The Boston College
Chronicle Published by the Boston College Office of News & Public Affairs April 14, 2016 vol. 23 no. 15
Energy Secretary Moniz to Speak at Commencement Nannette Canniff, Jack Joyce, Gena McGowan, Fr. Emmanuel Mwerekande also to be honored
By Office of News & Public Affairs Staff
US Secretary of Energy Ernest J. Moniz, a Boston College alumnus whose path from the Heights has led to the world stage, will address the graduates at Boston College’s 140th Commencement Exercises on May 23. University President William P. Leahy, SJ, will present Moniz with an honorary Doctor of Science degree at the ceremony, which will take place at 10 a.m. in Alumni Stadium, rain or shine. [Commencement information is available at www.bc.edu/commencement.]
In addition, the University will present honorary degrees to: St. Boniface Haiti Foundation founding president Nannette Canniff; Deutsche Asset and Wealth Management Managing Director John (Jack) Joyce ’61, MBA ’70, chairman of the Boston College Club; María Eugenia (Gena) McGowan, principal of St. Matthew Catholic School in Phoenix, Ariz.; and Father Emmanuel Mwerekande MA’06, a priest at Our Lady of Fatima parish in Uganda. Some 4,000 Boston College students will receive their undergraduate and graduate degrees at separate ceremonies held around
Ernest J. Moniz ’66
campus after the main Commencement event. Since being sworn in as Secretary of Energy in May of 2013, Ernest J. Moniz has played a key
role in major economic, security and environmental issues affecting the US. He was heavily involved in negotiations for the comprehensive agreement on Iran’s nuclear program, has helped to promote American leadership in clean energy technology innovation, and spearheaded efforts to address climate change and its possible impacts. Moniz’s career in public service began during the Clinton Administration: From 1995-97, he was associate director for science in the Office of Science and Technology in the Executive Office of the President, and then Under Secretary of the Department of
By Jack Dunn Director of News & Public Affairs
Two Boston College students have won 2016 Barry M. Goldwater Scholarships, considered the nation’s premier undergraduate award in the sciences. Junior Jesse L. Mu, of Omaha, Neb., a member of the Gabelli Presidential Scholars Program who majors in computer science and minors in math, and sopho-
more Chris Latour of Lubbock, Tex., who majors in biochemistry and music, are the 15th and 16th Boston College students to earn a Goldwater Scholarship, awarded to the nation’s most promising undergraduates in math, natural sciences and engineering. The one- and two-year scholarships cover the cost of tuition, fees, books, and room and board up to a maximum of $7,500 per year. Goldwater Scholars typically go on to earn Rhodes Scholar-
ships, Marshall Awards and other prestigious fellowships. Mu, who plans to seek a PhD in computer or cognitive science, says he is particularly interested in conducting research in artificial intelligence in an academic or industrial setting. He credits his Gabelli Presidential Scholars mentor, Egan Professor of Information Systems James Gips, with giving him advice on how to become an undergraduate Continued on page 5
appointed vice 3 •Soo provost for faculties Street Tribute 4 •Wall Dinner honors Morrison
Frank Curran
INSIDE
Festival ’16 set to 8 •Arts go April 28-30
Nicole Kleinmann ’16 (center) will be one of three runners in the Boston Marathon raising funds for BC’s Campus School. Story on page 6.
QUOTE:
Frank Curran
Two Win Goldwater Scholarships
Energy, where he oversaw science and energy programs, led a comprehensive review of nuclear weapons stockpile stewardship and was special negotiator for the disposition of Russian nuclear materials. A native of Fall River, Mass., Moniz earned a bachelor’s degree in physics from BC in 1966, and has touted his undergraduate research experiences as an important part of his academic and professional development. In 1973, he joined the faculty at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where in addition to heading the Department of Physics he led Continued on page 4
Patricia Lowe
William J. Murphy
Lowe, Murphy Named to Key Human Resources Posts By Jack Dunn Director of News & Public Affairs
Patricia Lowe, interim executive director of the Office of Institutional Diversity (OID) since Nov. 1, has been named executive director, effective April 1. In this role, she will oversee the University’s inclusion and diversity efforts, coordinate compliance efforts under state and federal law – including Title IX and ADA compliance – and lead an office that helps foster a supportive working and learning environment for all members of the Boston College community. “By all accounts, Patricia has done an outstanding job serving as interim executive director for the
Office of Institutional Diversity,” said Vice President for Human Resources David Trainor. “She has a true passion and commitment to BC and the important work of advancing equity, diversity and inclusion efforts at our University. I could not be prouder to appoint her to this important role where I know she will distinguish herself on behalf of Boston College.” Lowe said she was honored to accept the promotion and excited to advance the work of the Office of Institutional Diversity. “In keeping with the mission of Boston College and the Society of Jesus, I welcome the opportunity to build new relationships with senior university leaders and departments across campus,” said Lowe. “I will Continued on page 3
“I’m glad I was there and I’m glad nothing worse happened. But I think most people would do the same thing.” –Dining Services student worker Quinlan Taylor ’19, who helped save a choking victim in Stuart Hall, page 2
T he B oston C ollege
Chronicle april 14, 2016
2
A ROUND
C AMPUS
ANSWERING THE CALL
It’s one thing to be in the right place at the right time to help someone, but would you know exactly what to do if a life was on the line? A Dining Services cashier and student employee recently confronted that scenario. On the night before the Easter break, cashier Delores Joyce was working in the nearly empty Stuart Hall dining room when a student told her that someone appeared to be choking. Joyce radioed the Dining Service managers and hurried to the scene. “[The student] was sitting at a table and he had a lot of mucus coming out of his mouth,” recalled Joyce, a five-year veteran of BCDS from Galway, Ireland. “I just pulled him up out of his seat and started to do the Heimlich maneuver. He
cough. He was obviously scared. It took nine or 10 pulls to get him to breathe.” Taylor was able to free the airway, and an ambulance soon arrived to take the student to the hospital, where he was checked out and sent home. After the Easter break, the victim found Joyce and Taylor in the dining hall to say thank you – several times. “He was very thankful,” said Joyce. “I just said I was glad he was doing well. You could tell he was embarrassed over it.” The happy ending is testament to the emergency preparation employees in BCDS and Auxiliary Services undergo: There are 195 employees certified in choking assistance and 95 employees who are
Photos by Lee Pellegrini
The Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences and Boston College Libraries sponsored the annual Senior Thesis Poster Session last Friday in O’Neill Library, as undergraduates presented research from the humanities, social sciences, and cultural studies. This year’s participants, who were nominated by their departments, included students from Economics, History, International Studies, Islamic Civilization and Societies, Linguistics, Philosophy, Political Science, Theatre and Theology. Above, Marissa Marandola ’16 (right) discussed her project on school finance reform with Brittany Keroack ’16. At left, Eleni Callas’ 16 explained her research on neuroscientific experiments to Asst. Prof. Richard Atkins (Philosophy).
