FEBRUARY 13, 2020 VOL. 27 NO. 11
PUBLISHED BY THE BOSTON COLLEGE OFFICE OF UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS
INSIDE 3x Construction Headline Update
Frates Center, Schiller Institute xxxxx. building projects on schedule.
x Headline 4 MLK Winner xxx.
Shakalah Thompson earns 2020 xKing Headline Scholarship honor. xxxxx.
6 Burns Lecture
Historian Guy Beiner looks at different concepts of Irish nationalism— past and (maybe) future.
Steinberg to Head Schiller Institute to the vice chancellor for innovation and strategic initiatives. She is the former dean of the university’s College of Engineering and Computer Science, and is a professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. The Schiller Institute for Integrated Science and Society is the centerpiece of a new 150,000-square-foot science facility that will open in late 2021. Named in honor of BC Trustee Associate Phil Schiller ’82 and his wife Kim Gassett-Schiller through their multi-year lead gift, the institute will address critical issues in the areas of energy, health, and the environment. The Seidner Family executive directorship was made possible through a gift from BC Trustee Marc Seidner ’88, the managing director and chief investment officer at PIMCO, and his wife Mary Lou.
BY JACK DUNN ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT FOR UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS
Boston College has named Laura J. Steinberg, the interim executive director of the Syracuse Center of Excellence for Environmental and Energy Systems at Syracuse University, and founding director of the university’s Infrastructure Institute, as the inaugural Seidner Family Executive Director of the Schiller Institute for Integrated Science and Society. Steinberg will begin her new role in May. An internationally respected civil and environmental engineering scholar whose research has focused on infrastructure and sustainability, environmental modeling, and technological innovation, Steinberg holds three leadership roles at Syracuse, also serving as special assistant for strategy
Laura J. Steinberg
photo by marilyn hesler
Long Road
New Writing Ctr. Draws Praise from Undergrads
BC’s Campus School is an ideal match for one Boston Marathon runner BY PHIL GLOUDEMANS STAFF WRITER
BY ROSANNE PELLEGRINI STAFF WRITER
The Boston College Writing Center, a peer academic assistance resource launched by the English Department last semester, provides valuable support for undergraduates across the University, in all BC schools and disciplines—and it’s getting great reviews. According to center administrators, student users—who are asked to provide comment via online surveys—have been overwhelmingly positive: Every respondent affirmed that they would schedule another session and recommend the center to a friend. English Chair and Professor Amy Boesky said the department developed “a program to train talented majors to work with peers
Continued on page 5
Yitong Liu ’21 (left) received some assistance on a paper recently from writing specialist Weitao Liu ’20 at the Boston College Writing Center. photo by lee pellegrini
on their writing,” drawing on a one-credit course, The Art of Tutoring, taught by Associate Professor Paula Mathieu, who co-leads the center with English Language Learning (ELL) Director Lynne Anderson and Writing Fellows Program Director Marla DeRosa. “Still in a pilot phase, the center has tremendous value for the students training as specialists; they learn skills they can apply down the road as writers or educators,” said
Boesky. Equally important, they use their skills to work one-on-one with fellow students, administrators said. “We hope the Writing Center becomes an important resource across the University, and are grateful for the support of the Morrissey College,” said Boesky. Anderson emphasizes that “it is strictly a
Continued on page 5
Diagnosed with a likely cancerous brain tumor, 30-year-old Minnesotan John Murray underwent a biopsy on April 15, 2019— the same day as the 123rd running of the Boston Marathon. Two weeks later, the tumor was removed, leaving a long, circular scar on the right side of his shaved head. Murray’s doctors were skeptical when he told them he would run the 2020 Boston Marathon, but in June, barely two months after his surgery, he began training. Now, almost a year since this harrowing chapter in his life unfolded, Murray—the scar from his surgery healing but still visible—is on course to realize his dream of competing in the 124th Boston Marathon, Continued on page 6
The broader lesson is that if you try to do corporate social responsibility or do good things for the public, perhaps they benefit your bottom line. But perhaps they don’t. – carroll school of management assoc. prof. david solomon, page 8
Chronicle
2
February 13, 2020
Around Campus
Staff Development Program March 3 Boston College will hold its third annual Development Program for Administrative Staff on March 3 from 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. This year’s event will include a welcome breakfast, a presentation on character strengths by guest speaker Pam Garramone, and Boston College-themed trivia. Facilities Assistant Ann-Mary Spellman, president of the BC Staff Advisory Senate, said, “The program not only provides knowledge of our employee benefits and strengthens our skills, it is an opportunity to network and meet new colleagues.” The half-day event, sponsored by Human Resources, was created by the Staff Advisory Senate in response to concerns expressed by many clerical and support staff members at being unable to attend the University’s employee development programs because of schedule conflicts or lack of coverage in their areas. Scheduling the program during spring
Snapshot
break and giving supervisors advance notice of the date made it easier for administrative staff members to participate. Previous programs have been well attended and well received, according to Vice President of Human Resources David Trainor. “I hope that attendees will see in a concrete way that Boston College is committed to their development, cares about them, and is grateful for the contributions that they make to the success of the University as a whole,” said Trainor. “It is a continuation of our commitment to helping all members of our community grow and thrive.” Spellman said the event is “an acknowledgement and appreciation of administrative staff.” All administrative employees received an e-mail invitation to the development program from Trainor on Feb. 3 and may register using the link provided in the e-mail. –Christine Balquist
The annual Boston College Women’s Summit took place Feb. 1, featuring a keynote address by Brittany Packnett, a policy expert, non-profit executive, teacher, and author of the forthcoming book, We Are Like Those Who Dream. Assoc. Prof. Regine Jean-Charles (Romance Languages and Literatures), at left in photo above, joined Packnett for a conversation on the Robsham Theater main stage. Other speakers at the summit included Catherine Wong (left), director of outreach initiatives at the Lynch School of Education and Human Development. For more on the Women’s Summit, see bit.ly/ bc-womens-summit.
