The Boston College
Chronicle Published by the Boston College Office of News & Public Affairs february 25, 2014 Vol. 22 no. 11
•Carroll School students to box for charity, page 2 •Getting the call from ‘Ellen,’ page 2
BC’s First Sesquicentennial Challenge Professor Named New chairs will support junior faculty research and development
•Rimpel joins CGSOM, page 3
J.D. Levine
FREEZE FRAMES
INSIDE
By Ed Hayward Staff Writer
•Mathematician awarded Sloan Fellowship, page 3 •MLK Scholarship winner knows that “all things are possible,” page 4
The recent spate of winter weather at the Heights inspired members of the Boston College community to capture and share snowy campus scenes on the University’s Instagram page [http://instagram.com/bostoncollege].
•Corcoran Chair conference is March 9-10, page 4 •LSOE’s Dennis Shirley on “mindful teaching,” page 5 •An appreciation of Dick Kelley, page 6
•Connell School doctoral student is Jonas Scholar, page 7 •Recycle Mania, page 7 •Student art exhibitors talk about their work, page 8
Lynch School of Education Assistant Professor David Miele has been named to the first Sesquicentennial Challenge chair, an endowed assistant professorship created as part of a new initiative to support junior faculty research and early-career development. Miele, of the Department of Counseling, Developmental and Educational Psychology, has been named the Buehler Sesquicentennial Assistant Professor. His is the first of up to 10 endowed chairs the University plans to establish for assistant professors, according to University Advancement and
David Miele
the Office of the Provost. Senior Vice President for University Advancement James J. Husson said a BC alumnus, who wishes to remain anonymous, sparked the creation of the Sesquicentennial Challenge Gift initiative by offering to match $500,000 for every $1 million put Continued on page 5
Core Foundations Task Force New Formation Programs Role Is Discussed at Forum Helping Students Connect
oping pilot courses by 2015. “We want to get a sense as to how well the vision of this new core is An effort to “articulate the vision” being articulated, so that the process of Boston College’s renewed under- of renewing the core can move forgraduate core curriculum is the mis- ward,” said Fr. Kalscheur. The meeting, held Feb. 18 in sion of a new University task force, the Corcoran Comthe group’s chairman told faculty and ad- “We want to get a sense mons Heights Room, ministrators at a town as to how well the vi- offered an occasion meeting-style event last sion of this new core to review the state of the core renewal iniweek. College of Arts and is being articulated, tiative, which began in Sciences Senior As- so that the process of the fall of 2012. Fr. sociate Dean Gregory renewing the core can Kalscheur, along with Interim Provost and Kalscheur, SJ, said the move forward.” Dean of Faculties JoCore Foundations –Gregory Kalscheur, SJ seph Quinn, gave an Task Force, recently overview of the Core appointed by UniverRenewal Committee’s work – which sity President William P. Leahy, SJ, included a collaboration with Conwill build on the work of the past two years by the Core Renewal Commit- tinuum, an acclaimed innovative tee, while also drawing from the last thinking and design consultancy – and the proposed 42-course core it core revision in 1991. In the coming months, the task developed. Fr. Kalscheur and Quinn also force will solicit faculty comment on the proposal presented last spring by put the core renewal initiative in the the Core Renewal Committee, and context of BC’s commitment to prohow it might serve as a basis for develContinued on page 3 By Sean Smith Chronicle Editor
QUOTE:
By Melissa Beecher Staff Writer
Next year, Michael Izzo ’14 will be headed to medical school. It’s a career path that makes sense, one he always said he wanted from an early age, watching his parents, a physician and ICU nurse. But the arrival at his true vocation was more complex than it may appear. A student-athlete on the BC crew team, Izzo sustained a serious back injury that sidelined him in his junior year. Izzo admits to being thrust out of his comfort zone. He wanted to be involved as a leader, as he would have on his crew team, but outside of sports. “I really didn’t do much selfreflection prior to my junior year. Just the practice of taking a few minutes each day helped me come to a greater understanding of who I wanted to be and who I was not,” said Izzo. That practice sparked an interest-
ing “second act” for Izzo, he said: He got involved in Big Brothers, became an orientation leader, and was accepted as a senior captain for the Freshman League, a new program which helps first-year students navigate an uncertain path early on in college. “My co-leader and I meet with eight freshmen once a week to check in, have a conversation about the high points of the week, but also the struggles,” said Izzo. “I don’t think I truly appreciated what an experience this has been until during one of my interviews for medical school. I had a conversation about what it means to be a doctor. The vocation of a doctor, for me, is a humanistic one. Relationships in the Freshman League helped me become a more caring, compassionate doctor to care for the whole person, not just a physical ailment.” The Freshman League, open to second-semester freshman men, is one of two programs the Center for Continued on page 6
“He was a great person, a great mentor and a great friend. Whether you were a ‘lottery pick’ or just a kid from North Quincy, ‘DK’ always wanted and expected the best out of you.” –Brian Ross ’02 on the late Richard “Dick” Kelley, page 6
T he B oston C ollege
Chronicle february 25, 2014
2
A ROUND
C AMPUS
EAGLES IN THE RING No, Carroll Graduate School of Management student Mark Huang has never climbed into a boxing ring, nor even had much interest in watching the sport, let alone participating in it. Until now. Huang will be one of 24 Boston area residents who will explore the so-called “sweet science” on March 1 at a boxing event to benefit another kind of fight – the battle against pediatric cancer. But Huang will have some good company: His fellow Carroll Graduate School students Samir Agarwal, Graham Cathcart and Rachit Chhikara, all equally inexperienced in boxing, also are on the card. Proceeds from A Bout to Benefit will go to the Michael Dunleavy Foundation Inc. – named for an eight-year-old Winchester, Mass., boy who died from an inoperable brain tumor – which raises money for pediatric cancer research at Massachusetts General Hospital. The event takes place at St. James’ Armenian Church Hall, 465 Mt. Auburn Street in Watertown. The first thing to know about this boxing exhibition (other than it’s for a worthy cause) is that it’s amateur-only: Combatants have little or no boxing credentials – those who fought in previous Dunleavy Foundation events are pitted against one another – and are given training in the sport at weekly one-and-ahalf hour sessions at a boxing club in Brighton. Huang first heard about A Bout to Benefit through an MBA classmate whose friends are co-organizing the event, and he found himself intrigued enough to sign up. “I had never been in a fight before,” he says. “I always imagined that being in a fight, you can learn things about yourself and it’s an experience to have. One of the things that brought me back to school was to have experiences, and not just in the classroom.” Huang also encouraged his three Carroll Graduate School classmates to register. For Chhikara, it was an opportunity to try his hand at a sport he’d always followed, and which is a popular Olympic sport in his native India; in fact, most of India’s Olympic boxers have come from his home state.