RECOGNIZING ALUMNI VOLUNTEERS
Dining Services honored Delores Joyce and Quinlan Taylor ’19 for coming to the aid of a choking student.
had been choking for a couple of minutes.” But the student was considerably bigger and taller than Joyce, making it difficult to continue the life-saving procedure. That’s when student employee Quinlan Taylor took over. “I pulled up on him pretty good because he was a bigger kid,” said Taylor, a biochemistry major from Woodstock, Conn., who learned the Heimlich from high school health courses and his grandmother, a nurse. “He was choking on steak – I served him his burrito 10 minutes before he was choking on it, so I knew every ingredient in his meal.” Taylor knew time was of the essence, given how the victim’s labored breathing was getting weaker. “He could get a little bit of air out but he was bent over and pale, with a hand on the table trying to
certified in CPR. “The training provides our team with the skills they need to know in order to increase a person’s survival until medical support arrives,” said Beth Ann Burns, human resources manager for Auxiliary/Dining Services. “Our staff, as food service professionals, needs to know the critical skills that are vital to responding to an emergency situation that could happen in any of our many dining operations throughout the campus.” Neither Taylor nor Joyce want to make too much of what they did. “I never thought I’d need to do the Heimlich,” said Joyce, “but I’ve been a mother of three children so I know that things do happen.” “I’m glad I was there and I’m glad nothing worse happened,” says Taylor. “But I think most people would do the same thing.” –Sean Hennessey
Director of NEWS & Public Affairs Jack Dunn Deputy Director of NEWS & Public AFFAIRS Patricia Delaney Editor Sean Smith
Contributing Staff Melissa Beecher Ed Hayward Sean Hennessey Rosanne Pellegrini Kathleen Sullivan Siobhan Sullivan Photographers Gary Gilbert Lee Pellegrini
Boston College continued its tradition of celebrating alumni service last week as the Alumni Association held its annual Distinguished Volunteer Awards Dinner on April 8. The association presented its highest honor, the William V. McKenney Award – given to a BC graduate whose service reflects honor on the University – to Bronx (NY) District Attorney Darcel D. Clark ’83, a University trustee associate. The first African-American woman to hold the office of district attorney in New York State, Clark has dedicated her life to public service. Prior to her election, she was associate justice for the NYS Supreme Court Appellate Division, a NYS Supreme Court Justice in Bronx County, and a criminal court judge in Bronx and New York counties. The James F. Cleary Masters Award, for volunteers who act as masters by providing ideas, energy, and leadership, was presented to Margot C. Connell H’09, chair of the advisory board of Connell Limited Partnership and a University trustee. Connell, whose late husband William F. Connell ’59 is the namesake for BC’s School of Nursing, received
The Boston College
Chronicle www.bc.edu/chronicle chronicle@bc.edu
an honorary doctorate of humane letters from Boston College in 2009 and served as a convening co-chair of BC’s “Light the World” campaign. Sherman W. “Whip” Saltmarsh Jr. ’53 received the John P. Curley Award for a volunteer who has dedicated time and resources to advance the efforts of BC, especially the Athletics Department. The founder of the Saltmarsh Insurance Agency, Saltmarsh has received many awards for his contributions and service in public and private sectors, including youth sports and education programs. Roshan N. Rajkumar ’95, a partner and established trial attorney in the office of Bowman and Brooke LLP, was named winner of the John J. Griffin Sr. Alumni Association Award, which honors volunteers whose service advances
the academic mission of higher education in the Jesuit tradition. Kathryn M. Balch ’08, producer for HuffPost Live, was this year’s recipient of the Philip J. Callan Sr. Young Alumni Award for her contributions as a donor and volunteer. Balch continues to serve as co-chair of the GOLD Leadership Council. Nicholas R. Solazzo ’15 and Meghan C. Dunn ’15 were honored with the James F. Stanton Senior Class Gift Award. Solazzo, a management consultant for Gap International, and Dunn, a thirdgrade teacher in Tulsa, Okla., continue to showcase their service and leadership within the Boston College community. –Siobhan Sullivan To read more about this year’s Alumni Association Distinguished Volunteer Award winners, see http://bit.ly/208zXo6.
Boston College’s annual Earth Day Fair will take place on Stokes Lawn on April 22 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., featuring student clubs, volunteer organizations, Earth and Environmental Studies Department faculty members and outside vendors providing information on environmental and ecological issues. E-mail shewfelt@bc.edu for more details.
The Boston College Chronicle (USPS 009491), the internal newspaper for faculty and staff, is published biweekly from September to May by Boston College, with editorial offices at the Office of News & Public Affairs, 14 Mayflower Road, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467 (617)552-3350. Distributed free to faculty and staff offices and other locations on campus. Periodicals postage paid at Boston, MA and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: send address changes to The Boston College Chronicle, Office of News & Public Affairs, 14 Mayflower Road, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467.
A flipbook edition of Chronicle is available via e-mail. Send requests to chronicle@bc.edu.
