Arts.

Fr. VerEecke also continues to direct the Boston Liturgical Dance Ensemble, and hopes to expand the company’s outreach to the New York area.

Though his new role represents a homecoming for the native New Yorker, “I’m still finding my way but I am grateful for the parishioners at Xavier and my BC-New York contacts for making the transition easier. I am also grateful that I am still able to be part of BC and support its Jesuit identity and mission.”

–Rosanne Pellegrini

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.

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T he B oston C ollege

Chronicle december 13, 2016

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Lee Pellegrini

Associate Professor of Psychology Liane Young, an expert in the emerging field of moral psychology, was named a SAGE Young Scholar by the Foundation for Social and Personality Psychology in collaboration with SAGE Publications.

Young and the six other Young Scholar award winners were recognized for exceptional individual achievements in social and/or personality psychology, and conducting research that demonstrates innovation, creativity, and potential to make a significant impact on the field. Each will receive $5,000 to be used for research, study or conference travel-related purposes.

A Boston College faculty member since 2011 and principal investigator of the University’s Morality Lab, Young focuses on the psychology and neuroscience of moral judgment and behavior, using behavioral measures and technology such as transcranial magnetic stimulation and neuroimaging. This interdisciplinary approach delves into the emotional as well as cognitive underpinnings of moral judgments, the brain areas involved in such reasoning, and the results when such brain areas are disrupted.

“I had considered myself as a cognitive psychologist when I first came to BC, but as I grew more intrigued with social psychology it became the central part of my research and teaching,” she said. “To be recognized by the Foundation for Social and Personality Psychology, which is considered as the leading professional organization for social psychology, means a lot to me.

Gary Gilbert

Psychology, Social Work Faculty Members Are Honored

Assoc. Prof. Liane Young (Psychology) and Asst. Prof. Samantha Teixeira (BCSSW).

“Moral psychology – the intertwining of social psychology and cognitive neuroscience – has been a growing field over the past decade, and this award shows that it has definitely become mainstream.”

Beyond such acknowledgement in professional and academic circles, Young said she is gratified by the alacrity her students display toward the questions and concepts that moral psychology raises. She noted, for example, that in recent weeks class discussions have centered on the psychology behind Election 2016, and how moral judgments may have influenced voters’ decision-making.

Recently, Young has been collaborating with Assistant Professor of Political Science Peter Krause, through the support of a University grant, on how education can affect moral thinking and attitudes toward terrorism.

“What’s exciting is the idea that

we can take something which seems so esoteric – human emotions and attitudes – and locate it in the context of neuroscience, so as to learn more about how and why we behave as we do. This has relevance not only for psychology, but a whole range of disciplines: political science, philosophy, education, law. I’m fortunate enough to work at a place like Boston College where these kinds of explorations can take place.”

Young’s work has received widespread acclaim and support. Among her other honors are the Stanton and William James prizes from the Society for Philosophy and Psychology; a Sloan Research Fellowship; a Dana Neuroscience Scholar award; an Innovation Award from Society of Personality and Social Psychology; and an Early Career Award for Distinguished Scientific Contributions to Social Neuroscience from the Society for Social Neuroscience.

–Sean Smith

Boston College School of Social Work Assistant Professor Samantha Teixeira, whose use of Geographic Information Systems technology exemplifies new directions in community-based research, received the 2016 Emerging Scholar Award from the Association for Community Organization and Social Administration (ACOSA).

Founded almost three decades ago, ACOSA consists of community organizers, activists, nonprofit administrators, community builders, policy practitioners, students and educators who are dedicated to strengthening community organization and social administration.

“The association is a great group of colleagues who do excellent work in community organization, advocacy, macro social work and other related areas,” said Teixeira, who joined BCSSW in 2015. “To be recognized by them means a lot to me, especially for engagement with the community as well as scholarship.”

Teixeira’s research, which focuses on how neighborhood environmental conditions affect youth – and how youth can be engaged in creating solutions to environmental problems – represents a fresh take on one of the social work profession’s often overlooked practices: mapping communities as a means of evaluating, and responding to, health, familial and social problems.

“Social workers have been doing this since the Progressive Era [approximately 1890-1920],” she explained. “It’s an invaluable part of

community organization, and demonstrates how grounded in logical, fact-based inquiry social work is.

GIS technology has opened up a whole new range of possibilities in mapping, and with the use of other methods like photography, spatial analysis and in-depth interviews, can contribute to efforts to improve life in disadvantaged neighborhoods, especially among young people.”

True to her belief that youth can and should be part of solutions to community problems, Teixeira has enlisted teenagers to help her study their neighborhoods. In one project, supported by a BC Research Incentive Grant, she spent a summer working with teens in the Codman Square area of Dorchester to map out neighborhood strengths and areas of need using GIS. The teenagers presented their research at the Boston Public Library and discussed findings with other community members.

Recently, Teixeira and BCSSW colleague Associate Dean of Research David Takeuchi co-edited a special edition issue of the W.E.B. Du Bois Review that focused on race and environmental equity [read more at http://bit.ly/race-and-environment].

The ACOSA honor adds to a list of prestigious awards Teixeira has won, including the University of Pittsburgh Community Practice Award, the Marie Weil Award for the best article in the Journal of Community Practice and the Society for Social Work and Research Outstanding Dissertation Award.

–Sean Smith

Peer Collaboration, Convenience Cited as MHA Program’s Benefits Continued from page 1 experience to the program,” said MHA faculty member Steve Bowman. “Students with clinical backgrounds learn from students with management backgrounds, and vice-versa. This inter-professional education from diverse backgrounds creates a rich, vibrant atmosphere in which to learn.”

The launch of the MHA program coincides with a growing demand for competitive health care leaders in a field that is rapidly evolving.

