MARCH 12, 2020 VOL. 27 NO. 13
PUBLISHED BY THE BOSTON COLLEGE OFFICE OF UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS
CORONAVIRUS UPDATE
University Suspends All On-Campus Classes Due to concerns over the COVID-19 coronavirus, Boston College will suspend all on-campus classes and shift to online or remote learning for the remainder of the spring semester, University President William P. Leahy, S.J., announced yesterday in a letter to the University community. The suspension of classes was scheduled to begin today, with online/remote learning to begin on Thursday, March 19. Although no one at BC has been diagnosed with COVID-19, Fr. Leahy said, “given circumstances and the importance of helping to safeguard not only our campus community but also wider society,” he had decided to suspend on-campus classes and take other actions. The University also will close residence halls and require students to vacate their rooms beginning today and ending this Sunday, March 15. Those students who cannot return to their homes because of international travel restrictions, serious personal reasons, or University obligations must obtain written permission from the Office of Residential Life to remain
INSIDE 3 2020-21 Tuition
The University announced next year’s tuition rate.
4 Promotions
Twenty-nine Boston College faculty have been promoted.
8 BC Arts
Campus events to mark Beethoven’s 250th birthday.
in University housing. On-campus academic events, as well as University-sponsored travel to international and domestic locations, will be suspended unless approved by the Office of the President, Provost, or Executive Vice President. All other University operations will continue at this time, said Fr. Leahy, and any changes “will be communicated” as necessary. “I realize that these decisions will bring challenges to many at Boston College, particularly members of the Class of 2020,” he said. “But knowing the abundant spirit, generosity, and commitment of our University community, I am confident that we will resolve any issues we face, and I ask that you join me in praying for those affected throughout the world by COVID-19.” All updates and information concerning Boston College and its response to the COVID-19 coronavirus will be posted at https://www.bc.edu/coronavirus. —University Communications
Amping Up
photo by yiting chen
Boston College Irish Dance presented its annual performance of traditional and original Irish dance choreography on Feb. 21 and 22 at Robsham Theater. This year’s show, “Amplify,” also featured BC Dance Ensemble, BC Dance Organization, The Heightsmen, and students from the Boston-area O’Dwyer School of Irish Dance.
BC Ranks 10th in Theology, New on the Divinity & Religious Studies BCDS Menu: BY JACK DUNN ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT FOR UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS
Boston College placed 10th among universities worldwide in Theology, Divinity & Religious Studies in the 2020 QS World University Rankings, released earlier this month in London. The Theology, Divinity & Religious Studies ranking is based on academic and employer reputation and global research impact. Boston College was one of only two Catholic institutions among the top 10 schools in the prestigious international survey, along with the University of Notre Dame. The QS Rankings are prepared by British firm Quacquarelli Symonds, considered to be among the most influential provid-
ers of international university rankings. Its Theology, Divinity & Religious Studies ranking was launched in 2017. The top 10 schools in the 2020 rankings are Notre Dame, University of Oxford, Harvard University, Durham University, University of Cambridge, Yale University, Eberhard Karis Universitat Tubingen, Duke University, University of Chicago, and Boston College. School of Theology and Ministry Dean Thomas Stegman, S.J., said BC’s strong showing in the rankings is a testament to the theological talent assembled at Boston College, and validates the University’s strategic objective to become the world’s leading Catholic university and theological center. “Our faculty, along with colleagues in
Flex Plans
Soon-to-launch program will provide options for faculty and staff Lauded by its industry and its campus clientele, Boston College Dining Services is all about options: diverse dining locations and pop-up events; culinary innovation and inventive menus; cuisine selections which rival that of restaurants, and extended hours of dining availability. Later this month, BCDS will launch a new option: Faculty/Staff Flex Dining Plans—declining balance accounts maintained through the Eagle One Card—
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Understanding financial infidelity is important because financial matters are one of the major sources of conflict within romantic couples and prior research has shown that keeping money-related secrets in relationships is a ‘deal breaker.’ -carroll school of management faculty member hristina nikolova, page 8
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March 12, 2020
Around Campus
Stencia Sings It
BC Continues Peace Corps Legacy
Stencia Bastien ’23 won the annual Sing It to the Heights competition on Feb. 25 for her performance of the song “Listen” by Beyoncé. The “American Idol”-style singing benefit held in Robsham Theater and judged by a panel of three Boston College Jesuits evolved from an informal lip-synching contest held 16 years ago. The event raises funds for the music program at Saint Columbkille Partnership School, a Catholic elementary school in Brighton operated by the St. Columbkille Parish, the Archdiocese of Boston, and Boston College. This year’s edition yielded $3,629. Proceeds from previous Sing It to the Heights competitions have made it possible for the Saint Columbkille Partnership School to establish and sustain a music program for K-8 students, purchase musical instruments, and provide free music lessons to students. This year’s judges were St. Ignatius Church Associate Pastor Donald MacMillan, S.J., Cesar Muziotti, S.J., and School of Theology and Ministry student Eric Immel, S.J. Bastien, one of 10 BC students selected to participate after an auditioning process, is a marketing major in the Carroll School of Management. Never having been trained in singing, she was very nervous about performing in front of a large crowd. “During the competition I was really scared that I would forget the lyrics,” said Bastien, “but my friends in the crowd helped me to calm down and just feel the music.” The other undergraduates competing this year were Korinne Arenas ’22 (Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences, communications major), Tommy Boyce ’21 (CSOM, marketing and business analytics), Sophia Gardner ’22 (CSOM, information systems,
Stencia Bastien ’23 during her winning performance at last month’s Sing It to the Heights competition. photos by yiting chen
accounting for finance and consulting), Francesca Giangiulio ’23 (MCAS, English, theatre, art history), Kaitlin Meeks ’20 (MCAS, physics), Jack Peterson ’20 (MCAS, biology and economics), Will Riley ’21 (MCAS, philosophy), Max Schenkel ’22 (MCAS, neuroscience, studio art, finance minor), and A.J. Singh ’23 (CSOM, finance and computer science). Choir students from Saint Columbkille Partnership School performed during the concert, as did last year’s winner, Tate Haynes ’21. Sing It to the Heights is sponsored by the Emerging Leader Program, Robsham Theater, the Office of Governmental and Community Affairs, and the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs. –Christine Balquist Saint Columbkille students also appeared in Sing It to the Heights.
ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT FOR UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS
Jack Dunn SENIOR DIRECTOR FOR UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS
CONTRIBUTING STAFF
Sean Smith
Startup & Entrepreneurship Fair
PHOTOS BY PETER JULIAN
The BC Shea Center for Entrepreneurship hosted a career fair on Feb. 25, providing students an opportunity to network with alumni and employers in the startup and entrepreneurship field.
Chronicle
PHOTOGRAPHERS
www.bc.edu/bcnews chronicle@bc.edu
Lee Pellegrini Peter Julian
Peace Corps experience, volunteers gain a unique cultural understanding and a lifelong commitment to service that positions them to succeed in today’s global economy. “Boston College played a major role in my decision to join the Peace Corps,” said Jenna Randolph, a 2016 Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences alumna who serves with the Peace Corps as a community health support agent in Senegal. “While I had been interested in joining the Peace Corps from a young age, my experience as a pre-medical student studying psychology with a minor in faith, peace and justice— as well as my participation in a variety of activities including 4Boston, Appalachia Volunteers, and Arrupe International—inspired me to apply for the Peace Corps in southern Senegal.” The Peace Corps ranks its top volunteerproducing colleges and universities annually according to the size of the student body. [View the complete 2020 rankings of the top 25 schools in each category at https://files.peacecorps.gov/documents/topschools2020.pdf ] Since President John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps in 1961, more than 240,000 Americans of all ages have served in 142 countries worldwide. For more information, see peacecorps.gov. —University Communications
Snapshot
Christine Balquist Phil Gloudemans Ed Hayward Rosanne Pellegrini Kathleen Sullivan
Patricia Delaney EDITOR
With 22 alumni currently volunteering in countries around the world, Boston College ranks 11th among medium-sized schools on the Peace Corps list of the top 25 volunteer-producing colleges and universities in 2020, according to a recent report from the organization. The University made a significant rankings leap from 2019, previously coming in at No. 18. BC shares this year’s ranking with Georgetown University and Loyola University–Chicago. For nearly two decades, Boston College has consistently ranked within the top 25 medium-sized schools. Since the agency’s founding in 1961, 821 alumni from Boston College have served abroad as Peace Corps volunteers. “These schools are institutions that emphasize being global citizens and serviceminded students,” said Peace Corps Director Jody Olsen in a statement accompanying the report. “I am excited to know the graduates coming from Peace Corps’ Top Colleges are using their skills to make a positive impact on their communities at home and abroad.” Peace Corps volunteers develop sustainable solutions to address challenges in education, health, community economic development, agriculture, the environment, and youth development. Through their
The Boston College Chronicle (USPS 009491), the internal newspaper for faculty and staff, is published biweekly from September to May by Boston College, with editorial offices at the Office of University Communications, 3 Lake Street, Brighton, MA 02135 (617)552-3350. Distributed free to faculty and staff offices and other locations on campus. Periodicals postage paid at Boston, MA and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: send address changes to The Boston College Chronicle, Office of University Communications, 3 Lake Street, Brighton, MA 02135. A flipbook edition of Chronicle is available via e-mail. Send requests to chronicle@bc.edu.
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Trustees Set Tuition, Fees for 2020-21 Academic Year
FBI Director Christopher A. Wray speaking at last week’s Boston Conference on Cyber Security, hosted by Boston College. photo by lee pellegrini
Boston Conference on Cyber Security
Wray: FBI Taking Aim at Cyber Crime Infrastructure BY PATRICIA DELANEY SENIOR DIRECTOR FOR UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS
“We don’t want to just keep the cyber criminals at bay, we want to burn down their infrastructure,” FBI Director Christopher A. Wray told an audience of several hundred cybersecurity experts gathered at Boston College on March 4, in an address that focused on the comprehensive, innovative, and broadly collaborative approach needed to combat an increasingly complex and widespread threat. Wray delivered the keynote address at the fourth annual Boston Conference on Cyber Security, BCCS 2020, organized through a partnership between the FBI and the M.S. in Cybersecurity Policy and Governance Program of BC’s Woods College of Advancing Studies to seek better ways to defend against these invasive cyber threats and respond to the vulnerability of U.S. information systems. Cyber crime continues to grow in scope, complexity, and sophistication, Wray told the gathering, and its impact has deepened, making it a powerful weapon for a range of “threat actors,” from multi-national cyber syndicates to nation-state adversaries. “We can’t just fight this threat one by one: One bad guy at a time, one syndicate at a time, one victim company at a time,” he said. “We’ve got to tackle the cyber threat as a whole, applying our capabilities, our intelligence, and our partnerships to their full extent.” The themes emphasized in the FBI director’s keynote address—the importance of partnerships across fields and disciplines, and sharing of innovation, intelligence, and expertise—were reflected in remarks and breakout sessions throughout BCCS 2020. Inaugurated in 2017 to encourage just this sort of collaboration, the annual conference, said Wray, “has become one of the most unique gatherings of voices, thinkers, and policy makers in the cyber realm. It’s one we’re really proud to be a part of at the FBI.”
Wray’s remarks were followed by speakers including Mike Cote, president and CEO of SecureWorks; Helen Dixon, Ireland’s commissioner for data protection; and John C. Demers, U.S. assistant attorney general for national security. Panel discussions focused on emerging technologies, operations, enforcement, as well as actual cyber and national security experiences related to risk, compliance, policy, threat trends, preparedness, resilience, and defensive strategies. Cybersecurity specialists participating in BCCS 2020 included other FBI representatives as well as experts from the U.S. departments of Defense and Justice, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Bank of America, Cisco Systems, Data Protection Commission-Ireland, Eversource, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, Facebook, FireEye, Google, IBM Security, Jones Day, Microsoft, Liberty Mutual Insurance, Massachusetts Port Authority, Mintz Levin, National Grid, Oracle, Raytheon, and SecureWorks, among others. BCCS 2020 co-organizer Kevin R. Powers, founding director of the Boston College M.S. in Cybersecurity Policy and Governance Program, served as master of ceremonies for the event with FBI Boston Division Special Agent Doug Domin, head of the cyber crime program, and Joanna Baltes, curriculum coordinator of BC’s cybersecurity program. An approved training provider for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s National Initiative for Cybersecurity Careers and Studies, the M.S. in Cybersecurity Policy and Governance program—which now offers its full curriculum online as well as on campus—aims to prepare professionals to design, develop, and implement cybersecurity strategies that defend against and ensure recovery from cyberattacks and to bridge the communication gap between information technology security professionals and key business stakeholders. Read the full version of this story at https:// on.bc.edu/BCCS2020.