BC Safe App Is Now Available Boston College has released a new mobile application, BC Safe, with the aim of creating a safe and well-informed campus community. The app replaces the Crisis Manager application and provides many tools and resources for both emergencies and day-to-day campus questions. Available for free in the Apple Store and Google Play Store, BC Safe is integrated with BC’s Rave Alert Emergency Notification System and notifies anyone with the app of the emergency alerts sent out to faculty, staff, and students. Director of Emergency Management John Tommaney said that downloading BC Safe will enable parents, campus visitors, or anyone else who wants to be informed to receive the emergency alerts. The app receives alerts through both cellular and WiFi networks, he added, ensuring greater campus coverage. In addition to emergency alerts, the application displays lower-level alerts to users that would not be sent out on the Rave system, thus raising users’ awareness of campus issues. BC Safe aggregates several campus resources including shuttle bus tracking, the work order center, and the Lean on Me anonymous text line for student-to-student support. It provides emergency preparedness guides, University policies, and curASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT FOR UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS
Jack Dunn SENIOR DIRECTOR FOR UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS
rent weather conditions at the touch of a button. Users can submit a crime tip through the app and be notified of international safety concerns when traveling or studying abroad. The Friend Walk tool enables users who may feel unsafe walking alone to choose a friend or family member to monitor their walk and alert authorities if an emergency develops. BC Safe provides resources that BC community members can “use on a daily basis,” said Tommaney. –Christine Balquist
This week saw the debut of Boston College’s #SupportYourSport challenge, which encourages BC alumni, students, parents, friends, and employees to compete in a fundraising challenge to support their favorite Eagle athletic team. Top-performing teams will be awarded up to $50,000 challenge funding donated by University Trustee David Griffith ’68 and his wife, Janet. Gifts will provide critical resources for equipment, recruiting, travel, and nutrition. The challenge ends tomorrow. For more information, see bc.edu/ supportyoursport.
CONTRIBUTING STAFF
EDITOR
Sean Smith
P&Q Survey Has Good News for Carroll School The Carroll School of Management finished 13th—and earned high praise for teaching quality—in the latest Poets&Quants ranking of undergraduate business schools, based on a mix of admissions standards, employment outcomes, and surveys of alumni two years out of school. A highly influential online publication devoted to covering business education, Poets&Quants reported that the Carroll School received the best mark for teaching quality among the 97 schools surveyed. In addition, the Carroll School was ranked sixth on the question put to alumni, “Would you recommend the business program to a close friend or colleague?” Nearly
Christine Balquist Phil Gloudemans Ed Hayward Rosanne Pellegrini Kathleen Sullivan
Chronicle
PHOTOGRAPHERS
www.bc.edu/bcnews chronicle@bc.edu
Patricia Delaney Lee Pellegrini Peter Julian
photos by rose lincoln
Women’s Summit
94 percent of Carroll School graduates were employed within 90 days of graduation, with an average starting total compensation of $76,508. Other business schools highly ranked by P&Q include Stern (NYU), which was fourth, Dyson (Cornell), eighth, and Kenan-Flagler (University of North Carolina), ninth. Overall, in the publication’s grading system, the Carroll School earned a score of 91.28 out of 100. Only Wharton (University of Pennsylvania) scored 100. The rankings are available at poetsandquantsforundergrads.com. –Carroll School of Management
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 University Communications, 3 Lake Street, Brighton, MA 02135 (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 University Communications, 3 Lake Street, Brighton, MA 02135. A flipbook edition of Chronicle is available via e-mail. Send requests to chronicle@bc.edu.
Chronicle
February 13, 2020
3
Winter Workload Campus construction projects progress as the calendar makes its way toward spring BY SEAN SMITH CHRONICLE EDITOR
December, January, and February don’t usually strike one as a time of progress where construction is concerned, but at Boston College, three major campus projects are continuing apace, according to Facilities Management administrators. Thanks in part to a fairly nondescript winter thus far, work has advanced significantly in the last couple of months on the Pete Frates Center, the future site of the Schiller Institute for Integrated Science and Society, and the former RecPlex site reclamation project, all of which are staying on or close to their respective timetables. Located on Brighton Campus adjacent to the Harrington Athletics Village, the Pete Frates Center—named for the late BC baseball player and leader in the fight against ALS—will provide a 31,000-square-foot indoor baseball and softball facility featuring locker and team rooms, hitting tunnels, indoor turf field, strength and conditioning space, and a hospitality area. Structural steel was completed in December, said Associate Vice
President for Capital Projects Mary Nardone, and the masonry phase is now in progress so as to achieve “weather-tight” by early March. The center is on track for its completion in August. Last May saw the start of work on the 157,000-square-foot facility that will house the Schiller Institute. Following the demolition of Cushing Hall and site preparation over the summer and into fall, excavation began in October and is expected to be finished later this month, said Nardone. The next phase, which will begin almost immediately after excavation, will be a very noticeable one, she added: A 170-foot-tall tower crane will be brought onto the site to aid in erecting the structural steel frame for the building; the topping-off—placement of the last beam—is slated for July. The Schiller Institute building is expected to open in the late fall of 2021. BC’s Lower Campus has experienced dramatic changes in the past year, with the completion and opening of the Margot Connell Recreation Center and adjacent Pine Tree Preserve, and the demolition of the Flynn Recreation Complex. Reclamation work on the former RecPlex site has
Reclamation work continues on the site of the former RecPlex. photo by peter julian
been ongoing since last fall, said Nardone: A lawn now occupies part of the area, along with parking lots; basketball and tennis courts are to come later. The goal is to complete the work this summer, she said. Although no plans have been proposed or announced, BC has identified this part of Lower Campus as the potential future site of a new University center. Summing up the progress on these and other campus projects, Nardone said,
“Facilities Management continues to rely on the professionalism and hard work of our staff, and that of the outside firms we have contracted, to meet Boston College’s engineering, planning, and construction goals. We’re also grateful to the University community for its patience and understanding throughout the periods when campus traffic and parking may be affected by construction projects.”
