The Boston College
Chronicle Published by the Boston College Office of University Communications FEBRUARY 15, 2018 VOL. 25 NO. 11
INSIDE 2
Bhangra performed during the Southeast Asian Student Association Culture Show, held Feb. 10 at Robsham Theater – one of several recent events featuring student dance groups. More photos on page 8. (Photo by Yiting Chen)
•BC hockey gets the Olympic spirit
•Student Arts Awards nominees sought •MyinTuition now available at BC on global 3 •Q&A engagement and BC •Ex-UN secretary-general comes to BC Feb. 27 •Joseph Professor to give inaugural lecture signs agreement 4 •LSOE with Korean university to take the 5 •Harris reins at LRSA •Photo: Arts After Dark to know about 6 •What planning/holding a campus event
•CWBC, Athletics team up for Eagles 2 Eagles
BC to Host Cyber Security Forum March 7 BY ED HAYWARD STAFF WRITER
Following a year when data breaches in the United States exposed an estimated 174 million confidential records, Boston College and the Federal Bureau of Investigation will hold the second Boston Conference on Cyber Security (BCCS 2018) on March 7, bringing together academicians, private industry and law enforcement
to collaborate on how to best prevent and respond to attacks on public and private information systems. The day-long conference is organized by a partnership between the FBI and the Cybersecurity Policy and Governance master’s degree program at the University’s Woods College of Advancing Studies. The inaugural BCCS 2017 garnered international news coverage of the speech given by then-FBI Director James Comey.
“Our partnership with the FBI on BCCS 2018 is part of our efforts to build and strengthen the cyber security ecosystem here in the northeast region,” said Kevin Powers, director of the Cybersecurity Policy and Governance program. “That’s the goal: to bring industry, academia and government together on these issues. We’re taking the lead with the FBI in pulling the leaders and experts together so these Continued on page 4
His Faith ‘Always at the Center’
For Martin Luther King Scholarship winner, history points the way forward
Additions/BC in 7 •Welcome the Media/BC Briefings/Jobs •Employee health programs earn recognition look at the spring 8 •A Gaelic Roots schedule
During his time at Boston College, Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Scholarship winner Anthony Smith ’19 has demonstrated a faith-based resiliency and inner strength, as well as the scholarly mien befitting a student of history. During freshman year, he recalls, he found himself feeling “disconnected” from BC, as one of relatively few students of color in his Newton Campus residence hall. So Smith did what he does best. He looked inward, then moved forward. “I reflected on what I wanted, from BC and most of all from myself,” says Smith, a Waltham
native whose parents were born in Haiti. “Even if things hadn’t quite worked out like I’d thought, I realized I still had the chance to accomplish what I’d come to BC for; I needed to make the best of it.” Smith found people to give him support and advice, and sought out – or even helped create – resources and opportunities that contributed to his intellectual and personal growth. Most of all, he’s relied on his faith. “All aspects of life interconnect,” he says, “and faith has always been at the center, leading me on.” His faith, along with other qualities, has led Smith to the MLK Scholarship, presented annually to a Boston College junior
Justin Knight
BY SEAN SMITH CHRONICLE EDITOR
QUOTE:
Anthony Smith ’19
who has demonstrated superior academic achievement, extracurricular leadership, community service and involvement with the African American community and Continued on page 5
Journalism Minor to Debut in Fall BY SEAN SMITH CHRONICLE EDITOR
Boston College will introduce an interdisciplinary minor in journalism this fall as a two-year pilot program, open to undergraduates across the University. The six-course minor offers a classic liberal arts model, according to program organizers: Students from a variety of majors receive a grounding in reportorial and writing skills as well as the history and tradition of journalism; they also are encouraged to consider how the foundational craft and tenets of journalism can be used in a rapidly shifting media and technological climate. Program faculty include veteran, accomplished journalism professionals along with scholars drawing on literary, business/ management, medical, technological and other perspectives. Some 30 undergraduates are expected to be in the first cohort of journalism minors. Students taking the minor select from a range of courses on foundational journalism, such as Political Reporting, The Art of Editing, Investigative Journalism, and Journalism and Ethics, as well as writing in specific styles or for specialized areas, including features, magazines, food, travel, sports, and music. Those courses would be supplemented by others cross-listed through different schools, departments or programs, among them: Reporting Civil Rights (English; African and African Diaspora Studies); Health Journalism (Medical Humanities Program); The Business of Journalism (Carroll School of Management); and News Media & Democracy (Communication). “At Boston College, we consistently stress the importance of bringing the liberal arts into diContinued on page 4
“The time demands of a 21st-century student-athlete are significant, and our greatest challenge in providing quality academic support. As a result, it is important that we have alignment between Athletics, LRSA and campus student support units, so student-athletes can get the most out of their college experience.” –Michael Harris, incoming Learning Resources for Student-Athletes director, page 5
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A ROUND
C AMPUS
ARTISTIC ACHIEVEMENT A highlight of the Boston College Arts Festival, which marks its 20th anniversary this spring, are the awards presented to an alumnus and faculty member, as well as to students. The Arts Council is now accepting nominations for the 2018 Student Art Awards and encourages submissions from University faculty and staff members. To celebrate hard work and artistic talent, the Arts Council recognizes students who have made outstanding and continuous contributions to the arts by fostering, expanding and participating in the arts on campus or in the community. Candidates are eligible for nomination in their sophomore year and may receive the award only once for
their ongoing contribution. Nominations are due by Feb. 23. The nomination form, available at https://tinyurl.com/y86cw53l, also can be used to put forth candidates for the 2018 J. Robert Barth, SJ, Award for Excellence in the Arts, which honors Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences seniors who have made an outstanding contribution to the fine or performing arts throughout their college career. The awards ceremony will be held on April 27 at 4 p.m. in the Stokes Art Tent. For more information contact Arts Council Program Administrator Tatiana Flis at tatiana. flis@bc.edu. –University Communications
Current and former BC hockey players (L-R) Cayla Barnes '22, Kali Flanagan '19, Brian Gionta '01, Emily Pfalzer '15, Megan Keller '19 and Haley Skarupa '16 gathered at the opening ceremonies of the Winter Olympics in PyeongChang last week. (Photo courtesy of BC Athletics)
The Office of University Communications invited current and former Boston College hockey players on the US Olympic team to share photos and special memories of their time on the Heights. Here are some of their responses.