T he B oston C ollege
Chronicle april 14, 2016
Soo to Succeed DeLeeuw as Vice Provost Grigsby Earns Prestigious Mathematics Fellowship Provost and Dean of Faculties David Quigley has named Accounting Department chair Billy Soo as vice provost for faculties, effective June 1. He will succeed Patricia DeLeeuw, who will retire in June after 37 years of service to Boston College. Soo, an associate professor of accounting in the Carroll School of Management and director of the Summer Management Catalyst Program, will assist Quigley in faculty outreach, hiring and retention. In announcing the appointment, Quigley praised Soo as an ideal choice to succeed DeLeeuw in overseeing faculty outreach and support within Academic Affairs. “I’ve gotten to know Billy Soo through his energetic leadership of the Accounting Department and the Catalyst Program in the Carroll School and his committed service over many years to the Universitywide Diversity Steering Committee,” said Quigley. “He has done a particularly good job in hiring and mentoring an exceptional group of faculty at the departmental level. I’m looking forward to working more closely with him in his new role as vice provost for faculties starting this summer.” Soo has taught financial accounting and financial statement analysis at the undergraduate and graduate levels since arriving at Boston College in 1990, and has served as Accounting chairman since 2006. Outside of the classroom,
Carroll School of Management Assoc. Prof. Billy Soo (Photo by Lee Pellegrini)
he has been actively involved in the University Strategic Planning Initiative, University Institutional Diversity Committee, Aquino Scholarship Committee, NEASC Review Committee and University Budget Committee, while also serving as an undergraduate and graduate faculty advisor. “Boston College’s reputation as an institution of higher learning has never been greater, in large part because of the tremendous faculty who have been attracted by the University’s mission and its distinct culture,” said Soo. “I am excited to work with them and Provost Quigley in making Boston College the prime destination for faculty who share the University’s goals of providing intellectual leadership and fostering student learning and formation. “Pat DeLeeuw has been instrumental in making Boston College a special place to work. I look forward to building on Pat’s work to enhance our faculty’s ability to succeed in
their research and in the classroom.” Quigley praised DeLeeuw for her dedicated service to Academic Affairs and faculty needs during a 17-year commitment that included three academic vice presidents. “It’s difficult to imagine the Provost’s Office without Pat DeLeeuw’s wise presence and thoughtful leadership,” said Quigley. “She has been indispensable to Academic Affairs since 1999 and will leave behind a remarkable legacy in all of our schools and in the strength of the faculty that she has played such a large part in hiring, retaining, and supporting.” DeLeeuw said she looked forward to winding down a most rewarding career that began in 1979 as an instructor in the Theology Department, and has included such critical roles as assistant dean of the Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences, associate dean of the Morrissey Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, University harassment counselor, associate dean of faculties and most recently vice provost for faculties. “Boston College has been a home for me for 37 good years,” said DeLeeuw. “BC takes its place in a distinguished Jesuit and Catholic tradition of higher education; it has a faculty outstanding in both their research and commitment to teaching, a highly skilled administrative staff, and talented students. Most importantly for me, it is a community where people care for one another, and I’m honored to have played a small part in its development.” Contact Jack Dunn at jack.dunn@bc.edu
Murphy Is New HR AVP; Lowe to Direct OID Continued from page 1 focus on the mission of OID as the University undertakes recruitment, retention, professional growth, accessibility, employee engagement, polices and compliance. Under David’s direction, I will work with members of the OID team and allies across the University to advance the Jesuit philosophy and spirit for inclusive excellence.” The Office of Institutional Diversity was established in 2004 as the successor to the Office of Affirmative Action. It develops policy statements and progress and performance reports, identifies deficiencies and offers problem-solving assistance on matters of diversity and inclusion. In conjunction with BC’s Office of Employment Development, it also conducts seminars, programs and activities that advance the University’s diversity priorities. In addition, Trainor has announced the appointment of William J. Murphy, senior director of the Office of Labor Relations at
Northeastern University, as associate vice president of Human Resources, effective April 25. He succeeds former AVP Robert J. Lewis, who retired in December. In his role, Murphy will coordinate BC’s labor relations, employment compliance, and wellness activities as well as representing Human Resources on various committees and task forces throughout the University. Prior to his work at Northeastern, Murphy served as director of the Office of Labor and Employee Relations at Harvard University, where he oversaw human resources and labor and vendor management policy. A 1991 graduate of Boston College with a degree in communications, Murphy earned his JD from Suffolk University Law School in 1994. In announcing the appointment, Trainor praised Murphy as a leader in the area of labor relations, HR policy and benefits, who brings an
excellent reputation and years of experience to Boston College. “I am thrilled to welcome Bill Murphy back to Boston College,” said Trainor. “We are fortunate to have the benefit of his extensive HR and higher education experience, and I look forward to the many contributions he will make to BC in the coming years.” Murphy said he was delighted to join the Human Resources division at Boston College and to return to work at his alma mater. “I am excited about and grateful for this opportunity to give back to Boston College,” said Murphy. “BC has had such a positive impact on my life – in all areas – personal, professional and spiritual. I am proud to be a BC graduate and continue to be inspired by its social justice mission. I very much look forward to joining the HR team and partnering with the BC community in support of the University’s academic mission.”
By Ed Hayward Staff Writer
Associate Professor of Mathematics J. Elisenda Grigsby has been awarded a 2016 Simons Foundation Fellowship in Mathematics, granted to accomplished faculty for their recent research and the potential impact of their future work. The fellowships are part of the New York-based Simons Foundation’s efforts to advance the frontiers of research in mathematics, theoretical physics and theoretical computer science. Grigsby is an expert in low-dimensional topology, which examines the fundamental properties of shapes in space. “It’s extremely exciting,” said Grigsby, who joined the BC faculty in 2009. “This award is particularly important to me at this point in my career because it gives me the time to take my expertise to new levels and learn deeply in new areas of mathematics. I’m grateful for the opportunity to expand my horizons in that way.” The Simons Foundation fellows programs provide funds to faculty to extend their sabbaticals for up to a semester. Grigsby said the award will support attending the Newton Institute at Cambridge University (UK), where experts work and learn in collaboration with peers, doing mathematics and exploring the leading issues in the discipline during the course of a semester. Grigsby is the fourth Boston College Mathematics faculty member to receive a Simons Fellowship in the last four years, joining Professors Tao Li (2015), Martin Bridgeman (2013) and G. Robert Meyerhoff (2012). “This latest honor for Eli is an indication of how much she has achieved as a scholar and the high regard that mathematicians have for her scholarship to date and future research potential,” said McIntyre Professor of Mathematics Solomon Friedberg, department chairman. “I would also add that her teaching and departmental contributions
are at the same level; such as her work with the BC Math Society and her summer research with undergraduates, which make an important difference to our students. I warmly congratulate Eli on her well-deserved Simons Fellowship.” Grigsby said the Mathematics Department and BC have helped young faculty to establish themselves as both teachers and researchers.