“After graduating from Boston College with a degree in nursing, I have watched the field of health care change first hand,” said MHA student Rebecca Hayes, a Mount Auburn Hospital surgical nurse.

Added Cyr, “I was drawn to getting my MHA credential as soon as I started my first job in health care. The system is extremely complex.”

“The online medium allows me to bring the Boston College experience wherever I go and complete my education around my busy workload, both in my career and at home with my young family,” says Rebecca Hayes, a student in the Master of Healthcare Administration program.

(Photo courtesy of Woods College of Advancing Studies)

A distinct feature of the program is the integration of Jesuit values consistent with Boston College’s mission to educate leaders who will make a difference in the world, such as displaying concern for the poor and marginalized to taking responsible action on moral and ethical issues. In addition, the competency-based program al-

lows students to leverage what they have already learned on the job and focus on the skills and knowledge that they need to develop the most.

“Employers are demanding competent managers and leaders who have the skills and training to help their organizations succeed,” said Bowman. “Our students report that having MHA

program competencies aligned with industry expectations is incredibly valuable and is already helping them in their current positions and in their future career plans.”

Students also appreciate the flexibility that comes with an online program, which allows working professionals to find balance between their work, family, and educational commitments.

“As a full-time administrator at a Catholic healthcare system and parent of three children, I felt the Boston College program was set up in a manner that would both fulfill my academic expectations and logistical needs,” said Deixler.

“The online medium allows me to bring the Boston College experience wherever I go and complete my education around my busy workload, both in my career and at home with my young family,” said Hayes.

For some, the online approach allows as much, if not more, learning and participation than a traditional classroom setting.

“I am able to visually see my instructor and classmates and I’m able to use either the computer or phone as audio,” explained Cyr. “In a traditional classroom, a lot of my thoughts were overpowered by the professor’s lecture or by other students, but in the online classroom, with a small class size and a chat box to add questions or comments, my voice is heard.”

For more information about the Boston College Master of Healthcare Administration program, see http://onlinemha.bc.edu. The program is now accepting applications for the session starting Jan. 17.

Contact Sean Hennessey at sean.hennessey@bc.edu

T he B oston C ollege

Chronicle december 13, 2016

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By Ed Hayward Staff Writer

One of the US environmental movement’s biggest problems is that environmentalists don’t vote, Environmental Voter Project founder and CEO Nathaniel Stinnett JD ’05 said in his keynote remarks at the University’s third Advancing Research and Scholarship Day on Dec. 5.

“Regardless of party affiliation, environmentalists need to address their turnout problem,” said Stinnett, who worked for many years as a political and campaign strategist. “We need to start voting for one simple reason: politicians want to win elections. To do that, they focus on issues of importance to voters, not non-voters.”

By using Big Data and predictive analytics to identify environmental non-voters, the Environmental Voter Project then uses digital and traditional strategies to get voters to the polls.

for their work, which he said should advance disciplinary knowledge and also sound a “call to action.”

“At Boston College, it is important we live up to our heritage as a place that engages with questions of real significance; that we translate those questions into research that has an impact on the world around us and ultimately results in real change,” Fr. Leahy said.

BC faculty presenters included Assistant Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences Jeremy Shakun, who studies climate change [see separate story]; Assistant Professor of Economics Richard Sweeney, who has studied the impact of subsidies on clean energy initiatives; Professor of History Conevery Bolton Valencius, who is at work on a book about earthquakes induced by hydraulic fracturing practices; and BC School of Social Work Dean Gautam N. Yadama, who studies the environmental and health costs of cooking with traditional fuels and kerosene in rural India.

Lee Pellegrini

Robin Graves ’17 explains her project “Odonata Abundance on Cranberry Bogs in Massachusetts” at Advancing Research and Scholarship Day.

Stinnett’s talk kicked off the afternoon showcase of faculty and student research focused on the theme “Environment and Society: Research for a Changing World.”

“This year’s theme is arguably the defining issue of our time – developing, building and sustaining a habitable planet,” Vice Provost for Research Tom Chiles said in his welcoming remarks. “Problems associated with climate change require rigorous research, the kind of research being conducted at Boston College. It is a complex problem and requires a multi-disciplinary and a trans-disciplinary approach.

Throwing science at a problem like climate change is not the only answer. Solving it requires input from the sciences, and expertise from the humanities, as well as social science.”

The non-partisan Environmental Voter Project has identified as many as 15.7 million environmentalists who either don’t vote or don’t vote regularly. Stinnett, recently dubbed “The Voting Guru” by the online magazine Grist, was presented with the Distinguished Alumni Research Award by University President William P. Leahy, SJ. Leahy praised Stinnett and the BC faculty and student researchers

BCSSW Professor of Macro Practice Tiziana Dearing moderated a panel on environmental justice, featuring Professor of Political Science David Deese, Professor of Sociology Juliet Schor, Assistant Professor of the Practice of Philosophy Holly Vanderwall, Carroll Professor of Nursing Judith Vessey, and Assistant Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences Corinne Wong.

Undergraduate student researchers showcased projects that examined the environmental impact of killer marine plankton, carbon emissions, factory work, technology transfer practices, and climate policy.

Earth and Environmental Studies graduate student Elisabeth Ames, Law School student Liam Holland, and sociology and philosophy double major Christopher Yu ’18 also delivered presentations about their projects.

Yu, a native of Hong Kong, described the month he spent as a summer worker assembling consumer-grade deep fryers in a factory in China as part of his experiential research project studying the conditions of manufacturing workers.

Read the full story at http://bit.ly/scholarship-day

“An ice sheet is a big, slow beast. It helps to keep the planet cool and it is the biggest wild card in projecting sea-level rise.”