The University’s Board of Trustees has set undergraduate tuition for the 2020-21 academic year at $59,050, as part of a 3.69 percent increase in tuition, fees, room and board, bringing the overall annual cost of attendance at Boston College to $75,422. To maintain the University’s commitment to providing access to students from diverse socio-economic backgrounds, the trustees voted to increase need-based undergraduate financial aid by 4 percent, or $5.6 million, to a total of $146 million. Boston College remains one of only 20 private universities in the United States that is need-blind in admissions and meets the full demonstrated need of all undergraduate students. Overall, more than 67 percent of Boston College undergraduates receive financial aid, with the average need-based financial aid package projected to exceed $49,000 in 2020-21. “Every effort goes into developing a
budget that provides the best possible educational experience for our students, while being sensitive to the sacrifices that families make to send their children to Boston College,” said Executive Vice President Michael Lochhead. “The University remains committed to meeting the full demonstrated need of all accepted students through the $146 million in need-based financial aid that we will offer this year.” The Board of Trustees also set tuition for graduate programs for the 2020-21 academic year, including Boston College Law ($59,220), and the full-time MBA program in the Carroll School of Management ($55,380). Boston College is ranked 34th in the “Best Value Schools” category among national universities by US News & World Report. It also placed 18th in Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine’s ranking of the top 50 “Best Values” among American private universities. –Jack Dunn
“Our faculty, along with colleagues in the Theology Department in the Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences, are recognized leaders in their respective fields.” –STM Dean Thomas Stegman, S.J.
photos by lee pellegrini and christopher soldt
“We have a world-class faculty and are successfully preparing future scholars to make a decisive contribution to the field of theology.” –Theology Chair Richard Gaillardetz
BC Places 10th in QS Rankings Continued from page 1
the Theology Department in the Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences, are recognized leaders in their respective fields,” said Fr. Stegman. “At the STM, we are committed to excellence, theological scholarship in service of the Church, and to forming agents of transformation for ministry. It is gratifying to be recognized accordingly in the latest QS Rankings.” Theology Department Chair Richard Gaillardetz, the Joseph Professor of Catholic Systematic Theology, said the rankings reflect the hard work and commitment of BC Theology faculty to teaching, research, and service. “The QS Rankings, which rate Boston College as one of the world’s top graduate programs in theology, divinity, and ministry, simply confirm what those who are part of the Boston College community already know: that we have a world-class faculty and are successfully preparing future scholars to make a decisive contribution to the field of theology,” said Gaillardetz. “When you combine the stature of Boston College with the resources provided by
the other schools in the Boston Theological Interreligious Consortium, it becomes clear that there are few cities in the world that can match the opportunities the city of Boston affords for graduate study in theology.” Founded on the Brighton Campus of Boston College in 2008, the School of Theology and Ministry prepares lay and religious graduate students from throughout the world for careers and vocations within the Catholic Church. Its graduates pursue leadership positions where their theological foundation and professional preparation support mission-based careers. The Theology Department provides undergraduate and graduate students with the knowledge and skills necessary for reasoned reflection on their values, faith, and tradition, as well as on the religious forces that shape our society and world. The department’s five primary areas of research include biblical studies, historical theology/ history of Christianity, comparative theology, systematic theology, and theological ethics.
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Dining Services to Offer Flex Plans Continued from page 1
which offer purchasing flexibility and convenience. Participants, who may enroll in the plan or choose the amount of funds to add to their account at any time, can get everything from grain bowls to fresh baked treats, specialty coffee or grocery staples. Faculty and staff will be able to choose from four flex plans, in monetary increments, which come with varying amounts of Flex Dollars, and some with free Bonus Dollars: •FLEXFS Basic: $20-$60 Flex Dollars •FLEXFS 75: $75 Flex Dollars plus $5 Bonus Dollars •FLEXFS 200: $200 Flex Dollars plus $20 Bonus Dollars •FLEXFS 325: $325 Flex Dollars plus $50 Bonus Dollars With the exception of Bonus Dollars, which must be used by May 31 in a calendar year or are forfeited, Flex Dollars roll over and do not expire. The “Flex Dollars” in the Faculty/Staff Flex Dining Plans will be accepted at all dining locations across campus, including the faculty dining room, as well as at concessions, GET Mobile ordering, BC Farmers Market, CSA Farm Share, and vending machines. “We are excited to introduce these new plans to faculty and staff since they provide extra spending power through bonus
Flex plans will provide faculty and staff with “extra spending power through bonus dollars,” says BCDS Director Beth Emery, and “the convenience of using your Eagle One Card.” photo by peter julian
dollars and have the convenience of using your Eagle One Card when you dine with us,” said BCDS Director Beth Emery. Dining Services offers Flex plans for students, and the new faculty/staff iteration is being introduced to streamline the meal plans offered on campus, Emery noted. The Faculty/Staff Flex Plan replaces Optional Dining Bucks and Dining Dollars. In addition to its fresh-to-table philoso-
phy, commitment to quality, and regional and responsible sourcing, BCDS maintains a standard of exemplary treatment of its employees. For Information on the Faculty/Staff Flex Plan and to enroll, go to www.bc.edu/ offices/dining/mealplan/MandatoryMealPlan0/StaffFlexPlans.html —University Communications