Student Liz D’Onofrio (left) and friend Brianna Lambro were guests of Ellen DeGeneres.
CALL WAITING (Clockwise from top left) Carroll School of Management students Graham Cathcart, Mark Huang, Samir Agarwal and Rachit Chhikara will participate in a charity boxing match March 1. (Photos by Dunleavy Foundation)
“I thought it would be great to do something that interested me and to contribute to charity at the same time,” says Chhikara. “It was also a good excuse to get into a fitness regime.” Although no big fan of boxing, Agarwal was so eager at the prospect of taking part that he cancelled his finance case competition scheduled for the same day. “I’m not sure why I’ve gotten excited about this. Maybe I see it as a once-in-a-lifetime challenge.” Reaction from family and friends to their decision to box has varied, according to the three nascent pugilists. Huang says most of the responses he’s gotten have been encouragement and praise. “I think I convey to them that it’s an amateur fight, and there will be professional referees, judges and doctors on site, so there is no real danger. “That being said,” he adds, “I do expect to get bashed up a bit. This is where the training has come in: The sessions have been awesome and
Director of NEWS & Public Affairs Jack Dunn Deputy Director of NEWS & Public AFFAIRS Patricia Delaney Editor Sean Smith
Contributing Staff Melissa Beecher Ed Hayward Sean Hennessey Rosanne Pellegrini Kathleen Sullivan Michael Maloney Photographers Gary Gilbert Lee Pellegrini
definitely of great help. There is a lot of technique and form that goes into boxing. I cannot imagine going into a ring without any preparation, and the difference to how I was pretraining and now is night and day.” Agarwal says his friends are happy for him, but his family – especially his brother, who tried to talk him out of it – has been a tough sell. “They are a little concerned, but they want me perform well, too.” Chhikara describes his family’s attitude as “pretty OK,” given that they haven’t formed much of an impression of boxing, and he doesn’t share details about his training and sparring sessions. “My wife is supportive,” he says, “but I can gauge the underlying concern she never explicitly mentions.” Tickets for A Bout to Benefit are $35 and can be purchased from Agarwal, Chhikara, Huang or Cathcart, or online at www.abouttobenefit.org. Admission is restricted to persons 21 or over. –Sean Smith
The Boston College
Chronicle
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To say that the phone call Boston College graduate student Liz D’Onofrio got last fall was memorable would be an understatement. At the other end of the line was talk show host, comedian and actress Ellen DeGeneres, who reached out to D’Onofrio after she had posted the following on her facebook page: “I just answered an unknown number because I actually thought it might be Ellen DeGeneres. I never, ever want to miss that call.” While D’Onofrio had heard from a producer of “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” after that post, she had no idea DeGeneres would call her directly, much less during a taping of the talk show. Nor did she have any inkling that the exchange would precipitate a drama worthy of a made-for-TV movie. “It was very surprising,” recalled D’Onofrio, who said she could hear the audience reacting as she answered DeGeneres’ call. Initially, the point of DeGeneres’ call was to offer D’Onofrio a copy of her new CD, “Ellen’s I’m Gonna Make you Dance Jams.” But DeGeneres felt a more meaningful connection when she found out about D’Onofrio’s work as an intern at the Children’s Room in Arlington, which offers support for grieving children who have lost someone in their family. DeGeneres responded with “I love you. I’m so glad I called you.” Next thing D’Onofrio knew, DeGeneres had invited her to California to meet her and come to a taping of the show. Producers made arrangements for an all-expenses-paid trip to the show for Jan. 23. But what would television be without a plot twist? Turns out shortly after D’Onofrio and the rest of the audience were seated for the
taping, a producer delivered some bad news: For the first time in 11 seasons, DeGeneres was out sick. “At first, we thought it was a joke,” said D’Onofrio. Then, reality hit. “I was a little disappointed.” The invitation had been a dream come true for long-time DeGeneres fan D’Onofrio, who started watching “Ellen” when she was in high school. “I like her message. She is very accepting and is all about being yourself. Her humor is not about tearing people down. Plus, she shares her wealth. She really values giving back.” D’Onofrio knows a thing or two about giving. After graduation in May, she plans to pursue a career in palliative or hospice care. A graduate of St. Bonaventure University and native of Montrose, NY, D’Onofrio chose to pursue graduate studies at Boston College because of the dual degree program in pastoral ministry and social work offered through the School of Theology and Ministry and Graduate School of Social Work — and because she “loves the city of Boston.” The story still has the chance for a “happily-ever-after” ending, however. According to D’Onofrio, DeGeneres felt so bad that she missed the show, she invited the entire audience to come back for another taping – all expenses paid. They have been invited to return in December to one of the very popular “12 Days of Giveaways” shows. D’Onofrio will hear back from producers in November with the details, but says she is “on board” to make the trip again, and hopefully, meet DeGeneres. As they say in TV land, to be continued. –Kathleen Sullivan Watch the exchange between D’Onofrio and DeGeneres (about 1:28 into the clip) at http://bit.ly/1gBENFd.
The Boston College Chronicle (USPS 009491), the internal newspaper for faculty and staff, is published biweekly from September to May by Boston College, with editorial offices at the Office of News & Public Affairs, 14 Mayflower Road, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467 (617)552-3350. Distributed free to faculty and staff offices and other locations on campus. Periodicals postage paid at Boston, MA and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: send address changes to The Boston College Chronicle, Office of News & Public Affairs, 14 Mayflower Road, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467.
