APRIL 11, 2019 VOL. 26 NO. 15
PUBLISHED BY THE BOSTON COLLEGE OFFICE OF UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS
High Marks
INSIDE 2 Around Campus
Survey identifies strengths, areas for improvement regarding BC student experience
Center provides glimpse into lives and struggles of refugees; Mailroom’s Sforza is still at it after 51 years at BC.
3 Class of ’18 survey
Ninety-six percent placement for last year’s graduating class.
5 Romero Scholarship
Carolina Tiru ’20 talks about what winning the Saint Oscar Romero Scholarship means to her.
8 Arts Festival
The curtain goes up April 25 for Boston College’s annual celebration of the arts.
Minor in Global Public Health Added for Fall A new interdisciplinary minor in Global Public Health and the Common Good is set to debut in the fall of 2019. Approved by the Curriculum Committee on University-Wide Academic Programs, the six-course minor will feature classes taught by faculty from the Connell School of Nursing, Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences, Lynch School of Education and Human Development, School of Social Work, and Law School, said Professor of Biology Philip Landrigan, M.D. ’63, one of the world’s leading authorities on public health, who is directing the minor as well as other University initiatives in this arena. “It will be a rigorous course of study that will prepare people for a broad range of careers,” said Landrigan. “Some students will have interests in medicine and nursing. But I sincerely hope people looking for careers in fields such as economics, international relations, the humanities, busi-
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BC Executive Director of Public Safety and Chief of Police William Evans earlier this week, prepping for Monday’s Boston Marathon. photo by peter julian
The Life of His Run Bill Evans used to think running marathons was ‘crazy.’ He’s about to take part in his 54th one. BY ALIX HACKETT SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE
When two bombs exploded near the finish line of the 2013 Boston Marathon, Boston Police Superintendent William (Bill) Evans was still catching his breath after completing the 26.2-mile course in three hours and 34 minutes. He quickly swapped his running shorts for a police uniform, and spent the next five days running on-the-ground operations that resulted in the dramatic capture of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. Looking back at that week, Evans estimates he slept a total of about 10 hours. The stress was unimaginable. He got through it, he said, by running. “I remember going out on Wednesday, just two days after [the bombing],” he recalled. “I was out at four in the morning because I needed a run so bad.” On Monday, Evans will run the Boston Marathon for the 21st time, his 54th marathon overall. It will be his first time run-
ning the course as Boston College’s executive director of public safety and chief of police, a post he accepted last summer after a decades-long career in law enforcement. Although still responsible for public safety efforts in Chestnut Hill, the weight of the marathon no longer rests on his shoulders. “I don’t have the concerns or worries that I did before,” he said. “I’m looking forward to running by my colleagues here at BC Police and all the students, and then getting into Boston where all my officers are.” Evans first started running after joining the police force in the early ’80s. At first, he limited himself to shorter distances, ignoring friends and relatives who told him to give marathoning a try. “People used to say, ‘Do you think you’ll ever do a marathon?’ and I said, ‘Are you crazy? Those people are crazy,’” he recalled. “But then I did one, and I caught the bug.”
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Eighty-six percent of Boston College students would recommend BC to others and 75 percent would choose to go to BC again, according to data from the Student Experience Survey, released today by the Office of Institutional Research, Planning & Assessment. The survey—administered online from October through December of 2018—revealed, however, that more needs to be done to make students of color, lowincome students, and LGBTQ students feel more welcome within the University community. Sponsored by Student Affairs, University Mission and Ministry, and the Office of the Provost, and designed by a University-wide team of students, faculty, and administrators, the survey was created to gain a better understanding of the BC student experience both inside and outside of the classroom by examining students’ views on University mission, academics, student services, culture, and community. It yielded a 26 percent overall response rate, based on the participation of 2,417 BC students. Among its key findings, the survey revealed that more than 75 percent of BC students agree or strongly agree that they have developed a stronger sense of purpose since arriving at Boston College, and 79 percent have developed a better understanding of the distinctiveness of a Jesuit education. Nearly nine in 10 BC students surveyed agree or strongly agree that they are generally satisfied with the quality of teaching, and 93 percent agree that they are challenged intellectually by BC’s academic program. Overall, nearly 400 students identified faculty, academics, or the intellectual climate as an element they value most about Boston College. In addition, students expressed satisfaction with many BC programs, including career, health, counseling, and financial aid
I was gifted; I have a beautiful, loving family that encouraged me to pursue a higher education and follow my dreams. This award serves as a reminder of what I wish to pursue in life: to fight for immigrants and human rights. – Romero Scholarship Winner Carolina Tiru ’20, page 5
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April 11, 2019
Around Campus
Bringing the Plight of the World’s Refugees into Plain View Seeking to spark awareness of the hardships of refugees, the Boston College Center for Human Rights and International Justice last week invited members of the University community to reflect on what it would be like to live as one. The center held an event on April 1 in the Corcoran Center Heights Room, “Rights and Resources in Refugee Camps,” that offered insights into how a refugee camp typically provides for residents’ basic needs. Attendees were given a card that listed a fictional refugee’s name, country of origin, country of relocation, and a brief quote from him or her, and were asked to think of this individual as they walked through the various information stations and learned about the conditions refugees endure. “The world has the greatest number of forcibly displaced people at any time since World War II, according to UN data,” said Timothy Karcz, the center’s assistant director. “We feel it is important that students at an institution such as BC, with its social justice-oriented mission, are aware of this issue as oftentimes refugees’ plight can suffer from the ‘out of sight, out of mind’ phenomenon.” Members of BC student groups manned stations representing basic needs such as water, shelter, education, and sanitation,
Center for Human Rights and International Justice Timothy Karcz spoke about international refugee policies at the center’s “Rights and Resources in Refugee Camps” event in the Corcoran Center’s Heights Room. photos by peter julian