GLI Series Explores U.S.-Irish-European Links BY SEAN SMITH CHRONICLE EDITOR
A Boston College discussion series launched this semester seeks to build stronger transatlantic relationships between the U.S. and Europe through Ireland’s global experience. BC’s Global Leadership Institute, in cooperation with the Consulate General of Ireland in Boston, inaugurated the “Ireland at Boston College’s Leadership Fireside Chat Series” on Feb. 25 by hosting Irish Ambassador to the U.S. H.E. Daniel Mulhall in Creagh Library at 2125 Commonwealth Avenue, GLI’s Brighton Campus head- Robert Mauro quarters. The event, “Ireland’s Transatlantic Horizons: The Future of EU-U.S. Relations,” featured a conversation between GLI Executive Director Robert Mauro and Mulhall, a longtime Irish civil servant who has extensive experience in foreign affairs. In addition to recent developments in Irish politics, Mulhall and Mauro touched on general subjects—Ireland’s leadership in Europe and its overall place in the world. “Ireland is helping the European Union articulate a position that both defends European principles and the integrity of the Good Friday Agreement through the Brexit process,” said Mauro, recounting the event. “They have been working closely with their
European partners and contributing at the highest levels of their government to the negotiations. In addition, they have been leveraging their experiences in the U.S. to help shape the future of U.S.-EU relations: for example, using networks, relationships, and knowledge of U.S. political decision-making can be helpful for EU Trade Commissioner Phil Hogan in his negotiations with the Trump administration. “As an example, Dan told a very nice story about sourcing a first-edition biography of [18th/19th-century Irish nationalist] Robert Emmet that Hogan gave to Robert Emmet Lighthizer, Hogan’s counterpart lee pellegrini in the Trump administration.” Mauro said the collaboration with the Consulate General to organize the series reflects BC’s extensive ties to Ireland, built through decades of programs and initiatives. “BC has a reputation of being able to find resources, bring people together, and get things done. We’re very happy to join with the Consulate General in supporting this endeavor.” The series builds on a previous “Fireside Chat” forum organized by the GLI, with a similar format—a dialogue between Mauro and a high-profile guest prominent in the areas of business and politics—that began four years ago. These events have been, and continue to be, open to the Boston College community and public and, according to
Mauro, have often attracted large audiences and key decision-makers in the Greater Boston area. The GLI has focused on Ireland as both a “transatlantic bridge” helping connect the U.S. with Europe, and an emerging global leader, said Mauro. This emphasis on “Global Ireland” is built around three themes: Ireland’s special role as a leader in creating economic partnerships between the U.S. and Europe; its part in tackling global challenges; and enhancing peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland while promoting North-South and East-West cooperation through the U.S. The new series will seek to expand this perspective and reach beyond existing professional and political networks, said Mauro, “creating conversations that seek a two-way and mutually beneficial engagement.” “Ireland has a global presence,” he said, “and its goal is to be a good world citizen. This includes supporting peace and reconciliation around the world, promoting scientific and enterprise development, articulating clear positions on global challenges such as climate change, and providing humanitarian assistance in the most difficult circumstances.” Future events for the Ireland at Boston College’s Leadership Fireside Chat Series are currently under discussion and will be announced at a later date, Mauro said. Information on this and other Global Leadership Institute programs is available at www.bc.edu/gli.
March 12, 2020
29 Faculty Members Are Promoted University President William P. Leahy, S.J., announced that 29 Boston College faculty members have been promoted during the 2019-20 academic year. Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences faculty promoted to full professor were Kenneth Burch (Physics), Jianmin Gao (Chemistry), Pablo Guerron (Economics), Gary Gurtler, S.J. (Philosophy), Marina McCoy (Philosophy), Gorica Petrovich (Psychology and Neuroscience), Virginia Reinburg (History), Noah Snyder (Earth and Environmental Sciences), Bumin Yenmez (Economics), Zine Magubane (Sociology), Martin Summers (History), and David Treumann (Mathematics). Also promoted to full professor were Jiri Chod (Operations Management) of the Carroll School of Management, Katharine Young of the BC Law School, Thomas Crea of the BC School of Social Work, and Pratyusha Tummala-Narra (Counseling, Developmental, and Educational Psychology) of the Lynch School of Education and Human Development. Morrissey College faculty promoted to associate professor with tenure were Jose Bento Ayres Pereira (Computer Science), Daniel Bowles (German Studies), Aurelia Campbell (Art, Art History, and Film), Eric Folker (Biology), Qile Chen (Mathematics), Michael McDannald (Psychology and Neuroscience), Lindsey O’Rourke (Political Science), Anjali Vats (Communication/Law), and Ilija Zeljkovic (Physics). Also promoted to associate professor with tenure were Nan Liu (Operations Management) of the Carroll School, Erika Sabbath of BCSSW, Tam Nguyen of the Connell School of Nursing, and Natalya Shnitser of BC Law. —University Communications
Lenten Reflections Available Online As Easter approaches, Boston College Jesuits Mario Powell, S.J., and Michael Simone, S.J., are offering weekly Lenten reflections via the BC website at www.bc.edu/ content/bc-web/offices/alumni/connect/ spirituality/reflections/Lenten-reflections. html. Fr. Powell, a 2003 graduate who also holds master’s of divinity and licentiate of sacred theology degrees from BC, is president of Brooklyn Jesuit Prep and an accomplished educator who has taught and worked in both secondary and middle school settings in the Jesuit school system of the Northeast Province. Fr. Simone, a priest of the USA Midwest Province, teaches Scripture at the Boston College School of Theology and Ministry. A former columnist for America Magazine currently a volunteer chaplain at MCI Cedar Junction, he researches ritual and imagination of the ancient Near East.