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T he B oston C ollege
Chronicle february 25, 2014
Fedorchuk Wins Sloan Fellowship
By Sean Hennessey Staff Writer
College of Arts and Sciences Associate Dean Gregory Kalscheur, SJ, looks on as Interim Provost and Dean of Faculties Joseph Quinn speaks at last week’s town meeting on the core renewal process. (Photo by Sean Smith)
intriguing questions to animate the core.” Fr. Kalscheur said the phrase “integration and order,” which he drew from a document prepared by the University’s Jesuit Community some years ago, is an apt description of the Jesuit approach to education, and can serve as a guiding principle for the creation and direction of core classes, especially interdisciplinary ones. “Having a sense of how disciplines speak to one another and move with one another is critical to the vision for the new core.” Institute for the Liberal Arts Director Mary Crane, a member of both the Core Renewal Committee and Core Foundations Task Force, said that experimentation, as well as creativity, will be a facet of the new core, especially in the pilot phase. “A lot of things will be tried out,” she said. “There will be a gradual process of testing ideas.” One segment of the Q&A dealt with whether the six-credit courses were more appropriate for upperclassmen than freshmen. Quinn said there was considerable sentiment at BC for the need to challenge students at the very beginning of their Lee Pellegrini
Continued from page 1 viding an intellectually challenging, contemporary-minded education rooted in Jesuit, Catholic tradition. “The theme of the core renewal effort is ‘Who do we want to be as a university, and how can the core contribute to that?’” said Quinn. “We have to consider the special qualities of a Jesuit, Catholic education: ‘Educating men and women for others’ is a phrase that’s taken very seriously here. When you look at the PULSE program, the 350 volunteers at the Campus School, the 700 students who go to Appalachia every year, it’s plain that service is in our DNA.” Fr. Kalscheur spoke about the special characteristics of Jesuit education and its place in the core. “When we look at the core curriculum, we’re not starting with a blank slate. We have the integrative vision of Jesuit education, which pulls together a range of aspects of what it means to be a whole person. BC’s heritage reflects that concern for intellectual, moral and spiritual formation.” The remainder of the meeting was a question-and-answer session with the audience, which included representatives from the Core Foundations Task Force. Some of the discussion concerned the timeline for the core renewal initiative or aspects of the core renewal proposal; other questions centered on governance of the core, or the role of specific fields such as the arts, mathematics or science. Quinn pointed to the proposal for two six-credit freshmen interdisciplinary courses as an incentive for faculty creativity. “BC will rely on the imagination of our faculty to put together interesting combinations of disciplines, and to come up with
By Ed Hayward Staff Writer
Assistant Professor of Mathematics Maksym Fedorchuk has been awarded a prestigious Sloan Research Fellowship from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. Fedorchuk is among the outstanding US and Canadian researchers chosen this year to receive the fellowships, which are given to earlycareer scientists and scholars whose achievements and potential identify them as rising stars among the next generation of scientific leaders. “I am honored to receive this recognition from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation,” said Fedorchuk. “The Sloan Fellowship will allow me to devote more time to my research and to collaborate with my colleagues at BC and at other universities.”
Carroll School Welcomes Rimpel as Assistant Dean
Maksym Fedorchuk
A member of the BC faculty since 2012, Fedorchuk works in the field of algebraic geometry, focusing in particular on moduli spaces, which map or portray a certain set of objects, such as a line, a curve, a plane or a cylinder. These spaces are constructed by algebraic geometers by using geometric invariant theory, another area of Fedorchuk’s research. His selection marks the third Sloan fellowship for a mathematics faculty member in the last two years. Last year, assistant professors Joshua E. Greene and David Treumann received Sloan fellowships. Assistant
time at BC, and thus set the tone early on for intellectual exploration. “We want students to look at an issue or area of study they don’t know much about, to pique their curiosity, in the hope this will guide them to disciplines that will help answer their questions.” In a discussion about the extent to which the core proposal – in its current or future forms – would reflect faculty interests, ideas and concerns, Crane said the Core Renewal Committee had included academic departments’ comments about the proposal in its report to Fr. Leahy last summer. Fr. Leahy talked about the comments at length with the committee, she said, and cited some in particular – notably questions on Jesuit-Catholic character – as the basis for forming the Core Foundations Task Force. Quinn added, “The level of interest and enthusiasm the faculty have brought to the core renewal process is to be applauded. We’ve got to continue seeing more of that as we move forward; we need lots of faculty willing to try things to make the new core successful.” Professor Dawei Chen, who also specializes in algebraic geometry, was recently awarded a National Science Foundation CAREER Award. “I’m pleased to learn that the Sloan Foundation has identified Maksym as one of the nation’s most promising young mathematicians,” College and Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Dean David Quigley said. “This is just the latest confirmation of the ascending quality and reputation of our group in algebraic geometry.” Fedorchuk has helped to organize algebraic geometry workshops, such as the major international conference Algebraic Geometry Northeast Series held at BC last October, said Professor of Mathematics Robert G. Meyerhoff, who nominated Fedorchuk for the Sloan award. “Maksym is an extremely strong algebraic geometer who has solved problems about some of the most fundamental objects in mathematics,” said Meyerhoff. “His work shows impressive insight, creativity, and technical strength.” See www.sloan.org/sloan-researchfellowships/2014-sloan-research-fellows.
He’s only been at Boston College for a few weeks, but new Carroll School of Management Assistant Dean for Graduate Programs Christopher Rimpel already has a few observations about the Heights – and they’re quite positive. “The camaraderie is great here,” says Rimpel, who began his job on Feb. 3. “The people are welcoming, and so dedicated. They will bend over backwards for the students and they truly believe in the program. Doors are always open and everyone has been so accommodating since I’ve been here. I am excited to contribute to an already impressive established team.” Although the path to Boston College for Rimpel was a circuitous one, he encountered the University regularly in one manner or another along the way. A native of Concord who earned his MBA at the Northwestern University Kellogg Graduate School of Management, Rimpel started following BC during the Doug Flutie era in the 1980s. He also worked directly with a number of BC undergraduate and MBA alumni throughout his long career in the business world. Rimpel says he got the higher education bug after repeatedly helping various colleagues apply to business school with his mentoring and essay-writing help. “A lot of people I’ve known have told me, ‘Look, you’ve helped close to 20 people get into business school, you should do this full time.’ After hearing this from various people over the years, I kind of took that to heart and started to look to see what kind of opportunities were out there.” This opportunity opened up last fall, when Rimpel’s predecessor Warren Zola left to become the Carroll School’s executive director of corporate and government affairs. Having evaluated both up-and-coming and established MBA programs, and having spoken with friends who were BC alumni, Rimpel – hearing “continuous praise” for the Carroll School – applied for the job. “Chris Rimpel has the experience of a top-flight MBA program at the Kellogg Graduate School of Management,” says Carroll School Associate Dean of Graduate Programs Jeffrey L. Ringuest. “This, coupled with more than 15 years of finance and consulting experience – most recently at a consulting firm that
Lee Pellegrini
Town Meeting Discusses Core Renewal
3
Christopher Rimpel
helped public school districts across the country address both instructionally and operationally issues – made him a unique and distinctive candidate for the position. We are delighted that Chris has joined our team. He will be a real asset to the Carroll School and BC.” Rimpel feels his biggest asset will be his career in the business world, including stints as an assistant portfolio manager on Wall Street, an international equity sales trader, a senior manager of finance at an Internet company, a corporate restructuring consultant, and most recently, an educational consultant. “I’ve been exposed to various areas of the finance and consulting world which allows me to bring that experience to students in terms of what they can expect out there, give them my thoughts of what they need to concentrate on because you can teach only so much in a classroom,” says Rimpel. “In many instances, companies want to see immediately what you can do by basically throwing you into the fire and seeing if you can sink or swim – it’s sometimes the best way to learn. “I hope being able to provide that insight, coupled with my experience of knowing what skills companies are looking for, can help students in their pursuit of a new career.”
Correction A story on page 6 of the Feb. 13 Chronicle gave incorrect information concerning the Making History Public class, a collaboration between the History Department and University Libraries. The class produced an exhibition last year on the history of the book based on the work of students of Professor Virginia Reinburg; an exhibition on Boston Common is being organized for the fall by students of Professor Marilynn Johnson. Chronicle regrets the error.