and shared data on the lack of a particular necessity and its impact on the lives of refugees in camps. At the water station, members of BC Charity: Water—which strives to deepen understanding of the global water crisis while raising money to build water systems in developing countries—displayed the amount of water a person living in a refugee camp is allotted each day, which is less than the amount used during an average shower. “What’s the first thing I do in the
morning? Usually, I wash my face, brush my teeth, or take a sip of water,” said BC Charity: Water member Ellie Rueve ’21. “Knowing how much water we use every day, it shocked me to learn that some people don’t have it.” Another station offered information on opportunities for advocacy on behalf of refugees. “Advocacy is something I am very passionate about,” said Stephanie Madzey ’19, who manned the table. “I studied abroad
in Jordan and my program was based on refugees’ health and humanitarian action. Since then, issues related to refugees have become very important to me. We definitely need to keep learning, but we also need to do something about it.” Other student groups contributing to “Rights and Resources in Refugee Camps” included GlobeMed at Boston College, BC Model UN, Arrupe International, and BC Real Food. –Christine Balquist
After More Than Half a Century at BC, He’s in No Hurry to Leave When 72-year-old mail clerk Bob Sforza started working at Boston College as a grounds keeper during the summer of 1968, Lyndon Johnson was president, the Beatles’ “Hey Jude” was the hottest single on the Billboard “Top 40” chart, the Vietnam War was raging, and just over 7,000 BC undergraduates would soon head to campus for the start of the fall semester. Unlike the students, Sforza never left. Today, 51 years later, Sforza mans the University’s central mailroom operation in the basement of Stuart Hall on Newton Campus, processing an estimated 2,0003,000 pieces per day. “It’s always been fun working here,” said the Somerville resident, whose grandparents emigrated from northern Italy and share the surname with the ruling family of Renaissance Italy. “I still enjoy it. It’s because of the people.” His late mother was a BC housekeeper who “hinted” to her son that there might ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT FOR UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS
Jack Dunn SENIOR DIRECTOR FOR UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS
be a campus grounds crew job available for the unemployed 21-year-old Boston native. He got the job but stayed just eight months; he found the long hours, particularly during the frigid winter months, grueling. He swapped his shovel and rake for the mailroom’s warmth and regular hours, and began an unanticipated half-century on the job. “Fifty-one years! You just don’t see that anymore,” said Thomas Clarke, manager of Mail Services, and Sforza’s supervisor. “People usually stay five or six years at a company, and then they leave to climb the ladder, but that’s not always the case at BC. We have many employees who have worked here 20, 30, and 40 years, just like Bobby. At BC, there’s loyalty to the worker which doesn’t exist anymore, which I think is based in Jesuit principles.” “I get four weeks of vacation, but I never use all of it,” reported Sforza, who never married and drives himself to and from
CONTRIBUTING STAFF
Sean Smith
Somerville every day, typically a 45-minute commute. “I usually take two weeks off in the summer to spend time at the Cape with my younger brother, who’s a retired special education teacher, and his wife.” When he’s not working, he enjoys watching sports on TV and exercising at his gym. He regularly gets together with
Christine Balquist Phil Gloudemans Ed Hayward Rosanne Pellegrini Kathleen Sullivan
Chronicle
PHOTOGRAPHERS
www.bc.edu/bcnews chronicle@bc.edu
Patricia Delaney EDITOR
Bob Sforza on the job in Boston College’s central mailroom on Newton Campus. “It’s always been fun working here,” says Sforza, who’s been an employee for 51 years. photo by lee pellegrini
Gary Gilbert Lee Pellegrini Peter Julian
friends he’s known since childhood on weekends. Although his co-workers recently staged a party in his honor, it wasn’t a retirement celebration. “Maybe I’ll retire in one to two years, but when I do, I’ll still work part-time somewhere.” —Phil Gloudemans
The Boston College Chronicle (USPS 009491), the internal newspaper for faculty and staff, is published biweekly from September to May by Boston College, with editorial offices at the Office of University Communications, 3 Lake Street, Brighton, MA 02135 (617)552-3350. Distributed free to faculty and staff offices and other locations on campus. Periodicals postage paid at Boston, MA and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: send address changes to The Boston College Chronicle, Office of University Communications, 3 Lake Street, Brighton, MA 02135. A flipbook edition of Chronicle is available via e-mail. Send requests to chronicle@bc.edu.
Chronicle
April 11, 2019
Positive Trends Continue in Class of 2018 Survey BY PHIL GLOUDEMANS STAFF WRITER
Ninety-six percent of graduates from the Boston College Class of 2018 are employed, studying in graduate school, or engaged in a fellowship or meaningful volunteer experience, according to survey results released by the Office of Institutional Research, Planning & Assessment and the Career Center. The findings, which place BC among the top universities nationwide, underscore the value of a Boston College education and showcase the impressive accomplishments of BC graduates who earned their diplomas last year, according to administrators. “Recent graduates of Boston College are in high demand in the labor market and continue to enjoy great success in advancing their education in graduate and professional schools,” said Provost and Dean of Faculties David Quigley. “The University’s distinctive approach to undergraduate education prepares this generation well for a wide range of opportunities beyond Chestnut Hill.” Equaling last year’s total, 73.3 percent of the 2018 class entered the workforce, with 23 percent employed by financial services and real estate firms, ranging from Citi and Goldman Sachs to JLL and PricewaterhouseCoopers, while 15 percent work in health care and the sciences at such institutions as Massachusetts General Hospital, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute,
and the Mayo Clinic. Fourteen percent are employed at technology, consulting, and management companies, including Google, Amazon, Wayfair, and Accenture. Among the 19 percent who are attending graduate schools—duplicating last year’s figure—the top five programs of study are law (17 percent), STEM (17), education (14), business (13), and medicine (six). The most popular graduate schools include Boston College, Columbia, University of Chicago, Duke, NYU, USC, and the University of Virginia, among others. The Jesuit Volunteer Corps, City Year, the Peace Corps, and AmeriCorps are the most popular volunteer commitments among the 3.4 percent of the class engaged in volunteer service or fellowships—down from last year’s five percent—while Fulbright study is the top fellowship choice. “Students and their families want to know more than ever that their Boston College education will empower them to lead lives of meaning and purpose and position them well for post-graduate success,” said Joseph Du Pont, associate vice president for Student Affairs/Career Services. “As an institution, we are committed to accomplishing both of those goals.” According to the Office of Institutional Research, Planning & Assessment, the data represent a 75 percent knowledge rate for the Class of 2018. Sources include the Post-Graduation Plans Survey, National Student Clearinghouse, Boston College data, and public data.