‘A QUICK ESTIMATOR’ Boston College joined 15 other leading universities recently in implementing MyinTuition, an online tool that quickly and easily provides accurate college cost estimates for prospective students. Students and families can now estimate costs to attend BC as well as Babson College, Brown University, Colby College, Davidson College, Duke University, Grinnell College, Hamilton College, Johns Hopkins University, Middlebury College, Northwestern University, Skidmore College, Smith College, St. Olaf College, University of Rochester, and Yale University. MyinTuition requires no tax forms, and asks users to provide six basic and readily known financial characteristics. It takes the average user just three minutes to complete. Between last April and January alone, more than 150,000 individuals used the tool to generate college cost estimates. In total, 31 academically elite colleges have implemented MyinTuition, which was created in 2013 by Wellesley College economists Phillip Levine, Katharine Coman and A. Barton Hepburn.
The 16 new users join existing partner schools Amherst College, Bowdoin College, Carleton College, Colorado College, Columbia University, Dartmouth College, Mount Holyoke College, Pomona College, Rice University, University of Virginia, Vassar College, Washington and Lee University, Wellesley College, Wesleyan University and Williams College. “MyinTuition provides lowand middle-income high school students and their families a quick estimator of the affordability of a Boston College education,” said Bernie Pekala, director of student financial strategies at Boston College. “BC is strongly committed to access and affordability, as evidenced by the fact that we remain one of only 19 private universities that are need-blind and meet the full demonstrated need of all students. That means that we do not consider a family’s ability to pay for college in the admission process, while also committing to meet the full demonstrated institutional financial need of our undergraduate students.” —University Communications
ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT FOR UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS Jack Dunn DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS Patricia Delaney EDITOR Sean Smith
CONTRIBUTING STAFF Phil Gloudemans Ed Hayward Rosanne Pellegrini Kathleen Sullivan PHOTOGRAPHERS Gary Gilbert Peter Julian Lee Pellegrini
“Walking across the stage during Commencement. It was so special having my friends and family there watching me, because I would not have made it to that point without them. I am so thankful for my time at Boston College, they were four of the best years of my life.” –Haley Skarupa ’16
“The times away from the rink that I got to spend with my friends and teammates. They’re friends I know I’ll have forever and I can’t thank Boston College enough for that.” –Megan Keller ’19
“The people that make up the BC community. I will never forget my four years on and off the ice because of the lifelong friendships I made along the way.” –Emily Pfalzer ’15
For updates, follow @BostonCollege on Instagram and @WeAreBC on Snapchat
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Chronicle www.bc.edu/bcnews chronicle@bc.edu
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)5523350. 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.
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Global Engagement at BC What it means, and why it’s important to the University Next Thursday, Feb. 22, the Boston College Global Engagement Committee will hold the first of two town halls to discuss how the University can enlarge its international presence. Committee co-chair Alberto Godenzi, former dean of the BC School of Social Work and a special advisor to the president, spoke with Chronicle recently and offered some thoughts about global engagement ahead of the Feb. 22 event, which takes place at 3 p.m. in Devlin 227. What’s the reason for this town hall? Give us an idea of what to expect. Boston College’s Strategic Plan commits the University to
international activity is aligned with the University’s mission, strengths, and priorities. Why is global engagement so important for BC? Jack Butler, SJ, who is BC’s vice president for University Mission and Ministry, says it best: “To be human is to be global.” Boston College has evolved from a local to a national to an international university. Today, many of our faculty are engaged in global activities, and the number of international students is at a new high. Moreover, we have a strong global base of loyal alumni. A strategic and coordinated approach to global engagement
suing exciting academic and professional goals. Expanded study abroad opportunities in academically rigorous environments will allow them to deepen their expertise and broaden their perspectives. The on-campus presence of international students and scholars enriches our community and benefits the 50 percent of our undergraduate student population who for various reasons can’t take advantage of study-abroad opportunities. Tell us about the Global Engagement Committee – what are you trying to accomplish? The committee is comprised of faculty, staff, and students
“Global awareness and global competence are essential skills in today’s interconnected world. An enhanced global brand will position us well to address complex issues of our time and to engage in meaningful and impactful partnerships.” –Alberto Godenzi Lee Pellegrini
increase its presence and impact around the globe. While such a commitment can have many forms, it is imperative to engage BC’s constituents in determining the why, what, where, and how of global engagement. A town hall setting provides a unique forum to exchange ideas, suggestions, and concerns. Moreover, it will provide an opportunity to inform the BC community about the purpose and various stages of the initiative.
will allow us to be more intentional and more effective in our international endeavors. This in return will increase opportunities for students, faculty, staff, and alumni. Global awareness and global competence are essential skills in today’s interconnected world. An enhanced global brand will position us well to address complex issues of our time and to engage in meaningful and impactful partnerships.