T he B oston C ollege
Chronicle february 25, 2014
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Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship
Winner Hopes to ‘Change Face of Health Care’ By Rosanne Pellegrini Staff Writer
“I know that all things are possible with faith, dedication, determination and perseverance.” With these words, junior Patience Marks accepted her award as winner of the 2014 Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Scholarship, held earlier this month in Robsham Theater. The 32nd annual ceremony also featured a talk by John H. Jackson, president and CEO of the Schott Foundation for Public Education. This latest accolade for the Connell School of Nursing student adds to her already impressive record of scholarship, achievement and volunteerism. An undergraduate scholar in the Keys to Inclusive Leadership in Nursing (KILN) program, Marks also is a peer advisor. As a freshman she served as a representative in the African Student Organization, and the following year participated in the Multicultural Leadership Experience Program. “Seeing the other finalists,” Marks said, “I knew that even if I wasn’t chosen as the winner, I would be satisfied because those young men and women are fantastic individuals. The service that they’re engaged in, their academic excellence – and the change they too want to make in the world – are as important as mine. We are all fighting for the same cause, and for that I knew that we were all winners.” [See separate story to read about the other Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship finalists] Born and raised until age six in Liberia, Marks came to the United States with her family in 2000, and settled in New Jersey. “Coming to America was one of the biggest educational opportunities and provided me with
Patience Marks ’15: “I know that all things are possible with faith, dedication, determination and perseverance.”(Photo by Lee Pellegrini)
limitless options and roads to pursue my dreams,” she said. Determined to succeed from a young age, she persevered academically and went on to attend a charter school, win a scholarship from the Wight Foundation to attend Chapel Hill-Chauncy Hall, a boarding school in Waltham, Mass., and gain acceptance to Boston College. Her pursuit of a nursing career, she said, was prompted by what she sees as “inequality and injustice is the health care system” and her determination to make a difference in the field. After graduation, she plans to pursue a master’s degree in nursing while working as a nurse, and aspires to collaborate with other health care professionals to establish an improved health care environment that will enhance patient treatment regardless of economic, racial or social backgrounds. She also envisions opening clinics in the US and abroad to serve underrepresented populations to provide not only health care, “but also programs to teach patients about health maintenance.” A believer in the concept that “knowledge is power,” Marks describes her calling as “to be an educator, because I can make
the most difference in correcting injustices and inequalities.” Her on- and off-campus service work is “grounded in educating others, because education is the key foundation in changing the injustices within American society.” Through the PULSE program she has volunteered at Rockwell House, for patients dealing with drug addiction and HIV/AIDS, which inspired her to join the Peer Health Exchange to teach lessons on prevention in Bostonarea high schools. During breaks, she volunteers as a teaching assistant at an elementary school in her hometown of Newark, NJ, and she currently is a volunteer research assistant on a project examining the impact of urban literature on teenage girls. In April, Marks will be inducted into the Sigma Theta Tau International Alpha Chi Chapter Honor Society of Nursing. “I am extremely thankful for both the support of my immediate family and my CSON family and friends, especially the KILN program. Both have [provided] outstanding resources and support in nurturing my growth, independence and leadership skills,” said Marks, who offered her gratitude in particular to Connell School
The Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship, awarded this year to Patience Marks [see separate story], recognizes a Boston College junior who has demonstrated superior academic achievement, extracurricular leadership, community service, and involvement with the African-American community and African-American issues both on and off campus. [More information available at www.bc.edu/mlk] A look at the other 2014 scholarship finalists: Gaetan Civil–The son of Haitian immigrants, and the first in his family to attend college, Civil majors in sociology and economics. He serves in various leadership roles on the Black Student Forum and Student Advisory Board of AHANA Student Programs, and is coordinator of AHANA outreach for the Student Admissions Program. A Jemez Pueblo Service Exchange participant, he has led the Jamaica Magis service immersion trip. He worked as a student leader and preceptor in the Options through Education Program, and for three years has been a Big Brother to a Boston youth. He plans to pursue a career in hospital administration/public health. Mohamed Diop–A biology major and premed student, Diop grew up in Washington, DC – where, as a longtime volunteer at a soup kitchen, he has twice met President Obama and the first family while serving meals to homeless clients. He was a participant and is now a mentor in AHANA’s Sankofa Leadership Program and is a resident assistant on Upper Campus. He serves as a teaching assistant for a Learning to Learn course and has volunteered as tutor/mentor at a local high school. Diop plans to go to medical school. Vanessa Omoroghomwan–Studying abroad in Madrid, Omoroghomwan – born in Nigeria and raised in Boston – is a major in political science and philosophy. A BC Neighborhood Center tutor, she taught a second grade class in Jamaica last spring through Campus Ministry’s Jamaican Magis service immersion trip. As the captain of the dance troupe PATU (Presenting Africa To You), she promotes pride in Nigerian and other African cultures, and serves as secretary of the BC Brazilian Club. She plans to pursue a career in law. Cusaj Thomas–An economics major from Newark, NJ, Thomas credits involvement with the Dedicated Intellectuals of the People discussion group and BC’s male step team with providing encouragement and support in his transition to college. He has worked with youths at the West End Boys and Girls Club, and is involved in a community service research project to examine underachievement of African-American males in school. He has a leadership role in 48 Hours, participated in the Jamaica Mustard Seed service trip, served on the Black History Month planning committee, and is student manager of events for the Alumni Association. –Office of News & Public Affairs faculty members Judith Vessey, Allyssa Harris, Melissa Sutherland and Jean O’Neil “for being such amazing mentors and confidantes.” In addition to other supporters, Marks expressed thanks to “the MLK board and committee for this wonderful opportunity, for which I am truly grateful. “Being recognized as the 2014 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Schol-
ar means that my fight to change the injustices and inequalities in the world continues. It means that I took another successful step in my mission, and with the support from this scholarship, the MLK committee, my teachers and my peers, I hope to one day change the face of health care.” Contact Rosanne Pellegrini at rosanne.pellegrini@bc.edu
Conference Explores Jewish, Christian Visual Culture Art historians, historians and scholars of text and culture from Boston College and around the world will gather on campus to discuss the evolving relationship between Jewish and Christian visual culture, at the 2014 Corcoran Chair International Conference early next month. “Jews, Christians & Visuality: New Approaches,” which is free and open to the public, will take place on March 9 from noon-6 p.m. in Gasson 305, and on March 10 from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. in the Corcoran Commons Heights Room. The event is hosted by BC’s Center for ChristianJewish Learning.
