Boston College Chronicle by Boston College

The Boston College

Chronicle Published by the Boston College Office of University Communications may 11, 2017 VOL. 24 no. 17

BC Biochemistry Student Wins Goldwater Award Gary Wayne Gilbert

By Ed Hayward Staff Writer

Photos by Yiting Chen

Music and dance were in the air (sometimes literally) during the annual Boston College Arts Festival April 27-29, featuring many student performers. More photos on page 8.

A Hub for New Testament Research School of Theology and Ministry publication marks 60 years as key scholarly resource By Kathleen Sullivan Staff Writer

Now entering its seventh decade, New Testament Abstracts (NTA), a publication of the School of Theology and Ministry, has established itself as the definitive source on current literature devoted to the research on the New Testament, and the times in which it was formed, and serves as an invaluable resource for scholars, librarians, clergy, and students around the world.

INSIDE junior’s “StoryTime” 2 •BC app draws interest •O’Malley’s farewell

•Special day for BC softball player •Pemberton brings ‘A Chance in the World’ to Robsham Theater •Honors for BC historians

College prof. 6 •Woods draws on athletic exploits •Photo: Excellence in Teaching Day

7 •CTE presents awards •Obituary: James Devoe

NTA, which is edited by STM Research Professor Christopher R. Matthews, annually publishes more than 2,000 abstracts and book notices of scholarly publications on New Testament topics and related fields across the ancient world. Founded at Weston Jesuit School of Theology in 1956, NTA – which recently marked its 60th anniversary – came to Boston College when Weston re-affiliated with the University in 2008 and the STM was established. At that

time, STM Professor Daniel J. Harrington, SJ, and Matthews served together as editors, until Fr. Harrington’s death in 2014. The abstracts and book notices are written by Matthews and NTA Assistant Editor Christopher R. Stroup, who cover about 1,500 articles, from some 500 periodicals, and nearly 700 books each year. Though the abstracts are in English, the original works span a range of languages from English, German, Continued on page 6

Mattia Pizzagalli, a junior majoring in biochemistry, has been awarded a Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship, considered the nation’s premier undergraduate award in the sciences. Pizzagalli is one of 240 sophomores and juniors selected from among 1,286 nominees for the scholarships, which are awarded on the basis of academic merit to the country’s most promising students in math, science and engineering, according to the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation. “There are so many other extremely qualified students who apply for this award that I am honored and humbled to receive it,” said Pizzagalli, a native of Winchester, Mass. “I was pretty much frozen for a few hours after I found out.” The one- and two-year Goldwater awards cover tuition, fees, books, and room and board costs up to a maximum of $7,500 per year. Many past Goldwater Scholars have gone on to earn prestigious post-graduate fellowships, including Rhodes, Marshall and Churchill scholarships. “Ever since my high school science classes, I’ve known I wanted

Mattia Pizzagalli ’18

to become a doctor,” said Pizzagalli, who plans to pursue a dual MD/ PhD in cancer biology following his graduation in 2018. “I love the idea of being able to connect with people and help them not only in a clinical setting, but in the long-term through research.” For the past two years, Pizzagalli has been an undergraduate researcher in the lab of Associate Professor of Chemistry Eranthie Weerapana, where he studies cysteine-containing proteins as part of the lab’s research into cancer and age-related diseases. “Mattia is one of the most talented and mature undergraduates to have worked in my lab,” said Continued on page 7

‘A Much Bigger Journey Than I Had Ever Imagined’ BC alumna’s search for her birth mother takes on life of its own Entering her late 20s, Caitríona Palmer seemed to be doing just fine. A Fulbright Scholar who’d recently earned a master’s degree from Boston College (1997), Palmer – her interest in human rights inspired by her time at BC – had aided efforts to identify the dead of the Srebrenica massacre in Bosnia, a grueling task that required both considerable professional skills and empathy. She later worked with an international tribunal seeking to prosecute a Bosnian Serb general for his role in

Srebrenica. But for all the challenge, opportunity and success adulthood brought, Palmer carried inside her a pervasive anxiety that dated back to her sixth birthday, when Palmer learned from her mother that she had been adopted. This revelation sparked nettlesome questions for Palmer – about her birth mother and herself – that continued to haunt her. She finally resolved to seek out her birth mother, a quest that proved successful but brought along another set of complications. Last year, Palmer published the book An Affair with My Mother, which recounts the intense, difficult and clandestine relationship she

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forges with “Sarah,” the name she gives her birth mother, who has kept secret the daughter she bore out of wedlock and gave up for adoption. Palmer agrees to maintain the secret, which further complicates their reconciliation. A storybook motherand-child reunion proves elusive, and Palmer wrestles with decisions she makes, or avoids, about dealing with Sarah. But An Affair with My Mother also provides a lens onto an Ireland that pushed women like Sarah to the margins, or worse. As ambivalent as Palmer is about some aspects of their relationship, she praises Sarah for her courage and strength in persevering through pain and loss to make

Lee Pellegrini

Caitríona Palmer at BC last month.

a life for herself – and in revisiting the past. While visiting campus last month to give a talk about her book, PalmContinued on page 8

“We have to recognize all children are our children, and the truth is, we’re not there yet. Change will come when more people understand that their choices and decisions as individuals also affect the greater community around them.” –BC School of Social Work Professor of Macro Practice Tiziana Dearing, page 3

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A ROUND

C AMPUS

SPEAKING ‘TRUTHS’ Former Maryland Governor and 2016 presidential candidate Martin O’Malley closed out his stint as a visiting professor at Boston College with a flourish, showcasing his troubadour talents as well as oratory skills. O’Malley, who this semester served as Jerome Lyle Rappaport Visiting Professor at BC Law School, gave the keynote address on April 24 at the Political Science Department’s annual honors banquet. The event is held to fete the department’s graduating seniors and promote “a deeper appreciation of the rewards and challenges of careers in public service,” according to Associate Professor Timothy Crawford, director of undergraduate studies for the department. For the occasion, O’Malley pre-

verse at a time of Woody Guthrie’s “This Land Is Your Land.” At the finish, he reprised the song in its entirety and invited the audience to join him. “I’d never done this presentation before. I put it together just for that night,” said O’Malley by e-mail last week, as he explained the premise of “Seven American Truths.” “Woody Guthrie wrote seven verses for ‘This Land Is Your Land,’ so that seemed like a good template to use.” O’Malley, who following his address took questions from the audience, said he was pleased with the students’ response: “Some of us older progressives take affront when politicians, even expoliticians, use emotion or music to communicate.” Crawford, who described