Lee Pellegrini
By Jack Dunn Director of News & Public Affairs
3
J. Elisenda Grigsby
“The department has always been incredibly supportive of me and other young faculty and that is a huge part of why we are seeing so much success,” said Grigsby. “It is definitely a very exciting place to be.” Next month, Grigsby will be one of 105 researchers honored at a White House ceremony by President Obama with a Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers. The Association for Women in Mathematics and the National Science Foundation have also recognized Grigsby’s work. Grigsby, who teaches courses in linear algebra, advanced calculus and algebraic topology, holds an undergraduate degree in mathematics from Harvard University and a doctorate from the University of California-Berkeley. Prior to joining the University in 2009, she was an NSF Postdoctoral Fellow at Columbia University and held a position at the Mathematical Sciences Research Institute. Contact Ed Hayward at ed.hayward@bc.edu
US Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) spoke in Robsham Theater on April 8 as part of the Jesuit Institute conference “Growing Apart: The Implications of Economic Inequality.” For more on the conference, see http://bit.ly/1NmDwj4. (Photo by Gary Gilbert)
T he B oston C ollege
Chronicle april 14, 2016
4
www.bc.edu/commencement
Moniz, Four Others to Receive Honorary Degrees “time, talents or treasures,” as he once said – to society, and to the University that gave him an education. Joyce is chairman and found-
ter in a variety of ways: helping raise more than $500,000 for the Brennan Leadership and Ethics program at the Carroll School of Management; co-patron, along
Nannette Canniff
Jack Joyce ’61, MBA’70
Gena McGowan
Fr. Emmanuel Mwerekande MA’06
er of the 2,000-member Boston College Club, which in its 18 years has awarded 80 scholarships for inner-city students to attend Boston College and has a foundation of more than $7 million. A Dorchester native and US Navy veteran who attended BC on the GI Bill, Joyce – a former chairman of Catholic Charities – has served his alma ma-
with his wife Nancy, of the McMullen Museum of Art; and providing leadership to the Alumni Association as president. The University has recognized Joyce’s achievements through the years, presenting him with the William V. McKenney Award and the Presidential Centennial Award, among other honors, and naming him as honorary grand
Gary Gilbert
Continued from page 1 multidisciplinary studies on the future of nuclear power, coal, nuclear fuel cycles, natural gas and solar energy in a low-carbon world. The founding president of the St. Boniface Haiti Foundation, Nannette Canniff turned a Walk for Hunger in the poorest parish of a working-class section of Quincy into a non-governmental organization that today serves 65,000 patients and thousands more community members in the mountains of southern Haiti each year. In 1983, this mother of 10 and her fellow parishioners decided to donate half the money they raised in the walk to the poor of Quincy and the other half to Mother Teresa’s newly opened Home for Children in Port-au-Prince. They were told that their donation would be graciously accepted on one condition – that they hand-deliver it to Haiti themselves. Inspired during their visit by the resiliency of the Haitian people, Canniff pledged to continue fundraising for Haiti, which led to a 33-year commitment to Haiti’s poor and to the establishment of a school, health clinic and 60bed St. Boniface Hospital in the village of Fond-des-Blancs. Retiring as president and CEO of the foundation in 2011, Canniff continues to raise funds for the organization and visit those she has assisted through her selflessness and unwavering dedication. She will receive an honorary Doctor of Social Service degree. Over the past five decades, Jack Joyce has fulfilled his promise to give back – whether with
Morrison Is Honoree at Wall St. Dinner Denise Morrison, CEO of Campbell Soup Company, will be honored at the 28th annual Boston College Wall Street Council Tribute Dinner, to be held April 21 at 6:30 p.m. at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City. Morrison, a 1975 alumna and longtime University benefactor, will receive the President’s Medal for Excellence from University President William P. Leahy, SJ, in recognition of her exceptional career, as well as her personal and professional contributions to society. Among those expected to attend the black-tie event are: University Board of Trustees Chair John Fish, chairman and CEO, Suffolk Con-
struction Co.; University Trustee Mario Gabelli, chairman and CEO of GAMCO Investors Inc. and key benefactor of the Gabelli Presidential Scholars Program; University Trustee Steven Barry ’85, managing director and CIO, Goldman Sachs Asset Management; University Trustee Joseph L. Hooley III ’79, chairman and CEO of State Street Corporation; Trustee Associate Peter Bell ’86, general partner with Highland Capital; and University Trustee T.J. Maloney ’75, chairman and CEO, Lincolnshire Management Inc. Boston College’s Wall Street Council is a network of more than 1,700 BC alumni, parents and
friends who work in, and represent, the New York City financial community. Since its inception, the Tribute Dinner has raised more than $24 million for the Gabelli Presidential Scholars Program at Boston College, an extraordinary honors program that combines rigorous course work, community service, international experience and internships. More than 300 Presidential Scholars have attended BC, earning some of the most prestigious academic awards, including Rhodes Scholarships, Fulbright Grants, Marshall Scholarships, Truman Scholarships, Beckman Scholarships, and many others. –Sean Hennessey
marshal for his class’ 50th anniversary in 2011. Joyce will receive an honorary Doctor of Business Administration degree. When Gena McGowan took over as principal, St. Matthew Catholic School enrolled just 89 students. A decade later, the Phoenix, Ariz., K-8 school enrolls more than 200 students. But McGowan didn’t just fill seats, she transformed the way the inner-city school educates a student body whose families live at or below the poverty level. McGowan led the school through two successful reaccreditation processes and restructured the way the school uses assessment data. Every student benefits from the use of iPads for instruction, with the tablet provided to each student in grades three through eight. The changes have helped to boost student achievement in math and reading. But the most dramatic step was the school’s adoption of a dual-language immersion curriculum, where proficiency in both English and Spanish in all subjects is the guiding principle. Two years ago, St. Matthew joined the 18 schools that are now part of the Boston College Roche Center for Catholic Education’s Two-Way Immersion Network for Catholic Schools, which provides curriculum support, professional development and a network for dual-language Catholic schools. McGowan is an alumna of the University of San Francisco and holds master’s degrees in education and counseling from University of Portland and Uni-
versity of Phoenix, respectively. Boston College will award McGowan an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree. The ministry of Father Emmanuel Mwerekande, a priest at Our Lady of Fatima parish in Uganda, has been marked not only by his pastoral care for a vibrant faith community, but also by his tireless efforts to improve the everyday lives of the people in his homeland. Since 2011, Fr. Emmanuel has served as parish priest at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Parish in Mubende, which has 45,000 members, 41 sub-churches and more than a dozen Catholic schools open to children of all faiths. Fr. Emmanuel has led efforts to bring clean water to his community, which has virtually no running water. Through his advocacy and outreach, rain barrels, water tanks and other facilities have been installed, ensuring safe and sanitary conditions. He has also secured books and school supplies for the parish schools and established a school lunch program. His visionary leadership has led to the building of an irrigation system to support a sustainable agriculture program and the construction of a new church to replace the parish’s central house of worship that had to be condemned. Fr. Emmanuel was ordained to the priesthood in 1990. He received a master’s degree in pastoral ministry from BC in 2006. While studying at BC, he served in St. Mark’s Parish in Dorchester. The University will award Fr. Emmanuel an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree. Lee Pellegrini
The Office of International Programs held its annual banquet on April 4 in the Murray Room of the Yawkey Center. Connell School of Nursing Dean Susan Gennaro was the guest speaker.