Alumni Association Announces Two New Alumni Affinity Groups The Boston College Alumni Association has announced the addition of the LGBTQ+ Alumni Network to the association’s roster of identity and professionally-based alumni affinity groups, which provide a means for BC grads to connect with one another and the University based on academic, cultural, professional, social, spiritual, or other areas of interest. The network will serve as a forum for dialogue, connection, and education among BC alumni who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or an ally. Events celebrating the network’s launch will be held in New York City this coming Tuesday and in Boston at a date to be announced later. “We are absolutely thrilled to welcome the LGBTQ+ Alumni Network along with the Arts Circle of New York to the Alumni Association as our two newest affinity groups,” said Associate Vice President for Alumni Relations Leah M. DeCosta, who will attend the network’s launch events along with Boston College Alumni Association Board President Kevin McLaughlin ’78 and Senior Vice President for University Advancement James Husson. “Our LGBTQ+ alumni volunteer leaders who have
worked closely with our office have been instrumental in laying the groundwork and helping to establish these efforts. We are truly grateful for their unwavering support and dedication to Boston College and look forward to an exciting future ahead.” The formal establishment of the network as an affinity group represents “progress, inclusion, and equality,” said network leaders, who expressed hope that the group will inspire alumni to reconnect or deepen their connection with BC and serve as a support for current students wondering about their post-BC lives. Other alumni affinity groups include the AHANA Alumni Advisory Council, Arts Alumni Network, BC Public Safety Alumni Network, BC Veterans Alumni Network, Council for Women of Boston College, Energy & Environment Alumni Network, Real Estate Council, Technology & Entrepreneurship Council, Wall Street Council, and Woods College Alumni Council. Information about affinity groups and other alumni activities is available at the Alumni Association website [www.bc.edu/ alumni]. –University Communications
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photo by lee pellegrini
Presidential Views
University President William P. Leahy, S.J., was part of a March 28 panel discussion, “Revitalizing Our Church: Ideas from University Presidents,” with Emmanuel College President Janet Eisner, SNDDEN, MA ’69 (second from right) and Fordham University President Joseph McShane, S.J., sponsored by the Church in the 21st Century Center. C21 Center Director Karen Kiefer (far left) moderated the event, which was held in the Corcoran Commons Heights Room.
Student Experience Survey Results Revealed Continued from page 1
services, but expressed overall dissatisfaction with the housing lottery and lack of food options on campus. While students positively rated their overall experience at BC, 94 percent agree or strongly agree that Boston College is a competitive environment, with most students stating that they experience academic and social pressures on campus. According to the survey, 90 percent of Boston College students said they were treated fairly by others at BC, and 82 percent felt a strong sense of belonging to the BC community. However, students with high financial need rated these items less favorably than others, and students who identified as black or African American rated the campus environment as less welcoming than the overall student population. About half of the respondents said they had experienced some degree of unfair treatment this past year, based on sexual orientation, race/ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic status, country of origin, disability, or religion. Ninety-five percent of students agree or strongly agree that diversity is important to them, with 70 percent agreeing that their courses included “diverse perspectives,” and 62 percent agreeing that the BC community welcomes open discussions about “issues of difference.” Black or African American students overall, however, were less likely to agree with these findings. The majority of students who responded to the survey reported that they had meaningful discussions at BC with people of a different socio-economic status, race/ ethnicity, or religious background “often or very often.” However, students expressed a desire for more inclusive and integrative space and programming at Boston College, as well as a desire for more opportunities to engage with diverse people and perspec-
tives. “The results of this survey reveal a positive experience for the majority of BC undergraduates, with students expressing overwhelming satisfaction with the quality of teaching and their ability to develop a stronger sense of purpose through reflection opportunities and engagement in retreats and community service,” said Kelli Armstrong, vice president for planning and assessment. “Most students also report a strong sense of belonging, and would recommend Boston College to others, which are both strong indicators of a positive overall experience. “However, the survey also provides indications of areas where BC can improve the student experience for particular populations, with AHANA, LGBTQ, or high-financial need students generally responding less favorably, especially around issues of inclusivity and a sense of belonging,” said Armstrong. Interim Vice President for Student Affairs Joy Moore said that while the survey reveals much positive news about the student experience at Boston College, work remains to be done to make BC meet its high standards as a welcoming community. “Our plan is to take the survey findings and work with the Diversity Steering Committee, other senior administrators, and students to formulate ways to enhance our strengths and address our shortcomings,” said Moore. “I am looking forward to being a part of that process to help create a more welcoming and inclusive University community where everyone has a sense of belonging.” An executive summary of the Student Experience Survey is available at www. bc.edu/studentsurvey. – Jack Dunn
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April 11, 2019
Team Player
For BC’s Goldman, running the Boston Marathon has become synonymous with helping the Martin Richard Foundation BY PHIL GLOUDEMANS STAFF WRITER
Chemistry part-time faculty member Christine Goldman, a 13-time Boston Marathon qualifier, is already in the winner’s circle even before the starting gun sounds on Monday in Hopkinton for the race’s 123rd edition. Goldman was honored on Feb. 1 as one of three recipients of the second annual Martin Richard Foundation Peacemaker Award, an acknowledgement of her leadership and volunteerism on behalf of the non-profit organization named for the youngest victim of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing. The foundation characterized her as a “role model for sportsmanship, inclusion, kindness, and peace,” and someone who “strives to do the right thing and encourages others to do the same; she personifies the idea that to truly give, we must give of ourselves.” Additionally, Goldman and her Peacemaker Award co-recipients were lauded for “living the values of sportsmanship, inclusion, kindness and peace in their everyday lives” and serving as “ambassadors of our vision of a united, compassionate com-
munity.” “Being recognized with a Martin Richard Foundation Peacemaker Award encourages me to keep running for Martin, to keep working for inclusion, kindness, sportsmanship, and peace, all the while believing that this is what Martin himself would be doing if he we here with us physically,” says Goldman, who will run in support of the foundation, known as “Team MR8,” on Monday despite suffering a left elbow fracture and an injury to her right wrist in a training run spill. Goldman, who has consecutively run the Boston Marathon since 2007, first participated as a Team MR8 ambassador in 2015. “I was profoundly affected by the events on an emotional and spiritual level,” she explained in a 2015 Chronicle interview. “Every single day when I run, I pray for the victims and their families, and I pray for peace.” Her support for the foundation’s goals went beyond running the marathon. In 2015, Bridgewater State University— from which Martin’s parents graduated in 1993—dedicated its institute for social justice in Martin Richard’s name and
“Running’s been the key to my success. When you think you’re having a bad day, you go on a run and things just seem to be better.”