According to organizers, the study of “Jewish Art” and “Jews in Art” has been expanding from antiquarian and philological aspects to comprehend theoretical perspectives that extend to historical, artistic, textual and cultural studies. Ties between Jewish and Christian visual culture in the medieval Latin West is “a signal element in this re-evaluation.” Center for Christian-Jewish Learning Director James Bernauer, SJ, and Marc Michael Epstein, who is Corcoran Visiting Professor in Christian-Jewish Relations for 2013-14, will offer greetings at the beginning of the conference. Other BC speakers at the
conference include Prof. Pamela Berger (Fine Arts), Prof. Emeritus Matilda Bruckner (Romance Languages and Literatures), ChristianJewish Learning Center Associate Director Prof. Rabbi Ruth Langer (Theology), and graduate student Emma O’Donnell. Also appearing at the event are representatives from the University of Toronto, Oxford University, the Pontifical Institute of Medieval Studies, University of Zagreb and City College of New York, among others. For more information on “Jews, Christians & Visuality,” see www.bc.edu/cjl. —Office of News & Public Affairs
Julian Wachner conducted the Choir of Trinity Church Wall Street in the premiere performance of Professor of Music Ralf Yusuf Gawlick’s “Missa gentis humanae” on Feb. 17 in St. Ignatius Church. (Photo by Frank Curran)
T he B oston C ollege
Chronicle february 25, 2014
5
Sesquicentennial Challenge Chairs Established at BC
Prof. Dennis Shirley (LSOE): “We’re dealing with the minds and, if you will, the souls, of our young people. We need a more respectful and dignifying pedagogy to reach our most ambitious aspirations for our students.” (Photo courtesy of Dennis Shirley)
Lynch School Prof. Extols ‘Mindful Teaching’ By Ed Hayward Staff Writer
It’s hard to reconcile the boisterous realities of the typical classroom with a quiet space, the chime of a gong, meditation, and an unhurried dialogue among teachers seeking to make sense of the joys and the challenges of teaching. But Lynch School of Education Professor Dennis Shirley – whose research has placed him at the forefront of the educational “mindfulness” movement – thinks that teachers who can retreat from the schoolhouse cacophony to reflect on their experiences and those of their peers can energize and improve their teaching. “Mindful teaching can help us to calm our bodies and focus our minds so that we can be more fully engaged with and responsive to our students,” Shirley said. “It can help us to be more compassionate to their diverse needs and also more awake to what is going on in our classrooms. It isn’t a cure-all and shouldn’t try to be. But it can help to enhance our awareness and responsiveness over the long run.” To give teachers that opportunity, Shirley and instructional technology specialists at the University’s Instructional Design and eTeaching Services (IDeS) department have collaborated on the creation of the new website www.mindfulteacher.com, in hopes of using educational technology as something of a counterbalance against itself. With roots in Buddhist meditation, mindfulness emphasizes the focusing of attention and awareness to the present experience. The practice has gradually started to permeate many corners of society, as exemplified by a recent Time magazine cover story, “The Mindful Revolution,” which examined “the science of finding focus in a stressed-out, multitasking culture.” Shirley’s voice – a suitably soothing and measured one – is now part of a growing chorus of calls for Americans to slow down, breathe
deep and reflect. The website contains links to audio meditation guides, narrated by Shirley, who has used meditation, prayer and other contemplative practices on a regular basis for years. They begin with the chime of a gong and Shirley’s quiet invitation to reflect. Educational technology has given teachers powerful tools. Yet teachers face increased accountability, shifting standards, faster and larger streams of data and new mandates in communication and transparency – each with technological dimensions. Sometimes, Shirley said, teachers just need to unplug. “Mindfulness does entail an element of slowing down, turning off the computer, putting away the cell phone, and enjoying the quiet blessings of everyday life,” said Shirley. The website grew out of a seminar series Shirley conducted with teachers from the Boston Public Schools for six years. The group met regularly to reflect, meditate and talk about the joys and challenges of teaching. That project, funded with a Collaborative Fellows grant from the Lynch School, also spawned Shirley’s 2009 book The Mindful Teacher, co-authored with BPS teacher Elizabeth MacDonald. “Working at a Jesuit and Catholic university, I’m always reminded that education is about far more than mere knowledge acquisition or the economic competitiveness of future workers,” Shirley said. “We’re dealing with the minds and, if you will, the souls, of our young people. We need a more respectful and dignifying pedagogy to reach our most ambitious aspirations for our students.” The website, Shirley hopes, will be a place where teachers, principals, educators and parents can go to find resources, research and a discussion about mindfulness in K-12 education. He hopes it appeals to teachers seeking more “humanistic”
schools. “I worry that we’re losing our moral compass and that those educators with the highest aspirations for our students are those who increasingly are least welcome in our schools,” Shirley said. “We have a lot of work to do and we could make a good start by making sure that we communicate to our teachers that every one of them matters, as does every one of our students.” Shirley received an Academic Technology Innovation Grant from the Academic Technology Advisory Board in 2012 and began working with IDeS Senior Instructional Designer Tim Lindgren. The site needed to serve not only as a repository for research and resources, but as a host to conversations and commentary, which Shirley hopes to draw upon in future research. At the same time, it needed a certain look and feel, Lindgren said. “It’s been a great project to work on with Dennis as we explored what the site could do,” said Lindgren. “He wanted something clean with a simple interface that provided a calming effect on the people who come to it. That was one of the guiding ideas behind the design itself.” The website contains three sections. “Practice” offers guided meditation audio clips designed to help “assist us with calming our bodies and focusing our minds before, during and after school.” The “Learn” section is a clearinghouse for new research into the role mindfulness can play in education. The third section, “Connect,” offers guides and prompts for teacher discussion groups. “For right now, I’m curious to see what visitors to the site will make of it,” Shirley said. “I don’t have all of the answers and can’t pretend to, but perhaps by creating on-line environments where educators can explore tough questions we can make our own quiet contribution to a better world.” Contact Ed Hayward at ed.hayward@bc.edu
Continued from page 1 forward by other benefactors to create the $1.5 million endowments required to fund each assistant professorship. In addition to Miele’s chair, gifts have been designated to name two assistant professors in the Carroll School of Management and one at Boston College Law School to Sesquicentennial chairs. Miele’s professorship was made possible by a gift from University Trustee John E. Buehler Jr. ’69 and family, long-time benefactors of the University. The initiative, Husson said, targets “support for the University’s academic enterprise,” a top priority of the Light the World campaign. “Aimed squarely at attracting and retaining the very best faculty at the Heights, this challenge — and the Buehler family’s response by establishing an endowed assistant professorship in the Lynch School — will ensure that Boston College’s reputation for teaching and research excellence continues to grow,” Husson said. Endowing junior faculty positions is a new approach for BC, which has traditionally awarded endowed professorships to tenured faculty. The awards provide additional funds to support research and teaching. Vice Provost for Faculties Patricia DeLeeuw said the Sesquicentennial Challenge assistant professorships will prove crucial in hiring, retaining and developing early-career faculty.