T he B oston C ollege
Chronicle april 14, 2016
5
Goldwaters for Mu and Latour Continued from page 1 researcher, and connecting him with Assistant Professor of Psychology Joshua Hartshorne, then of MIT, who brought Mu into his lab as a summer intern before he accepted a full-time teaching position at BC in January. Working closely with Hartshorne, who directs BC’s Language Learning Lab, Mu has researched how children acquire language, a process that is closely linked to how machines acquire language. His exploration of the emerging field of natural language processing, which is highly computational, has enabled Mu to utilize his diverse interests in psychology, artificial intelligence, and computational research. “I am incredibly honored to have won this award and to be considered among this group of scholars,” said Mu. “Winning a Goldwater validates the career path I have chosen. I have always debated between software engineering and research. I have committed to the research path because I want to work on the more interesting and challenging problems. This award confirms that I am doing the right thing personally and professionally and reminds me that I am the product of all the mentors and people who have helped me along the way and who were instrumental in my academic development.” “Jesse has that rare combination of drive to seek out difficult challenges, the wherewithal to find the resources he needs to succeed, and the ability to make use of those resources once he has them,” said Hartshorne. “This combination is key for any successful researcher and any highly successful person regardless of their field.” Associate Professor of Computer Science Robert Muller said Mu is one of his department’s top teaching assistants and noted other achievements: admitted to a highly competitive summer internship program at Stanford University; co-president of BC’s Computer Science Society; and leader of teams competing in the Association for Computing Machinery international programming contest. Mu says he plans to pursue a graduate degree in computer science upon graduating from BC in the hope of one day becoming a research scientist in a tech company working on consumer artificial intelligence products that will have a tangible effect on people’s lives. Latour, a pre-med student who plans to enter a MD/PhD
program after graduation to meld his research interests with his goal of becoming a practicing physician, said his academic course load and summer internship research work at Texas Tech University prepared him well for consideration by the Goldwater committee.
challenging concepts as well as technical skills,” said Chatterjee. “In my group he is developing a structure-guided approach for engineering naturally occurring proteins to develop artificial variants with novel properties, which can be useful as powerful therapeutics as well as research
Jesse Mu ’17, left, and Christopher Latour ’18. (Photo by Lee Pellegrini)
He credits Assistant Professors of the Practice Danielle Taghian in Biology and Daniel Fox in Chemistry for inspiring him to excel in his science work, and Assistant Professor of Chemistry Abhishek Chatterjee for advancing his research acumen in the area of X-ray crystallography, a tool used to examine the structures of proteins through crystal analysis. “I am truly honored and delighted to represent Boston College in receiving this esteemed award,” said Latour. “Above all else, I would like to thank Professor Chatterjee, Professor Taghian, Professor Fox, Dr. Bryan Sutton of Texas Tech University and my family for their continued mentorship and support, both in my daily life and throughout the application process.” “I have been deeply impressed with Christopher’s passion for scientific research and his ability to effortlessly grasp
tools. He aspires to solve complex biomedical problems facing mankind today through scientific research, and I have no doubt that he would be highly successful in his pursuit.” “Jesse Mu and Chris Latour are the latest Boston College undergraduates to receive recognition as Goldwater Scholars,” said Provost and Dean of Faculties David Quigley. “Our undergraduates in the sciences and mathematics are increasingly competitive for this and other major national awards, and I applaud our students and their faculty for the growing strength of our programs. Our continued investment in STEM fields is yielding significant dividends for individual students and the larger Boston College community of scholars.” Read the full version of this story at http://bit.ly/1Vxw9vS. Contact Jack Dunn at jack.dunn@bc.edu
Clough Ctr. to Host ‘Music and Culture of Democracy’ April 21 Edward Hirsch, poet, critic and president of the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, will moderate the panel discussion “Music and the Culture of Democracy” on April 21 at 6 p.m. in Devlin 101, the final event in the Clough Center for the Study of Constitutional Democracy’s “Arts and the Culture of Democracy” series. Panelists for the event are
Grammy-winning violist Kim Kashkashian; Scott PoulsonBryant, co-founder of Vibe Magazine, which covers urban youth and pop culture; and author and folk-blues guitarist Elijah Wald, former music writer for The Boston Globe. The event is free and open to the public; a book signing will follow. For more information, see http://bit.ly/22SDBrn. –Office of News & Public Affairs
STM Colloquium Examines ‘Theology of Pope Francis’ While Pope Francis’ message of compassion and mercy has attracted both practicing and alienated Roman Catholics, there are questions about the appeal of his message among the Church hierarchy. That contrast is the focus of the fifth annual School of Theology and Ministry Dean’s Colloquium on Religion and Public Culture to be held on April 20 at 5:30 p.m. in the Heights Room of Corcoran Commons. Moderated by STM Dean Mark Massa, SJ, “The Theology of Pope Francis: Real Reform or Window Dressing?” will gather leading religion experts from BC and beyond to discuss the message of Pope Francis and the resistance it has generated among leaders in the Church, particularly American bishops.
Panelists will be: STM Professor of Moral Theology James Bretzke, SJ; Professor of Theology Kristin E. Heyer; Libby Professor of Law and Theology Cathleen Kaveny; Dartmouth College Eli Black Professor of Jewish Studies Susannah Heschel; National Catholic Reporter senior analyst Thomas Reese, SJ; and Michael Sean Winters, visiting fellow at The Catholic University of America Institute for Policy Research and Catholic Studies. The colloquium, which is free and open to the public, will include questions and comments from the audience. Registration is requested at www.bc.edu/ deanscolloquium or by calling ext.2–6501. –Kathleen Sullivan
Boston Arts and Culture Chief to Speak April 21
Boston’s Chief of Arts and Culture Julie Burros, the city’s arts community advocate, will be on campus April 21 to discuss the role of city government in cultural planning. Her talk, “Boston Creates: A Vision for the Arts,” which takes place at 7 p.m. in Fulton 511, is presented by the Theatre Department as part of the Matthew R. DeVoy and John H. DeVoy IV Perspectives on Theatre Series. Burros’ address will focus on “Boston Creates,” the city’s cultural planning process she was instrumental in developing, which will create a blueprint for arts and culture. Appointed to the cabinet-level position in 2014 by Mayor Martin
Walsh ’10, Burros is the first to hold the role in more than two decades. The DeVoy Perspectives on Theatre Series is made possible by a gift from the DeVoy family, whose members include Boston College graduates. The series annually brings leading professionals and creative forces in theater and the performing arts to BC to share their experience and vision with the campus community, alumni and members of the Greater Boston arts community. The event is free and open to the public; RSVPs are requested at http://bit.ly/1RGtWgf. For more details on Burros and the event, see http://bit.ly/22fjAFD. –Office of News & Public Affairs