A True Marathoner Continued from page 1
When it comes to training, Evans is a creature of habit. He’s up every morning at 4:30, pounding the pavement of South Boston in every kind of weather. During the coldest months, when many runners succumb to the relative comfort of a treadmill, he trades his usual coastal route for an inland one. He never runs with music. For the last five years, two friends have taken to joining Evans for his morning runs, but for years he ran alone. During his tenure as police commissioner, he would sometimes return home from a crime scene at three in the morning, and go running instead of going to bed. “I was used to not sleeping a lot,” he acknowledged. “It was neat because I’d run through every neighborhood in the city and it felt like I was keeping an eye on things, like I was the eyes and ears.” Evans credits running with helping him process the stress that comes with a job in law enforcement. After the bombing, he met with a psychiatrist who confirmed what he’s long believed—that running is just as important for his mental health as it is for his physical wellbeing. “I’ve always said, as long as I can get my run in every day, I can deal with anything,” he said. “Running’s been the key to my success. When you think you’re having a bad day, you go on a run and things just seem to be better.”
photo by peter julian
Marathoning has also given Evans a platform to support causes he cares about. In past years, he’s run for the Martin Richard Foundation, established in memory of the eight-year-old boy killed in the marathon bombing. This year, Evans is raising funds for Journey Forward, a nonprofit based in Canton, Mass., that works to rehabilitate patients with spinal cord injuries. “They do amazing work helping all kinds of people,” Evans explained. “We have a Secret Service agent who was paralyzed in a bad car accident and they’ve been working with him to get him back on his feet.” Joining Evans at the starting line this year will be his eldest son John, who graduated from the Carroll School of Management in 2015. At 25 years old, and with five marathons under his belt already, the younger Evans stands a good chance of beating his father to Heartbreak Hill, where BC students gather every year to cheer runners on. “I beat him in the first one but now he’s smoking me,” Evans said with a smile. “I’m proud. I couldn’t care less about my time anymore, I’m more into enjoying it. I’m going to keep doing this until my knees won’t let me anymore.” –Alix Hackett is a senior digital content writer for the Office of University Communications
Christine Goldman, a Chemistry Department faculty member, trained last week for Monday’s Boston Marathon, which will be her 13th time in the race. photo by lee pellegrini
memory. When Goldman was asked to serve on the institute’s advisory board, she immediately agreed. “We’re reinvigorating the institute,” says Goldman. “It will be much more focused on social justice issues going forward.” Goldman, who joined BC in 1999, has designed, developed, and instructed the
Honors Chemistry laboratory series since 2001. To contribute to Goldman’s Boston Marathon run in support of Team MR8, go to https://www.crowdrise.com/o/en/ campaign/Martin-Richard-FoundationBoston-2019/christinegoldman.
Diversity and Inclusion Summit Set for May 22 The Office for Institutional Diversity and the University’s Human Resources division will present the fourth annual Diversity and Inclusion Summit on May 22 in Gasson 100 from 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. Reflecting the social justice imperative inherent in Boston College’s Jesuit, Catholic heritage, this year’s summit, titled “Transformational Dialogue,” invites faculty and staff to participate in bold and inclusive conversations, interactive sessions, and shared storytelling that will encourage and promote transformative and self-reflective dialogue, according to organizers. This experience, they add, can enable meaning-
ful change and build sustainable relationships across differences at the summit and beyond. The 2019 summit will feature talks by Zareen Araoz, a part-time faculty member in the Carroll School of Management, and Boston College School of Social Work Professor for Macro Practice Tiziana Dearing, who will provide an interactive style of presentation to encourage participation among participants. Registration and additional information is available at https://www.bc.edu/ offices/diversity/diversity-programs/ summit/2019summit.html. —University Communications
Global Public Health Minor to Debut Continued from page 1
ness, law, and education, among others, will come into the program as well. Public health is a discipline that cuts across many areas, so we look forward to a group of students with a broad range of interests.” Grounded in epidemiology, the basic science of public health, the minor will ask students to analyze public health’s moral, ethical, and legal foundations, as well as study the influences of social, economic, political, and environmental factors on patterns of health and disease. Additional topics include global disparities in health and their root causes, and how public health contributes to societal well-being and the common good. Students will have opportunities for community service, reflection,
and experiential learning in the United States and abroad. The program includes three required courses: Public Health in a Global Society, Epidemiology, and either Ethics in Global health or Global Health Law. Students also take three elective courses offered from a wide range of schools and departments. The program recently hired one of its first instructors, epidemiologist Rebecca Franckle, who earned her doctorate at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Franckle has been teaching at Merrimack College. For more information, contact the Global Public Health program office at publichealth@bc.edu. –Ed Hayward
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April 11, 2019
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Perseverance and Commitment Romero Scholarship winner Carolina Tiru '20 seeks to champion the cause of those less fortunate
BY ROSANNE PELLEGRINI STAFF WRITER
When Hurricane Maria struck her native Puerto Rico in September of 2017, Carolina Tiru ’20 was unable to get word from her family for more than a week. “I didn’t know anything about them until eight days later,” recalled Tiru of the disaster, which occurred at the start of her sophomore year in the Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences. During that time, Tiru drew strength from the campus community. In particular, she cites the importance of the support she received from a mentor, Associate Professor of Philosophy Marina McCoy, as well as from her faith community at St. Ignatius Parish. The 2019 Saint Oscar A. Romero Scholarship winner recently reflected on these and other relationships, and how they have shaped her BC experience. “I am deeply grateful to everyone who has played a role in these formative years of my life and I am so honored to receive this award,” said Tiru, an aspiring immigration and human rights attorney. “I came to BC to broaden my education and to leave a greater mark on the world.” The Romero Scholarship recognizes a BC junior who has demonstrated an understanding of, and commitment to, the values and ideals inherent in the life of the Salvadoran archbishop, as well as academic achievement, extracurricular leadership, community service, and involvement with the Hispanic/Latino community and issues both on and off campus. Diana Hernandez and Vaness Ruiz-Wiarco also were nominated—to read their profiles see http://bit. ly/romero-scholarship-2019. “This award represents the commitment I have to social change and civil liberty,” ac-