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Grant Reflects Success of Math Teaching Initiative BY PHIL GLOUDEMANS STAFF WRITER
The National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded a six-year, $1,781,000 continuation grant to the Lynch School of Education and Human Development for its project, “Developing Exemplary Mathematics Teacher Leaders for High-Need Schools: Content, Equity and Leadership,” a reflection of the success of an initiative launched in 2013 to prepare qualified and effective mathematics teachers. Lynch School Associate Professor Lillie R. Albert, the project’s principal investigator, and two Mathematics faculty colleagues in the Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences were originally awarded approximately $1.6 million by the NSF to train, support, and help retain mathematics teachers in Massachusetts’ public schools. Mathematics Professor and James P. McIntyre Endowed Chair Solomon Friedberg, Associate Professor of Mathematics Chi-Keung Cheung, Mathematics Associate Professor of the Practice Juliana Belding, and Eden Badertscher, senior project director at the Waltham-based global nonprofit Education Development Center, are project co-investigators. The enhanced project, focused on master mathematics teachers in high-need districts in the Greater Boston area, will merge math-
ematicians, mathematics educators, mentorship experts, and teachers to create a professional community focused on content, equity and leadership. “The nation needs more outstanding mathematics teachers, who are critical to our competiveness in the global economy,” said Albert. “This urgency is magnified in high-need school districts where students are less likely to participate in the future STEM workforce. Teacher effectiveness in these communities not only requires deep content knowledge, but the complementary use of equity-related teaching practices designed to address opportunity gaps related to race and socioeconomic status.” The project will offer a broad, five-year program of professional leadership development for 14 exemplary Master Teaching Fellows, and serve as a model for combining disciplinary expertise with an understanding of the diverse American classroom and management development. According to Albert, the participating teachers will be prepared to assume leadership roles in their respective schools and districts following program completion. “As the program advances, the educators will systematically learn mentorship skills, assume increasing responsibility for professional development, and then draw on their supervisory skills to improve staff capabilities in their schools and districts, and advancing
(L-R) Juliana Belding, Chi-Keung Cheung, Lillie Albert, and Solomon Friedberg. photo by lee pellegrini
knowledge among a wider group of teachers.” “Math is used in many jobs and across many disciplines, but there are troubling gaps in math achievement correlated with race and socioeconomic status,” said Friedberg. “Our interdisciplinary team will take substantial steps to address this in the Greater Boston area. I’m excited that we are collaborating on this work, as this challenging problem requires our different areas of expertise and
perspective.” “We are very pleased that Professor Albert and our colleagues from the Mathematics Department will continue their important work preparing mathematics educators to work in underserved districts,” said Stanton E.F. Wortham, the Charles F. Donovan, S.J., Dean of the Lynch School. “This will give more young people a fair opportunity to access technical jobs.”
‘Financial Infidelity’ Costs Couples and Companies Alike BY ED HAYWARD STAFF WRITER
Along with sexual dalliances and emotional dishonesty, add “financial infidelity” to the perils of the modern relationship, according to Carroll School of Management faculty member Hristina Nikolova and fellow researchers who undertook the first systemic investigation into the secretive spending of romantic partners. The new study identifies “financial infidelity” as a real problem for consumers and companies, according to Nikolova, the Diane Harkins Coughlin and Christopher J. Coughlin Sesquicentennial Assistant Professor of Marketing at the Carroll School. Partners and spouses more prone to financial infidelity exhibit a stronger preference for secretive purchase options such as using cash; keeping a personal rather than a joint credit card; choosing concealing packaging; and shopping at generic rather than specialty stores, Nikolova and researchers from three other universities report in the Journal of Consumer Research. The researchers define financial infidelity as “engaging in any financial behavior expected to be disapproved of by one’s romantic partner and intentionally failing to disclose the behavior.” “Understanding financial infidelity is important because financial matters are one of the major sources of conflict within romantic couples and prior research has shown that keeping money-related secrets in relationships is a ‘deal breaker,’” said Nikolova.
Retailers may need to adjust traditional marketing approaches to better serve shoppers attempting to keep purchases quiet, for whatever reason, noted Nikolova, whose
Hristina Nikolova
photo by lee pellegrini
research explores consumer psychology, in particular how couples make decisions. “There are very simple things that retailers can do to boost their sales, such as offering inconspicuous packaging without a brand name or the ability to pay with cash,” she said. “Our research suggests that these options should appeal to consumers who are prone to engage in financial infidelity. Retailers should recognize that such shoppers do exist and they will probably sneak an expensive coat or a massage amidst the gift shopping they will do.” The team developed the Financial Infidelity (FI) Scale to measure consumers’ financial
infidelity proneness, and examine how financial infidelity affects consumption. The team conducted lab and field studies and analyzed bank account data collected in partnership with a couples’ money-management mobile app. App users who scored higher on the FI-Scale were more likely to hide their transactions and hide bank accounts from their partners, researchers found. Masking spending, shielding accounts, shipping in plain brown boxes, and burying an indulgent expenditure within the receipt from a big-box store are just some of the lengths to which people will go to avoid leaving a trail of illicit spending, according to the report, titled “Love, Lies, and Money: Financial Infidelity in Romantic Relationships.” These choices are directly relevant to marketers, as the prevalence of financial infidelity among consumers and variation on the trait affects purchasing behaviors across domains, Nikolova said. Although there is a lot of research on sexual infidelity in romantic relationships, there has been little on financial infidelity—a surprising oversight, said Nikolova: Past studies have shown that 41 percent of married participants who have joint finances with their partners admit to committing financial deceptions and 75 percent reported financial deceit had negatively affected their relationships, according to the National Endowment for Financial Education. “A few things that couples can do to prevent financial infidelity is to talk more, get on the same page regarding both joint and individual goals they might have, and also
budget for some occasional indulgences along the way of achieving their long-term financial goals,” Nikolova said. In addition to the personal toll, it is critical for companies to be aware that there are consumer segments who are highly prone to financial infidelity, as these segments may impact their bottom lines, Nikolova said. For instance, the recent trend of businesses going cash-free may hurt retailers as some secretive spenders prefer to use cash to disguise purchases. Retailers may have to go so far as to offer a variety of generic packaging options, absent brand identity, in order to appeal to the financially unfaithful. Nikolova, who co-authored the report with Indiana University’s Jenny Olson, University College London’s Joe L. Gladstone, and Notre Dame’s Emily Garbinsky, said she was surprised by the potentially costly conflict between behaviors fueled by financial infidelity and traditional marketing methods. “This suggests that financial infidelity is important not only for consumers and their personal and relationship well-being, but also for marketers and their bottom lines.” Nikolova said future research will look at how financial infidelity varies across different relationships. Specifically, how it is shaped by the distribution of financial responsibility between partners, decision-making power, and financial communication within relationships. The article “Love, Lies, and Money: Financial Infidelity in Romantic Relationships” is available at http://bit.ly/JCR-financial-infidelity.