Martin O’Malley at the Political Science Department honors banquet, shortly before completing his appointment as a visiting BC Law professor. (Photo courtesy Timothy Crawford)

sented “Seven American Truths,” in which he discussed statements that spoke to America’s special qualities – such as Frederick Douglass’ “We are one, our cause is one; and we must help each other if we are to succeed” – and gave recitations that included “The New Colossus,” the poem by Emma Lazarus at the Statue of Liberty (“Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses...”); writings by Dorothy Day and Thomas Merton; and the words “One Country, One Destiny” that were stitched into the lining of Abraham Lincoln’s coat the night he was assassinated. Interspersed with these, O’Malley – known as a performer of Irish and American folk songs – strummed his guitar and sang one

O’Malley’s presentation as “lively and thought-provoking,” said, “We look for a speaker who has made a significant contribution to public service and politics, and can encourage our students to think seriously about these as professional pathways after graduation. “We also hope that the speaker can convey to students and faculty the lessons learned from work in politics that help us to better grasp the nature of citizenship and public life.” O’Malley said his time at BC had been enjoyable, and left him feeling upbeat. “America is headed in the right direction, eventually, if you guys stay true to your values of generosity, compassion, and the equal dignity of every person.” –Sean Smith

associate Vice President FOR UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONs Jack Dunn Deputy Director of university communications Patricia Delaney Editor Sean Smith

Contributing Staff Ed Hayward Rosanne Pellegrini Kathleen Sullivan Siobhan Sullivan Photographers Gary Gilbert Lee Pellegrini

THE WHOLE STORY Bedtime stories are an evening ritual that can transport children and adults alike to lands of fantasy, adventure and mystery. But increasingly busy family schedules and the demands of work are encroaching on this tradition. Enterprising junior Justin Gregorius, however, has found a way to preserve the nocturnal practice. Gregorius, teaming with his older brother Brian, has created “StoryTime,” an app that enables parents or other loved ones to read to their child from anywhere in the world, “creating an unparalleled online bonding experience,” according to its website [www.readstorytime. com]. The subscription-based children’s book platform provides unlimited access to a library of more than 3,000 books and growing. Most are suited to children from birth to age 12, but StoryTime also offers some longer novels suitable for older children. With a monthly fee of $5.99, it went live in the App Store last August and has been marketed to families via social media, local newspapers and TV station segments. StoryTime’s genesis came during Brian’s pursuit of an MBA at University of Florida, where many of his friends worked in business and the military — which required long hours and often travel — and missed out on time with their young children. They also complained of the cost of children’s books. “We figured we could solve both problems with one product and the end result was StoryTime,” said Justin, a history and philosophy major from Longboat Key, Fla., whose father, Patrick Sr., is a 1973 alumnus. The brothers worked with a team to develop StoryTime. Response from users and other organizations has been positive: StoryTime won the Bronze “One to Watch” award in the international Reimagine Education Competition, which focuses on innovative methods and technology to enhance learning. “We are very happy with the response so far,” said Gregorius, though he declined to disclose the number of users. “We are currently only in the US, but the app can work internationally.”

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Justin Gregorius ’18 says fond childhood memories helped inspire him to create his “StoryTime” app. (Photo by Lee Pellegrini)

StoryTime is currently available for all iOS devices only, but expansion to Android, Windows, and Kindle Fire is in the works. Bringing the app to market “was surreal,” said Gregorius. “To take an idea that my brother and I came up with on the phone and then turn it into a real product has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.” Of his own childhood, Gregorius has “fond memories of being read to as a child. My mom took

the time to read to me a lot while I was growing up, something I am incredibly thankful for.” He cites Where the Wild Things Are and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – both still popular titles – as favorites. Looking ahead, Gregorius said: “I could absolutely see this as a career after college. I have always dreamed of working for myself, [and] having the chance to potentially do that right out of college is really exciting.” –Rosanne Pellegrini

Tatiana Cortez ’17 heads toward home plate and her teammates after hitting her game-winning home run on Senior Day. (NECN video capture)

Lynch School of Education senior and BC softball player Tatiana Cortez ’17 got a special send-off at the team’s Senior Day game on April 30. Her father, Ronny, a Houston police officer, was unable to attend because he was recovering from two gunshot wounds suffered in the line of duty this past February. But more than 100 police officers showed up to cheer Cortez for “Back the Blue Day,” and the Boston College Police Association presented her family with a $2,000 check. “Seeing all of them out here, I lost it,” said Cortez, in an interview with New England Cable News. “I got emotional. I started crying. It was more of a happy cry.” Cortez, who wore a blue ribbon in hair in a show of support of police, had extra reason to feel happy: Her two-run homer in the final inning won the game for the Eagles. “That felt amazing,” said Cortez. “For it to be ‘Back the Blue Day’ and everything. That felt awesome.” Watch an NBC Boston/NECN video about Cortez at http://bit.ly/tatianacortez –University Communications The Boston College Chronicle (USPS 009491), the internal newspaper for faculty and staff, is published biweekly from September to May by Boston College, with editorial offices at the Office of University Communications, 3 Lake Street, Brighton, MA 02135 (617)5523350. Distributed free to faculty and staff offices and other locations on campus. Periodicals postage paid at Boston, MA and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: send address changes to The Boston College Chronicle, Office of University Communications, 3 Lake Street, Brighton, MA 02135.