“Establishing chairs for assistant professors helps to attract outstanding candidates for faculty positions,” said DeLeeuw. “The resources they provide help support those faculty members once they are here. This is a tremendous initiative because it enables us to attract the very best faculty who are going to be the stars of tomorrow.” Miele, an educational psychologist who joined BC last fall after teaching for two years at the University of Maryland, said he was grateful for the recognition and support. “I’m extremely honored and grateful to the Lynch School, the University and the Buehler family for their support of my work through the Sesquicentennial Challenge initiative,” said Miele. “I see this program as a significant commitment to the development of BC’s junior faculty and feel very fortunate to have been selected.” Miele, who conducts research on the cognitive and motivational processes that support learning in children and young adults, said the funds from the chair will allow him to start new projects and expand his research focus. “Like my colleagues, I pursue research funding from a variety of sources,” said Miele. “But we all know that this is an incredibly competitive environment for external funding, which makes the University’s support all that much more important.” Contact Ed Hayward at ed.hayward@bc.edu
Visitors enjoyed a look at the McMullen Museum of Art’s new exhibition, “Paris Night & Day: Photography Between the Wars,” at a special opening on Feb. 17. (Photo by Justin Knight)
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Support, Mentoring the Focus of New Student Formation Programs
Continued from page 1 Student Formation has introduced over the past three years to help support and mentor freshmen, and enable them to form deeper connections at BC. This year, the center began piloting Ascend, a program for second-semester sophomore women. At the beginning of the semester, all participants attend a retreat in the Connors Retreat Center in Dover, Mass. Following the introductory weekend, groups hold weekly meetings when students participate in an abbreviated reflection loosely based on the spiritual exercises of St. Ignatius that focuses on prayer, attentiveness and self-awareness. Monthly activities throughout the
es and friends in the dorm. After learning about some programs as an upper classman, I remember thinking there is so much more to Boston College that I missed,” said Mulvey, a 2009 alumnus. Similarly, Ascend offers sophomore women an opportunity to branch out and meet new friends. “As seniors, we can relate to what a challenging time sophomore year can be,” said Kayla Parr ’14, a captain in Ascend. “As a woman at BC, I think many of us are seeking deeper connections with other women. It’s hard to express that you’re feeling vulnerable, and Ascend is a safe place to have that conversation.”
Center for Student Formation Assistant Director Tim Mulvey leads a captains meeting of the Freshman League, one of two programs created recently by the center to help first-year students make connections at BC. (Photo by Frank Curran)
semester help underclassmen get off campus to experience the city and region. The concept has been well received, with numbers swelling to include more than 500 applicants this semester, and more than 300 students taking part in the two programs combined. Center for Student Formation Director Mike Sacco and Assistant Director Tim Mulvey came up with the idea of the Freshman League three years ago to engage male students at BC, who were chronically underrepresented in campus activities. The two admit to being pleasantly surprised by the popularity of the programs: This year, more than 350 freshmen applied to be part of the League. “These programs also are an important formational experience for our seniors in the role of peer leaders,” said Sacco. “A stratification of classes exists here and this provides a really nice, collaborative and interactive way to confront that issue.” Mulvey explained that many freshmen are coming from a highly competitive high school experience, where they felt overextended with AP classes, sports and extracurricular activities. “I was a student at BC who decided to pull back after high school. It led to only experiencing my class-
“I was surprised to meet other senior women who I had not known prior to this. Sometimes you can forget what a big place BC is,” said Parr. Center for Student Formation Assistant Director Margaret Nuzzolese, who leads the Ascend Program with graduate assistant Megan Krakowiak, said organizers were surprised this year when 170 sophomores applied to be part of the program. “I think women responded because so many are looking for authentic conversations outside of their eight-man [residence hall suite],” said Nuzzolese. “Often, women find themselves competing against each other. We’re hoping Ascend sparks a cultural shift so women here understand that they can be more and relationships can be more than that. “But we also want this to help BC women understand that they are enough, just as they are. And there are a community of other women to support them to become their best self,” said Nuzzolese. More information on the Freshman League, Ascend and other Center for Student Formation programming is available on the center’s website, www.bc.edu/formation. Contact Melissa Beecher at melissa.beecher@bc.edu
Dick Kelley: An Appreciation By Reid Oslin Special to the Chronicle
Hundreds of mourners – among them former Boston College student-athletes, past and present coaches, University administrators and his legions of friends – stood in long lines at a local funeral home and then filled St. Ignatius Church last week to pay tribute to the life of one of BC’s most-beloved figures, Richard “Dick” Kelley ’87, MA ’89. Dick Kelley, 48, BC’s assistant athletics director for media relations since 1991, died on Feb. 13 after a nearly-three year battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a deadly nerve disease that causes the steady loss of voluntary muscle movement. What made Dick so special to those who flocked here to bid him farewell – and to those many others who had him in their thoughts and prayers last week – was his constant and unwavering concern for the University’s student-athletes. A highly skilled writer, editor and media relations professional, Dick saw far beyond the mere statistics of sports competition, and spent countless hours mentoring, counseling, encouraging and, occasionally, chastising BC student-athletes on aspects of life well beyond the playing field or arena. A story oft-retold in recent days concerned Matt Ryan ’07, a star football player who drew extraordinary amounts of media attention during his celebrated collegiate career: “You’re a Boston College graduate,” Dick told the prize quarterback one day. “Why don’t you sound like it once in a while?” Dick then proceeded to sit the young Ryan down in his office and helpfully provide a host of tips on handling media interviews efficiently, the importance of using proper grammar and speaking techniques, and other suggestions that would help to polish the player’s – and the University’s – image in this mediahungry world. Last week, Ryan, now quarterback for the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons, said in a tweet from his home in Georgia, “Sad to hear the news about the passing of [Dick Kelley]. He was one of my favorite people during my time at BC and a huge influence to me.” Reggie Jackson ’09, currently a professional basketball player for the NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder, sent a similar message: “Words can’t express how much you mean to me and BC.” But you didn’t have to be an all-star for Dick to take an interest in your wellbeing, your academic progress and your future. “He didn’t care if you scored 20 points a night or sat on the bench and waved
Dick Kelley in his favorite spot: at the center of Boston College Athletics. (Photo by John Quackenbos, BC Athletics)