Mayor Walsh Appears at ‘Imagine Boston 2030’ Forum in Robsham Boston Mayor Martin Walsh ’10 joined a panel of prominent thinkers and professionals in offering views on how Boston’s growth could take shape over the next decade or more, at a forum held March 30 in Robsham Theater. Co-sponsored by Boston College’s Corcoran Center for Real Estate and Urban Action and Rappaport Center for Law and Public Policy, “Imagine Boston 2030” took its name from Walsh’s multi-year citywide planning initiative that seeks to engage the public in creating a framework to preserve and enhance Boston, while embracing growth to address challenges and promote inclusivity. Walsh and panel moderator WBUR “Radio Boston” co-host Meghna Chakrabarti took part in a discussion with John Barros, the City of Boston’s chief of economic development; Walter Hood, landscape architect and professor at the University of California-Berkeley; Massachusetts Association of Community Development Corporations President and CEO Joe Kriesberg; Boston Globe business columnist Shirley Leung; and Harriet Tregoning, who leads the Office of Community Planning and Development at the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. The forum was live-streamed on imagine.boston.gov. An interactive reception followed, at which attendees were invited to give comments and thoughts. –Office of News & Public Affairs
T he B oston C ollege
Chronicle april 14, 2016
Lynch School Faculty Members Earn Honors at AERA Meeting By Ed Hayward Staff Writer
Lynch School of Education Professor María Estela Brisk, an internationally recognized expert in bilingual education and literacy development, was honored Monday with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 100th annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association (AERA). AERA’s Bilingual Education Research Special Interest Group presented the award to Brisk for her dedication to research, teaching and service in the field. “It’s very moving,” said Brisk, who came to BC in 1999 after 24 years at Boston University. “I’m not the type who does things for reputation or prestige. So it feels good to be recognized after working non-stop all my life. But I’m not through yet.” In addition to Brisk, Professor Ana M. Martinez Aleman received the 2016 Outstanding Publication Award from colleagues in post-secondary education research for Critical Approaches to the Study of Higher Education, a book she co-edited. Brisk and Martinez Aleman were among the 30 Lynch School faculty and 60 students who attended AERA 2016, the largest annual worldwide gathering of education research scholars. The theme of this year’s meeting was “Public Scholarship to Educate Diverse Democracies.” Faculty presented research on a range of topics, including teacher education, education policy, higher education, counseling and developmental and educational psychology. Cawthorne Professor of Teacher Education for Urban Schools Mari-
lyn Cochran-Smith and her research team shared the results of their recent study of the four leading systems used to evaluate teacher preparation programs. The team found the systems lack evidence-based policies in their core designs, raising questions about the validity of methods used to assess thousands of prospective teachers and hundreds of college and university programs that prepare them. “Although these accountability policies demand that teacher education programs make decisions based on evidence, the policies themselves are not evidence-based,” said Cochran-Smith. “We concluded there is good reason to question their validity as policy instruments that will improve teacher education quality and teacher quality.” Professor Diana Pullin discussed an evaluation of the Washington, DC, public schools, which she helped complete last year for the National Research Council. Associate Professor Patrick J. McQuillan spoke about his research, “Working Across Three Sectors: Catholic, District, and Charter School Principals Enacting Adaptive Change,” which examines how school leaders from the public, charter and parochial school sectors approach school change initiatives. Brennan Professor Andy Hargreaves was one of four recent Grawemeyer Award-winning authors in a session titled “The Power of Public Scholarship to Transform Policy and Practice: Five Award-Winning Books.” He was joined by his Professional Capital: Transforming Teaching in Every School co-author Michael Fullan, Stanford University’s Linda Darling-Hammond and New York University’s Diane Ravitch.
obituary
Donald Plocke, SJ, Biology; John Fitzgerald, English
The Boston College community mourned the recent deaths of two faculty members with a combined nine decades of service to the University: retired Professor of English John J. Fitzgerald and Donald J. Plocke, SJ, former associate professor of biology. Fr. Plocke, who joined the BC faculty in 1966, died on March 5. He was 86. A molecular biologist, Fr. Plocke – who served as department chair for nine years – focused his research on the biological roles of metal ions such as zinc and iron as well as the mechanisms for protection against the toxic effects of metals such as cadmium and copper. He won research grants from the American Cancer Society and produced a string of publications. Fr. Plocke became involved with BC’s Capstone Program – an array of courses for seniors that encourage them to connect what they have
learned in their undergraduate years with their plans for the future – and developed a course about the relationship between religion and science, with the aid of a grant from the Templeton Foundation. Dr. Fitzgerald, who taught for 53 years at BC, died on March 26 at the age of 96. He was known for weaving family stories into his lectures and for working diligently with his students to help them improve their writing skills, wielding a red pen to correct grammatical errors or poorly constructed sentences. Languages both ancient and modern were a scholarly passion for Dr. Fitzgerald, who traced words back to their roots in Middle and Old English, Latin and Greek, and his translations of Greek and Latin into English went beyond the direct and literal. [Read a longer version of this obituary at http://bit.ly/1TMPQQu.] –Office of News & Public Affairs
Frank Curran
6
26 Miles for a Good Cause
Nicole Kleinmann ’16 (above) is one of three runners in this Monday’s Boston Marathon raising funds to aid the Boston College Campus School By Kathleen Sullivan Staff Writer
Cheers will greet the thousands of runners who will pass by the Boston College campus on April 18 during the 120th Boston Marathon. But there will be a special chorus of cheers – and gratitude – from Campus School students, staff and families for Lynch School of Education senior Nicole Kleinmann, alumnus and former UGBC president Dean Bell ’98, and Dan Murray, all of whom are running to raise money for the Campus School. The Campus School, located in Campion Hall, is a special education day school for students ages 3-21 with multiple disabilities, including complex health care needs. According to Campus School Marketing/Outreach Coordinator Kristen Morin, funds raised through the Marathon will go to support a variety of enhancements to the highly specialized programs that increase the quality of the Campus School students’ experience. “I am running to raise awareness for the Campus School and for the need for fundraising,” said Kleinmann, a secondary education and mathematics major from Durham, NH. “I am running for the community and opportunities the Campus School creates in each child’s life, which would not be possible without the Campus School.” “What drives me to run for the Campus School is more than just the pursuit of a personal goal,” wrote Bell in an email. “I joined the run for the Campus School because I wanted to support something with a focus on enhancing the lives of kids. The mission and objectives of the school align with my values and those embodied by Boston
College in its ‘Ever to Excel’ motto, and highlights the Campus School’s mission.” Hundreds of Campus School Volunteers used to participate in the Boston Marathon as socalled “bandits,” or unregistered runners, raising about $75,000 annually for the Campus School. After the Marathon bombings in 2013, unregistered runners were banned from the course due to security concerns. One hundred percent of the money raised by this year’s runners will go directly to the Campus School for current year initiatives and to help offset the loss of funds from the events of 2013. Morin says the Campus School is applying to receive approved charity status from the BAA, organizers of the Boston Marathon, effective in 2017. Kleinmann hopes her run this year will help the Campus School reach that goal. “I want to run in order to help earn more bib
numbers for next year. If the CS becomes an official charity in the Boston Marathon, more BC students would be able to fundraise and run for the CS.” Kleinmann’s involvement with the Campus School traces back to her sophomore year when she joined the Creative Kids club, which paired BC students with Campus School students each week to interact with music. She also has regularly attended the Campus School prom held in the spring. The Campus School’s location on the BC campus is what makes the place so special, she added: “The Campus School feels like a school and not a hospital.” To make a donation to the Campus School, go to www. bc.edu/campusschoolgift, select “I wish to dedicate My Gift: In honor of a BC student” and enter Nicole Kleinmann or Dean Bell. Contact Kathleen Sullivan at kathleen.sullivan@bc.edu