Lee Pellegrini

Climate Change the Topic at Annual Research Forum

Asst. Prof. Jeremy Shakun (Earth and Environmental Sciences)

Greenland’s Glacial Pace BC researcher aids effort to assemble climatological account of Greenland ice sheet

By Ed Hayward Staff Writer

Covering approximately 660,000 square miles, the Greenland ice sheet serves as a bellwether of climate conditions such as the Earth’s temperature and projected sea-level rise.

Scientists trying to learn more from the largest ice sheet outside of Antarctica have had only a historically limited view into its past – just the last 125,000 years.

But a new report co-authored by Boston College researcher Jeremy Shakun in the journal Nature offers a first climatological account of the Greenland ice sheet as far back as 7.5 million years ago.

The team’s study of sandy deposits swept out to sea by rivers of glacial run-off across eastern Greenland suggests the ice sheet has been a “persistent and dynamic” presence that has melted and re-formed periodically in response to temperature fluctuations of just a few degrees, confirming that the ice sheet is a sensitive responder to global climate change.

“We wanted to develop a better understanding about how the Greenland ice sheet has survived prior eras of warming and periods of deglaciation,” said Shakun, an assistant professor in the Earth and Environmental Sciences Department. “Looking back millions of years contributes to our understanding of how much the Earth needs to warm before the ice sheet deteriorates.”

Understanding the climate sensitivity of the Greenland ice sheet – which is roughly six times the size of the state of California – holds implications for scientists and policy makers trying to better understand the impact of a rise in temperature of just a few degrees on current and future deglaciation, sea-level rise, and coastal flooding.

“An ice sheet is a big, slow beast,” said Shakun. “It helps to keep the planet cool and it is the biggest wild card in projecting sea-

level rise.”

The findings appear along with a report by another team of researchers, who reached a different conclusion studying a bedrock sample taken from beneath today’s ice sheet. Their findings point to a 280,000-year span about 1.1 million years ago when Greenland was ice-free, which runs counter to scenarios used in current computer models.

“These results appear to be contradictory — but they may not be,” said University of Vermont geologist Paul Bierman, one of Shakun’s co-authors. He noted that both studies have “some blurriness” in what they are able to resolve about short-term changes and the size of the ancient ice sheet.

“Their study is a bit like one needle in a haystack,” he says, “and ours is like having the whole haystack, but not being sure how big it is.”

Developing a clear picture of glacial activity across millennia presents a number of challenges, said Shakun, a geologist who specializes in paleoclimatology, which focuses on revealing the climate’s ancient history. As glaciers move and melt, they scrape and wash away much of the geological evidence from the landscape below.

So the researchers turned their investigation to a place that serves as a natural repository of stone, sand and silt: the coastal seafloor.

Stored in a massive warehouse in Germany are oceanic sediment borings collected from around the world. The team selected sandsized samples from two cores – together stretching almost five football fields in length – taken from the east coast of Greenland, said Shakun.

Then they applied a technique that measures the chemical signatures of two elements, beryllium and aluminum, which are stored in quartz as it is exposed to cosmic radiation. The strengths of those signatures reveal the extent of exposure to the sky and, when

combined with dating techniques, can offer a clearer timeline of when the original source material was left uncovered by retreating ice.

The analysis found from the beginning of the Ice Ages three million years ago up until about a million years ago the size of the Greenland ice sheet fluctuated during relatively short cooling and warming cycles – lasting in the range of 40,000 years, Shakun said.

But within the past million years, the cycles became longer, perhaps lasting as long as 100,000 years, and left ice on Greenland the vast majority of the time, he said.

Notably, the difference in temperature between the two intervals was tiny, suggesting minor warming above today’s conditions may be enough to melt back much of the ice sheet, the team found.

The teams’ next step is to study additional samples to develop a more expansive history of the ice sheet across the entirety of Greenland. The new report is an important confirmation of “proof of principle” for the research approach, a significant value in itself, said Shakun.

“Understanding the temperature sensitivity of the ice sheet helps create an historic calibration that can help us understand the influence of climate on the ice sheet and the resilience of the ice sheet itself,” Shakun said. “Determining if just a two-degree rise in temperature spells the ultimate end of the ice sheet, that factors into climate change forecasts and science.”

Additional co-authors of the report “A persistent and dynamic East Greenland Ice Sheet over the past 7.5 million years” [available at http://go.nature.com/2gWcNDC] included UVM post-doctoral researcher Lee B. Corbett, Susan R. Zimmerman of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, and Dylan H. Rood of Imperial College London.

Contact Ed Hayward at ed.hayward@bc.edu

T he B oston C ollege

Chronicle december 13, 2016

A Quarter-Century of Compassion BC’s 4Boston program celebrating 25 years of service and reflection

By Kathleen Sullivan Staff Writer

4Boston, the largest weekly service organization at Boston College, is marking its 25th year of providing reliable, compassionate outreach to social service, educational, and health care organizations in and around Boston.

From October to April, 4Boston students volunteer four hours per week at their placement site and devote another hour to group reflection.

Since its start in 1992, 4Boston – administered by the Office of Campus Ministry – has grown significantly, from approximately 150 students serving at 15-17 placements to 550 students at 28 placements for 2016-17.

“The 4Boston students are really passionate,” said Campus Minister Carly Anderson, who directs 4Boston. “There’s a lot of loyalty for the placements.

Students are really busy, so for them to commit five-plus hours a week to being part of a group like this is incredible. It’s inspiring and hopeful to be working with [these] students.”

The hallmark of 4Boston is what program organizers refer to as the three pillars: community, spirituality, and social justice.