Romero Scholarship winner Carolina Tiru ’20 watches as her cousin Isabela Sofia Isidro greets University President William P. Leahy, S.J., at the March 23 event where she received the award from Fr. Leahy. photo by christopher huang
cording to Tiru, who received the award on March 23. “It represents my never-ceasing struggle to stand up for those less fortunate. I was gifted; I have a beautiful, loving family that encouraged me to pursue a higher education and follow my dreams. This award serves as a reminder of what I wish to pursue in life: to fight for immigrants and human rights.” A psychology major, Tiru—who has served as a research assistant in Associate Professor Liane Young’s Morality Lab—is minoring in philosophy and international
studies. She feels privileged to be the first in her family to pursue higher education in the United States, and, in another first, to have voted in the 2016 presidential election. She credits her family—especially her mother, from whom she learned at a young age that helping others is vital—with her commitment to serve others. Through her role as co-director of external affairs in the Organization of Latin American Affairs and involvement with the St. Ignatius Latinx community, she launched “Creando Sonrisas” (Creating Smiles), to connect BC
students and members of the parish through such activities as immigration policy discussions, cultural celebrations, and ESL classes. Tiru cites her affiliation with the Campus School, where she began volunteering as a freshman, as a meaningful undergraduate experience. She went on to do her PULSE weekly volunteering there, and is now a student employee. “From day one, the school has given me a place to feel at home. My older sister has severe epilepsy; it was amazing to be able to do at BC many of the things I do back home. The students, teachers, and administration are part of my family. They have supported me in my endeavors and inspire me to persevere no matter the circumstance.” Although she is studying abroad this semester at the American University of Rome, Tiru was back on campus last month to receive her award from University President William P. Leahy, S.J. at the annual Romero Scholarship event. She ended her acceptance speech with a call to the audience: “Let us be the mic of those whose voices are not being heard. Let us fight for our people, the people of the world. It is an honor to have received this award and I can only hope to carry on [Saint] Romero’s mission for the rest of my life.” Carroll School of Management Lecturer Lourdes German received the Rev. John A. Dinneen, S.J. Hispanic Alumni Community Service Award at the Romero ceremony. An article on her award will run in the next Chronicle.
Law School Will Host Talk by Retired General George Casey Jr.
Snapshot
Freedom and Justice PHOTOS BY LEE PELLEGRINI
Criminal justice reform advocate Anthony Ray Hinton, who spent 30 years on death row after being wrongly convicted of two murders in 1985, spoke on April 3 in the Yawkey Center Murray Room and later signed copies of his autobiography. The event was sponsored by the Division of Student Affairs, Office of the Vice Provost and Dean of Faculties, and University Mission and Ministry.
Retired four-star General George Casey Jr., a former Army Chief of Staff and 41-year Army veteran who was once the top international commander in Iraq, will discuss the complicated, and frequently misunderstood, U.S. civilian-military relationship at the Boston College Law School on April 25. “Civil-Military Relations: From the Constitution to the War on Terror,” which takes place from noon-1 p.m. in East Wing 115B/120, is sponsored by the BC Student Veterans Association and the BC Law Leaders Entering & Advancing Public Service (LEAPS) Program. Casey, an authority on strategic leadership and establishment of the rule of law, served for three years as commander of the Multi-National Force in Iraq, a coalition of more than 30 countries. He oversaw challenging tasks such as transferring control to Iraqi military forces and government, ensuring the success of the 2005 Iraqi gen-
eral elections, enabling the interim government to hold the criminal trial of Saddam Hussein, and directing the American troop surge in 2007. From 2007-2011, as the Army Chief of Staff, Casey was widely credited with rejuvenating the Army and leading efforts to make it relevant and effective in the 21st century. Casey holds a master’s degree in international relations from University of Denver, and served as a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council of the United States, a foreign policy think tank. He has published a book on his experiences in Iraq, Strategic Reflections, Operation Iraqi Freedom, July 2004-2007, a chapter in Changing Mindsets to Transform Security, and an article in Fortune magazine. To register for this event, go to https:// orgsync.com/80388/events/2683853/occurrences/6464085. —University Communications
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April 11, 2019
Roche Center Head Weitzel-O’Neill to Retire BY PHIL GLOUDEMANS STAFF WRITER
Patricia Weitzel-O’Neill, executive director of Boston College’s Barbara and Patrick Roche Center for Catholic Education and a nationally recognized leader in Catholic education, announced she will retire from her post effective July 31. The former superintendent of schools for the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C., and one-time vice president for academic affairs at Trinity Washington University, Weitzel-O’Neill has led the Roche Center, an affiliated center within the Lynch School of Education and Human Development, since July 2010. “Patricia Weitzel-O’Neill has made enormous contributions to the Roche Center and Boston College over the past decade,” said Stanton E.F. Wortham, the Charles F. Donovan, S.J., Dean of the Lynch School of Education and Human Development, who will serve as interim director of the center until a new executive director is appointed. “She has worked collaboratively to create a center which is a catalyst for transformative Catholic education and applied research. Her vision, experience, and professional networks have allowed her to move the Roche Center forward and position BC as a leader in Catholic education.” Founded in 2007, the Roche Center is named for the late Patrick E. Roche ’51, H ’01, co-founder of the Wellesley, Mass.-
based Roche Brothers supermarket chain, and his wife, Barbara, who donated a $20 million endowment to the center in 2010. “I am very grateful to the Roche family for their vision, insight, and unprecedented support in establishing this center, which has permitted and encouraged the professional team to grow and advance transformative initiatives serving Catholic schools across the nation, and to expand the role of Boston College as a leader for excellence, equity and faith formation in Catholic education,” said Weitzel-O’Neill. “I am also thankful for the privilege of working with outstanding colleagues in the center, the Lynch School, colleagues across campus, and at other Catholic institutions of higher education, as well as the many school leaders in our programs and in the Archdiocese of Boston.” While at the Roche Center, WeitzelO’Neill co-founded the Two-Way Immersion Network for Catholic Schools, which supports the implementation and assessment of dual-language immersion models in Catholic school classrooms throughout the U.S. Since 2012, she has also overseen the Emmaus Leadership Series, with collaborative contributions from the Lynch School, the School of Theology and Ministry, and the Carroll School of Management. This national cohort program provides executive leadership development for Catholic school presidents, principals, and heads of school to strengthen them for the demands of today’s education governance.