Putting Interdisciplinary Connections at the Forefront Intersections program promotes faculty interaction, with an emphasis on supporting University’s formative education mission BY PHIL GLOUDEMANS STAFF WRITER
The African and African Diaspora Studies (AADS) program took center stage in Gasson 100 on Feb. 4 at the third of four “Forefront Socials,” an Intersections program designed to encourage greater ties between Boston College faculty and their respective disciplines, and with the overall University mission of formative education. AADS, elevated to a major this past fall and celebrating its golden anniversary, plays a critical, two-way role at BC, noted program director C. Shawn McGuffey, an associate professor of sociology. Students of African descent can feel isolated, he explained, and when there are incidents of racist behavior on campus, “the AADS office provides a safe place for black students and their allies to gather, to see themselves reflected in the space.” “We also connect AADS to Boston’s black communities in Roxbury, Dorchester, Mattapan, and Jamaica Plain through our courses and activities to better understand local pan-African histories and experiences,” he added. When asked by a faculty member for suggestions on effectively integrating AADS issues and themes into another discipline, McGuffey said a Carroll School of Management class studying the 2009 recession could examine its disproportionate impact on black Americans, or a Connell School of Nursing professor might give a
while fostering a spirit of University citizenship that strengthens the institution. Intersections was founded in 2001 by Joseph A. Appleyard, S.J., the former vice president for University Mission and Ministry, and the late Howard J. Gray, S.J., the former director of the Center for Ignatian Spirituality. the University and in their everyday lives. “We are particularly interested in featur“Cultivating connections across disciing professors who have been successful at plines and across schools can bolster our integrating the BC’s mission into their work joint mission of developing smart, thought- in innovative and interesting ways,” said ful, and ethical citizens of the world with current Intersections Executive Director an eye towards personal discernment and Burt Howell. “The University is specialsocial justice.” ized, by nature, so we work to bring a more The “Forefront Social” is one of four holistic and interconnected approach that initiatives annually organized by Intersecblends the concerns of faculty disciplines tions, a program of University Mission with broader questions of personhood, soand Ministry, which helps faculty and staff cial responsibility, and transcendent meanexplore BC’s Jesuit and Catholic mission ing.” African and African Diaspora Studies Director C. Shawn McGuffey, left, spoke at the recent “Forefront Social” in Gasson 100, where he discussed the program’s academic and formative work. photos by peter julian
detailed description of the effect of violence and neglect on the human body—he cited the case of Michael Brown, the unarmed black teenager from Ferguson, Mo., who was shot and killed, and whose body was left unattended for four hours in the sun. Reflecting on the event late last week, McGuffey said, “The core of AADS is interdisciplinary, and we look forward to working with other programs and departments so that we can encourage students to think about intellectual intersections across
Chronicle
4
February 13, 2020
MLK Winner: Service Starts ‘Right Where You Are’ BY KATHLEEN SULLIVAN STAFF WRITER
For Shakalah Thompson ’21, one of the earliest formative experiences she had as a Boston College student was during her first spring break when she participated in the Bowman AHANA and Intercultural Center’s Magis Civil Rights Immersion Trip, which brings students to sites in Georgia and Alabama connected to the civil rights movement. The trip was a powerful one that spurred her desire to incorporate social justice into her career. “My eyes were opened,” recalled Thompson, a sociology major and medical humanities minor in the pre-med program. “I had a pivotal moment, this awakening of [wondering] how exactly am I going to be a ‘woman for others’? How am I going to give back and uplift my community as a physician?” The ways in which Thompson has responded to that pivotal moment were recognized last week when she was awarded the University’s Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship, presented annually to a BC junior who has demonstrated superior academic achievement, extracurricular leadership, community service, and involvement with the African American community and African American issues. “It’s beyond an honor to have won,” said Thompson, who was born in Jamaica and raised in Miami Gardens, Fla. “Knowing I was selected as somebody who reflects the ideas Dr. King had is mind-boggling and heartwarming at the same time. It’s a confirmation of my value as someone who is black and can make an impact on country and the world.” During her sophomore year, Thompson traveled to the Dominican Republic for a service-learning/immersion trip sponsored by Learning to Learn. For a native of the Caribbean, the experi-
Shakalah Thompson ’21 celebrated her winning the Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship with her mother, Dionne Reid. photo by justin knight
ence in the DR was “very personal and raw,” said Thompson. Seeing people from the same part of the world she and her family came from experience living in less fortunate circumstances caused Thompson to think, “This could have been me. What am I going to do with the fact that it’s not?” “The trip prompted me to think about how exactly I was going to use all the things I have learned and apply that to my career and make the best of the blessings I’ve been given. I want my career to be heavily focused on equity and social justice within the health care system.” This summer, Thompson will go to Ecuador for BC’s Global Health Perspectives, an intensive four-week program of study on the health care delivery system in the private and public sectors in the South American country. Thompson freely admits that her first year at BC was difficult. Homesickness, mental health issues, and disparities in her educational background compounded the marginalization and isolation she says she felt as a first-generation college student and a black woman immigrant in STEM.