The community is created both at the placements and among the volunteers through service and reflection. The reflection time is used to address social justice issues, such as consideration of the policies and structures that create unjust conditions for others and how these circumstances can be transformed. The reflection also incorporates spirituality, such as discussing the ways that God moves through the service work.

“This idea of community engagement and service as part of being men and women for others is all rooted in the Jesuit faith tradition,” said Anderson, who notes that Loyola University Chicago has introduced a program modeled after 4Boston. “4Boston is a pioneer in a lot of ways.”

Emily Sokol ’17, an English major and medical humanities minor in the pre-med program, has volunteered at Marian Manor, a nursing home in South Boston, since her freshman year.

She was drawn to that placement site after seeing first-hand the impact volunteers had at her grandmother’s nursing home.

She says 4Boston volunteers bring residents to Mass, followed by coffee hour or glee club. In

the afternoon, volunteers help with activities such as bingo and bowling.

Sokol’s “favorite day of the year” is the Marian Manor Senior Prom. 4Boston volunteers created this annual event — complete with a theme and prom king and queen — for the residents and their families. Held on a Saturday in April, the event is attended by all the 4Boston volunteers assigned to Marian Manor.

According to Anderson, there is no typical 4Boston volunteer.

The students in the program represent a range of academic interests, national and international geography, and religious and spiritual backgrounds. “Commitment to our pillars — commu-

Rosie’s Place, St. Francis House, Women’s Lunch Place, Chinatown Neighborhood Center, Jackson-Mann Community Center and St. Columbkille Partnership School, among others.

Anderson says the enduring appeal of 4Boston is “a testament to the power of relationships and how formative that can be, particularly relationships across lines of difference.”

Because of the time commitment, especially for students who return for two or more years to the same placement, “there is space to create real bonds,” she added.

Sokol and Harding are members of the 4Boston executive board and serve as reflection lead-

“Commitment to our pillars — community, spirituality and social justice — is what these students have in common.”

–4Boston director Carly Anderson

nity, spirituality and social justice — is what these students have in common.”

Robert Harding ’17, a political science and Hispanic studies double major, has been a volunteer at Edison K-8 School in Brighton for four years. “As a freshman, my 4Boston family was very important to me. The time spent with my small reflection group was very formative.”

The 4Boston volunteers at Edison work as teacher’s aides in the classroom during the school day.

Students might help one of the teachers in the art room or work one-on-one with a student who needs a little extra help.

For Harding, seeing a student struggling with a task in October but making great strides by March is the biggest reward of his service.

Other 4Boston placement sites include Franciscan Hospital for Children, Perkins School for the Blind, Pine Street Inn,

ers and liaisons between 4Boston and their placement sites. Both expressed pride in the long-term, high-impact nature of the service provided by 4Boston to different populations in Boston.

Anderson joined Boston College over the summer and made it a priority to visit, with Graduate Assistant Susan Brusky, each of 4Boston’s placement sites. “The feedback we got was overwhelmingly positive. There was a lot of gratitude. For some placements, BC volunteers are their only volunteers, and the work could not be done without the manpower of BC and 4Boston volunteers.

“Some sites would say ‘We have a lot of volunteers coming in, but the BC kids really care.

They want to get to know our students, our guests, our patients in a way that we see and respect and are grateful for.’”

Contact Kathleen Sullivan at kathleen.sullivan@bc.edu

O’Malley to Teach at BC

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Continued from page 1 tem of diverse thought, and I am grateful to the Rappaport Center for the opportunity to be there this spring,” said O’Malley, a senior fellow at MetroLab Network, a group of city-university partnerships focused on bringing data, analytics, and innovation to city government.

“At a time of political polarization, in the wake of an unprecedented election, the pillars of Catholic thought have never been more important: social justice, human dignity, and the common good. These themes need to be called forward – especially from the hearts of young people, so as to encourage them to become leaders. I look forward to conversations with the Boston College community on these and other matters.”

“The Rappaport Center is thrilled that Governor Martin O’Malley will be coming to BC Law as the inaugural Rappaport Visiting Professor,” said Elisabeth Medvedow, the center director.

“The breadth and depth of his experiences as a municipal leader and a national political figure will greatly enrich our community.”

As a candidate for the 2016 Democratic presidential nomination, O’Malley campaigned in support of a $15 minimum wage – a “living wage,” as he called it – financial regulation, immigration reform, gun control, a right-to-vote constitutional amendment and fiscally progressive economic policies.

A cornerstone of his presidential bid was his record as governor of Maryland from 2007-14, and mayor of Baltimore from 19992007 – during which time Esquire called him “The Best Young Mayor in the Country” and Time magazine named him as one of America’s “Top 5 Big City Mayors.” O’Malley spearheaded efforts to invest in public safety, college education, affordable health care and economic growth. During his gubernatorial administration, the state recovered 100 percent of the jobs lost during the recession, and was one of only seven states to maintain a AAA bond rating.

Maryland also drew praise for its efforts to hold down college tuition and for the quality of its public schools.

One of O’Malley’s most notable actions as mayor of Baltimore was to adopt CitiStat, a statisticsbased tracking system, as a tool to reduce crime. In 2004, CitiStat was selected by Harvard University for an “Innovations in American Government” award. When he became governor, O’Malley adapted the tool on a statewide basis as Maryland StateStat; by 2014, more than 20 state agencies were

engaged in the StateStat process through monthly individual agency meetings and quarterly crossagency systems.

O’Malley said he plans to discuss his experience with CitiStat and StateStat in his class, as an example of how government can utilize performance management principles and open data to measure progress.

“It’s a new way of governing: The idea is you get things done not based on your authority, but because I can show you that it works,” he said. “In addition to talking about what happened during my time in office, I hope to have the class do projects and case studies that will enable them to apply the principles of performance management to real-life problems.”