your towel,” said Brian Ross ’02, a former basketball student-athlete who today is a financial services professional in Boston. “He was a great person, a great mentor and a great friend. Whether you were a ‘lottery pick’ or just a kid from North Quincy, ‘DK’ always wanted and expected the best out of you.” Dick also delighted in educating a generation of would-be writers and sports administrators who worked in or with the Sports Media office. On a new student’s first day on the job, Dick would issue a sheet of grammar rules, and demand that they be carefully followed. He then proceeded to mentor the young journalists-to-be, offering writing and editing advice throughout their tenure in the department. Dozens of BC alumni have made their careers in media after learning the trade from Dick Kelley. Of the hundreds of heartfelt remembrances that flowed from the University community during Dick’s illness and death, two stand out to this colleague. One epitomized his devotion and loyalty to Boston College’s student-athletes, even as his own health ebbed away. The second recounts an athlete’s gratitude to him: •It was Easter Sunday, April 8, 2012, and the Boston College hockey team was returning to campus from Tampa, Fla., where the night before, the Eagles had won the NCAA Championship with a solid 4-1 victory over Ferris State University. With most students at home for the long holiday weekend and many local fans engaged in family activities, few people were on hand when the team bus pulled up to Conte Forum. One of them was Dick Kelley. Although his body was wracked from the surging ALS, he had willed himself to get to campus to be on hand when coach Jerry York and his triumphant team returned home. He was unable to stand, and a fold-
ing chair was quietly provided for him to wait. When the team finally arrived, each player and coach greeted him with a hearty handshake, a gentle hug, or – as hockey players everywhere are wont to do – a playful poke to the ribs. Finally, team co-captain Tommy Cross stepped off the bus with the gleaming NCAA prize. With his strong hands, Cross held the trophy close to Dick, who did not have the ability to grasp it. He could only weep with joy as he was finally able to share in “his Eagles’” grand accomplishment. •Last spring, the Chicago Blackhawks won the coveted Stanley Cup as champions of the National Hockey League. As part of the Cup tradition, each player on the winning team is allowed to have the famous three-foot tall icon for a day. Former Eagle Ben Smith ’10 got his chance to show off hockey’s ultimate team prize on July 16 when he was honored in his hometown of Avon, Conn. After the civic celebration, Smith and his parents drove to Chestnut Hill, where following a quick visit to BC they headed to Dick Kelley’s apartment on Commonwealth Avenue. Smith walked unannounced into the living area and plunked the 35-lb. Stanley Cup right at the foot of Dick’s recliner. He looked his mentor straight in the eye and said, “Dick, I couldn’t have accomplished things like this in my life without the support of people like you.” Dick Kelley lived Boston College’s motto of “Ever to Excel” in his life, in his work, and in his spirit. He will be missed. Requiescat in Pace, Dick. Reid Oslin ’68 worked for the Admission Office, the Athletics Department and the Office of News & Public Affairs during his 41 years at Boston College.
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CSON’s Searle Named Jonas Scholar Connell School of Nursing doctoral student Eileen F. Searle has been named a Jonas Scholar, thanks to a grant from the Jonas Center for Nursing and Veterans Healthcare, matched by the Connell School’s own funds, to underwrite a scholarship for a doctoral nursing student. As a recipient of the Jonas Center grant, the Connell School of Nursing is part of a national effort to stem the nursing faculty shortage and prepare future nurses. Searle joins nearly 600 future nurse educators and leaders at 110 schools supported by Jonas Center programs, the Jonas Nurse Leaders Scholars Program and Jonas Veterans Healthcare Program. These scholarships support nurses pursuing PhDs and DNPs, the terminal degrees in the field. Searle is a primary care nurse practitioner, specializing in adult gerontology. She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing from Boston College, and earned a master of public health degree
from Boston University’s School of Public Health. A clinical nurse at Mt. Auburn Hospital in Cambridge, she pursues research interests in critical care surge capacity and providing comprehensive nursing care in austere conditions. “Eileen is an innovative scholar and a rising star,” said CSON Associate Dean for Graduate Pro-
grams Kathy Hutchinson. “Eileen’s area of research, pandemic flu preparedness, is a priority area for interdisciplinary research in the US and internationally. She is raising key questions that no one else is asking and is often the only nursing voice at the table.” “The mission of the Jonas Center for Nursing and Veterans Healthcare, ‘to improve healthcare through nursing,’ is actualized through the support of doctoral students like me, as we journey to become nursing leaders and faculty members,” said Searle. “I am incredibly grateful for the generosity and support shown by Barbara and Donald Jonas.” The Jonas Center, the leading philanthropic funder for nursing, is addressing a critical need for qualified faculty, evidenced by troubling data from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing showing that 2013 saw the lowest enrollment increase in professional RN programs in the past five years. –Kathleen Sullivan
Recycle Mania 2014 Under Way Boston College is in the midst of the third annual Recycle Mania Tournament, an intercollegiate campaign to help raise awareness of conservation and sustainability. During the competition, which began Feb. 2 and runs until March 29, more than 500 colleges across the United States and Canada report the amount of recycling and trash collected each week and are in turn ranked in various categories. After the first full week of competition, BC stood at 81st place in the Grand Champion category with a 33.4 percent recycling rate (calculated by weight of recyclables divided by weight of recyclables plus weight of trash), just behind Notre Dame
(33.7); Antioch University in Seattle was first at 94.4 lbs. per person. However, BC was 17th in the Per Capita Classic category (weight of recyclables divided by full-time student and staff population) and 20th in the Gorilla category (gross tonnage of combined paper, cardboard and bottle and cans regardless of campus population). Based on its past performances, BC has reason to be optimistic about a strong finish: In 2012 and 2013, the University finished among the top 50 in the Grand
Champion category and the top 10 in both the Per Capita Classic and Gorilla categories. BC’s participation in Recycle Mania is coordinated through the offices of Sustainability and Engineering and Energy along with Eco Pledge and students in the Jenks Leadership Program. For more on the Recycle Mania Tournament, see recyclemaniacs. org. To read about conservation efforts at BC, go to the Office of Sustainability website at www.bc.edu/ sustainability. –Sean Smith Jessica Stevens ’14 and Joey Palomba ’15 were invited to Washington, DC, last week to meet with the senior administration officials – including Vice President Joseph Biden – from the White House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assault. Officials shared their overview of the task force and opened the floor to the student representatives to share their thoughts, experiences, and views on the issue.
Former US Senator Olympia Snowe spoke in Gasson 100 on Feb. 11 as part of the Chambers Lecture Series, sponsored by the Winston Center for Leadership and Ethics. (Photo by John Gillooly)
Newsmakers Assoc. Prof. Amy Boesky (English) appeared on the BCC program “Healthwatch” to discuss the book The Story Within: Personal Essays on Genetics Identity, which she edited, and the role of genetic mutations in people living with inheritable disease. College of Arts and Sciences Associate Dean Clare Dunsford, a contributor to the book, also appeared on the show.
Catholic Contributions to Address the Current Ecological Crisis” and “Roman Catholic Commitment to Promoting Sustainability,” in Protecting Nature, Saving Creation: Ecological Conflicts, Religious Passions, and Political Quandaries; and “Mapeamento do cérebro: Uma questão ética? (Mapping the Brain: An Ethical Issue?),” in Bioethikos.