That is why she is so passionate about STEM and Pre-Health Outreach for AHANA Students, a student organization she co-founded with Chelsey Skette ’20 and Yojana Thapa ’20 to ensure that STEM or prehealth students of color can get the resources they need to excel. The newly formed group is planning to host a panel of people of color who are professionals in a variety of health fields—an event Thompson notes will demonstrate both representation and the different pathways available to STEM/pre-health students. The organization also hopes to hold a self-care workshop this semester. As for Thompson’s own journey, she credits Holly Deak PhD ’04, who was a member of Chemistry Professor Marc Snapper’s lab and taught in the Chemistry Department, with helping her through Organic Chemistry. “She is absolutely phenomenal. She is excellent and encouraging and will sit with you to work through problems. She’s always willing to listen.” Thompson also praised the support she got from Associate Dean and Pre-Health Program Director Rafael Luna, African and African Diaspora Studies Program Assistant
Director Richard Paul, and the BAIC staff, especially BAIC Director Michael Davidson, S.J. Thompson serves as a BAIC Bowman Advocate, facilitating discussions on campus about race and diversity, including outreach to the entire freshman class as a follow-up to the DiversityEdu module all first-year students are required to complete. For senior year, Thompson is considering doing a Community Research Program seminar through BAIC to look at the effect that lack of representation in health care has had in Massachusetts. One of the lessons Thompson learned during the Magis Civil Rights trip is that “service doesn’t necessarily mean having to go to a developing country and doing the stereotypical service activity. It can start from right where you are, knowing that there are people around you in need and are going through tough times. You can make a difference in their lives. I think service starts there, with the people that are closest to you.” Also nominated for the Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship were:
Daniel Adedeji, Boston; Lynch School of Education and Human Development (Applied Psychology and Human Development)
Kathryn Destin, New York City; Mor-
rissey College of Arts and Sciences (Political Science, with minor in the Faith Peace and Justice Program)
Berlindyne Elie, Irvington, NJ; Morrissey
College of Arts and Sciences (African and African Diaspora Studies, with minor in Philosophy)
Langston Swafford, New Orleans; Mor-
rissey College of Arts and Sciences (English, with minors in Management and Leadership and African and African Diaspora Studies)
‘Stay Calm, Stay Healthy’: Connell School Prof. Offers Expertise on Coronavirus With concern mounting over the spread of the coronavirus, the U.S. State Department and the Centers for Disease Control have issued the highest travel advisories to U.S. citizens, warning them not to travel to China. Boston College administrators continue to monitor the situation and its potential impact on faculty and student travel. In the wake of the first case of the coronavirus reported in Massachusetts earlier this month, Connell School of Nursing Assistant Professor Nadia Abuelezam compiled a concise list of facts about the virus for the school website in the wake of “a barrage of news and social media posts full of data, terminology, and information that was difficult to understand.” Abuelezam, an epidemiologist, said the summary [available at http://bit.ly/ abuelezam-coronavirus-facts] was intended to provide a better understanding of the technical side of coronavirus, and how to reduce the risk of infection—regularly washing hands with soap and warm water,
covering coughs and sneezes, staying home if you feel sick. Abuelezam explained that the incubation period for the virus is estimated to be from two to 14 days, and that its latent period—the time from when a person is infected to when he or she can infect other people—is still largely unknown. She also described the epidemiological terms prevalence—a figure, usually presented as a percentage, that can be understood as the proportion of the population with the disease of interest—and incidence, a rate indicating the number of new cases occurring in a population over a certain period of time, which conveys the risk of contracting the disease. At present, she said, the low number of cases in the U.S. means the prevalence is currently negligible; incidence can only be calculated with more information on the total number of infections and the total population at risk. Another important term, Abuelezam noted, is the basic reproductive number, or the number of new cases likely stemming
Asst. Prof. Nadia Abuelezam of the Connell School of Nursing. photo by lee pellegrini
from one infectious case: When the basic reproductive number is greater than 1, the disease is expected to spread. “It’s important to note that the basic reproductive number is very context-specific, so it cannot be extrapolated across populations and countries,” she said. “The basic reproductive number in Wuhan, China, the epicenter of the epidemic, is currently estimated to be 2.68, meaning two to three people are infected from every infected person in this particular area.” For context, Abuelezam pointed out that the basic reproductive number for the flu is estimated at 1-2 and for measles 1213. Abuelezam urged readers to stay up to date on developments concerning the coronavirus by consulting reliable sources and to follow recommendations and guidelines from public health experts. “More than anything at the beginning of any epidemic, including this one, it’s important to stay calm and stay healthy.” —University Communications
Chronicle
February 13, 2020
5
University Taps Steinberg to Direct Schiller Institute Continued from page 1
As interim executive director of the Syracuse Center of Excellence for Environmental and Energy Systems, Steinberg leads a New York state-funded center devoted to research and commercialization of products that contribute to sustainable environmental and energy systems. The center engages more than 200 private companies, organizations, and academic institutions to create new products and services in indoor environmental quality, clean and renewable energy, and water resource management. Working collaboratively with faculty and student researchers, the center’s laboratories currently support work in fuel cell technologies, healthy building environments, water supply innovations, and green infrastructure, among other areas. As the founding director of Syracuse’s Infrastructure Institute, Steinberg and her team facilitate the development of new, modernized, and socially responsible public and private infrastructure. The institute works in collaboration with all of Syracuse’s schools and colleges to lead discussions on infrastructure innovation, both domestically and internationally, and prepare students for careers as infrastructure professionals. In her role as special assistant for strategic initiatives and innovation, Steinberg works with the vice chancellor to initiate cross-disciplinary research proposals, including a proposal for diversifying the pipeline of professionals engaged in national security, and with faculty to develop curriculum and student research projects in areas such as entrepreneurship, critical infrastructure, forensics, and cybersecurity. The mission of the Schiller Institute at Boston College is to create new initiatives in basic and applied science, educate the next generation of science and technology leaders and innovators, develop new tools to address crucial societal problems, and promote partnerships with industry and the public and private sectors. Through the Schiller Institute, Boston College will advance new interdisciplinary academic
Illustration of the future home of the Schiller Institute for Integrated Science and Society. The institute offers “the perfect opportunity” for BC faculty and students to collaborate in addressing complex social problems,” says its executive director, Laura J. Steinberg.