O’Malley said he views teaching as a learning opportunity for himself. “When you’ve been in the political picture for a while, you often find yourself too close to the canvas to get a useful perspective. Being in a classroom with bright, motivated students who are not shy about saying what’s on their minds helps me to clarify my thinking about what I’ve done in office.”

As the product of a Jesuit high school and a graduate of the Catholic University of America, O’Malley – who also holds a law degree from the University of Maryland – said he has much respect and appreciation for BC’s educational and formational mission: In particular, he singled out former faculty member David Hollenbach, SJ (now at Georgetown University) as “one of my heroes” and praised the writing of Theology Professor Stephen Pope.

O’Malley also spoke of his ties to the Center for Irish Programs, such as having hosted participants in Irish Institute programs.

“One of the best aspects about being on a Catholic college campus is being able to talk about the work of great Catholic, Jesuit thinkers on the issues that concern us all.

I’m sure there will be many such discussions, formal and informal.”

Born in Washington, DC, O’Malley grew up in Bethesda and Rockville, Md. His father, Thomas, flew 33 missions in the Pacific during World War II, attended law school on the GI Bill, and became an assistant US attorney; his mother, Barbara, has worked in Congress for nearly three decades, and is serving on the staff of Maryland’s first female US senator, Barbara Mikulski.

O’Malley’s wife Kate is a district court judge; they have four children.

Contact Sean Smith at sean.smith@bc.edu

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Continued from page 1 Saint Peter Faber Jesuit Community.

After GC36 opened on Oct. 2 with a Mass, Fr. Stegman said, the first order of business was to formally accept the resignation of Fr. General Nicolás, who had announced two years ago that he would step down.

“That was very solemn. His humility reminded me of when Pope Benedict stepped down,” he said. “People expressed their warmth and gratitude for Father General’s service. After we accepted his resignation, Fr. Nicolás stepped down and took his seat in alphabetical order with the rest of us in the aula [hall].

Soon after, he announced that he would not participate any more in the congregation.

“That was a grace-filled moment. He was acting out of love and humility, having the Society’s wellbeing and mission in mind. It was a great model for all of us.”

Next, the delegates were presented with the De Statu report (the state of the Society), the product of one of the GC36 commissions, which took the pulse of the Society and assessed its strengths and weaknesses. The delegates used this document to determine what qualities they would look for in the next superior general.

This led to the Murmurationes — a “fascinating process”

Tony Rinaldi

A Memorable Time for Fr. Stegman at Jesuits’ Congregation

“I’ll remember that day for the rest of my life,” says Fr. Stegman of his meeting with Pope Francis at GC36. “[Pope Francis] is setting forth a vision of Church. He is grounded in the Exercises. I’m proud that Francis is a Jesuit pope, but I also find him to be extremely challenging. In many respects, he’s well ahead of us Jesuits. He ‘walks the walk.’ He challenges us by his very way of being to be more faithful to our sources.” according to Fr. Stegman: a time of prayer and conversation to discern who would be the best choice for superior general. Delegates have one-on-one conversations with each other. There is no campaigning for yourself, or for or against others, said Fr. Stegman. Delegates answer only what is asked.

“Part of the skill is learning to ask the right questions,” said Fr. Stegman, who estimates he talked directly with about a quar-

ter to a third of the delegates.

Murmurationes is also a time for the delegates to pray on “Who is the Spirit leading us to choose as general?”

The election was called for Oct. 14. The day began with a Mass of the Holy Spirit, after which the 212 electors, upon entering the aula, sat for an hour of quiet prayer. Though computer tablets were used throughout the general congregation, the voting for the general was done on paper

ballots signed by each elector.

The delegates’ choice, Fr. Sosa, speaks Spanish, Italian and English and understands French.

He was provincial superior of the Jesuits in Venezuela, and most recently served in Rome as delegate for the Interprovincial Roman Houses of the Society of Jesus.

“We were looking for a strong leader, someone who could really animate and inspire us, who would call us to the best of our spiritual roots,” said Fr. Stegman.

“I thought it was important for the new general to have international experience and good language skills.”

On Oct. 24, Pope Francis spent four hours with the delegates in the aula of the Jesuit Curia. He shared morning prayer, gave an allocution, participated in a Q&A session and then greeted each member.

It was the first time Fr. Stegman met Pope Francis. “I’ll remember that day for the rest of my life. [Pope Francis] is setting forth a vision of Church. He is grounded in the Exercises. I’m proud that Francis is a Jesuit pope, but I also find him to be extremely challenging. In many respects, he’s well ahead of us Jesuits. He ‘walks the walk.’ He challenges us by his very way of being to be more faithful to our sources.

“We wanted a general who’s

fully on board with what the pope is doing, especially as articulated in Laudato Si, Evangelii Gaudium, and synod documents.

Certainly, Fr. Sosa fits that bill.”

Delegates also discussed documents based on postulata, or petitions received from province congregations and from individual Jesuits, and agreed on a handful of decrees. One will address governance for mission, and, among other things, call for more effective ways of assessing how the Society is living out its apostolic priorities. Another document, on Jesuit life and mission, is the “one that will be of most interest to people,” said Fr. Stegman: It will address community life as mission, not just for mission.

“For those of us in the education apostolate, it is about forming young people whose world view is marked by compassion, whose impetus is to serve before taking. It is also about engaging in research and teaching that addresses real needs in the world.

How do we [educators] serve as instruments through whom God’s reign takes greater foothold?”

In the end, he said, the general congregation is a means to end.

“We left with optimism and energy, grounded in the reality that this is a world in need of salvation more than ever.”