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March 12, 2020
Book Award Goes to Group of BC Co-Authors BY PHIL GLOUDEMANS STAFF WRITER
Reclaiming Accountability in Teacher Education, whose nine authors are Boston College faculty and/or BC graduates, was named this year’s Outstanding Book by the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE). The co-authors, led by Marilyn Cochran-Smith, the Cawthorne Professor of Teacher Education for Urban Schools at the Lynch School of Education and Human Development, were honored at the AACTE’s 72nd annual meeting on Feb. 28 in Atlanta. According to AACTE, Reclaiming Accountability in Teacher Education “provides the field with a paradigm-shifting take on accountability, a central issue to the theory, policy, and practice of teacher education.” “The book’s insights and arguments are supported by rigorous scholarship regarding the historical, sociopolitical, and policy contexts of teacher education accountability,” stated the AACTE. “The authors created an eight-dimensional framework to critically examine the current dominant accountability paradigm, to deconstruct four influential accountability initiatives, and finally, to envision a new paradigm of democratic accountability.” “For 24 years, AACTE has honored its member institutions, leaders, and individuals who make bold, exceptional, and revolutionary contributions to our field,” said AACTE President and CEO Lynn
Snapshots
Gateway Peer Mentoring
The Gateway Scholars Program, which supports and encourages firstgeneration students and students of color studying STEM disciplines, held a peer mentoring session on Feb. 24. The event paired upperclassmen with underclassmen to exchange advice and discuss academic paths.
Prize-winning BC co-authors at the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education annual meeting. Front row, L-R: Marilyn Cochran-Smith, Elizabeth Stringer Keefe, M. Beatriz Fernández, Molly Cummings Carney. Back, L-R: Juan Gabriel Sánchez, Wen-Chia Chang, Andrew Miller (Missing: Megina Baker, Stephani Burton).
M. Gangone. “As the recipients of a 2020 AACTE Award, these authors exemplify the continuing need for us to reexamine and reevaluate our work in light of the needs of our contemporary students.” Cochran-Smith’s co-authors are: Andrew F. Miller PhD ’17, assistant professor of educational leadership at the Lynch School; Juan Gabriel Sánchez PhD ’19, an instructor and Tang Fellow at Phillips Academy and a visiting scholar at the Lynch School; Molly Cummings Carney PhD ’19; Elizabeth Stringer Keefe PhD ’18, associate professor and director of graduate educaPHOTOS BY PETER JULIAN
tion at Stonehill College; Stephani Burton ’06, MEd ’07, PhD ’18, assistant professor of the practice in the University of Miami Department of Teaching and Learning; Wen-Chia Chang PhD ’17, a postdoctoral fellow at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University/National Institute of Education; M. Beatriz Fernández PhD ’16, assistant professor at the Instituto de Estudios Avanzados en Educación at Universidad de Chile; and Megina Baker PhD ’17, lecturer in early childhood education at Boston University’s Wheelock College of Education and Human Development.
The AACTE’s Outstanding Book Award is presented annually to recognize a text that significantly contributes to the knowledge base of educator preparation. Overseen by the AACTE’s Committee on Research and Dissemination, the honor acknowledges well-written publications that offer a fresh lens on current assumptions or practices, reorients thinking in the field, and shows potential for meaningful impact on policy or practice in educator preparation. Montclair State University College of Education and Human Services Dean Tamara Lucas, a nominator for the book’s award, noted: “Their framework is powerful as a tool used not only for critique, but also for providing a structure for envisioning an entirely different accountability paradigm— one that values democracy, equity, professional responsibility, and deliberative and critical democratic education.” Published by Teachers College Press in 2018, the book has also been selected for the 2019 American Education Research Association/Division K Exemplary Research in Teaching and Teacher Education Award; the 2019 Society of Professors of Education Outstanding Book Award; and the 2018 American Educational Studies Association Critics’ Choice Award. The Washington, D.C.-based AACTE, the leading voice on educator preparation, represents more than 800 postsecondary institutions with educator preparation programs dedicated to high-quality, evidencebased training that assures educators are ready to teach all learners.
Former BC Irish Music Programs Head Receives Lifetime Achievement Award Retired Sullivan Family Artist-inResidence Séamus Connolly (right), whose leadership helped establish Boston College as a major venue and resource for Irish and other Gaelic music, recently lee pellegrini received a major honor from Irish public service TV broadcaster TG4. Connolly, the former director of Irish music programs at BC, was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award on Feb. 23 at the TG4 Gradam Ceoil Awards event in Belfast. The Gradam Ceoil awards are considered to be the foremost recognition given to traditional Irish musicians. A native of County Clare, Connolly is a 10-time All-Ireland champion fiddler widely regarded as among the most influential traditional Irish musicians of his generation, not only as a performer and recording artist but as a teacher and mentor. He began working at BC in 1990, launching music, song, and dance programs in the University’s Irish Studies Program. In 1993, Connolly founded the Gaelic Roots Summer School and Festival, a highly popular weeklong series of classes, workshops, and concerts;
Gaelic Roots became an academic-year series in 2004. Connolly championed BC’s Irish Music Center at the Burns Library, a trove of archival recordings, manuscripts, photos, and other materials, by facilitating numerous donations and donating many items from his own considerable collection. Working with Boston College Libraries, Connolly created The Séamus Connolly Collection of Irish Music [connollymusiccollection.bc.edu], a groundbreaking online archive of recordings, music transcriptions, stories, and essays. In a video produced by TG4 prior to the ceremony, Connolly reflected on his career as a musician and his work at BC (“I never went to college in my life. And I’m just thinking that if my mother was alive, she’d say, ‘Oh my God, he was at Boston College, was he?’”). Having lived in the U.S. for more than 40 years and developed strong bonds with the country and its people, he said, the TG4 honor held great personal significance for him. “Getting [the award] from my homeland, that’s very special to me. Bringing back this award, and having it on my sideboard in America, I’d be very proud showing it off to the Americans who come into my home.” [The video can be viewed at www.youtube.com/watch?v=UO5V-ysRbek] –University Communications
Chronicle
March 12, 2020
WELCOME ADDITIONS
BC in the Media
An Introduction to New Faculty at Boston College Jonathan Beebe
Lecturer in Operations Management, Carroll School of Management DEGREES: University of Chicago (BA); Bentley University (MBA); Boston University (MS).