programs in integrated and applied sciences, computer and data science, and human-centered engineering, to complement the global public health program that was launched in 2018. “Laura Steinberg’s commitment to science and scholarship for the common good make her an ideal choice to serve as the inaugural Seidner Family Executive Director of the Schiller Institute,” said Provost and Dean of Faculties David Quigley. “Her leadership will engage faculty, students, and the larger Boston College community as we work to bring our vision for the Schiller Institute to life.” “I am impressed by Laura’s commitment to research and education and by her appreciation of the possibilities the Schiller Institute holds for furthering the distinctive mission of Boston College,” said Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences Dean Gregory Kalscheur, S.J. “Her extensive experience as a scholar and teacher, as former dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science at Syracuse, and as the founding executive director of the Syracuse University Infrastructure Institute, position her well
to serve as the executive director of the Schiller Institute. I am looking forward to working closely with Laura as the University launches this important strategic initiative.” Added Vice Provost for Research and Deluca Professor of Biology Tom Chiles, who co-chaired the search committee with Fr. Kalscheur, “In both her personal and professional career, Laura Steinberg has been committed to working in the service of the public good. She has integrated engineering, science, math, and technology to improve the human condition. As the founding executive director of the Syracuse University Infrastructure Institute, a oneof-a-kind interdisciplinary institute whose mission is to solve societal issues through interdisciplinary academic programs and applied research, Professor Steinberg brings a wealth of experience to inspire and lead the Schiller Institute.” Steinberg said she is excited to lead the Schiller Institute, which will build on the University’s R1 Carnegie classification for doctoral research institutions, to help to enhance scientific research at Boston Col-
lege. “I am delighted to join Boston College as the founding Seidner Family Executive Director of the Schiller Institute for Integrated Science and Society,” said Steinberg. “With a new state-of-the-art building, funding for 22 new faculty members, and the enthusiastic support of the University community, the institute offers the perfect opportunity for faculty and students across all of BC’s schools and colleges to collaborate in addressing complex global challenges. I look forward to working with Boston College faculty to seed and develop opportunities to promote scholarship and research in the areas of energy, the environment, and public health. I am also happily anticipating connecting with BC students and engaging them in projects in the laboratory, in the field, and across the globe.” In addition, Steinberg said, she is drawn to the University’s mission-driven approach to education. “BC’s Jesuit traditions—calling the community to action, emphasis on the common good, and spirit of inquiry— bring a deep sense of purpose to my new role,” she said. Steinberg holds a bachelor’s degree in civil and urban engineering from the University of Pennsylvania, and a master’s degree and doctorate in environmental engineering from Duke University. She has also studied in the MBA program at the Graduate School of Business at the University of Chicago. “From my earliest work as an undergraduate student to my current leadership roles at Syracuse University, I have endeavored to use the tools of science, engineering, math, and technology to improve the human condition and restore the environmental integrity of our planet,” said Steinberg, who added, “My greatest pleasure as an educator has been to work with students as they discover and develop their own abilities to be a force for good in the world.”
Center Provides Writing Support Continued from page 1
writing center; we do not offer the extensive services that Connors Family Learning Center has done so well for years—for example, tutoring in all subject areas.” “Our writing specialists offer support during all stages of the writing process— from brainstorming to drafting to revising to editing. Students who visit the center work with peers, many of whom have taken similar classes and worked on similar assignments,” she said. Located in Stokes 418S, the center has seen significant student traffic since its October opening, with nearly 150 appointments, freshmen constituting the highest number. The majority of these students, whose subject areas have included literature, history, philosophy, law, and political science, felt their sessions not only helped them improve a particular paper, but developed their capabilities as writers.
One student praised her writing specialist: “She was good at allowing me to get my point across in my own words without influencing it. I had the ideas, but she helped me sort them out.” “We are thrilled to hear comments like this because one of our key goals is to help students become better writers,” DeRosa said. “It is very important for BC to offer this resource because of the unique challenges that students face when undertaking the increasingly complex and demanding work of undergraduates at such a rigorous institution,” said writing specialist Nimrita Singh ’20, who has had more than 20 appointments with both ELL and non-ELL peers. “Every student needs to know how to communicate their ideas clearly and effectively. I believe that having a center dedicated to facilitating this capability is crucial in BC’s mission to care for the whole individual.” Mathieu calls working with Singh and
The BC Writing Center has received rave reviews since it opened in Stokes Hall last fall. photo by lee pellegrini
the nine other writing specialists—several of whom have taken ELL linguistic training with Anderson to enable them to support bilingual students—“a joy and honor. Our [training] course focused on interpersonal skills needed to help put a student at ease: to be encouraging, ask generative questions, listen mindfully, and to help the student learn and practice some tools of drafting, organiz-
ing, revising, and editing.” “We are heartened by the consistent and growing student interest and visits to our new Writing Center. Our goal of encouraging writers and helping them strategize more effective processes is resonating with BC students.” For information about the BC Writing Center, see http://bit.ly/bc-writing-center.