What does “global engagement” mean? Global engagement means internationalizing learning in and outside of the classroom, student mobility, faculty global engagement, and global partnerships. It’s about productive collaborations with universities, NGOs, religious organizations, governmental agencies, foundations, businesses, communities, and individual stakeholders. These relationships are grounded in mutuality, trust, feasibility, sustainability, and solidarity. As an institution, BC engages in global settings when the
Isn’t global engagement something that only affects faculty? Why should students be interested? Global engagement touches every constituent of a university. Our interviews with undergraduate and graduate students demonstrated that they are keenly interested in a more globally engaged university. An internationally infused curriculum will equip them with crucial knowledge for pur-
from across the University. Our president, William P. Leahy, SJ, charged us to develop recommendations for an increased presence and impact around the world, based on an assessment of our current international activities and those of our peers. We met with close to 100 faculty, staff, and students to learn more about ongoing initiatives and strengths, and we analyzed the global strategies of 22 peer institutions of higher education. In the weeks to come, we’ll explore which external trends will present opportunities and challenges for our strategic direction. By the fall, we hope to be able to present a compelling vision, strategy, structure, and implementation plan to the University’s senior leadership. You can learn more about global engagement at BC through a newly launched website, at www.bc.edu/global. –Sean Smith
NOTE: The next edition of Chronicle will be published on Tuesday, Feb. 27
Former UN Head Ban Ki-Moon to Speak Feb. 27 Former United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will give an address at Boston College on “Human Welfare and Global Citizenship” on Feb. 27 at 5 p.m. in Robsham Theater. Ban, who served from 2007 to 2016, is noted for his leadership and advocacy on issues such as climate change, equal rights, public health, economic inequality, and food security. During his tenure as secretary-general, the Paris climate accord – a global measure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions – became a legally binding treaty. At the height of the food, energy and economic crises in 2008, Ban successfully appealed to the G20 for a $1 trillion financing package for developing countries and took other steps to guide the international response. “It is a high honor to welcome former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon to our campus, to draw inspiration from his tireless work for global equality, women’s rights, environmental protection and against poverty and hunger – and to come together as an academic community committed to these same goals, reaching from our respective vantage points out into the world,” said Assoc. Prof. Franziska Seraphim (History), event co-organizer. “Without the Korea Foundation’s support for the expansion of Korean and Asian Studies at Boston College, and our good relations with the Korean Consulate- General here in Newton, this visit
Eskinder Debebe
Q&A: ALBERTO GODENZI
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Ban Ki-Moon
could not have been envisioned.” Born in the Republic of Korea in 1944, Ban received a bachelor’s degree in international relations from Seoul National University and a master’s degree in public administration from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. At the time of his election as secretary-general, Ban was his country’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade. His 37 years of service with the ministry included postings in New Delhi, Washington DC, and Vienna. He is currently chair of the International Olympic Committee’s Ethics Commission. The event is made possible by the Provost’s Office, withInternational Studies, Asian Studies, Environmental Studies, and the Clough Centerfor the Study of Constitutional Democracy as cosponsors, and student groups led by the Marketing Academy, in cooperation with Model UN and Asia Caucus. –Kathleen Sullivan
Moran to Give Inaugural Joseph Professor Lecture in Gasson 100 Joseph Professor of Catholic Philosophy Dermot Moran, chair of the Philosophy Department, will present his inaugural lecture, “Omnia Quae Sunt Lumina Sunt: Tradition, Theophany, and Transcendence in Catholic Thought,” on Feb. 27 at 4 p.m. in Gasson 100. Moran, who joined the Boston College faculty last year, is a specialist in phenomenology and medieval philosophy – especially Christian Neoplatonism – a former professor of philosophy at University College Dublin and a past holder of the National University of Ireland Statutory Chair of Philosophy (Metaphysics & Logic). He is director of the International Centre for Newman Studies, UCD, and current president of the International Federation of Philosophical Societies, in which capacity he is organizing a ma-
jor conference – the 24th World Congress of Philosophy – this August in China. A Dublin native, Moran – who served as Gadamer Visiting Professor at BC in 2015 – is founding editor of the International Journal of Philosophical Studies and co-editor of the Springer Contributions to Phenomenology book series, auLee Pellegrini thor of Edmund Husserl: Founder of Phenomenology and Introduction to Phenomenology, editor of The Routledge Companion to Twentieth Century Philosophy and co-editor of The Phenomenology Reader; his articles have been published in journals such as Continental Philosophy Review and American Catholic Philosophy Quarterly. For more information about the lecture, call the Philosophy Department at ext.2-2393. –University Communications
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BC Provost David Quigley and Seoul National University of Education President Kyung-Sung Kim signed the pact Feb. 5.
LSOE, Seoul National Univ. of Education to Collaborate BY PHIL GLOUDEMANS STAFF WRITER
The Lynch School of Education and the Seoul National University of Education have agreed in principle to develop collaborative academic cooperation activities, Stanton E.F. Wortham, the Charles F. Donovan, SJ, Dean of LSOE, and SNUE President Kyung-Sung Kim announced earlier this month. Kyung-Sung and Provost and Dean of Faculties David Quigley signed the five-year, renewable agreement during ceremonies at Boston College on Feb. 5. Founded in 1946, SNUE is South Korea’s foremost school of education, providing graduate and undergraduate training for future public elementary school teachers. It is the first national South Korean university to specialize in training for elementary school-level teaching – which in
South Korea is considered more crucial than other levels. “We are thrilled to have an opportunity to work with this prestigious South Korean school of education,” said Wortham. “We welcome Korean teachers and students to Boston to learn about American educational successes, and we will benefit from the expertise of our Korean colleagues and exposure to such a high-functioning educational system.” Representatives from the two institutions are anticipated to meet again in May in Seoul to launch the relationship’s planning phase. Professor Ana M. Martinez Aleman, LSOE associate dean for faculty and academic affairs, will oversee and coordinate the collaboration on behalf of Boston College. Contact Phil Gloudemans at philip.gloudemans@bc.edu
Continued from page 1 rect, ongoing conversation with the wider contemporary world,” says Associate Professor of English Angela Ards, who developed the program with English colleague Professor Carlo Rotella, and will serve as director of the minor. “This is a perfect example: We want students to understand how journalism is a discipline unto itself – with a set of enduring skills, practices and ethics – that one can study much like law or history. We also want them to learn about the new skills and platforms that have emerged in journalism during the past decade or so, like podcasting, blogs and data journalism. “Then we want them to look at the big question: How can I use this discipline? How does it intersect with my career interests?” continues Ards, a participating faculty member in the African and African Diaspora Studies Program. “Maybe students envisioning a future in the sciences or health professions, politics or international affairs, or undergraduates with a keen interest in compelling social issues, will see themselves as journalists.” Rotella, director of the American Studies Program, notes that journalism continues to be an in-demand program of study at BC, with upwards of 15 courses per semester offered. The minor will offer an alternative path, he
Gary Wayne Gilbert
Lee Pellegrini
An Interdisciplinary View of Journalism
Angela Ards and Carlo Rotella, who developed the journalism minor.