A flipbook edition of Chronicle is available via e-mail. Send requests to chronicle@bc.edu.

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Historians Sellers-Garcia, Mo Relish Scholarly Awards

A Good ‘Chance’

Film based on memoir by Steve Pemberton ’89 extends his work to bring hope and healing to victims of childhood abuse and neglect By Sean Smith Chronicle Editor

Steve Pemberton ’89 last week brought the film version of his highly acclaimed memoir for a private showing at his alma mater – a place Pemberton said he continues to hold in his heart. Some 500 members and guests of the University community came to Robsham Theater on May 1 for a screening of “A Chance in the World,” co-sponsored by University Communications, Student Affairs, and the Alumni Association. The as-yet unreleased film is an adaptation of Pemberton’s book of the same title, which recounts his perseverance and faith that helped him survive an abusive foster family, led him to BC and, ultimately, to marriage and family, and a successful career as a senior executive at Walgreens and a national leader in diversity and inclusion. The screening was followed by remarks by Pemberton, who also participated in a panel discussion along with John Sykes, his former guardian and high school mentor, and BC School of Social Work Professor of Macro Practice Tiziana Dearing, co-director for the Center for Social Innovation at Boston College. Moderated by Associate Vice President for University Communications Jack Dunn, the sometimes emotional conversation provided an opportunity for Pemberton to offer insights into the making of the film, revisit several chapters of his story and – along with Sykes and Dearing – discuss broad themes of redemption and forgiveness, and foster care-related issues. Pemberton also used the occasion to express his appreciation for all those who had helped him in ways great and small – many of them, including his wife and three children, were in the audience, he noted. “I never imagined anything like this, to have the people nearest and dearest to me here,” said Pemberton about his decision to show the film at the University. “I wanted to say thanks to BC, where I gained the first understanding of what ‘home’ means.” Although “A Chance in the World” covers only Pemberton’s high school years, it gives an idea of the horrific physical and emotional abuse he suffered in the foster home of the Robinsons, who see the boy as a source of income rather than a child in need of compassion. Anchoring the film is young actor Terrell Ransom Jr., who portrays the teenaged Pemberton as vulnerable and traumatized yet possessed of a

By Sean Smith Chronicle Editor

Steve Pemberton talks about “A Chance in the World” at Robsham Theater last week.

tenacity that enables him to survive his torment and aspire to a better future – one that includes studying at Boston College. The film ends as Pemberton has enrolled at BC, but the closing credits note that he went on to graduate from the University and now serves on its Board of Trustees, and includes a video clip from his speech at last fall’s First Year Convocation. When the Robsham house lights came up after the film – prompting a standing ovation from the audience – attention turned to the real-life characters, events and issues represented on the screen. “Imagine your greatest dream about anything – dreams are important because they guide and nurture us,” said Pemberton. “The life I have is more magical than any of those dreams. It’s impossible to con-

One such “angel,” Sykes – who took Pemberton into his home after Pemberton finally left the Robinsons – explained that he didn’t view his decision to care for Pemberton as “taking a chance.” “It really wasn’t up to me to make the decision. It was something bigger than me, bigger than Steve. You can call it what you like. This was a no-judgment ‘Yes.’” Sykes said his motivation in helping Pemberton came simply from a desire “to leave life better than what I found it” and suggested to the audience that they, too, could someday act on that aspiration. “An opportunity will come. It will show itself. And then you say, ‘Yes.’” Dearing, former president of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Boston, touched on the

Pemberton listens to his former guardian John Sykes during a panel discussion following the screening that also included BC School of Social Work faculty member Tiziana Dearing, moderated by University Communications AVP Jack Dunn. (Photos by Lee Pellegrini)

vey to my family, my friends how much they mean to me.” Pemberton said that keeping his story to himself “would have been a betrayal of the gift that was given to me. I’ve had so many other people tell me that my story has helped to heal them, so I know I’ve done the right thing in sharing it.” Despite greater media and public attention to child abuse, the “situation is more dire today than when I grew up,” he said. In writing A Chance in the World, and turning it into a film, “I tried to give those individuals the hope to hang on for that day when you decide you’ll put an end to [the abuse].” At another point in the discussion, Pemberton said, “I was destined to defeat them, because they were going against a force of nature: the people who did small things for me, to help me stay strong. When you’re up against an evil, you need those angels who come along.”

question of effective monitoring and care of foster children raised by “A Chance in the World.” There was, she said, “no satisfactory answer” for the lack of safeguards in Pemberton’s and other children’s cases, although she refrained from criticizing social work and human services professionals and pointed to “the bloodless dimension of bureaucracy.” “We have to recognize all children are our children, and the truth is, we’re not there yet,” she said. “Change will come when more people understand that their choices and decisions as individuals also affect the greater community around them. “We have to hold ourselves accountable,” said Dearing, “so that when we say ‘Yes,’ like John Sykes did, we will see the joy of doing good that comes forth.” Contact Sean Smith at sean.smith@bc.edu

History Department faculty members Associate Professor Sylvia Sellers-Garcia and Assistant Professor Yajun Mo have received prestigious professional honors that will enable them to build on their respective research interests. Sellers-Garcia has been selected as the 2017-18 Central American Visiting Scholar at the David Rock-

Mo described the Henry Luce Foundation/ACLS Program in China Studies as one of the major supporters of the rising generation of China scholars working in and beyond the US. “Professionally, it’s a huge honor for me to be included in an exceptional group of young China scholars this year,” said Mo, a faculty member since 2015. The fellowship will enable Mo to travel to China to complete