BC BRIEFING
Lect. Greg Stoller (CSOM), recently returned from leading a project through which MBA students advised clients in China, discussed changes in that nation’s economy on the WBZ program “Nightside.” Census data shows that among big US cities, Boston is home to the widest economic gap, which is why Mayor Marty Walsh has made it clear that fighting inequality is a top priority. Assoc. Prof. Tiziana Dearing (GSSW) discussed the topic as a guest on WBUR-FM’s “Radio Boston.” Prof. Ana Martínez Alemán (LSOE) was among speakers at an ACCU meeting earlier this month who urged college leaders to learn from their students’ use of social media, as reported by Catholic News Service. Prof. James Bretzke, SJ (STM), offered comments to the Catholic News Service on a poll by Spanish-language broadcaster Univision showing Catholics in Asia and Africa, where the Catholic Church is growing fastest, expressing strong support for church teachings. With 25 undergraduate alumni currently serving worldwide, Boston College is once again among the nation’s top 10 medium-sized schools in producing volunteers for the Peace Corps, the organization announced this month. BC also ranks fourth among medium-sized schools with the “Most Socially Conscious Alumni” in a survey conducted by BestColleges.com.
Publications Assoc. Prof. Andrea Vicini, SJ (STM) published the following: “Roman
Honors/Appointments Jocelyn Collen M.Div. ’12 received the Martin Luther King Jr. Vision Award at Fairfield University, where she works in campus ministry.
Time and a Half Prof. Elizabeth Graver (English) presented readings at Grinnell College and Prairie Lights Bookstore in Iowa City. She also gave a videotaped craft talk for a new MOOC, “How Writers Write,” at the International Writing Program at the University of Iowa.
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: Vice President for Human Resources Assistant General Manager, Dining Services Senior Associate Athletic Director for Marketing Director, Annual Giving, Law School Provost and Dean of Faculties Technology Manager, Residential Life Research Data Management Specialist, Carroll School Of Management Web Services Librarian, O’Neill Library Grant Developer, Office of Sponsored Programs Bakery Manager, Dining Services Administrative Assistant, Boston College Police Department
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Four for the Show
The spring Student Art Show, on view through March 8 at the Bapst Library Gallery, highlights the creative works of a dozen student artists. Ceramics, collages, digitally created pieces, ink drawings, photographs and paintings are among the range of media. Organized and installed by the Art Club, the aim is to “provide all students the opportunity to showcase their work, as well as to bring art awareness to the BC community. Our goal is to bring art to anyone who wants to create it, regardless of major or experience,” according to club co-president Vivian Phan ’15. The exhibit – open during library hours – is sponsored by Boston College Libraries and the Art Club. Recently, four student artists involved in the exhibit discussed their works with Chronicle. –Rosanne Pellegrini Photos by Lee Pellegrini
“The Waldkinder Series” by Kenya Danino ’15 What was your inspiration for this project? “The Waldkinder Series” is a project that I started this spring with inspiration from my love of animals and a good friend’s otherworldly body of work revolving around a spirit animal. Often times, people share similar traits with their favorite animal, in ways unimaginable, that relate to how they go about everyday life. My focus is portraying human behavior in relation to animal behavior. The pieces are collages that require the use of multicolored and patterned papers, adhesive, detailed and careful knife cutting. Each of the three pieces took about a day to complete, however the series as a whole is not yet complete. Why do you find this kind of art interesting and/or challenging? I’ve been working in this vein since the start of spring semester. I’ve never dabbled in collage before, and paper craft seemed very interesting. After completing my first attempt, “The Wolves,” I fell in love with the craft and the deeper animal/human idea. It rekindled my spirit animal, the fox, and gave me an interesting theme for future pieces. What do you hope viewers take away from these pieces? I hope viewers find themselves able to understand a perspective of the world from the eyes of different creatures/different people, as it is often a very difficult thing to do when we are stuck in our own bubbles.
“Voyager” by Johanna Tomsick ’17 What inspired you to make this piece? The inspiration comes from the life work of the great astronomer Carl Sagan, and his fantastic dream of traveling to the outer reaches of our solar system through the Voyager project. Sagan’s vision is depicted in this work, his hopeful eyes casting a distant glance in charcoal and ink across our planets. This piece took approximately 24 hours, from conception and preliminary sketches to completion. Why do you find this kind of art interesting and/or challenging? Sagan has long been an inspiration. As for the media and style, I have spent much of the last semester working with brush and ink, and have found that both charcoal and ink, though permanent, are very versatile. The possibilities are endless, and it is a great adventure for me to explore those possibilities and take risks while working with these tools. What do you hope viewers take away from this piece? I hope that the audience is inspired to make themselves aware of the breadth and beauty of this universe. The purpose of the Voyager missions was not just to take pictures far from earth or reach the Kuiper Belt; these vessels continue their journey today, and will keep pressing onwards, probably long after the human race has ceased to exist. But in the crafts are records of our civilization here on earth, records that only tell of the most beautiful pieces of race – music, diversity, and love. It is every person’s wish to leave a piece of themselves behind on earth, and in that wish, we are united.
“Untitled” by Sofia Zenzola ’16
How did you come up with this project? These are pieces done last semester on Photoshop/ Illustrator for my Art and Digital Technology class. That class was my first formal introduction to Photoshop. I did a bunch throughout the semester. Why do you find this kind of art interesting and/or challenging? There is no theme; I start by messing around and add detail as I go. It can be challenging in Photoshop because if you do not know how to do something, you always have to problem-solve ways around it. It takes time. But at least you never have to wait for paint to dry. What do you hope viewers take away from these pieces? I hope they see that they are deceptively simple.
“He Lay Low” by Thomas Amundson ’15 Where did you get the idea for this project? The [oil on canvas] piece was made as a response to the Uncle Remus tale “The Tar Baby.” The construction (the woven canvas strips) and the pseudo-imagery are based on the setting and characters. The lines are analogous to the narration. And the title is an abbreviation of a phrase that is repeated throughout the rising action of the narrative. It was completed, incrementally, over the course of a few days. Why do you find this kind of art interesting and/or challenging? I’ve been stretching and painting on repurposed clothing and fabrics for over a year. I like to think of this process as avant-garde upholstery. What do you hope viewers take away from this piece? I hope people get energy when they look at “He Lay Low.”
BC SCENES
WORDS AND PICTURES Frank Curran
Justin Knight
The Boston College community got a dose of the visual and spoken arts this past week to liven up the dead of winter: Above, the McMullen Museum of Art held a reception on Feb. 17 to mark the opening of its latest exhibition, “Paris Night & Day: Photography Between the Wars”; on Friday, Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Tracy K. Smith visited campus to take part in the University’s annual “Poetry Days” event.