Chronicle
6
February 13, 2020
Burns Lecture, Feb. 18
Forgotten Voices from Ireland’s Past May Shed Light on Future The outlook for Ireland and Northern Ireland in the post-Brexit era, and their place in Europe and the wider world, are compelling questions. But the views of two largely neglected Irish intellectuals from the past may illuminate discussions about the future, according to Burns Visiting Scholar in Irish Studies Guy Beiner, who will speak on the subject next week. The Burns Visiting Scholar program brings academics, writers, artists, journalists, librarians, and notable public figures to BC to teach, give public lectures, and pursue research for a semester or academic year. Beiner, a professor of history at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Israel, will present the annual Burns Lecture on Feb. 18 at 7 p.m. in the John J. Burns Library. His talk, “Relocating Nationalism between the Regional and Transnational: Unexpected Lessons from the Lives and Works of Amateur Historians,” is free and open to the public. An Israeli native who earned his doctorate from the National University of IrelandUniversity College Dublin and was a Government of Ireland Research Fellow at Trinity College Dublin, Beiner is the author of Forgetful Remembrance: Social Forgetting and Vernacular Historiography of a Rebellion in
2019-20 Burns Visiting Scholar in Irish Studies Guy Beiner photo by peter julian
Ulster, which has won multiple prestigious awards, including the National University of Ireland Irish Historical Research Prize. Beiner’s lecture will examine the life and work of two Irishmen who represent an intriguing mix of professional, political, and social interests, and equally fascinating visions of Ireland: Richard Robert Madden (1798-1886), a Dublin-based Catholic phy-
sician, novelist, journalist, colonial administrator, abolitionist, and historian; and Francis Joseph Bigger (1863-1926), a Protestant solicitor, naturalist, social reformer, cultural revivalist, and antiquarian from Belfast. Despite their many differences, the two men shared one important characteristic: Both researched and wrote about Ireland’s 1798 rebellion and the role of the United Irishmen—a revolutionary organization that included Protestants as well as Catholics—in the conflict. As Beiner explains, Madden’s and Bigger’s beliefs about Irish politics and culture defy easy categorization. “Madden travelled the world extensively and was committed to causes that went far beyond Ireland, such as putting an end to the international slave trade. He represented a form of Irish nationalism that was not inward-looking and opposed the use of violence for political means, which put him at odds with militant Irish republicans—even though they admired his work on the United Irishmen. He could be paradoxically described as a transnational nationalist. “Bigger’s interest in the United Irishmen had to do with his focus on Ulster; although a Protestant, he always saw Ulster as a distinct part of Ireland rather than
England, and he was an advocate for Irish language and culture. In that sense, he was a regional nationalist.” Neither man’s vision for Ireland survived, Beiner notes. After gaining its independence, Ireland became reclusive in many respects, while Northern Ireland cut its ties to the republic. Over time, Madden and Bigger—amateur historians and antiquarians rather than accredited scholars—came to be seen as irrelevant in most academic circles. “With Brexit, we now have an opportunity to rethink the status of Ireland and Northern Ireland, their relation to each other, and their place in the world,” says Beiner. “That’s why I think it is enlightening to look back at Madden and Bigger, revisit their unorthodox models of Irish nationalism, and see the lessons they hold for us. What new forms might Irish nationalism take now? What concepts bind Ireland and Northern Ireland together? What does it even mean to be ‘Irish’ from an historical point of view?” A reception will precede the Feb. 18 Burns Lecture at 6 p.m. For more information on the event, email kate.edrington@bc.edu or go to www.bc.edu/irish.html. –Sean Smith
Marathoner Forges a Connection with BC Campus School Continued from page 1
thanks in part to the Boston College Campus School, on whose behalf he’s running. Although he has no direct connection to Boston College—his cousins Erin (’14) and John (’18) are alumni—Murray is delighted with the opportunity to assist one of the University’s signature programs: The Campus School, located in the Lynch School of Education and Human Development, enrolls children ages three to 21 with multiple disabilities; its personalized approach to special education creates a supportive and welcoming environment where every student can thrive. “The Campus School is giving me a chance to accomplish my life-long dream,” said Murray, who plans to visit the school while in town for the April 20 marathon. “I need to raise $7,500 to fulfill my pledge, but I will be eternally in debt to the school.” Despite 30 radiation sessions and six months of chemotherapy, Murray, buoyed by the support of friends and family, has pushed his endurance to 17 miles so far. He characterizes himself as a “running addict” who’s committed to running the world’s oldest annual marathon. “Running is medicine; it’s healing me,” he declares. “I’ve fallen in love with it. It’s such a tremendous feeling of health and joy.” Murray, who ran marathons in 2017 and 2018 in his home state, has adopted Kenyan long-distance runner and marathon world record-holder Eliud Kipchoge’s exhortation that “no human is limited” as his personal mantra, which also echoes the
John Murray says the Boston College Campus School is “giving me a chance to accomplish my life-long dream” in letting him run on the school’s behalf in the Boston Marathon.
philosophy of the Campus School. Murray will literally follow a path paved by his uncle Dan, who ran the 2016 Boston Marathon to benefit the Campus School through the same Boston Athletic Association charity program through which John will obtain his official runner’s bib. “When I heard about the amazing work they do, I was inspired to run and raise funds for them,” says Dan Murray, who heard about the school through a Boston friend. “I ran in a singlet provided by the school, and I got so many well wishes from folks familiar with the Campus School
along my 26.2-mile journey, it carried me through the challenge of Heartbreak Hill.” John Murray had led a whirlwind, international lifestyle before his bout with cancer. He had studied Chinese at Southwest University in Chongqing for two years, then simultaneously taught and continued his schooling there for three years. His fluency and cultural familiarity led to a job as an international sales representative for a Chinese manufacturer of industrial chains, hooks, and hoists. Soon he was representing multiple Chinese factories, a position that took him to 22 countries and 25
states. By 2017, Murray had returned to Minnesota, and used his experience and language skills to launch a sports marketing consultancy that linked the NBA’s Minnesota Timberwolves, individual NBA players and teams, and sponsors and digital partners in China. But while in Vietnam on business in March of last year, Murray suffered a seizure, which led to the diagnosis of a brain tumor, a mass that had probably been growing undetected for five to 10 years. Although he had to put his career on hold and endure a lengthy series of treatments, he is upbeat. “There’s no such thing as a bad day,” he says. “We are thrilled that John has decided to run for the Campus School this spring,” says Campus School Director Barbara J. Cataldo. “He is one of four members of our community running and raising money for our students. From the time I talked with him by phone, he has established himself as committed to our students and driven to complete this race. Despite the obstacles that have befallen him, John has not accepted anything less than a promise to complete this race. I have great respect for his compassion and resilience. How fortunate we are to have him among our runners this year. We can all learn from his example.” To help John Murray reach his fundraising goal on behalf of the Campus School, go to: www.bc.edu/content/bc-web/offices/alumni/ giving/campus_school_marathon.html.
Chronicle
February 13, 2020
WELCOME ADDITIONS
OBITUARY
An Introduction to New Faculty at Boston College Xiao Chen
Assistant Professor of Physics, Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences DEGREES: Nanjing University, China (BS, MS); University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign (PhD). WHAT HE STUDIES: Non-equilibrium many-body quantum dynamics in closed and open systems, such as transport property and quantum information dynamics; topological phases of matter, such as topological insulators, topological ordered phase, and topological defect. WHAT HE’S TEACHING: Graduate seminar
What led to your interest in quantum physics and how do you try to pass that excitement on to your students through your teaching?