After nine years at BC, Patricia WeitzelO’Neill will step down effective July 31.
In 2017, Weitzel-O’Neill received the C. Alfred Koob Presidential Merit Award for distinguished service to Catholic education from the National Catholic Educational Association, an organization of more than 200,000 educators in Catholic schools, universities, and religious education programs. She is a co-author with STM Associate Professor Hosffman Ospino of the 2016 report “Catholic Schools in an Increasingly Hispanic Church,” based on the first National Survey of Catholic Schools Serv-
ing Hispanic Families. Also in 2016, she and Ospino hosted the first-ever National Summit on Catholic Schools and Hispanic Families, which engaged 200 recognized national thought leaders in focused conversations. Weitzel-O’Neill is a co-editor of the National Standards and Benchmarks for Effective Catholic Elementary and Secondary Schools, which have been adopted nationally and implemented at the school, diocesan, and state levels. Weitzel-O’Neill continues the work, along with co-editor Lorraine Ozar of Loyola University Chicago, focusing on research, publications, and new digital resources. She serves on multiple boards, including the Governing Board for the Journal of Catholic Education, and the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate at Georgetown University. During her eight-year tenure as the Archdiocese Diocese of Washington, D.C., superintendent, she was responsible for 29,000 students in 96 early-learning, elementary, and secondary schools, the largest non-public school system in the area. She was credited with strengthening the schools’ academic programs, introducing a standards-based curriculum, and enhancing professional development standards. Additionally, she was instrumental in efforts to secure the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program, a federally funded initiative that enabled thousands of low-income children to attend non-public schools in the nation’s capital.
Woods College Holds Inaugural Undergraduate Research Conference BY PATRICIA DELANEY SENIOR DIRECTOR FOR UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS
Scholarship across the disciplines of philosophy, psychology, literature, politics, energy dynamics, natural sciences, and faith was in the spotlight at the inaugural Undergraduate Research Conference hosted by the Woods College of Advancing Studies. More than a hundred attendees gathered in Gasson Hall on March 23 for the daylong event, which included faculty panels and student poster presentations, as well as a keynote address on the importance and use of research in law enforcement by Boston College Chief of Police and Executive Director of Public Safety William B. Evans. The conference, sponsored by the Woods College’s new applied research department, reflects the school’s signature commitment to formative education that prepares students for citizenship, service, and leadership in a global society. In addition to the multiple opportunities the Woods College provides for undergraduates’ personal reflection and discernment, its growing emphasis on scholarship encourages students to deepen their thinking and level of inquiry. To research is to go about seeking the truth, said Woods College Interim Dean David Goodman in his welcoming remarks at the event; it provides a more informed
Woods College students Maggie Joyce and Darren Li share a congratulatory moment at the school's recent Undergraduate Research Conference. photo by justin knight
guide with which to consider—and challenge—ideas, which is especially important in a contemporary society beset by diminishing attention spans and viral “fake news.” The Woods undergraduate research conference, he said, is designed not only to showcase student achievements but also to enrich participants’ ability to converse with one another and to think deeply about the world. In his keynote address, Evans, a nation-
ally respected leader in law enforcement who joined Boston College in 2018 following a tenure as police commissioner for the City of Boston, shared a number of examples of how research has been, and continues to be, of critical importance to his work. On a daily basis, he said, studying crime statistics, including patterns and trends, was key to determining assignments for the 2,200 officers on the Boston Police force. “We needed to know where crimes had
been occurring or were likely to occur,” he said. “Data drives deployment.” Woods College student poster presentations focused on a wide range of subjects, including an assessment of the impact of satire in generating political change; an examination of The Apollonian and Dionysian in Tolstoy’s The Death of Ivan Ilych; a comparative study of two U.S. Army nurses, both immigrants, who were killed while serving their adopted country in separate conflicts; and an analysis of Haitian religious communities, to cite a few. Boston native West Price-Ashby ’19 said he welcomed the opportunity to work with Woods College faculty member Jennifer Cole on his project, which related to the viability of ocean thermal energy. “My family is very committed to conserving energy at home,” he said, which is what prompted the psychology major to take Cole’s course in energy dynamics and reducing carbon footprints, to learn how he personally might have more of an impact on the environment. “The course,” he said, “was amazing.” The day also included two faculty panel discussions on the role of research across the areas of law, business, English, history, philosophy, theology, psychology, and the natural sciences. Participants also highlighted significant findings that recently have emerged in those fields. Read the full version of this story at http://bit.ly/woods-research-conference
Chronicle
April 11, 2019
WELCOME ADDITIONS
BC in the Media
An Introduction to New Faculty at Boston College Lourdes German
Lecturer in Business Law and Society Co-director of the Managing for Social Impact and the Public Good minor Carroll School of Management DEGREES: Boston College (BA); Boston University (JD) WHAT SHE STUDIES: Law, finance, and public policy WHAT SHE’S TEACHING: Portico, Managing for Social Impact.
You have such a wide range of experience throughout your career, so what kind of advice do you give students about following a career pathway? “I encourage students to challenge themselves, take courses that help them discover new ways of seeing and understanding the world, and find mentors who will nurture them because that was integral for me when discerning the kind of contribution I wanted to make and my path. My entire career has been focused on public finance, global economic development, sustainability, and how the business community and public sector can come together in the noted realms to bring about a positive change in society. I realized early on that I had a passion for this, but as a student I didn’t know what to do with that interest, or how to build a career that reflected those values. I was lucky to have professors who guided me to take classes that helped me build the foundation of knowledge that I would later draw upon throughout my career.”