WHAT HE STUDIES: Strategic product development; health care service quality. WHAT HE’S TEACHING: Operations Management; Supply Chain Management; Business Statistics; Predictive Analytics.
How has your decadelong experience in industry as a senior analyst at CVS Caremark shaped your work at BC?
“I’ve found that what worked best for me while at CVS/pharmacy—a pragmatic, footon-the-ground approach—has also served me well in the classroom. This problemsolving orientation probably comes from my operations management background, but I think my students have appreciated the opportunity to look at real business problems through an analytical lens that blends both theory and practice.”
with frictions.” Can you explain what these are?
“One such market is labor, where workers searching for employment and firms looking for workers face ‘frictions’ that prevent them from finding each other. These could be information imperfections about which workers or firms on the other side of the market are searching. Another example is bulk shipping, where ships and exporters search for each other, similarly to how passengers look for taxis. In my work, I build economic models to study these markets empirically. I have examined the assignment of workers to the occupations in which they perform best and how features of the environment, such as their city of residence or the firm they are employed in, influence this process. We find that the process through which workers match with firms deteriorated substantially during the Great Recession of the late 2000s. To study the bulk shipping market, we use satellite data of ship movements to build a model of international trade and examine several questions of interest such as how it will be affected by the opening of the Northwest Passage. We also explore whether the market operates efficiently and derives optimal policy, and compare it to an Uber-style centralized platform for bulk ships.”
Thibaud Marcesse
Assistant Professor of Political Science, Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences DEGREES: Institu d’Etudes Politiques de Paris (BA, MA); Columbia University (MIA); Cornell University (PhD). WHAT HE STUDIES: Comparative politics; impact of institutional change in poverty alleviation in rural India; political economy of development; the politics of foreign aid. WHAT HE’S TEACHING: Introduction to South Asian Politics; Democracy and Political Mediation in the Global South; Introduction to Comparative Politics.
You’ve undertaken major research in India on the question of how social policies generate opportunities for clientelism. In what ways does your work have universal implications beyond India?
“India is not the only country to have passed legislation creating social rights that citizens are expected to claim. This has also been the case in South Africa and some Latin America nations, in areas such as housing and public health. While my research has been particularly attentive to the conditions prevailing in rural India, it also serves as a cautionary tale. Passing ambitious legislation is only one step towards the enforcement of social rights for the benefit of the greatest. State institutions must also take stock of existing norms and political networks that potentially doom policy implementation.”
Theodore Papageorgiou
Assistant Professor of Economics, Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences DEGREES: University of Athens (BA); Yale University (MA, MPhil, PhD) WHAT HE STUDIES: Labor markets; occupational mobility; international trade; transportation markets. WHAT HE’S TEACHING: Labor Economics; Macroeconomic Theory.
One of your research interests is “markets
Elizabeth “Bess” Rouse
(PhD).
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Associate Professor of Management and Organization, Carroll School of Management DEGREES: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (BS); Boston College
WHAT SHE STUDIES: Creativity;
collaboration; relationships at work; identity and identification. WHAT SHE’S TEACHING: Idea Work: Making Things That Matter
How do your varied work experiences— modern dancer, brain imaging researcher, production coordinator for a performing arts non-profit, and managing director of a dance company—influence your teaching in the Carroll School?
Boston College faculty offered their expertise to the media on aspects of the coronavirus crisis as well as related turmoil in financial markets: Prof. Thomas Groome (STM) commented to The New York Times on the changes the virus has prompted in Catholic traditions at Mass; Carroll School of Management Cleary Professor of Finance Jeffrey Pontiff spoke with The Boston Globe about the crash of oil prices earlier this week; Asst. Prof. Masha Krupenkin (Political Science) discussed the patterns of economic confidence along party lines with The New York Times; and Prof. Peter Lewis (English) was interviewed for a story in Wired about the appropriateness of making jokes about the coronavirus. Why no 15-hour workweek? In 1930, economist John Maynard Keynes thought technology might make it so. What happened? Prof. Juliet Schor (Sociology) weighed in for Marketplace Morning Report. Prof. Gerald Kane (CSOM) co-authored an article in the MIT Sloan Management Review on a framework he and other researchers have devised to help managers understand the process of crowdsourcing to identify innovative ideas. Assoc. Prof. Michael Serazio (Communication) discussed charitable giving by the ultra-wealthy on WGBH’s “Greater Boston.” Boosting degree completion will require a more effective model of math remediation—either in high school or college— or the elimination of other barriers to completion, according to an analysis of evidence from Tennessee by researchers
Can a presidential candidate be too old? Jacquelyn James, a faculty member in the BC School of Social Work and director of the Sloan Research Network on Aging and Work, weighed in on WGBH’s “Greater Boston.” By pushing the National Association for College Admission Counseling to abandon fundamental ethical principles, Vice Provost for Enrollment John Mahoney wrote in Inside Higher Ed, the Justice Department has made unbridled competition among colleges its top priority and has reduced the college admission process to a financial transaction. International branch campuses are risky ventures because they are hostage to several potentially unstable forces, according to a piece written by Center for International Higher Education Director Prof. Hans de Wit (LSOEHD) and the center’s founding director, Research Prof. Philip Altbach (LSOEHD), for Times Higher Education.
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 Formation Programs, University Mission and Ministry Associate Director, Fiscal & Grant Administration, Academic Affairs/Provost Associate/Senior Associate Director, Major Giving, University Advancement
“Collaborating with other people to make new things has been the most rewarding aspect of my experiences working in a modern dance company, in a brain imaging lab, and in a university. I hope through my research and teaching—which focus on creativity and collaboration—to be able to share this experience with others.”