Downes’ Marathon Effort Will Support BC Strong Scholarship Patrick Downes ’05, who along with his wife Jessica Kensky drew national attention for their struggle to recover from the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, will be running in this year’s race to support the BC Strong Scholarship. Downes lost his left leg due to injuries from the bombing, as did Kensky, who later had to have her remaining leg amputated. In 2014, the couple completed the Boston Marathon on hand cycles together. Over the past year, Downes began using a running blade and in January ran the Walt Disney World Half Marathon in Orlando, while Kensky used a hand cycle. Accompanying Downes on his Marathon run will be his brother Brendan, sister-in-law Sarah, BC friend Tom Treacy, along with Boston firefighter Mike Materia, and B.J. Ganem and Bobby Donnelly, military members who are amputees. The BC Strong Scholarship, established by the Boston College Class of 2005, will be awarded to a deserving student with preference to those who excel with a physical disability or dedicate time to serve others. A goal of $250,000 has been set to endow the scholarship; as of April about $155,000 had been raised. To donate to the scholarship fund, see http://bit.ly/1q4H4Sc. –Office of News & Public Affairs
T he B oston C ollege
Chronicle april 14, 2016
7
BOSTON COLLEGE IN THE MEDIA An introduction to new faculty members at Boston College
Ian Appel
Assistant Professor of Finance Carroll School of Management DEGREES: Duke University (BS); Johns Hopkins University (MS); University of Pennsylvania (PhD) WHAT HE STUDIES: Corporate finance, law and finance, and institutional investors WHAT HE’S TEACHING: Basic Finance (undergraduate); Financial Management (graduate) Talk about your most recent project. “My current research focuses on corporate governance – how shareholders get managers to act in their best interests. I’m specifically studying the role of shareholder litigation and how passive investors influence governance practices.”
Ellen Julia Goldstein
Assistant Professor of the Practice of Mathematics Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences DEGREES: Skidmore College (BS); Tufts University (PhD) WHAT SHE STUDIES: Algebraic groups and representation theory WHAT SHE’S TEACHING: Functions and Differential Calculus I and II, Finite Probability and Applications, Differential Equations What’s your major area of interest besides teaching and research? “I am interested in promoting greater communication and utilization of resources among underrepresented minorities in the mathematics community, especially among women pursuing doctoral degrees. I developed and teach a full-year calculus/pre-calculus sequence at Boston College for underprepared students majoring in STEM fields.”
Andrew Jorgenson
Professor of Sociology and Environmental Studies Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences DEGREES: University of Utah (BS); University of California, Riverside (MA, PhD) WHAT HE STUDIES: Environmental sociology; political economy and human ecology of global environmental change; sustainability science; environmental and institutional conditions that shape public health outcomes in developing nations WHAT HE’S TEACHING: Introductory Sociology; Environmental Sociology You’re working on an NSF-funded project with colleagues on factors that shape power plant carbon emissions. What are you hoping to learn from this study? “We hope to gain a better understanding of how facility-level factors interact in complex ways with broader political and economic conditions to influence the levels and rates of carbon dioxide emissions from fossil-fuel burning power plants throughout the world. Such a better understanding is critical for the formation and implementation of more effective policies in nations around the globe to reduce carbon emissions from the electricity generation sector, which is one of the biggest contributors to anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions and climate change.”
Leonard Kostovetsky
Assistant Professor of Finance Carroll School of Management DEGREES: Princeton University (BA, MA, PhD) WHAT HE STUDIES: Finance with expertise in asset management (mutual funds), the role of politics and government in finance, and corporate social responsibility WHAT HE’S TEACHING: Basic Finance and Financial Management How far back does your interest in finance go? “I have been interested in finance since middle school when I used to analyze the stock tables and read articles about stock picking. I did finance research in high school and college, and found that it was my calling.”
Richard L. Sweeney
Assistant Professor of Economics Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences DEGREES: Boston College (BS); Harvard University (PhD) WHAT HE STUDIES: Environmental economics, energy policy, industrial organization WHAT HE’S TEACHING: Applied Energy and Environmental Economics, Introduction to Environmental Economics and Policy You graduated from BC in 2004 – what’s it like returning as a professor? “My research focuses on the design and evaluation of environmental policy. Coming back to BC, it’s great to see how the level of interest in environmental issues has grown on campus since I was here. As an economist, I try to teach these environmentally conscious students the importance of ensuring that we design policy as efficiently as possible and evaluate it using credible statistical methods.”
Vox.com featured a new study by Asst. Prof. David Hopkins (Political Science) that explores which news major news networks are – and are not – trusted by Republicans and Democrats. Carroll School of Management Drucker Professor Alicia Munnell (right), director of the Center for Retirement Research, kicked off a weeklong series on retirement on WBUR’s “Here and Now,” discussing how US workers can be better prepared for retirement and whether or not raising the retirement age is a good idea. Boston College faculty members commenting on “Amoris Laetitia,” Pope Francis’ apostolic exhortation on family life, included Prof. James Bretzke, SJ (STM), in The Boston Globe, Associated Press, Reuters and America magazine; Church in the 21st Century Director Thomas Groome, in The Boston Globe, Boston Herald, Washington Post and Slate; Libby Professor of Law and Theology Cathleen Kaveny, in The New York Times; and Prof. Stephen Pope (Theology), in The Boston Herald. As more and more Americans ei-
ther choose, or are forced into, “bridge employment,” retirement is becoming more of a process than a one-time event, according to research by Prof. Joseph Quinn (Economics that was featured in a national piece by the Associated Press. Measures of money growth, which reflect more accurately the stance of Federal Reserve policy than do other variables, have been trending downwards since 2013 – warning that further interest rate increases could be excessive, according to Murray and Monti Professor of Economics Peter Ireland, co-author of a post for Economics 21. Kevin Powers, former Department of Defense legal advisor and now director of the Woods College of Advancing Studies master’s program in cybersecurity policy and governance, offered comments to ABC News affiliate WJLA (Washington, DC) on the government’s plans to release more Guantanamo Bay detainees in an effort to shut down the prison. Assoc. Prof. Judith Shindul-Rothschild (CSON) was interviewed by The Boston Globe about the Tufts
BC BRIEFING Prof. Maxim D. Shrayer (Slavic and Eastern Languages) delivered the annual Distinguished Fischmann Lecture in Jewish Studies at Loyola Marymount University, and also presented “Waiting for America: Stories of Jewish-Russian Emigration” at Pepperdine University. A Slovak translation of his book Bunin and Nabokov: A History of Rivalry has just been published in Bratislava. Prof. Arch Woodside (CSOM) cochaired the Fifth International Conference on Strategic Management at Sichuan University in China, where
he presented a full-day workshop on research methods that bridge theory and practice. He has been invited to chair the 2017 conference. Anna Roberts, an International Studies major, presented her paper “But I love him: An ethnography on caregivers’ decisions to reveal or conceal orphan status in Durban, South Africa” at the 2016 Human Development Conference at the University of Notre Dame. Roberts was selected through a competitive process with entries from colleges and universities around the world.