Sylvia Sellers-Garcia and Yajun Mo. (Photos by Caitlin Cunningham, Lee Pellegrini)

efeller Center for Latin American Studies (DRCLAS) at Harvard University for the spring of 2018, while Mo was awarded a postdoctoral fellowship from the Henry Luce Foundation/ACLS Program in China Studies. “It’s an honor to be selected as a DRCLAS fellow for several reasons,” said Sellers-Garcia, who joined the faculty in 2011. “One is that each fellowship is individually endowed and associated to a region. It’s an international fellowship, so people apply from Latin America as well, and I’m thrilled that being at DRCLAS will allow me to have ongoing conversations with other scholars about their work and mine.” With her appointment at DRCLAS, Sellers-Garcia will continue work on her book, The Woman in the Window: A Tale of Mystery in Several Parts, an examination of a sensational criminal case in Guatemala during 1800. Although grounded in an historical context, she sees The Woman in the Window as having potential appeal beyond academia. “Using a narrative voice, I unfold the events of the mystery in connection with related contexts: enlightenment medicine, urban space, religious iconography, gender and sexuality, and so on. I’m hoping to lure general readers into finding Guatemalan history interesting, while for academic audiences, I make an argument about this period in Guatemala as the period in which there is the first emergence of a modern police state. “Having uninterrupted writing time is the best way to really immerse oneself in a project and write with focus,” she added.

field research for her book project on Zhuang Xueben, a pioneering ethnographic photographer from Shanghai, and to begin writing once the fieldwork is completed. Zhuang was renowned for his photography of the Sino-Tibetan frontiers in the 1930s and 1940s, providing one of the broadest and most striking visual records of the region and its diverse peoples. But his work largely disappeared from view after the Chinese Republican era ended in 1949, said Mo, and was forgotten until he was rediscovered this century as a hidden master of Chinese photography. Mo sees two threads in her project, which would also provide the basis for a new course on diversity in modern China. “I want to track how the people, goods, and ideas circulating on the ‘fringes’ of China proper shaped the perceptions of what China was and is. And the other thread is the global. The local stories are also embedded in global trajectories, and in this study they are global developments of photography, ethnography, and printing culture. “Through the interactions between these two threads – woven together through an individual – this study explores how to retell modern Chinese history from different scales.” History chair Professor Kevin Kenny praised his colleagues. “With scholars of this caliber, the History Department at Boston College is an invigorating place to work. Our students benefit directly from Sylvia Sellers-Garcia’s and Yajun Mo’s research, as they bring history to life by sharing their findings in the classroom.”

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Sonia Chiamaka Okorie

Hometown: Bronx, NY Major: Nursing Notable Activities: 2016 Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship; Amanda V. Houston Travel Fellowship to Ghana; Connell School of Nursing Keys to Inclusive Leadership in Nursing (KILN) Leadership Council; KILN Inclusivity Award; Undergraduate Research Fellow; Jamaica Magis Service Trip (2014, 2016, 2017); Black Student Forum; resident assistant; orientation leader. Post-graduation Plans: Applying to master’s degree programs to become a women’s health nurse practitioner. Overview: Okorie is a leader, a dedicated nursing student, and a source of advice for peers. As president of the Black Student Forum, she led efforts to organize the annual Black Family Weekend. After participating on the Jamaica Magis Service Immersion Trip freshman year, she returned to serve as a trip leader in 2016 and co-coordinator in 2017. She has helped many first year students with the transition to college in her roles as orientation leader and resident assistant. She spent the summer after sophomore year in Ghana conducting research on malaria prevention, and presented those findings at a conference at Yale University. She and CSON Associate Professor Allyssa Harris gave a presentation at the National Black Nurses Association and also co-authored an article, under review, for the journal Nursing for Women’s Health.

You have spent time in Jamaica (service immersion trip), Ghana (volunteer and research) and Haiti (clinical experience). What kind of impact have these international experiences had on you? The international trips have really defined my BC experience. The first trip to Jamaica was about serving and finding a community. It was great, but I was the only nurse on the trip. Next, I went to Ghana and did research and analyzed data. That experience made me realize that I didn’t want to be a bystander. I wanted to be involved in delivering care. Over semester break, I went on the nursing trip to Haiti. We cared for so many people in clinics all day long. It was my first intersection of nursing and service. Meeting those people profoundly impacted me – they welcomed me, gifted [me with] their stories, trusted me to assess and educate them – making me not only a better nurse, but a more present one. It is never easy to see people in need of something as fundamental as health care, and to think about the pervasive structures that cause such inequity. But, my time in Haiti gave me hope that I can move forward one person at a time, and I can do it as a nurse. What drew you to nursing? I love talking to patients. To be next to someone in a vulnerable moment and know you made a difference is so amazing. Sharing that intimacy with patients was what made me know nursing was for me. What has been your most memorable or formative experience at BC? I started and ended my time at BC with Jamaica Magis. I learned so many lessons on Magis: how to serve; how to help those around me. The experience of being in companionship with my brothers and sisters taught me to be more present. I grew up through Magis. Who have been your mentors during your time at BC? There are so many people! In nursing, Maureen Connolly, Allyssa Harris, Melissa Sutherland, and Cathy Read. In Campus Ministry, Fr. Michael Davidson, SJ, Chris Darcy, and Chris Cichello. And, of course, [Undergraduate Admission Director] John Mahoney and [Montserrat Manager] Yvonne McBarnett. How has BC put its stamp on you? The Jesuit mission is very much the heart of BC. You can’t escape it. It made me reflect on the question “What is your purpose?” I took the time to listen to myself. I thought about how the Jesuit mission related to nursing. How do I serve people as a nurse? The Jesuit mission has brought a lot of meaning to my life. I’m grateful that it was part of my college experience. What will you miss about BC? The sense of community that is here. The nursing school is a small community. I have a community within Campus Ministry, and through being a resident assistant and OL [orientation leader]. I have been part of groups where people care about me and look out for me. I feel like I was able to give back to those communities, too. That has been a huge gift. –Kathleen Sullivan