Development Assistant, Schools and Programs, University Advancement Executive Education & Advisory Content Developer, Academic Affairs/Provost Enrollment & Financial Aid Analyst, Academic Affairs/Provost
—Phil Gloudemans, Ed Hayward, Sean Smith
Information Security Analyst, Information Technology
photos by lee pellegrini and gary wayne gilbert
Nutritionist, Athletics
Gaelic Roots Concert Is Next Thursday Traditional Irish harp meets jazz/folk guitar when spouses Máire Ní Chathasaigh and Chris Newman perform March 19 as part of the Boston College Gaelic Roots series. The concert, which is free and open to the public, takes place at 6:30 p.m. at the Theology and Ministry Library on Brighton Campus. Since teaming up in 1987, Ní Chathasaigh and Newman have taken their blend of traditional Irish, jazz, baroque, and bluegrass, along with original compositions, far and wide while recording seven albums. –University Communications
including Assoc. Prof. Angela Boatman (LSOEHD). The team reported on the findings in Education Next, and Boatman commented for Education Dive.
Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, Academic Affairs/Provost Boston College’s second annual BC Giving Day is coming up next week, and you can help make a difference. On March 18, go to bc.edu/ givingday to make a gift of any size to what matters most to you at BC. Your support will help unlock over $100,000 in additional funds for BC to make an even greater impact at the Heights. Spread the word to your networks and show your support by using #BCGivingDay on social media.
Program Director, Ever to Excel, President’s Office Recovery House Manager, Student Affairs/Residential Life Research Technician, Academic Affairs/ Provost Senior Associate Director, Marketing Communications, President’s Office Senior Enrollment & Financial Aid Analyst, Financial/Budget Senior/Non-Senior Business Intelligence Analyst/Developer, University Advancement
Chronicle
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March 12, 2020
BC Arts
BC Bringing Out the Best of Beethoven BY ROSANNE PELLEGRINI STAFF WRITER
This year marks the 250th anniversary of the birth of an icon: German pianist and composer Ludwig van Beethoven, widely considered to be one of the greatest musical geniuses of all time. The milestone has spurred celebrations and honors around the world, and Boston College is paying tribute with an engaging program of events this semester, “Beethoven 2020: The Ninth.” Music Department Assistant Chair and Associate Professor of the Practice Jeremiah McGrann, a Beethoven researcher, has originated and organized a series of related lectures this month leading to performances of the epic Ninth Symphony in April. A second set of events in the fall will focus on other works by Beethoven. “We think we know the Ninth Symphony—the melody is recognized anywhere on earth—but the related presentations will be a chance to explore it,” McGrann said. On March 15 at 3 p.m., McGrann and German Studies Chair and Professor Michael Resler will present “The Ninth Lecture One: Schiller’s Ode-Beethoven’s Ode,” a discussion about Schiller’s “An die Freude” (“Ode to Joy”) and its use in the Ninth Symphony. “The poem itself is fascinating, but best known because of Beethoven’s setting,” said McGrann. “A line of Schiller’s text makes it into Beethoven’s opera ‘Fidelio,’ in 1805, and around 1812 Beethoven makes a cryptic entry in one of his sketchbooks about a Schiller Overture and writes out a melody for the first lines of the ‘Ode to Joy’—but not the melody we know. How it ended up as a symphony is problematic and is the
focus of the second lecture.” At that talk, “The Ninth Lecture Two: If Joy is the Answer, What is the Question,” which takes place March 29 at 3 p.m., McGrann will give a presentation on the composition and interpretation of the Ninth Symphony. A March 23 concert titled “Beethoven, Students and Admirers” will feature Beethoven’s song cycle “An die ferne Geliebte,” Robert Schumann’s “Fantasie,” and works by Beethoven’s students. The 8 p.m. performance will feature McGrann and Slavic Languages and Literatures faculty member Tony Lin on piano, and tenor Michael Burgo, a part-time Music Department faculty member. The above events all will be held in Gasson 100. The culminating performances of the Ninth Symphony will be presented by the BC Symphony Orchestra and University Chorale, under the direction of John Finney, on April 17 at 8 p.m. and on April 19 at 2 p.m. at Trinity Chapel on Newton Campus. There is a nominal charge of $5; tickets will go on sale March 24 through bc.edu/tickets or at 617-552-4002. These concerts mark the first time that the Symphony and Chorale will perform the entire work without benefit of a hired orchestra. A self-described “Beethoven person” who has owned a statue of the prolific composer since he was eight years old, McGrann calls himself “privileged” to be among the few Americans co-editing a new critical edition of Beethoven’s works. Beethoven is “an icon in world culture and popular culture,” he said, noting that John Belushi played Beethoven in a set of “Saturday Night Live” sketches, Billy Joel used the melody of the slow movement of
Music faculty member Jeremiah McGrann, organizer of a series of campus events to commemorate the 250th birthday of Ludwig van Beethoven: “Beethoven is literally everywhere— including on a stained-glass window in Bapst Library.” photo by lee pellegrini
the “Pathétique” piano sonata in his song “This Night,” and the rap group Wu-Tang Clan sampled Beethoven for their song “Impossible.” “The BC community is enormously blessed to have Jeremiah McGrann as its resident Beethoven guru,” said Music Department Chair and Professor Michael Noone. “Not only is he a fabled teacher and an accomplished pianist, but he is also a first-rank scholar of the great icon. Beethoven courses through McGrann’s veins and in this carefully curated series of concerts, lectures, and discussions, we are offered a unique opportunity to get to know better both this colossus of the human spirit and his music.”
BC Scenes
‘Appa Mass’
PHOTOS BY PETER JULIAN
On Feb. 28, St. Ignatius Church hosted the annual “Appa Mass,”a sending-forth liturgy for Boston College students participating in the Appalachian Volunteers spring break service program. Assistant Professor of Theology Michael Magree, S.J., above, presided at the Mass. Organized through the Office of Campus Ministry, the program—popularly known as “Appa”—sends 400 students to assist underserved populations in more than 30 sites throughout the U.S. For more on Appalachian Volunteers, see www.bc.edu/appa.
Fall semester events will include a series of four concerts focusing on Beethoven’s string quartets performed by the Bostonbased Lydian Quartet, one of the country’s superior chamber groups. Included, according to McGrann, will be a lecture/ recital of Beethoven’s most enigmatic work, the “Grosse Fuge” (“Great Fugue, op. 133”), and a talk by preeminent American Beethoven scholar Lewis Lockwood, who was McGrann’s teacher. “Beethoven 2020” events are sponsored by the Institute for the Liberal Arts, the Music Department, and the University Chorale of Boston College. More information at http://bit.ly/boston-collegebeethoven2020.