says, while maintaining the fundamental elements of journalism. “The landscape for the profession may have changed, but the basics of journalism are more in demand than ever: doing the necessary legwork to get reliable information, then analyzing and presenting it clearly and incisively,” says Rotella, who like Ards has extensive experience in journalism and will serve on the program’s steering committee. Much as past generations of college journalists gained experience working on their high school newspapers, Rotella notes that many in the current generation arrive on campus already well-versed in blogging or other forms of social media – but potentially reaching a far greater audience than their predecessors
could imagine. “Because of the way technology has lowered barriers to mass communication, these students are essentially already involved in the profession,” he says. “If you write for a fashion, food or sports blog, you already understand some important things, like making deadlines and writing for a particular audience. In designing the minor, we want to blend that experience with the tools and craft of traditional journalism. “Ideally, students would know how to cover a city council meeting – the classic assignment for a reporter – but also be able to sort through a pile of data and create a podcast.” Contact Sean Smith at sean.smith@bc.edu
Second Boston Conference on Cyber Security Coming to Campus
Continued from page 1 organizations can work together to enhance cyber security.” FBI Boston Division Special Agent in Charge Harold H. Shaw said the emphasis on collaboration at BCCS 2018 is central to combating an ever-increasing range of cyber threats. “Based on the overwhelming success of the inaugural conference, the FBI is very excited to partner again with Boston College to address one of the most challenging issues of our time – security needs in today’s vast and evolving cyber landscape,” said Shaw. “Bringing together our law enforcement, academic, and private sector partners has proven invaluable in building a better understanding, not only of the threats cyber adversaries pose to our national security, key infrastructure, and economy, but how the private and public sectors collaborate to counter the risks each of us face.” There were at least 1,293 US data breaches in 2017, exposing more than 174 million confidential records, according to the non-prof-
it Identity Theft Resources Center, noting a 21 percent increase above breaches tallied in 2016. “With every day that passes, cyber-attacks become more frequent, complex, and destructive, and it will take all of us working
finding the criminals, nation state actors, or hacktivists committing these attacks, and we firmly believe it’s conferences like this that serve as a bridge in finding new and better ways of confronting the difficult cyber challenges impacting Information Technology VP Michael Bourque speaking at last year’s inaugural Boston Conference on Cyber Security. The event is organized by a partnership between the FBI and the Cybersecurity Policy and Governance master’s degree program at the Woods College of Advancing Studies. (Photo by Lee Pellegrini)
together to address the threats of tomorrow,” Shaw said. “After all, we have a lot to protect. We live in a target-rich environment, with Fortune 500 companies, hundreds of defense contractors, startups, colleges and universities, many of which have renowned research and development facilities. “The FBI is fully committed to
all of us.” A roster of leading of cyber security specialists will participate at the BCCS 2018, including experts from the FBI’s Cyber Division, National Security Agency, US departments of Homeland Security, Defense, Internal Revenue Service, Secret Service, and Securities and Exchange Commission; companies
including Arbella Insurance, State Street Bank, Raytheon, Microsoft, Symantec, CrowdStrike, Jones Day, IBM Security, Charles River Labs, Mintz Levin, tcmGlobal, Citrix Systems, Jones Day, Charles River Associates, Dell EMC, Stanley Black & Decker, FTI Consulting, SecureWorks and The MITRE Corp.; and experts from Boston College Law School and Brown University. “The broad range of participants speaks to our program and working with the FBI,” said Powers. “It is something different. You need more collaboration and sharing between private industry and the government. Industry cannot rely solely on the government and government can’t leave industry to figure it out by themselves. It has to be a joint response. This conference brings many perspectives together. That is critical to our program as well, where we are training the future leaders in cyber security.” Speakers include former US Department of Homeland Se-
curity Secretary Jeh C. Johnson, now at the New York law firm Paul|Weiss; Kevin Mandia, CEO and director of the board for FireEye; David Wajsgras, president of Raytheon’s Intelligence, Information and Services Division; former Department of Homeland Security top lawyer Gus P. Coldebella, of Fish & Richardson; Brig. Gen. Kevin B. Kennedy, USAF, of the Pentagon’s CIO office; Thomas J. Curry, of Nutter McClennen & Fish, former US Treasury Department comptroller of the currency; and Christopher R. Hetner, senior advisor for cyber security to the chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission. “We are very fortunate to have some of the best minds in cyber security participating in BCCS 2018,” said Powers. “Boston is positioning itself to become the hub of cyber security and Boston College is taking the lead in that work.” Contact Ed Hayward at ed.hayward@bc.edu
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MLK
Continued from page 1 African American issues. Smith received the honor at the Feb. 1 Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship Banquet. “It was overwhelming, but also a milestone,” he says of the event. “I feel the MLK Scholarship is a platform for advocacy, but it is not mine alone: It is shared by the other four finalists [Angela Arzu, Omolayo Ojurongbe, Evan Palmer and Bryan Paula Gonzalez]. And it is shared by my family, who have sacrificed so much for me to be at BC. We all represent leadership in different ways. “Now, of course, the question becomes ‘What’s next?’ That’s a challenging thing to think about, but I’m very excited for what’s next.” A double major in history and African and African Diaspora Studies (the first independent AADS major to add a second major), Smith is a member of the McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program, which prepares low-income, first-generation undergraduates for graduate school. Smith’s academic interests center on history at the intersection of race and sexuality, with a focus on gathering different, nuanced perspectives to illuminate both major historical events and periods as well as everyday life. “When you study the impact of slavery, or racism, it’s not enough to take one overall view,” he explains. “You have to compare the experiences of black men with those of black women, because they are not interchangeable.” The History Department has been a nurturing environment for Smith, who cites faculty members like Martin Summers and Cynthia Lynn Lyerly for their advice and encouragement. He points to the Making History Public class taught by Robin Fleming, which involved creating a public exhibition based on the class research project, as a foundational experience. “That class helped me think of myself as an historian, instead of simply a student,” he says. Smith put his scholarly talents to use through an Amanda V. Houston Traveling Fellowship last year, visiting New York City, Chicago and Washington, DC, to do research on dominant cultural representations of black masculinity – “how we create and define ourselves against stereotypes.” “I’ve been fortunate to both teach Anthony in the classroom and to advise him on his research funded by the Amanda V. Houston Traveling Fellowship,” said Summers. “Anthony works really hard to be the best scholar that
“I feel BC is, in many respects, a microcosm of the real world,” says Smith. “So I’ve been able to get a sense of what I have to do to understand myself, and the importance of advocating for others. It’s been a great opportunity, and I have my family to thank for making it possible.”