NOTA BENE
Carroll School of Management Associate Professor of Management and Organization Mary Tripsas, Haub Family fellow and director of the Shea Center for Entrepreneurship, is the co-author of the 2015 Strategic Management Society’s best paper prize for the 2000 study, “Capabilities, Cognition, and Inertia: Evidence From Digital Imaging.” The award is given annually to a paper published –Ed Hayward, Sean Hennessey and Kathleen Sullivan five or more years previously in the Strategic Management Photos by Lee Pellegrini Journal and is based on the paper’s impact in terms of the number of citations it receives and its influence on teaching, research, and/or practice.
Medical Center recruitment plan to bolster its staff of nursing aides, also known as clinical care technicians. In a piece for the Irish Times, Assoc. Prof. James Smith (English) reflected on the death of an inspirational survivor of Ireland’s Magdalene laundries, who helped spark both a successful campaign for redress and his own advocacy role with the Justice for Magdalenes Research group. Boston College School of Social Work Continuing Education Director Vincent Lynch, chair of the National HIV/AIDS Social Work Conference, discussed the past and future of the event in an interview with AIDs.gov, a gateway for information about federal efforts related to HIV/AIDS. Prof. John Ebel (Earth and Environmental Sciences) spoke with CNBC about how local businesses might be affected by the US Geological Survey’s first report on quakes caused by wastewater injection associated with oil and gas drilling. Assoc. Prof. of the Practice Michael C. Keith (Communication) was interviewed on the subject of localism in radio by Good Times Weekly.
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: Boston PIC Summer Job, Human Resources Food Service Worker, Dining Services Audio and Event Services Specialist, Media Technology Services Associate Director, Events and Programs, Center for Corporate Citizenship Campus Minister for Arrupe Programs, Campus Ministry Carpenter, Facilities Management Head Librarian, Digital Scholarship, O’Neill Library Asst./Assoc. Director, Alumni Chapters, Alumni Association Director, University Counseling Services Development Assistant, Corporate Foundation Relations Head of Special Collections Technical Services, Burns Library Director of Career Education, Career Center
T he B oston C ollege
Chronicle april 14, 2016
8
Asian Pacific American Heritage Month CLOSING CEREMONY
APRIL 21 7 p.m. The Plaza at O’Neill Library
By Rosanne Pellegrini Staff Writer
For the 18th year, Boston College will celebrate the richness and diversity of its campus arts scene with the University’s annual Arts Festival, April 28-30. The festival highlights the achievements of accomplished alumni arts professionals, students, faculty and other BC community members. A variety of programming for all ages, most free of charge, will be presented at the festival, which is open to the public as well as the BC community. Festival participants include some 1,000 BC students, faculty and administrators. Last year more than 16,500 alumni and area residents came to campus to enjoy more than 80 events, featuring artists with diverse talents and a range of performing, visual, and literary arts programs. There are daily events, exhibits, demonstrations (some with participation from attendees), music and dance showcases, and literary events. This year’s festival theme, “Share Your Story,” encourages festival artists and guests to reflect on and Nick Scandalios ’87, share the ways Alumni Award for the arts have enArtistic Achievement riched their lives as a means of self-expression, and shaped their personal stories, ac-
cording to the organizers’ statement: “Art speaks across generations, transcending boundaries from geography to culture. Inspired by art’s ability to celebrate
sites. Regarded as one of Broadway’s most influential people, Scandalios will receive the BC Arts Council Alumni Award for Artistic Achievement in recognition of
singer and writer Patricia Noonan ’07 and Sean Flahaven ’95, senior vice president at Warner/Chappell Music and associate producer for the 2016 Grammy-winning
individuality while fostering unity, we encourage everyone to explore their story, their own art history.” The special guest at this year’s festival is 1987 graduate Nick Scandalios, executive vice president of the renowned Nederlander Organization, one of the largest privately owned operators of theaters and music venues based in the United States — including many of Broadway’s best-known
his distinguished career and commitment to promoting excellence in professional theater. In addition to the award presentation, which takes place on April 29, Scandalios will appear in a career-related interview program titled “Inside the BC Studio” on April 28, and in a panel discussion on April 29 with other accomplished BC theater professionals, New York City-based actor,
soundtrack to the hit musical “Hamilton.” [To register for the award presentation and for information on the other events, see the Arts Festival website, www. bc.edu/artsfestival.] “Nick embodies everything that is great about a Boston College education,” said Theatre Department Associate Professor and Chair Crystal Tiala, chair of Boston College’s Arts Council,
BC SCENES
which organizes the festival. “As an undergraduate in the Carroll School of Management, he was also playing leading roles in the Theatre productions — combining his passions for art, creativity and leadership. “Now that he has achieved one of the most influential positions in Broadway, Nick continues to be a leader for humanitarian causes. Nick is a true leader setting a shining example of what is possible for all our students.” Also being recognized for artistic achievements and accomplishments this year are Canisius Professor T. Frank Kennedy, SJ, former Music Department chair and a scholar of the Jesuit music tradition who has produced five Jesuit operas; and seniors Ke Cao, Mallory Cotter, Chris Kabacinski, Andrew Malley, Nicholas Robinson, Michael Rolincik and Benjamin Flythe. The festival will feature children and family activities on April 30 from noon-5 p.m. including arts and crafts, face painting, a dance workshop, story hour, an instrument petting zoo and a production of “Shrek! The Musical!” For complete information on festival events, see www.bc.edu/ artsfestival or call (617)552ARTS(2787). The schedule is subject to change; events with admission fees are indicated on the schedule. Contact Rosanne Pellegrini at rosanne. pellegrini@bc.edu
A REWARDING RELAY Photos by Frank Curran
The ninth annual Boston College Relay for Life, held April 1 in the Flynn Recreation Complex, saw more than 1,500 participants from 126 teams raise about $133,000 for the American Cancer Society. The dusk-to-dawn event included testimonials from cancer survivors and live entertainment, including a performace by the Dance Organization of Boston College. BC Relay is among the top 15 Relay for Life events in the US.