Elizabeth Howard
Associate Professor Connell School of Nursing DEGREES: University of Massachusetts, Amherst (BS); Boston College (MS, PhD) WHAT SHE STUDIES: Healthy aging; older adults, particularly the underserved and vulnerable in the US and abroad. WHAT SHE’S TEACHING: Research Methods for Advanced Practice Nursing; Primary Care of Adults and Older Adults II.
Your research and nursing expertise is in older adults. What has data and your own observations shown you about how older adults can experience healthy aging?
“Based on my research and observations, the goal of healthy aging encompasses three intersecting dimensions: spirituality, psychosocial dynamics, and physical and cognitive activity. Spirituality is viewed more broadly than a formal religious affiliation and encompasses a personal sense of meaning and purpose in one’s life and a belief in something that is greater than oneself. Interactions and engagements that support a positive attitude, creative expression, and multiple and varied social connections contribute to the psychosocial dimension. Perhaps the strongest influence on healthy aging is engagement in regular physical and cognitive activities providing sustained stimulation and challenges towards improvement. Healthy aging requires a consistent, holistic, multi-dimensional approach.”
David Jorgensen
Assistant Research Professor of New Testament Assistant Editor, New Testament Abstracts School of Theology and Ministry DEGREES: Dartmouth College (BA); Harvard Divinity School (MTS), Princeton (MA, PhD). WHAT HE STUDIES: Early Christian history and literature; canonical and non-canonical
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Gospels; processes of “scripturalization” and canonization of New Testament texts; reception and interpretation of “biblical” and “apostolic” texts; patristic writers, especially Irenaeus of Lyons; Nag Hammadi and Gnostic studies; origins, natures, and destinies of orthodoxies and heresies; “parting of the ways” between Christianity and Judaism; religions of the ancient Mediterranean; Unitarian Universalist history. WHAT HE’S TEACHING: The Apostle Paul; Jesus of Nazareth. (2019-20 academic year)
Having earned an undergraduate degree in computer science, what drew you to study the New Testament?
“I always loved school, and in high school I was drawn to many things, but especially computer programming and history. In college, I majored in what I thought was most practical, while continuing to take history courses and also seizing the opportunity to take religious studies classes for the first time. You could say that my interest in the critical study of religion developed too late for me to major in it and still graduate in four years, something my parents were quite keen on. Several years later, I began to realize that while the software industry was fun, my primary lens for seeing the world has been a historical one at least since high school, and I started to consider paths not taken and looked into graduate school in history. This was further narrowed to the history of earliest Christianity and its literature rather quickly in that discernment process as something that had always fascinated me.”
Mara Willard
Visiting Assistant Professor in International Studies Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences DEGREES: Swarthmore College (BA); Harvard Divinity School (M.Div.); Harvard University (PhD) WHAT SHE STUDIES: The intersection of religion, ethics, and politics in the 20th century. WHAT SHE’S TEACHING: Ethics, Religion, and International Politics; Where on Earth?
Your experience includes project work on conflict alleviation and recovery with the Center for Strategic and International Studies and USAID—what did these projects entail, and what did you learn from them?
“At CSIS, I contributed to developing the ‘Justice and Reconciliation’ pillar that was among the center’s four priority areas. This was part of an enormous project whose outcomes were published as Play to Win: Report of the Post-Conflict Reconstruction Commission. I learned a great deal in both substance and process. Certainly, I bring a great deal to my teaching portfolio from that experience. But what struck me was the depth of talent, good will, and passion for public service demonstrated by CSIS staff, leadership, and the 27-member bi-partisan commission. Perhaps this stood out to me because 2002, the year that I worked at CSIS, was so soon after the terrorist attacks on the Pentagon and Twin Towers. The people with whom I worked gave incredible hours and talent to create this study so thick with insight. Many were quietly skeptical of the prudence of U.S. military actions in Iraq and Afghanistan. But regardless of their private assessments, they were seeking to maximize possible outcomes of stability and governance structures that were participatory, transparent, and accountable.”
In many Disney films, including the new live-action reboot of “Dumbo,” mothers are either absent, marginalized, or meet a heartbreaking fate. Assoc. Prof. of the Practice Bonnie Rudner (English)—whose Studies in Children’s Literature course is popularly dubbed “the Disney class”— offered her thoughts on this for Vogue. U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren says if she’s elected president, she’d direct the Department of Justice to break up the socalled “big three”: Google, Amazon, and Facebook. Asst. Prof. Hiba Hafiz (Law) discussed the legal aspects of this plan on WBUR’s “Radio Boston.”
Nota Bene Director of Dining Services Beth Emery was a panelist for the discussion, “The Future of Food: From Plant Protein to Urbanization,” that took place at the Small Change Big Impact Food Summit held at Harvard University earlier this month. The invitation-only event brought together a mix of thought leaders and change agents from academia, food service, food brands, and non-profits to foster constructive dialogue, explore case study insights, and forge new collaborations toward an improved food future. Assistant Professor of Art History Kyrah Malika Daniels, who has a joint appointment in the African and African Diaspora Studies Program, has been awarded a Getty/American Council of Learned Societies Postdoctoral Fellowship in the History of Art for her project “The Art That Heals: Spiritual Illness and Sacred Arts of the Black Atlantic.” The fellowships encourage projects that make substantial and original contributions to the understanding of art and its history. Awardees will convene at the Getty Foundation for a weeklong residency upon completion of their fellowships, creating a community of scholars connected to one another.
peter julian and lee pellegrini
Ordained ministers must understand their role not as a privilege granted as confirmation of their superiority, but as an act of service and an invitation to grow in holiness, according to Elyse Raby, a theology doctoral candidate and member of BC’s Seminar on Priesthood and Ministry for the Contemporary Church, in a piece for U.S. Catholic on the seminar’s report, “To Serve the People of God: Renewing the Conversation on Priesthood and Ministry.” Education Dive reported on a Harvard University paper highlighting the value of personalized plans that pull together students’ goals, strengths and needs, noting the success of the Lynch School of Education and Human Development City Connects program. Prof. Oliver Rafferty, S.J. (History), was quoted in a WGBH piece surveying Irish Brexit watchers in Boston.