Justin Knight
he can be and it’s been an absolute pleasure to work with him. Along with his commitment to supporting and mentoring other students of color and first generation students, I can’t think of anyone more deserving of the MLK Scholarship.” Smith has taken part in several extracurricular and service activities, including the Jamaica Magis service trip and the AHANA Leadership Council. His most significant commitments include his involvement in Dedicated Intellectuals of the People (DIOP), a weekly gathering of male AHANA students to discuss social, intellectual and spiritual issues: “It’s an important space to talk about being a man. We challenge each other, hold each other accountable.” Another is the First Generation Club, an organization he co-founded that brings together first-generation college students to discuss, and improve, their campus experiences. “We have a diverse group,” he says of the First Generation Club. “Although no single experience or background defines a first-generation college student, there are things we share. You take pride in being the first, but
you can feel insecure, especially when it comes to contributing in the classroom. You have to navigate by yourself, and learn to self-advocate. And you can be tough on yourself, and often feel there’s little or no room to make a mistake. “I feel like the club is an extension of Dr. King’s dream, where students of different identities and beliefs come together. And it’s made clear to me that every human is made in the image and likeness of God.” Smith says he’s been “adamant about going to law school since I was 12,” but serving as a teaching assistant and taking part in BC’s service-learning PULSE Program, among other experiences, has broadened his horizons – a combined PhD/JD program is one post-BC possibility. “I feel BC is, in many respects, a microcosm of the real world,” he says. “So I’ve been able to get a sense of what I have to do to understand myself, and the importance of advocating for others. It’s been a great opportunity, and I have my family to thank for making it possible.” Contact Sean Smith at sean.smith@bc.edu
Two visitors surveyed the McMullen Museum of Art’s exhibition “Cao Jun: Hymns to Nature” at a special student opening held earlier this month as part of the museum’s “Art After Dark” program. (Photo by Yiting Chen)
Harris to Direct Learning Resources for Student-Athletes BY SEAN SMITH CHRONICLE EDITOR
Michael A. Harris, a former college football player with more than a decade of experience in the field of academic support services for student-athletes, has been appointed director of Boston College’s Learning Resources for Student-Athletes. Harris, who will formally join the University on Feb. 26, succeeds Associate Vice Provost for Undergraduate Academic Affairs J. Joseph Burns, the LRSA interim director. LRSA provides individualized academic support services to all BC’s nearly 700 varsity studentathletes. Its staff members offer academic counseling and advising, content tutoring, developmental instruction, progress monitoring, services for students with learning disabilities, and a supervised study center. Since August of 2016, Harris has been associate director and director of the football academic unit for his alma mater, the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. His duties included overseeing development and implementation of individualized academic support plans, supervising six academic and assistant academic counselors, meeting weekly with football coaches and ensuring compliance with UNC, ACC and NCAA policies. “I am thrilled that Michael will be joining BC as the next director of the LRSA,” said Vice Provost for Undergraduate Academic Affairs Akua Sarr. “He has over a decade of experience working in Division 1 athletic administration in the areas of academic support and student development. I’m confident that he will make a positive impact on the experience of our student-athletes while helping them prepare for life after BC.” “I was drawn to the position due to the alignment between the Athletic Department and the academic community at Boston College,” said Harris, a native of Durham, NC. “[Athletics Director] Martin Jarmond’s passion, energy and vision have really invigorated the Athletic Department and there is a lot of excitement around BC Athletics. “At BC, academic and athletic excellence is a tradition. Student-athletes are exceptionally well rounded and they excel in the classroom and beyond. The student-athlete experience at BC goes beyond the classroom and the fields of competition. Holistic development and preparation
Michael A. Harris
for life after athletics are institutional values.” Harris added: “The time demands of a 21st-century studentathlete are significant, and our greatest challenge in providing quality academic support. As a result, it is important that we have alignment between Athletics, LRSA and campus student support units, so student-athletes can get the most out of their college experience.” Prior to UNC, Harris was assistant athletic director for academic services and career development at the University of Maryland from 2011-16. He also was an academic advisor (and served as interim assistant athletic director/director for academic achievement) at Towson University and assistant director of academic support services for student-athletes at Western Carolina University. After joining the UNC football team as a walk-on in his freshman year, Harris went on to letter for three seasons and earn a scholarship, and as a senior served on the Team Leadership Panel. Harris said the experience of being a student-athlete himself was integral to his career path choice. “At UNC, I interacted with individuals like Dr. Janice Hilliard, who inspired me to want to utilize education and athletics to make a positive impact on the world,” he explained. “As an academic support professional, she ensured that we had the academic resources and support needed to navigate the institution, but more importantly, she surrounded us with life coaches and positive mentors to assist us with navigating life and understanding our purpose beyond athletics. “As academic support professionals, we have the ability make far-reaching impacts on the world around us by making a positive impact on the lives of the studentathletes we encounter.”
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Q&A: JASON McCLELLAN
With logistical oversight of some 12,000 annual campus events, the Department of Event Management — a division of Auxiliary Services — is laser-focused on planning and executing successful conferences, receptions, meetings and other gatherings at Boston College. Formerly the Bureau of Conferences, the department provides centralized concierge-style service to assist event planners with reservations for rooms, catering, audiovisual, and other needs. The event-packed semester is well underway, and with demand for space at a premium, Director of Event Management Jason McClellan offers some policy guidelines and reminders for University community members who seek the department’s comprehensive services. Give us an overview of your department’s operations. McClellan: We support the room reservations and events that take place on BC’s Chestnut Hill, Brighton and Newton campuses. We partner with individuals in and outside of the BC community to plan all logistical aspects of events. With a focus on customer service, we are the single point of contact for all University resources related to seamless event execution. Our six-member team provides assistance in everything from room reservations and arrangements, timeline, catering and menu selection, flowers, audiovisual guidance and, if necessary, tents, rental and musical equipment. Whether you are hosting a meeting, multi-day conference or a summer program, Event
The Council for Women of Boston College (CWBC) hosted its annual Eagles 2 Eagles networking event for female studentathletes on Jan. 30, with more than 50 BC athletic alumnae returning to campus to provide some 100 current student-athletes with career guidance, mentoring, life advice and networking opportunities. “The Eagles 2 Eagles event provides a wonderful opportunity for connection among our former and current female student-athletes,” said Martin Jarmond, the William V. Campbell Director of Athletics for BC. “This is a critical piece of our mission to not only support our student-athletes as they prepare to go into the workforce, but also offer opportunities to grow engagement among the many different supportive members of our BC Athletics community.”