Joi Dallas

Hometown: Philadelphia Major: Applied psychology and human development; minors in African and African Diaspora Studies and Faith, Peace and Justice. Notable Activities/Achievements: 2015 Timothy M. Padulsky Award winner for student leadership; 2016 finalist for the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Scholarship; student advisory board member for Thea Bowman AHANA Intercultural Center; AHANA summit retreat leader for the Center for Student Formation; student leader of Campus Ministry’s Jamaica Magis Service Trip; research assistant for Lynch School of Education Assistant Professor Rebecca Lowenhaupt; Lynch School of Education Senate; BC Women’s Rugby Football Club. Post-Graduation Plans: Master’s degree in school counseling at Lynch School of Education. Long-term interests include school counseling or further graduate study in education research and policy. Overview: Dallas has pushed herself to step beyond her comfort zone. The former high school cheerleader joined BC’s Women’s Rugby Football Club and pursued a range of formational academic, social, and service activities. She mentored incoming freshmen in the Thea Bowman AHANA and Intercultural Center’s Options Through Education summer program, and tutored high school students in Boston. This year she was a student leader for the Jamaica Magis Service Trip. Last week, Dallas joined Lowenhaupt and fellow co-authors to present their research at the American Educational Research Association’s annual meeting in San Antonio, Tex.

Which people have had the greatest influence on you during your

John Walsh

Hometown: Franklin, Mass. Major: Accounting and theology; minor in Film Studies Notable Activities/Achievements: The Heights Momentum Award 2017; Agape Latte co-chair; Student Representative on C21 Advisory Committee; Emerging Leader Program facilitator; 4Boston and PULSE volunteer at Pine Street Inn; Student Admission Program tour guide and panelist; Appalachia Volunteers trip leader; Halftime leader. Overview: Walsh always dreamed of coming to Boston College – and when he got the chance to do so, he made it his mission to be as involved as possible. Discovering a talent and passion for film production led Walsh to create numerous videos that for him were both fun and skills-building experiences. Perhaps best known on campus for his “Shake It Off” music video – which went viral after Taylor Swift tweeted it to her millions of followers – Walsh also has made an impression through the expression of his faith. A volunteer for service trips and a participant in the PULSE Program for service learning, the Agape

time at BC? Among teachers, I loved my courses with [LSOE Assistant Professor of the Practice] Nelson Portillo. I just really enjoyed his style and how be brings the culture of his native El Salvador into his courses and gives them that international dimension. There are so many people you can talk to at BC, but Fr. Michael Davidson, SJ, of Campus Ministry is like a father figure to students of color. I love his bluntness and “tough love” method that keeps me on my toes when I need to get myself together. We hardly ever talk about academics. We just talk about life. What BC experience had the most significant impact on you? The Jamaica Magis Service Trip. It

is unlike anything I have ever experienced. I think it is really unique. BC has a lot of service trips, but I feel this one serves students of color, largely because of Fr. Michael [Davidson]. Magis – the name means “more.” On the trip it stands for doing more, being more, being more than you think you are. It is not just the Latte co-chair devotes himself to others, finding joy in hearing their stories. Whether it’s running across campus with a tripod and camera in hand, leading service trips with the Appalachia Volunteers, or simply saying a friendly hello, Walsh has made a lasting impact at BC and hopes to continue to blend his love for video production with his immense faith.

How has BC made a difference in your life? BC has changed everything for me. I never could have imagined the love, support, and growth that I experienced here over four years. Being a part of this community has taught me to be open, to be grateful, and to try and live a life spent loving others. It has encouraged me to value people’s stories, to see the goodness in others, and to both acknowledge and grow from my mistakes and shortcomings. And the best part of it all is I’ve been blessed to find lifelong friends and mentors who offer me a daily example of how to be a better human being and I hope to carry these relation-

physical act of doing something for a community that needs help, but how we can see God in the faces of our brothers and sisters. How has that experience extended beyond your work in Jamaica? There’s the “BC look away,” which makes it so easy not to see people. After the Magis trip, I don’t look away. I can’t. The people I see are my brothers and sisters and I need to be there. I don’t know what is going on in their lives. Magis really took away the anxiety about encountering people and having those kinds of conversations. It teaches you how to be vulnerable and how to trust others with that. I think it will be relevant to the fields I am considering for my career. How has BC made a difference in your life? I’ve learned to reach out to people. It’s one of the most important things I’ve gotten out of my four years at BC – being confident talking to strangers and asking for help. Not every student gets that. I think that is going to help make me an effective advocate for the kids I want to serve in the future. What will you miss the most about BC? I will still be here, but as a graduate student. I was thinking the other day, “What am I going to do on the weekends?” There is so much to do here: paint nights, movies with friends – the other night I made a ceramic bowl at pottery night. I’m not much for going out, so I’ll probably just have to get a job on the weekends, which kind of sounds lame. But I’m going to miss all the things I’ve been able to do with my friends on campus. –Ed Hayward ships far beyond the Heights upon graduation. What experience at BC has the most significant impact on you? The combination of being involved with Agape Latte and working to

become a filmmaker on campus has been my most significant experience at BC. When I realized that what I loved so deeply was storytelling so many things fell into place for me at BC. I feel so privileged to be a part of

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R E A D TH E FU L L P ROF I L E S AT HTT P : / / b i t . ly / seni o r s - 2 0 1 7

Russell Simons

Hometown: Larchmont, NY Major: Biology, minor in medical humanities Notable Activities/Achievements: President, Undergraduate Government of Boston College; chief marshall, Order of the Cross and Crown; Alpha Sigma Nu; editor-in-chief, The Medical Humanities Journal of Boston College; Voices of Imani; Student Admission Program; Campus Activities Board; undergraduate research assistant to Professor of Biology Ken Williams; summer research assistant, Valve Research Group, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center; summer intern, Rosie’s Place and Haley House. Post-Graduation Plans: University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine Overview: A student in the Gabelli Presidential Scholars Program (GSPS), Simons arrived at Boston College focused on the four-year path to medical school. But along the way, he has pursued an array of experiences – in public service, biomedical sciences, and athletics – that have made for an atypical pre-med experience. He ran the Boston Marathon twice in support of the Campus School and along with his fellow Presidential Scholars co-produced a documentary on the state of mental health care for Boston’s immigrant and homeless populations. Simons has been active in student life, involved in everything from the campus tours program and Voices of Imani gospel choir to undergraduate research and community service. Discovering a passion for student government led him to a fouryear involvement in UGBC, and this past year, a term as UGBC president. Through it all, Simons has remained passionate about pursuing his childhood dream of a career as a physician.