Contact Kathleen Sullivan at kathleen.sullivan@bc.edu

OB I TUAR Y

Marie McHugh, 85; Played Leadership Role in A&S Administration A funeral Mass was held Dec. 5 for retired College of Arts and Sciences Senior Associate Dean Marie T. McHugh, the first woman to hold a dean’s position in A&S, who died on Nov. 28. She was 85.

Dr. McHugh was a professor in, and chair of, the History Department at Newton College of the Sacred Heart in 1975 when the college was acquired by Boston College – an event that Dr. McHugh, in a 1984 interview, called “a shock.”

But after moving to BC as A&S assistant dean, she played a key leadership role in integrating Newton College’s Catholic legacy into BC’s Jesuit educational and formational mission, and during her tenure became a mentor to administrators, faculty and students alike.

Speaking at Dr. McHugh’s funeral, former Vice Provost for Faculties Patricia DeLeeuw recalled her longtime colleague and friend as “a calm, reasonable presence, always the problem-solver, always optimistic, and always kind and generous with colleagues and with the thousands of students whose lives she

touched.”

“Marie taught me to be, at once, academic and professional,” said former A&S Honors Program director Mark O’Connor, who was on the program faculty at the time of Dr. McHugh’s appointment.

“She could immerse herself in departmental strategic planning but also give equal thought to concerns about students’ needs and interests.

This was a person who got things done, no muss, no fuss, but she

wasn’t egotistical in any way and was always willing to give others credit.”

Clare Dunsford, who joined A&S as an associate dean in 1997, said, “Marie had everyday common sense, but also a deeper wisdom about life. She was somebody who handled all the responsibilities as dean in such a way that seemed effortless – and in a patient, gracious manner.”

In 1980, Dr. McHugh was appointed as associate dean, and when A&S Dean William B. Neenan, SJ – who had originally appointed her as assistant dean and would become one of her closest friends at BC, colleagues said – left the school in 1987 to become BC’s academic vice president and dean of faculties, she served as interim dean for the academic year. She resumed her position as senior associate dean when J. Robert Barth, SJ, became A&S dean in 1989.

Dr. McHugh took on an increasingly higher profile at the University, from working with the A&S Board of Chairs to taking part in

the Administrative Officers Council, a forum created in 1997 to discuss institution-wide issues and improve communication regarding major initiatives. Outside of BC, she chaired the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.

Yet even as she cultivated a reputation as an experienced, valued administrator, Dr. McHugh continued to teach as an adjunct professor of history and in the A&S Honors Program: “I knew when I was in school that all I wanted to do was teach history,” she told The Heights in 1987 when she was appointed A&S interim dean. “I loved it, and I wanted to teach it.”

A native of Waltham and a graduate of Manhattanville College with a bachelor’s degree in history and French literature, Dr. McHugh received her master’s and doctoral degrees in European history from Harvard University. She was in the vanguard generation of women who sought to fashion careers in higher education while also cultivating lives as spouses and mothers, colleagues said. DeLeeuw related Dr.

McHugh’s reminiscence of working on her dissertation while her daughter Cathy was a toddler: “Marie described to me an afternoon at the Widener Library holding Cathy on top of the card catalog with one hand while flipping through cards looking for a reference with the other.”

Boston College also had a family dimension for Dr. McHugh, whose father, son and granddaughter all graduated from the University.

Dr. McHugh was the widow of Edward J. McHugh and is survived by her husband, Richard Kenney; her children, Cathy Engstrom, Janet Kelly, Edward McHugh and Ellen McHugh; step-children Catherine Kenney Morrison, Richard Kenney, Mary Beth Kenney Sweet, Terence Kenneth and Anne Kenney Utley; her sister Eileen Mullin, and her grandchildren and stepgrandchildren.

–Sean Smith

Read the full obituary at http://bit.ly/mchugh-obituary

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

David DiPasquale

Assistant Professor of the Practice of Political Science Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences DEGREES: Kenyon College (BA), Boston College (MA), Harvard University (PhD) WHAT HE STUDIES: Intersection between Islamic law and political thought; political philosophy of Alfarabi, Avicenna, and Averroes; the war on terror; Muslim immigration in Europe; relations between Islam and the West.

WHAT HE’S TEACHING: Islamic Civilization; Islam and Liberal Democracy; Introduction to Modern Politics; Islamic Political Philosophy; Political Philosophy of Alfarabi.

There has been speculation as to whether the wave of “populism” that seems to be sweeping Europe will result in a widespread sociopolitical backlash against Muslims. Do you see this happening? “Of course any acts of violence perpetrated against Muslims must be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. And there have indeed been worrisome signs that hate crimes are on the increase. I am not at the present time convinced, however, that in each and every one of these cases the crimes have been committed due to the support of any particular candidate; there is plenty of mutual distrust. I will say, in addition, that I am both confident and hopeful that the best and most humane traditions within Islam and liberal republicanism will continue to assert themselves so that facile caricatures on both sides will give way, over time, to more nuanced views and greater respect.”

More post-election analysis and commentary from Boston College faculty: Prof. David Wirth (Law) discussed President-elect Donald Trump’s search for quick ways to withdraw the US from a global accord to combat climate change; Libby Professor of Law and Theology Cathleen Kaveny and Asst.

Prof. Hosffman Ospino (STM) were among Catholic scholars who assessed the future for Hispanics in the US in light of the presidential election, for a story by the Na-

Brett Ingram

Assistant Professor of the Practice of Communication Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences DEGREES: Shippensburg University/ University of Lincolnshire, UK (BA), Northeastern University (MA), University of Massachusetts Amherst (PhD) WHAT HE STUDIES: Embodied and non-rational aspects of rhetorical and cultural phenomena; affective dynamics at play in interactions with political media; link between rhetorical violence, brain trauma, and subjectivity; the relationship between addiction and ideology.