Management has the resources and expertise to make your event a success. We are here to help with logistics and to support the University’s academic and social mission in accordance with our Catholic, Jesuit heritage. Why was it necessary, a few years back, to implement charges to University clients for the use of campus conference and function rooms managed by your department? What “behind-the-scenes” work do these charges cover? McClellan: The charges, which have been in effect since June 1, 2014, resulted from an operational efficiency study to address the needs of a self-sustaining event and conference operation at Boston College. External events allow us to generate new revenues to reduce the shared expenses of our department to the University community. The rooms we manage include the University Conference Center at 2101 Commonwealth Avenue, the Heights and Murray rooms, Gasson Hall 100 and Barat House. University community members may arrange to use these spaces via arrangements through the Agora Portal six months in advance of the current date. If major events require a date further out, we ask that clients contact us. Total event time includes the set-up and clean-up time. Most spaces on campus require a gap between events to allow for turnaround time between reservations. “Lead time” is the time gap before an event; “hang time”
Peter Julian
Planning a Campus Event? Here’s What You Should Know.
“Contact us as soon as you know you’re having an event,” says McClellan, “because the sooner we know, the more efficient and costeffective your event will be.” is the time gap after an event. Conference rooms require a halfhour of lead/hang time on average, while function rooms often require a minimum of two to three hours. Room reservations over the lunch hour are charged as full-day reservations. Are there instances where the room charge would be waived, and if so, under what circumstances? McClellan: Exempt from room charges are Commencement Weekend, Parents’ Weekend, Board of Trustees events, Alumni Weekend, First Year Experience summer orientation
sessions, University Mission and Ministry masses and religious ceremonies, University undergraduate/graduate/professional and admitted student recruitment and orientation programs. We also provide free space and support to employers who visit campus through the Career Center. Recognized BC student groups are provided free space and support as well. What is the policy for the use of campus classrooms and auditoriums? McClellan: We also manage classroom and auditorium spaces once they’ve been scheduled by Student Services, which releases the room inventory to us six to eight weeks before the start of the semester. These classrooms and auditoriums are free for use by internal groups, which include University-recognized student groups. How does Event Management share in the University’s social justice mission? McClellan: When you book an event through our department, you support Boston College’s values. This includes important priorities, such as providing fairliving wages to staff members, supporting sustainable culinary practices in our kitchens, and renewing resources within the community. In addition to University events, Event Management supports community events such as local high school graduation ceremonies and other events important to the communities in which BC resides. Given the size and scope of
the BC community, the demand for space is high. How do you deal with clients who want to book more than one campus venue for an event, to ensure that they have a space available on a given date? McClellan: We discourage this practice because it reduces your colleagues’ ability to host unique programming on campus, and consequently, reduces space utilization. How does BC’s Event Management operation compare with our peer schools? McClellan: Event Management is in line with our peer schools, and we continue to refine our program and offerings. Any final advice or guidelines to share with potential Event Management clients in the University community? McClellan: Some “Event Planning 101” advice: Contact us as soon as you know you’re having an event, because the sooner we know, the more efficient and cost-effective your event will be. If an event cancellation is necessary, we require clients to notify Event Management, via email, at least 10 business days in advance, in order to avoid a cancellation fee equal to the room rental rate. For catering cancellations within three business days prior to the event, a cancellation fee equal to the estimated charges will be due. Event planning-suggested timelines and more information on related administrative and other fees are available on our website [www.bc.edu/offices/eventmgmt. html]. –Rosanne Pellegrini
A Night for Networking at Eagles 2 Eagles
The alumnae in attendance – ranging from members of the Class of 1972 to 2017 grads – included professionals in finance, law, health care and wellness, athletics, business, education, marketing and sales, nonprofit, real estate, retail and technology. They coached the student-athletes on topics such as interview skills and finding the right career path after graduation. After welcoming remarks from Jarmond and Senior Associate Athletics Director and Senior Woman Administrator Jocelyn Fisher Gates, CWBC members Kathleen Powers Haley ’76 and Kathy Kelleher ’85 spoke to those in attendance. Afterwards, the student-athletes participated in a “speed-dating” networking session that made for more personal conversations. The networking continued for the remainder of the
evening. “This is one of my favorite things to do every year. It is amazing to see the talent that is in this room and I find it super fulfilling to come back and give back to the student-athletes,” said former golfer Katie Hart ’99. “I wish this was around when I played golf here.” “This event gives me the ability to network with amazing alumni and it’s a better connection that they are former athletes,” said senior field hockey player Justine Sheehan. “Of course, Boston College is a prestigious university and it is amazing to be part of this family.” The program was facilitated by Candy O’Terry Gaffney ’79, the co-founder of Brunner Communications and president of Boston Women in Media & Entertainment. –Boston College Athletics
Current and former Boston College female student-athletes had a chance to talk about career planning, networking and other topics at the annual Eagles 2 Eagles event last month, hosted by the Council for Women at Boston College. (Photo courtesy of Boston College Athletics)
T he B oston C ollege
Chronicle FEBRUARY 15, 2018
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BOSTON COLLEGE IN THE MEDIA An introduction to new faculty members at Boston College Martha Bayles
Senior Lecturer, Honors Program Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences DEGREES: Harvard University (BA); University of Pennsylvania (MA) WHAT SHE STUDIES: Arts, music, media and cultural policy WHAT SHE’S TEACHING: Western Cultural Tradition; Americans, Ugly or Beautiful; Do the Virtues Have Gender? In addition to your work as a writer, media commentator and critic, you’ve taught public school as well as at Claremont College and BC. How has each vocation informed the other? “They both require understanding a topic well enough to explain it to other human beings, readers or students, who do not know much about it, and (more important) will not pay attention unless they want to.”