“Unveiling the fundamental mechanism and simple structure behind the complex manybody system is important and challenging. I am very excited to share my understanding of quantum physics with the next young generation, to motivate and to train them to think independently and uncover the beauty of the many-body quantum system.”
Michael C. Magree, S.J.
Assistant Professor of Theology, Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences DEGREES: Franciscan University of Steubenville (BA); The Ohio State University (MA); Fordham University (MA); Boston College (MDiv, STL); University of Notre Dame (PhD). WHAT HE STUDIES: Early Christian scriptural exegesis; theological interpretation of scripture; history of Christological and Trinitarian doctrine; ascetical theologies of early and medieval Christianity; theologies of grace and divinization; early Christian eschatology. WHAT HE’S TEACHING: Perspectives on Western Culture I & II; Theological Exegesis in Early Christianity.
You teach a graduate-level course on the interpretation of sacred texts by ancient Christian authors, but at the other extreme you also teach first-year undergraduates in the Perspectives program. What’s it been like introducing students to foundational writers and thinkers they may not have previously encountered?
“Deeply gratifying. On the one hand, I take the role of a philosophy professor, in which my goal is to help students move from an unexamined life to an examined one. They need to question their own presuppositions, and they need to learn the language by which the Western tradition, from Plato to Marx, has developed tools for thinking hard about human life. On other other hand, as a theology teacher, I am showing how the revelation of the God of Israel and the good news of his Son is not merely received by Christians blindly but can and should be examined carefully for its coherence and consistency. For non-Christians in particular, this theological task in particular requires a kind of thought experiment, not merely to think about Christianity from the outside, but just as one might in French class try to think inside the conceptual world of a French person. The results of both of these types of inquiry are profoundly rich.”
7
Lorenzo Alexander Puente
Assistant Professor of the Practice of English, Morrissey College of Arts and Science DEGREES: Ateneo de Manila University (BA), Boston College (MA, PhD). WHAT HE STUDIES: Multi-ethnic U.S. literature; Asian American literature and culture; Philippine and Filipino American literature; globalization and diaspora; composition and rhetoric. WHAT HE’S TEACHING: First-Year Writing Seminar and Literature Core courses (regular and ELL sections), American Literary History II and III.
You came to Boston College in 1999 as a graduate student in English, began serving as a teaching fellow in 2004, and moved into a visiting professor role in 2017 before assuming your current position. In what ways has your long affiliation with the University, and the perspective you gained as a student here, influenced and enriched your teaching?
“In teaching writing and literature, I always try to highlight the element of ‘hope.’ In my courses, I ask my students to engage with issues of injustice and inequality, and I also explore with them possibilities of conversation, cooperation, and conversion. Implicit in my teaching is an Ignatian vision of an incarnated faith, of the presence of the divine in the very brokenness of the world, and of the transformative power of Christ’s resurrection in individuals, communities, societies, and the whole world. My growth in understanding of this Ignatian vision and spirituality has been nurtured in Boston College through words and actions by both Jesuits and non-Jesuits: my mentors, professors, colleagues, staff, friends, and my students. They are all part of who I am now as a teacher.”
Robert Ulbricht
Assistant Professor of Economics, Morrissey College of Arts and Science DEGREES: University of Munich (Ph.D., Diplom)
WHAT HE STUDIES:
Macroeconomics; search and matching on labor markets; political economy; information economics. WHAT HE’S TEACHING: Macroeconomics
What current research of yours is particularly relevant to today’s labor market?
“I’m exploring the matching process of workers to jobs in terms of skills. The data show that there are a lot of mismatches in skill allocation today, and this mismatch is greater when the economy is booming. For instance, workers with little knowledge of math end up with jobs that require a robust understanding of calculus, and vice versa. In a recent research paper, I’ve formulated a theory that explains these and related patterns in a search and matching model of the labor market.”
—Phil Gloudemans, Ed Hayward, Rosanne Pellegrini, Kathleen Sullivan photos by lee pellegrini and peter julian
Betty Strain, 91 Elizabeth Ann “Betty” Strain, a mainstay of Boston College for 58 years who won the University’s Community Service Award and was the namesake of a Woods College of Advancing Studies scholarship, died on Dec. 28 at the age of 91. Ms. Strain joined the University in 1952 as an assistant to Rev. Charles F. Donovan, S.J., who was founding dean of the School of Education. Interviewed by the Boston College Chronicle in 2000, she recalled her early days as SOE registrar, when students would receive set schedules for the year, varied only by courses required for secondary or elementary program majors. “We were the original ‘computers,’” she said. “We did the record keeping by hand. Students were locked into their courses. If you changed a course, you were charged a fee. “Gadzooks!” she exclaimed, using one of her famous pet terms, “can you imagine if we did that today?” She moved to the new University Registrar’s Office in Lyons Hall in 1972, as Boston College upgraded its record-keeping process to computers and consolidated registrar operations from each individual academic division. Ten years later, Ms. Strain took an administrative post in the Evening College’s Summer Session office in Fulton Hall. In 1994, the Evening College became the College of Advancing Studies (it was named for longtime dean James Woods, S.J., in 2002) and two years later moved into more spacious quarters in McGuinn Hall; Ms. Strain and the summer school program went along, too. But Ms. Strain’s contributions to BC went well beyond record keeping and clerical duties. As inaugural director of the Boston College Experience, a six-week academic enrichment summer program for rising high school seniors, she served as mentor and friend to numerous prospective students. Although other colleges and universities ran similar summer programs, Ms. Strain pointed to an important distinction. “Ours is not a ‘camp-style’ environment,” she said in an interview with Boston College Biweekly. “The students are treated as college freshmen. They have the same freedom and responsibilities.” Ms. Strain also was known for counseling colleagues as well as students through difficult times, prompted by a faith that inspired her to help others. A Eucharistic minister and lector, Ms. Strain attended Mass and did readings in St. Mary’s Chapel five mornings a week, taught every Sunday morning at the Infant Jesus Parish in Chestnut Hill and visited homebound parishioners to deliver communion and offer companionship. She knit baby blankets for the Christ Child Society in Cambridge, which distributed them to low-income new mothers. Alpha Sigma Nu, the Jesuit honor society, made her an honorary member in 1978, and in 1991 she was one of 11 employees, students, and alumni to receive a Companion of Justice Award from University President J. Donald Monan, S.J., in commemoration of the Ignatian Year. In 1996, the University presented her with its Com-