WHAT HE’S TEACHING: Media and Cultural Theory, The Rhetorical Tradition, and Masculinity, Sexuality, and Difference.

With the rise of social media, how are communication styles changing? “In the West, where there is widespread Internet access, almost everyone now has a voice in the public sphere, which is historically unprecedented. But, in the same way that advertisers have to push the limits of human decency in their images in order to make their ads pop out of the clutter, so too social media users often struggle against each other to deliver the most devastating blow from behind shields of anonymity. The druggy buzz of online outrage and retribution strikes me as addictive and dulling. There seems to be little at stake when the victims are virtual. I’m curious as to how developments in technology that make mediated interactions more virtually ‘real’ and embodied will effect things.”

–Siobhan Sullivan, Ed Hayward, Sean Smith Photos of Gareau, Ingram by Lee Pellegrini

Chronicle will return on Jan. 19; keep up to date at BCNews [www.bc.edu/bcnews]

Prof. Mark Brodin (Law) was quoted by the Boston Globe regarding an employment discrimination lawsuit against the Massachusetts State Police.

Director of Undergraduate Admission John Mahoney shared his professional insights on the WBZAM program “Nightside.”

With 2016 drawing to a close, BC

QUOTE/UNQUOTE “It’s a new chapter for us. It’s definitely in the hands of the young people to take it over. We just have to be careful about how we go about it.”

–Isabella Prio ’18, whose grandfather was president of Cuba from 1948-1952 until he was ousted by Fulgencio Batista, interviewed by the Associated Press for a story on how Cuban millennials see the postCastro era [http://bit.ly/prio-cuba]

Tara Pisani Gareau

Assistant Professor of the Practice of Earth and Environmental Sciences Associate Director of the Environmental Studies Program Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences DEGREES: Virginia Tech (BS), University of California at Santa Cruz (MA, PhD) WHAT SHE STUDIES: Agricultural ecology; sustainable food systems; conservation biology and pollination; impact of climate change on cranberry production in Massachusetts.

WHAT SHE’S TEACHING: Ecosystems, Agroecology, and an Environmental Studies senior seminar.

Is there a particular issue that has influenced your research and teaching at BC? “The pressing environmental issues associated with industrial agriculture – along with the need to feed more than seven billion people on the planet – drive my research and teaching on the application of ecological principles to the restoration of ecosystem services and sustainability in agroecosystems and agricultural landscapes.”

tional Catholic Reporter.

“And

try to stop demonizing political opponents who fall within the normal political spectrum so we can all stand together against those who are trashing our institutions and our legal system. I am close to both Republicans and Democrats and they have far more in common than they are different, believe me. What no respectable American wants, though, is for this nation to commit suicide, and if those of us who believe in America turn against each other, we will permit precisely that.”

–Professor of History Heather Cox Richardson, who was briefly included on the so-called Professor Watchlist, in a piece she posted on her Facebook page and was subsequently picked up by BillMoyers.com [billmoyers.com/story/ the-watchlist/]

The Boston Globe “Brainiac” column featured a study by Prof.

James Russell (Psychology) and colleagues that shows interpretations of facial expressions may not be as universal as previously thought.

The Huffington Post noted that IKEA’s decision to expand its parental leave policy was influenced in part by a finding from the “New Dad” study by the Center for Work and Family, whose associate director Jennifer Fraone offered comments to The Atlantic on the IKEA change.

To overcome the tide of populism and nationalism sweeping the West, a new, more powerful narrative is desperately needed, wrote Carroll School of Management Galligan Professor Sandra Waddock in a piece for TheConversation.com.

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: Assistant Director of Field Education, Academic Affairs/Provost Associate Dean, School of Social Work Senior Financial Analyst, Facilities/Trades

OB I TUAR Y

Gail Darnell, 65; Administrator for Development, Alumni Relations A funeral Mass was celebrated last Friday for Gail A. Darnell, a longtime administrator in University Relations who died on Dec. 3. She was 65.

Ms. Darnell joined Boston College in 1994 as director of programs and events, and was responsible for organizing and orchestrating major events such as the annual Pops on the Heights concert. More recently, she served as associate director of classes in the Office of Alumni Relations.

Before coming to BC, Ms. Darnell was a senior account executive and director of marketing at Coventures Inc. of Boston, and director of communications

Ireland Academic Director Mike Cronin talked with RTÉ Radio about the commemorations of the Easter Rising centenary.

for the Massachusetts Department of Corrections.

A graduate of the University of Michigan, she earned a master’s degree from the University of Massachusetts at Boston.

Ms. Darnell is survived by her husband, Thomas E. Norton Jr.; daughter, Lyndsay Norton; mother, Eleanore Darnell; and brother, Daniel.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made in her name to the Susan F. Smith Center for Women’s Cancers at Dana Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Ave, Boston, MA 02215; or the MSPCA, 350 S. Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02130.

–Office of University Communications

Digital Library Applications Developer, Academic Affairs/ Provost Executive Director, Annual Giving, University Advancement Manager, Data Center Operations, Information Technology Social Media Manager, President’s Office Senior/Prospect Management Analyst, University Advancement Program and Health and Safety Manager, Academic Affairs/Provost Head Librarian, Access Services, Academic Affairs/Provost Senior Applications Developer, Information Technology Assistant Dean, Academic & Student Services, Law School Food Service Worker, Dining & Catering

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Chronicle december 13, 2016

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ON DISPLAY IN THE O’NEILL READING ROOM BACK WALL

“Winter in New England” See http://bit.ly/winter-in-new-england for more info

Q&A: CHRISTY COCO

Actor and singer Christy Coco ’17 took her talents beyond the Robsham Theater stage this fall, making her New York City debut in the offBroadway production of “Fiorello!”