Nan Liu
Assistant Professor of Operations Management Carroll School of Management DEGREES: Tsinghua University, Beijing (B.Eng); National University of Singapore (M.Eng); University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (PhD) WHAT HE STUDIES: Operations management issues in health care, retail, transportation and other service industries; design and control of service systems, with capacity constraints and complex customer behaviors. WHAT HE’S TEACHING: Operations Management How does your teaching influence your research into operations management in the digital age? “In today’s data-rich environment, managers are not suffering from lack of data, but lack of useful data. In the classroom, I challenge students to look for and leverage useful data to make good decisions driven by sound models. My research is informed in part by my interactions with students, who are often early adopters of new smartphone apps and online services. I learn a great deal from talking with students about these new businesses, and that motivates me to think deeper about how an organization can further improve its operations and business models.”
Emily Prud’hommeaux
Assistant Professor of Computer Science Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences DEGREES: Harvard University (AB); University of California at Los Angeles (MA); Oregon Health & Science University (PhD) WHAT SHE STUDIES: Natural language processing; speech signal processing; applications of computing for health and accessibility; computational linguistics. WHAT SHE’S TEACHING: Topics in Computer Science; Natural Language Processing. Before you came to BC, you were at Rochester Institute of Technology, where you co-founded the Computational Linguistics and Speech Processing lab. What impact did that experience have on your academic/professional development? “The past few years have been a very exciting time to be working on problems in natural language processing. The presence of NLP technology in our daily lives via personal assistants like Alexa and Siri naturally makes people curious about how it works and how it can be used to solve different sorts of problems. Founding the lab with my RIT colleague Cecilia Ovesdotter Alm allowed me to connect with a wide array of students and faculty eager to use NLP methods in their research and academic projects. I wrote papers with faculty in physics and public policy, submitted grant applications with clinical psychologists and linguists, and served on graduate committees for students in computing, statistics, and engineering. These interdisciplinary collaborations continue to be fruitful professionally, but more importantly, they have encouraged me to extend my research program to new domains.”
William D. Roozeboom
Assistant Professor of Pastoral Care and Counseling School of Theology and Ministry DEGREES: University of Northern Iowa (BA); Fuller Theological Seminary (MDiv); Brite Divinity School (PhD). WHAT HE STUDIES: Pastoral care and counseling; intersections of neuroscience and pastoral and practical theology; theological anthropology, embodiment and performativity; clergy wellness; family systems theory; issues of diversity and multiculturalism; conflict theory; and public theology. WHAT HE’S TEACHING: Introduction to Pastoral Care and Counseling; Pastoral Care in/with Communities of Faith; Pastoral Care and Trauma; Culturally/MultiCulturally Competent Pastoral Care and Counseling. Talk about your recently published book, Neuroplasticity, Performativity, and Clergy Wellness: Neighbor Love as Self-Care. “Recent studies suggest that clergy and faith leaders lag behind the general population in a number of physical and mental health categories, which negatively impacts their wellbeing and ability to offer care effectively. Consequently, this book invites clergy and pastoral caregivers to rethink their understandings of the human person in light of recent developments in neuroscience. It argues for a model of care that connects self-care and care for/with others and illustrates that human beings are whole, intra/inter-relational, dynamic, plastic, and performative agents who have the capacity to story themselves neurophysiologically within the embodied brain ecosystem through regular practices of wellness. Ultimately, it presents ways that we might more adequately love and care for our neighbor as we love and care for ourselves.”
–Ed Hayward, Kathleen Sullivan and Sean Smith Photos by Lee Pellegrini and Gary Wayne Gilbert
Earth and Environmental Sciences Assistant Professors Carling Hay and Jeremy Shakun, Prof. David Deese (Political Science) and Assoc. Prof. Donnah Canavan (Psychology) were among experts in various disciplines interviewed for “The Climate Project,” a news series airing on NBC Boston. Being rich is not about a single year of earnings but rather about the accumulation of wealth over time, wrote Assoc. Prof. Gil Manzon (CSOM) in an op-ed on wealth inequality in the US published in The Conversation. Cleary Professor of Finance Jeffrey Pontiff spoke with the Boston Herald about the recent downturn in the stock market. For decades, immigration histo-
rians have used the term “chain migration” to explain the ways that social networks shape how people move and where they settle. The term is too valuable to be politicized, wrote Assoc. Prof. Arissa Oh (History) in the Washington Post. Much changed for immigrants in the US following a reform law enacted in 1996, explained Asst. Prof. Kari Hong (Law), who argued for its repeal in the Huffington Post. Murray and Monti Professor of Economics Peter Ireland offered comments to CNBC on the transition of leadership at the Federal Reserve. Prof. Ray Madoff (Law) was interviewed by The Wall Street Journal on the effect of the tax reform
BC BRIEFING Prof. Margaret Thomas (Slavic and Eastern Languages) has been appointed archivist of the Linguistic Society of America for a threeyear term. Among other duties, the LSA archivist responds to queries from members and others about the archives, and acts as a liaison between the Western Historical Manuscript Collection staff and both the LSA staff and potential users or contributors to the archives. Everyday Renaissances: The Quest for Cultural Legitimacy in Venice, by Prof. Sarah Gwyneth Ross (History), received the 2018 Society for Italian Historical Studies Helen and Howard R. Marraro Prize as “the book deemed best by the various committees and published in the previous calendar year, which treats of Italian history in any epoch, Italian cultural history, or Italian-American relations.”