Elizabeth “Betty” Strain
photo by lee pellegrini
munity Service Award; she was selected by a committee chaired by Fr. Donovan. Ms. Strain was honored again four years later when a scholarship was established in her name to provide students facing significant financial challenges with an opportunity to complete an undergraduate degree in the College of Advancing Studies. Ms. Strain’s reaction at being the namesake for the Elizabeth Strain Scholarship was characteristically one of humility and humor. “I have been blessed to be able to do all of this,” she said. “It’s a comforting thought to know that it will be here long after I am gone. “I guess this means that my name will go down in history,” she added, laughing, “just like Rudolph!” A funeral Mass was said for Ms. Strain at St. Mary’s of the Assumption Catholic Church in Brookline on Jan. 11. Donations may be made in Ms. Strain’s memory to the Elizabeth Strain Scholarship at Boston College. Read the full version of this obituary at http://bit.ly/betty-strain-obituary. –University Communications
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: Research Economist, Academic Affairs/ Provost Assistant Director, Financial Aid, Academic Affairs/Provost Recovery House Manager, Student Affairs/ Residential Life Senior Accounts Payable Assistant, Financial/Budget Associate Director, Graduate CRM Operations, Academic Affairs/Provost Development Assistant, Schools and Programs, University Advancement Volunteer Coordinator, Academic Affairs/ Provost Senior Associate Director, Corporate & Foundation Relations, University Advancement Information Security Analyst, Information Technology
Chronicle
8
February 13, 2020
BC Research
Paying a Price Faced with controversy, Starbucks changed its bathroom-use policy. A study co-authored by two Carroll School of Management faculty members found the impact was not what the company hoped for. BY ED HAYWARD STAFF WRITER
In May of 2018, in response to a public uproar caused by the arrest of two men occupying a table in one of the company’s Philadelphia stores, Starbucks changed its policy to allow anyone to sit in their stores or use the bathroom, regardless of whether they had made a purchase or not. The unusual step of making private business premises available to the public may have relieved pressure on the company following the incident, but did it have an impact on the $113-billion company’s bottom line? Was a decision to exercise corporate social responsibility a good business move? Those were the central questions studied by Carroll School of Management Finance Department faculty members Associate Professor David Solomon and Assistant Professor Jordan Nickerson, and Umit G. Gurun, a professor of accounting at the University of Texas-Dallas. The researchers found Starbucks paid a price for the policy change. Compared to customer volume at nearby coffee shops and restaurants, Starbucks saw a 7.3 percent decline in store attendance, the trio reported in their recent paper “The Perils of Private Provision of Public Goods.” Solomon, Nickerson, and Gurun were able to probe the reaction to the policy change using a large set of anonymized cell phone location data that told them how many people were in Starbucks’ locations
Carroll School of Management Associate Professor David Solomon, left, and Assistant Professor Jordan Nickerson. photos by gary wayne gilbert and lee pellegrini
and how many people were in the stores of nearby competitors. “The narrow lesson is the risk of letting the public come hang out in a business without buying anything,” said Solomon. “Non-paying visitors coming in can drive customers out of a business. The broader lesson is that if you try to do corporate social responsibility or do good things for the public, perhaps they benefit your bottom line. But perhaps they don’t. “This highlights some of the challenges companies face when they try to do the right thing in social terms. It doesn’t always benefit them.” The policy also had an impact on the “intensive margin of demand”—in this
case the willingness to participate in the public good of the new policy. Remaining customers spent 4.1 percent less time in Starbucks relative to nearby competitors after the policy change, the authors found. Looking for factors affecting customer decisions, Solomon said the researchers found that for Starbucks located near homeless shelters, the decline in visits was 84 percent larger. While wealthier customers reduced their visits more, data showed that black and white customers were equally deterred, according to the paper. Looking for an impact on crime rates, the co-authors found that the open bathroom policy led to fewer citations for
BC Scenes
ASO Fashion Show
Marking its 25th anniversary year, the African Students Organization held its annual Fashion Show event at Robsham Theater on Feb. 8. The ASO sponsors events and activities to foster greater awareness in the University community—and beyond—of the diversity of Africa’s cultures, traditions, customs, and politics to the Boston College community.
PHOTOS BY YITING CHEN
public urination near Starbucks stores. But there was no similar effect on other infractions. The research shows that it can be difficult for private companies to try to provide public goods “as potential customers are crowded out by non-paying members of the public,” Solomon, Nickerson and Gurun write. While the company has defended the policy change by reporting record sales during the time frame, Solomon says the company data lacks a benchmark comparison against competitors. “Starbucks revenues went up by a little bit, but every other competitor went up by a lot,” he said. “The gap is the effect of the policy.” Solomon said the findings indicate the disruption of a more complex customer experience than the simple transaction of buying coffee beverage. “When we think of what people are buying in Starbucks, what you pay for is the coffee,” Solomon said. “But you’re actually getting a bundle of goods. You’re getting the coffee, a pleasant place to sit with your laptop, and a bathroom to use when you need a break. “So when you throw open the policy to let people come in and just use the bathrooms and the tables, maybe paying customers are coming in to find the bathrooms are dirty and the tables are crowded—those goods have been used or consumed—and as a result they are deciding not to buy the coffee as well.”