Agape Latte because I have the chance to act as a facilitator of stories, to meet incredible mentors and people on campus, and to be a part of something that is much bigger than myself. Working to become a filmmaker on campus has been one of my life’s greatest joys. I love bringing other people’s visions to life, seeking to inspire or move someone with visual storytelling, and enjoying the very human process of filmmaking. Talk about what got you interested in video production and why it’s important to you. Honestly, if you had told me I’d be graduating with a love for video production as a freshman, I would have never believed you. When I was a sophomore I attended my first Agape Latte board meeting in September and I suggested creating a promotional music video. Karen Kiefer, John Campbell and I decided that we’d make a “Shake It Off” video. I put together shots for certain lyrics including Fr. Michael Himes holding the speaker, a cappella groups for the rap sequence,

How has BC made a difference in your life? When I received my BC acceptance letter, and then the Gabelli Presidential scholarship, I knew the trajectory

of my life had changed dramatically. As a high school senior, it was beyond humbling for an institution like BC to say “We believe in you, so let us help you grow as much as any university possibly can.” That ethos of support and mentorship has been the defining characteristic of my time on the Heights. I came from a public high school in the suburbs of New York City to a Jesuit, Catholic university in Boston, so I knew to expect a change of pace. But what Boston College has taught me, and the difference it has made in my life, would’ve definitely been a surprise to 18-year-old me. Through coursework, study abroad, and student involvement, BC has shifted my worldview to place the focus centrally on the people around me, making me a more intentional, introspective, and compassionate person in the process. The best part Sexual Chocolate on the tables in Bapst, and Fuego del Corazon to end the video with their Showdown stunt and imitation of Taylor Swift. I think I’ll always remember sitting in the Rat and looking out to see multiple computers playing “Shake It Off” that same day. And there was no better feeling a few weeks later when Taylor Swift tweeted the video late on a Thursday night. I don’t think I’ll ever forget it. Did you accomplish everything you set out to do during your time here? I’ve always dreamed of going to BC, and consider it one of my life’s greatest blessings that I was afforded the opportunity. There are countless friends, mentors, and memories that I will treasure from my four years at Boston College, and this place has made it very easy to live my life with a sense of gratitude. I think the best part about BC is I could never have imagined the path I’d be on, the person I’d be today, and all of the people who would become a part of my life. –Siobhan Sullivan

Photos by Yiting Chen

is this mindset will remain with me throughout my life. How have your studies and leadership experiences here prepared you for the future? Studying at Boston College, where Jesuit ideals promote caring for the whole person, has pushed me to rethink how disparate aspects of my own identity intersect, and in particular to consider the common threads between the arts, public service, and medicine. My love of writing and literature found an early home in the Medical Humanities program, where classes in medical narrative and the ethics of HIV/AIDS opened my eyes to the social determinants of health and some of today’s most complex moral questions. Traveling abroad to Nicaragua through the GPSP helped me build on this awareness by studying global development, and working as a medical assistant in Spain gave me a firsthand understanding of clinical care outside of the US. My ultimate hope is to find ways to make a genuine impact in the world of health care using this knowledge in tandem with the leadership skills I’ve developed through student government. Who have been some of the most influential people you’ve known at BC? Fr. Jim Keenan, SJ [GPSP director], Professor Neil Wolfman [Chemistry], Professor Amy Boesky [English], Mark Miceli [Office of Student Involvement], Barb Jones [Student Affairs Vice President] and Jennie Thomas [GPSP] have had an immeasurable influence on my Boston College experience. Each has offered advice and guidance at key moments in my journey, helping me discover new interests and ways of thinking, and ultimately providing the backbone of support I’ve needed to make these four years at Boston College a success. What experiences at BC have had the most significant impact on you and why? Participating in undergraduate biology research with Prof. Ken Williams, and pursuing a minor and thesis in Medical Humanities, have helped me better understand what I hope to do with a career in medicine. I’ve known for a while that I want to be an academic physician based out of a university medical center, and my research experiences at BC and at Beth Israel Deaconess have backed that up. But the Medical Humanities program opened new doors into the worlds of public health, health policy, and medical ethics – all of which I plan to explore on a professional level throughout medical school. My experiences in UGBC have encouraged me to continue seeking out leadership opportunities, and my hope is that one day all of these aspects of my life will come together. –Rosanne Pellegrini

Jesse Mu

Hometown: Omaha, Neb. Major: Computer science, minor in mathematics Notable Activities/Achievements: 2017 Winston Churchill Scholarship; 2016 Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship; Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society; co-president, BC Computer Science Society; web developer, Haley House; research assistant in labs at Stanford University, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid and MIT; Boston College Symphony Orchestra; Chamber Music Society. Post-Graduation Plans: Master’s degree in advanced computer science, Cambridge University; doctorate in computer science, Stanford University; work as research scientist in computer industry. Overview: This Gabelli Presidential Scholar Program member has found himself on the cutting edge of one of the more exciting technologies to emerge in recent years: Natural Language Processing (NLP), which is used for devices such as Siri and Amazon Echo. For Mu, NLP represents the intersection of three keen interests – psychology, computer science and language – that he’s been able to explore by working with, among others, Assistant Professor of Psychology Joshua Hartshorne. But even as he touts technology’s benefits, Mu is mindful of its limitations in improving the human condition, especially for people who do not have access to essential resources and services – a concern manifested by his role in producing a documentary with his fellow GPSP students about mental health care issues in Boston.