University Health and Wellness Programs Cited by WWCMA
Boston College has been named a WorkWell Massachusetts Silver Level winner for exemplary worksite health promotion, in recognition of the University’s achievements in developing, implementing and participating in corporate health improvement and wellness programs. BC’s HEALTHY YOU initiative [www.bc.edu/healthy-you] was cited for its positive impact on workplace wellness for BC faculty and staff, through programs ranging from physical and mental wellbeing, nutrition and elder caregiving support, to meditation, mindfulness and yoga offered through Campus Recreation and the Faculty/Staff Assistance Program. “We are extremely proud of our HEALTHY YOU initiative and the recognition it is receiving with this award,” said Associate Vice President for Human Resources William Murphy. “Its offerings complement the popu-
lar Walk Across Campus program, which promotes healthy competition to keep BC employees moving. Looking ahead, we will continue to explore ways to expand wellbeing offerings that contribute to our community’s health, happiness, and commitment to BC.” WorkWell Massachusetts is a corporate award program created by the Worksite Wellness Council of Massachusetts (WWCMA), a not-for-profit member organization dedicated to the advancement of worksite wellness programs. Candidates are required to provide details on their organizational support, program design and implementation, participant engagement, and outcome measurements. A 501c3 not-for-profit member organization, WWCMA champions wellness programs that help employers encourage healthy employees, healthy families, and healthy communities across the Commonwealth. –University Communications
bill on charities and donor-advised funds. WalletHub.com featured commentary from three Carroll School of Management faculty members: Collins Professor of Finance Philip E. Strahan discussed credit scores; Senior Lect. Drew Hession-Kunz addressed credit cards for business owners; and Warren K. Zola, who teaches business law, spoke about economic issues facing the NFL. Zola also addressed the future of the NFL on New England Cable News. The Boston Globe and Irish Times ran stories about the recent donation of letters written by Irish immigrant Florence Burke during the Civil War, along with related photographs, to the Burns Library, which will preserve, archive and digitize the materials. National Catholic Reporter featured City Connects, the student intervention program overseen by Kearns Professor Mary Walsh that underscores the Lynch School of Education’s “whole child” approach, now serving nearly 100 schools in 11 cities across five states, with well-documented success.
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, Student Organizations, Student Affairs/Residential Life Director, Church in the 21st Century Center Assistant Director, Operations, Academic Affairs/Provost Campus Minister, University Mission and Ministry Associate Registrar, Academic Affairs/Provost Assistant Editor, Academic Affairs/Provost Network Technician, Information Technology Senior Philanthropic Advisor, University Advancement Development Assistant, University Advancement Broadcast Engineer, ACC Network Production Director, Internal Audita Program Manager, Academic Affairs/Provost Resident Director, Student Affairs/Residential Life Staff Nurse, Student Affairs/Resiential Life
T he B oston C ollege
Chronicle FEBRUARY 15, 2018
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BC DANCE MARATHON In support of Children’s Hospital Boston
This Saturday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Flynn Recreation Complex www.BCdancemarathon.com
Gaelic Roots All Tuned Up for Its Spring Schedule BY SEAN SMITH CHRONICLE EDITOR
Boston College’s acclaimed Gaelic Roots series, which begins its spring schedule next week, will have a focus on traditional Irish music for its three events this semester. Gaelic Roots explores Irish, Scottish, American and related folk music traditions through concerts, talks and other events featuring accomplished performers widely considered among the best at their craft – and many with ties to Massachusetts or elsewhere in New England or the Northeast. All events in the series, which is supported through the Center for Irish Programs in collaboration with the Alumni Association, are free and open to the public and begin at 6:30 p.m. The series will start off on Feb. 22 in Connolly House (300 Hammond Street) with a lecture and concert by Niall Vallely, one of the leading concertina players and foremost composer of tunes in the Irish tradition. Born in Armagh, Vallely comes from a prominent family in the Northern Irish traditional music scene: His parents founded the Armagh Pipers’ Club to help promote
Open the Door for Three, above, and Niall Vallely are among the performers in the spring Gaelic Roots series.
Con Kelleher
traditional music education, and his brother Cillian – who will appear at Gaelic Roots later this spring – is a renowned uilleann piper himself. Vallely has worked with a range of notable performers, including the Boston Pops Orchestra, and his tunes have been recorded on more than 75 albums. “Niall and Cillian are both well-established musicians who have contributed so much to traditional music,” said Irish Studies Program faculty member Sheila Falls Keohane, director of Gaelic
Roots. “Niall’s lecture will offer an insight into how he approaches traditional music, and will be of interest to musicians and non-musicians alike.” On March 22, Gaelic Roots will present a concert in the Cadigan Alumni Center on Brighton Campus by the trio Open the Door for Three. Mainebased spouses Kieran O’Hare (uilleann pipes, flute, whistle) and Liz Knowles (fiddle) have lengthy resumes that include collaborations with, among others, “Riverdance,” Cherish the Ladies, Danú, Robbie O’Connell and the String Sisters. Pat Broaders (bouzouki, vocals) is a solid accompanist and singer with a vast repertoire. “Open the Door for Three has an unmistakable ‘trad’ sound that meshes with well thought-out arrangements,” said Keohane. “They dig deep for unusual tunes and frame them with contemporary rhythms and clean harmony lines.” Another trio, Cillian Vallely, Kevin Crawford and Patrick Doocey, will close out the Gaelic Roots schedule on April 19 in the Cadigan Center. All three are members of pioneering Irish band Lúnasa, known for its skill-
BC SCENES
ful, sophisticated arrangements, but have many other successful pursuits: Crawford (flute, whistles) has released four solo albums – and another with Vallely – and in recent years has teamed up with fiddler Martin Hayes and guitarist John Doyle as The Teatotallers; Vallely (uilleann pipes, flute, whistles) toured with “Riverdance” and has accompanied Bruce Springsteen, Natalie Merchant, Tim O’Brien and Mary Chapin-Carpenter; Doocey (guitar), a Worcester native, has accompanied many eminent musicians, including his fiddleplaying brother David. “This is a great opportunity to see the brilliant flute and low whistle-playing of Kevin Crawford, such an integral part of the Lúnasa sound,” said Keohane. “He’s not only a wonderful musician, and very knowledgeable about traditional music and its history, but he also connects with the audience through his quick wit and sly humor.” For more on Gaelic Roots, including registration for these events, see www.bc.edu/gaelicroots. Contact Sean Smith at sean.smith@bc.edu
DANCE CULTURE Photos by Yiting Chen
Robsham Theater has been the go-to place on campus for dance performances of late, with shows by the Dance Organization of BC (above and left), Sexual Chocolate (right and below right) and Masti (below), which appeared at the South Asian Student Association’s annual show.