– based on the life and career of legendary New York mayor Fiorello H. La Guardia – in its first revival since opening in 1959. She also appeared on the silver screen this summer in “The Purge: Election Year,” the last in a trilogy of popular feature films, which grossed $79 million dollars worldwide. The New Canaan, Conn., native, majoring in theater arts and minoring in art history, has her sights set on a career in the performing arts. She recently spoke with the Chronicle’s Rosanne Pellegrini.

Talk about your work with the Berkshire Theatre Group, and how the corps made its NY stage debut this fall with “Fiorello!”

Coco: I started working with the Berkshire Theatre Group two summers ago as an acting apprentice. I performed in one of the company’s main stage shows, “Bells Are Ringing,” which featured a cast of Broadway veterans, took classes in musical theater, and worked with mentors to get a grasp of how the theater industry works. I loved working at BTG and was invited to return as a full-time actress this past summer, playing Belle in “Beauty and the Beast” in the company’s historic, Broadway-sized theater.

The company was also producing “Fiorello!” I wasn’t in [it], but it was a runaway hit of the summer, selling out every performance. Producing friends of BTG took note of the show’s success and supported a transfer to New York. Due to the

Lee Pellegrini

Talented, Hard-working Senior Is All Ready for the Next Stage

dynamite leadership of BTG’s artistic director, BC alumna Kate Maguire [’78], and encouragement from producers, the company secured an off-Broadway theater for a five-week run of the show. I auditioned in August in New York for the transfer and accepted an offer the very next day! [Coco played Sophie, a suffragette and factory striker and several ensemble roles, including a 1920s flapper and the girlfriend of a soldier going off to war.]

Describe the experience of performing in a professional, off-Broadway production. What moment especially stands out for you?

Coco: Performing in “Fiorello!” was one of the best experiences in my life thus far. We learned the entire show – music, staging, choreography – in roughly four days before doing our first run-through, so the rehearsal process was a rollercoaster of pressure, memorization, and hard work, but it was incredibly rewarding.

A moment that especially stands out for me is waiting in the wings to make my first entrance on stage on opening night. I remember looking at my cast mate – who was a stranger then but is now a dear friend – squeezing her hand with tears in my eyes and realizing I was accomplishing something I have worked for my entire life. In that moment, I felt what it was like to perfectly align my passion for performing with my vocation.

New York theater is electric and fast-paced and addicting. Being in “Fiorello!” definitely made me realize that performing in that environment is exactly what I want to do with my life.

How do you think it will be to return to the Robsham stage after this professional run? Did you have a part in “The Misanthrope,” and do you plan to audition for spring productions?

Coco: While I did not act in “The Misanthrope,” I helped out backstage working the soundboard.

I have less of a knack for the technical elements of theater than I do performing, but it is exciting to gain a new perspective and familiarize myself with backstage responsibilities. I am planning on auditioning for BC’s spring productions. I’m really excited that next semester we have the opportunity to work with several incredible guest directors, such as [2016-17 Monan Professor in Theatre Arts] Sheri Wilner and [1987 alumnus and SpeakEasy Stage Company founder and producing artistic director] Paul Daigneault.

The department has been very generous to bring them to BC.

In what ways have your BC theater studies and performances prepared you for the professional stage?

Coco: Many of the courses offered in the BC Theatre Department are very academically driven and I think they have had a very significant impact on the way I approach my professional work. They’ve taught me to think critically about text and character development and given me a strong understanding of language that is vital in crafting wellrounded, dynamic characters. A professor who has really shaped me at BC is [Associate Professor] Dr. John Houchin. I consider him a mentor.

My sophomore year, he encouraged me to explore classical text, which culminated in auditioning and performing in his production of “The Trojan Women” at BC and eventually pushed me to study classical acting in London last spring at the British American Drama Academy.

Talk about your brief, but memorable, role in the movie “The Purge: Election Year.”

[In a flashback, which is the movie’s opening scene, Coco plays Young Charlie Roan, the younger version of the lead character, a senator and presidential candidate who vows to eliminate “Purge Night” after her family’s brutal murder. More on the movie at www.imdb.com/ title/tt4094724] Coco: I was asked by a Boston casting agency to audition for “The Purge: Election Year,” but I actually didn’t know what I was auditioning for at the time. The creatives used a code name for the movie, so when I went in I was given limited information and had to improvise. My

audition tape was then sent to the director, James DeMonaco, and I heard a week later that I received the part...but I still didn’t know what the movie was.

I had heard whispers that it was “The Purge,” so I had to ask if that was what I had just booked. It was pretty embarrassing! Being on set for “The Purge” definitely taught me how film works and how it differs from live theater. While filming, Mr. DeMonaco had us do the scene several different ways so my character’s reactions were never set in stone.

With this experience, there was no rehearsal or table work. We had to rely on the feedback we were given in the moment and be willing to take acting risks to give the director the product he envisioned.

In what ways do you feel fortunate to have had these professional experiences? Do you feel you’ve gained a new perspective on acting?

Coco: I am so grateful for having such exciting professional experiences so early in my career. While I do work incredibly hard, I also feel wildly lucky. Working on “Fiorello!,” “The Purge,” and other professional regional theater productions has strengthened my perspective on acting as a vital aspect of society and culture. It is an entryway for people to gain new ways of thinking, a point of connection, or reprieve from life’s difficulties. My recent experiences have made me realize more than ever that I want to be an actress. Acting makes me feel alive and incredibly fulfilled.

Read the rest of this Q&A at http://bit.ly/coco-broadway

THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME

BC SCENES

Boston College held its annual tree-lighting ceremony on Dec. 6 in the Plaza at O’Neill Library, one of several campus events marking the arrival of the holiday season.

Photos by Gary Gilbert