What are the first things that come to mind when you think about these past four years at Boston College? The Gabelli Presidential Scholars Program has been a big part of my life at BC. Student-wise, there were some incredible relationships not only within each class, but across them. The older students were very forthcoming and wanted to see us succeed, so they challenged us to be better. Faculty relationships also were important: [Gabelli Presidential Scholars Program Director] James Keenan, SJ, encourages us to be bold in how we proceed in college, and beyond it. I also think about the many people I’ve met here, friends and classmates. A lot of them are different than me, in personality and other ways, but we unite around topics of interest in politics or religion or other subjects. For me, BC’s been an environment where we break down differences – not only in the classroom, but just sitting around a table having coffee. Initially, your focus was on studying psychology, wasn’t it? I’ve always been interested in how our minds work, and the biases and other factors that shape our thinking. I took psychology in high school, and I was struck by how little we know about ourselves, even with all the research that’s been done. More specifically, I was interested in language. I’d had some struggles with language acquisition (I learned Mandarin Chinese and Spanish), and to me there was something fascinating in how we process language – why it seems easier to learn one and not another. But the more I encountered computer science, the more I was drawn to it. It’s a field that has an instant and tangible effect on people. And I genuinely enjoy the rigor of thought that comes with the work; it’s like a continuous brainteaser. With NLP, though, you’re looking at more than matters of technology involved. Most work in NLP has been done in English only; there are many languages for which we don’t have as many linguistic resources. So one important consideration for NLP going forward is how to bring a global perspective to the work – how do you make language technologies accessible and useful for more people? Even as computers have taken on a greater role in our daily lives, there are concerns about technology’s impact on personal and social behavior. What’s your take on this? Although I’m a fairly strong technocrat, I believe that technology does not replace essential communication among people. It is a platform by which we can achieve and accomplish more, yet it also can be a barrier to good relationships. So even though I work with computers, I’ve made sure to keep some distance from technology. Still, this is an exciting time to be in computer science, because technology – such as that which allows you to speak to your computer – will continue to provide more ways to potentially improve our lives. If, that is, we continue to think and talk about the ethical component. Looking back, how did BC make a difference in your life? Again, it’s the people I’ve met, in various circumstances and settings, and the impact they’ve had on me. The professors here have gone above and beyond in terms of the guidance they’ve given me to set and achieve goals. BC also has helped me answer a question. If you want to live up to Jesuit ideals, of being men and women for others, do you have to work in a service type of position – or is there another way? After being here for four years, I have come to believe that caring for the common good is something you can incorporate into any career, no matter how technical or specialized. –Sean Smith

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60 Years for STM Publication Continued from page 1 and French to Dutch, Italian, and Spanish, among others. Topics covered by NTA go beyond what might automatically come to mind when thinking about the New Testament. In addition to abstracts on literature about the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John and the Acts of the Apostles, there are abstracts on literature related to archaeology, the Judaism of the Second Temple period, Rabbinics, and the GrecoRoman World. Matthews, whose doctorate is in New Testament and Christian Origins, says the field of New Testament Studies “takes a healthy and full outlook of the ancient world from Alexander the Great to Constantine.”

with the American Theological Library Association, via EBSCO Publishing. The digital archive dates back to 1985 and contains more than 50,000 article abstracts, 19,000 book notices, 61 software abstracts, and more than 1,600 review abstracts. The online database has opened up NTA to a whole new audience, according to Matthews. When a researcher taps keywords in a database search box, the results can include NTA even if the researcher is not familiar with the publication or would never have thought to search NTA on that topic. NTA’s reach will expand further as a result of a recent request from the Society of Biblical Literature which has sought permission

New Testament Abstracts Editor Christopher R. Matthews (right) and Assistant Editor Christopher R. Stroup (Photo by Lee Pellegrini)

Matthews and Stroup scan book catalogs, new publications, and other resources to locate books for inclusion. They also receive some 200 journals and review approximately another 300 periodicals made available to them from the Theology and Ministry Library. In turn, most of the books and journals Matthews and Stroup survey are subsequently donated to the TML. NTA is published three times a year and is available in print in the US and abroad through subscriptions administered by the Catholic Biblical Association in Washington, DC. It is also available online, through a partnership

to associate NTA’s previously published abstracts to articles in earlier issues of the society’s signature publication, the Journal of Biblical Literature. Another project in the works would make pre-1985 volumes of NTA available in pdf versions accessible in the public domain. Matthews says he looks forward to the day when the process of producing abstracts and book notices can be streamlined to the point of publishing the material almost immediately after it has been produced, which will further enhance the pertinence and utility of NTA. Contact Kathleen Sullivan at kathleen.sullivan@bc.edu Gary Wayne Gilbert

(L-R) Vice President for Planning and Assessment Kelli Armstrong and faculty members Rocío Calvo and Margaret Lombe (Social Work), Danielle Taghian (Biology) and Joe Liu (Law) at a panel discussion “Teaching From The Margins: Underrepresented Faculty Perspectives On The Classroom” held as part of Excellence in Teaching Day on Monday.

Getting a MOVE! On

Woods College’s Cathy Utzschneider puts experiences as athlete and entrepreneur to work in the classroom By Sean Hennessey Special to the Chronicle

A few years ago, Woods College of Advancing Studies faculty member Cathy Utzschneider got some bad news from her doctors: The arthritis in her right knee was so bad she would have to give up running. Utzschneider wasn’t a casual runner, but someone who had competed for many years and enjoyed success well after age 40. Among her accomplishments were a no. 1 ranking in the indoor 3,000 meters from USA Track and Field, a New England Cross Country Masters championship, and being part of an American record-setting 4x1600 relay team. So with her running career shut down, Utzschneider turned her attention to swimming and found it suited her competitive talents just fine, as she won the 2014 Connecticut Masters Games. This August, Utzschneider will represent Team USA at the World Aquathlon Championships in Canada. The 61-year old earned her spot after placing second last fall at the National Aquathlon Championships (onemile swim, 6.2-mile run), beating the nation’s top-rated athlete in her age group. Utzschneider’s athletic prowess underscores the expertise and vision she brings to her teaching. The author of two books, Utzschneider co-created MOVE! (Motivate, Organize, Visualize, Excel), a selfhelp method focused on achieving successive short-term goals. MOVE! has been used by hospitals, colleges, athletic teams and individuals in many fields, and is the basis of what she teaches her students to help them reach their objectives. “While I’m grateful for past accomplishments, I like striving for new goals,” says Utzschneider, who also has longtime experience coaching runners and triathletes. “Between teaching and studying performance, I’m one data point. We know more today about the potential of adult athletes than we did two decades ago and it’s far greater than we thought.” Utzschneider teaches Developing High Performance Leaders and Leading and Managing Transitions in Sports in the Woods College Master of Science in Leadership and Administration program. While many master’s programs in sports man-