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: Software Developer, Academic Affairs/ Provost Dining Temporary Pool, Dining and Catering/Auxiliary/Public Safety Vice President of Development, President’s Office Stewardship Operations Assistant, University Advancement Development Assistant, Corporate and Foundation Relations, University Advancement Custodial Supervisor, Facilities/Trades Resident Director, Student Affairs/Residential Life Events Assistant, Alumni Affinity Programs, University Advancement Senior Business Intelligence Analyst/Developer, University Advancement Business Manager, Academic Affairs/Provost Grant and Contract Post Award Administrator, Academic Affairs/Provost Fiscal/Administrative Specialist, Academic Affairs/Provost
–Ed Hayward, Kathleeen Sullivan, Sean Smith photos of howard, jorgensen, willard by
In the era of digital disruption, leaders need a blend of traditional and new skills to steer their organizations into the future, according to an article co-authored by Prof. Gerald Kane (CSOM) for Sloan Management Review.
Sheila Davis, chief of clinical operations and chief nursing officer for Partners in Health, discussed her journey to become a global nurse, at the Connell School of Nursing Pinnacle Lecture on April 1. photo by lee pellegrini
Regional Director, Major Giving, University Advancement Professor of Catholic Educational Leadership, Academic Affairs/Provost Multimedia Producer/Senior Multimedia Producer, University Advancement
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April 11, 2019
Campus Arts
Arts Festival Celebrates ‘Infinite Expressions’ Annual event features contributors from across the University BY ROSANNE PELLEGRINI STAFF WRITER
Award-winning poet, writer, editor, physician, and educator C. Dale Young ’91 will return to his alma mater later this month as the special guest and alumni honoree at Boston College’s 21st annual Arts Festival, which runs from April 25-27. Young will be at the festival on April 26 to take part in a career-related interview program titled “Inside the BC Studio” with Professor of English Suzanne Matson (2:30 p.m., Stokes Art Tent) and receive the annual Boston College Arts Council Alumni Award for Distinguished Achievement (4:30 p.m., Gasson 100).
C. Dale Young ’91 will receive the Arts Council Alumni Award for Distinguished Achievement.
In addition to showcasing Young’s achievements, the festival will highlight the depth and breadth of campus arts—including music, theater, dance, poetry, film, painting, and sculpture—and the creative work of students, faculty, and others at the University; some 1,900 members of the University community participated in last year’s festival. Open to the public, community members are invited to attend the festival, which includes a variety of programming for all ages, most free of charge. Festival-goers can listen to student musicians presenting original works in a variety of genres at the “Battle of the Bands” and “Singer Songwriter” competitions, or take in performances that demonstrate the range of cultural expression in BC’s artistic community. A variety of music, dance, and theater ensembles will be on stage each afternoon. Highlighting children and family-oriented entertainment on April 27 will be a production “Beauty of the Beast” performed by BC students in the Theatre for Youth Class (noon-1 p.m., O’Neill Plaza Tent) and “Songs of Disney,” a con-
cert by the Chamber Music Society (2:30, Gasson 100). “Artistic work grows and changes with the world around us. While Boston College artists continue to demonstrate expertise in traditional, cultural, and socially minded work, we are also expanding to include more technology and interdisciplinary work,” said BC Theatre Department Chair and Associate Professor Crystal Tiala, who also chairs Boston College’s Arts Council, which organizes the festival. “This year be sure to check out the giant LED screen featuring new digital content on the main stage or watch for new design thinking workshops in collaboration with the Schiller Institute for Integrated Science and Society. You can find creative thinkers and artists in all corners of our campus.” In collaboration with the Office of the Provost and Dean of Faculties, the festival—whose theme this year is “Infinite Expressions”—features events on the processes of creative innovation through design thinking, 3D prototyping, and storytelling. Among these events is Stories by (Design + Thinking) @BC, a storytelling “fireside chat” of innovative projects and ongoing initiatives at Boston College using design thinking. Other festival attractions include “MAKE: Rapid Visualization and Prototyping,” a workshop demonstrating art and design techniques for prototyping ideas, on April 26 on the fourth floor of Devlin Hall (time TBA), and “Night of the Arts,” a celebration of the School of Theology and Ministry 10th anniversary, on April 25 at 7 p.m. in the Atrium Gallery of the Theology and Ministry Library on Brighton Campus. The main performance tent is on the Plaza at O’Neill Library. The Art Tent and Stokes Lawn are also the site of children’s activities and a smaller stage for more intimate performances, displays, and receptions, including the “Inside the BC Studio” interview with Young. A faculty member in the Warren Wilson College MFA Program for Writers who practices medicine full-time, he is the author of a novel in stories, The Affliction, and four collections of poetry, most recently The Halo. Young is a recipient of fellowships from the Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference, the National Endowment for the Arts, the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, and the Rockefeller Foundation, and the 201718 recipient of the Hanes Award from the Fellowship of Southern Writers. Young’s poetry and short fiction have appeared in many anthologies and magazines, including The Best American Poetry, Asian American Poetry: The Next Genera-
Dance and music—of many styles and genres—as well as do-it-yourself activities are just some of the features of the Boston College Arts Festival.
arts festival
tion, American Poetry Review, The Atlantic Monthly, The Nation, The New Republic, The Paris Review, and POETRY. Young’s artistic and professional development at BC included a double major in English and biology, and involvement with the student literary magazine Stylus and the campus radio station, WZBC. Others to be honored at the festival this year include Theatre Department Associate Professor John Houchin, who has directed numerous full-length productions at Boston College, as well as 10-minute plays for the Boston Theatre Marathon, Playwrights Platform, and staged readings of several new plays in Boston. With his wife, choreographer Pam Newton, he cre-
2018 photos by lee pellegrini
ated “Dreaming Shakespeare,” a devised performance piece based on Shakespeare’s plays and sonnets. Boston College seniors being recognized for their artistic achievements are Changgyu (Derek) Cho, Ryan W. Gardner, Jayhyun (Michael) Oh, Siqi (Vicky) Zhang, and Cecilia Russell Christman, who will receive the Jeffery Howe Art History Award. The Arts Festival received a Music Drives Us Performance Grant based on the music programming throughout the festival. Festival information, including dates, times, and locations, is available at www. bc.edu/artsfestival.