Woods College of Advancing Studies faculty member Cathy Utzschneider at a swimming competition: “We know more today about the potential of adult athletes than we did two decades ago and it’s far greater than we thought.”

agement focus on the business of leading a college or professional sports entity, Utzschneider says the Woods program embraces leadership from the perspective of performance through the life span. “In one class we discuss high performance in all domains – physical, mental and emotional – through many lenses: the physiology of aging as it relates to exercise; fundamentals and challenges of goal achievement; sound body, sound mind and arcs of excellence; the neuroscience of habit, focus, and organization; theories of success including K. Anders Ericsson’s theory of 10 years, 10,000 hours; nature versus nurture, or talent versus training; and grit, resilience, and a growth mindset. Essentially, we deconstruct the concept of high performance. “The ingredients of high physical performance throughout the lifespan mirror those of high performance in sports leadership – and in all areas of life.” Adds Utzschneider, who joined the Woods faculty in 2006, “Being a professor and a coach is a good combination. One role informs the other. Fr. Burns [Woods College Dean James Burns, IVD] often stresses the college’s emphasis on the practical as well as the theoretical. I’m not aware of another college that focuses on high performance and goal achievement to this degree.” Active in several sports during her youth, Utzschneider came up with the idea for MOVE! after college. Unable to find a tennis coach to work with her and her doubles partner, the two of them developed the method to help them set and achieve goals. MOVE! grew into a business and two books, MOVE!: How

Women Can Achieve Athletic Goals at Any Age and Mastering Running. Former Olympian runner Zola Budd wrote the foreword for MOVE!; Runner’s World Editor Amby Burfoot and threetime Olympian Willie Banks endorsed Mastering Running, which included contributions from Boston College men’s track and cross country coach Matt Kerr and former assistant coach Tim Ritchie. Utzschneider’s methods and concepts have been used by athletes including triathlete Joe Maloy ’08, who finished as the top American during the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janiero, and former Eagles quarterback Tyler Murphy, who played for the Pittsburgh Steelers after his days at the Heights. But Utzschneider’s expertise for goal optimization also extends to careers that don’t involve sports. “MOVE! clients are all kinds – from beginner to elite athletes, mothers, executives, doctors, artists, people who value identifying and collaborating on main goals. The goal-setting method is rooted in the physical. Physical goals – they don’t have to be competitive – provide anchors and help us look forward to performance at any age. I’m as inspired by those who ran world records in the mile in their 70s as I am by a woman who walked three miles after her ankle was fused.” For Utzschneider, there are no plans to slow down, only more goals while keeping everything in perspective. “A physical goal will make you more effective at work and at home – most importantly, it will accelerate your productivity and joy for life.”

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Pizzagalli Earns Goldwater Continued from page 1 Weerapana. “I am thrilled that his impressive achievements in both the lab and classroom have been recognized in the form of a prestigious Goldwater Scholar Award. He is highly deserving of this honor and I look forward to his continued successes in the future.” In addition to his biochemistry studies, Pizzagalli – a Swiss native fluent in German – is part of BC’s Pre-Med Program and pursuing a German Studies minor. He is a member of the Alpha Sigma Nu National Honor Society and has been recognized during his undergraduate study as one of the University’s top students. Pizzagalli has been a member of Boston College EMS, volunteering as a campus EMT and serving on the student group’s leadership team. He currently volunteers in the Advanced Heart Failure Unit at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. In the Weerapana lab, Pizzagalli has studied the mitochondria of cysteine-containing proteins in an effort to profile cellular sites that could eventually be targets for therapeutic solutions. He is currently participating in research into the cross-development of cancer, seeking clues to the role of cysteine-mediated enzymes in the development of breast cancer. “Both Professor Weerapana and [post-doctoral researcher] Dan Bak have encouraged me to read my own literature, explore the field and come to them with new ideas,” Pizzagalli said. “It has really fueled

a passion for research because I feel like I am making a contribution to the work of the lab.” He added, “both have been instrumental mentors to me. They have supported me every step of the way.” Pizzagalli has co-authored, with Weerapana and Bak, a paper in the journal ACS Chemical Biology. He has also presented his research at BC’s Undergraduate Research poster sessions in 2015 and 2016. Bak said he’s been impressed by Pizzagalli’s passion for scientific research and grasp of complex scientific concepts and technical skills. “His work has been invaluable in helping us to understand the role of reactive cysteine residues in the mitochondria, and he continues to push the boundaries of scientific knowledge, examining the connection between mitochondrial biology and cancer progression,” said Bak. “Mattia has the ability and drive to tackle and solve complex biological problems within the biomedical field, and I have absolutely no doubt that Mattia has a bright and successful future ahead of him.” In addition to Weerapana, Pizzagalli credited the support of Visiting Professor of Chemistry Neil Wolfman, Assistant Professor of Biology Laura Anne Lowery, and Professor of Chemistry Mary Roberts, who assisted him in the fellowship application process. Contact Ed Hayward at ed.hayward@bc.edu

OB I TUAR Y

James Devoe, 62; BCDS Manager and Musician

Boston College students joined BC Dining Services last week in mourning the death of a longtime staffer who often shared his love of music at campus events. James M. Devoe Jr., a BCDS dining manager at McElroy Commons who had worked in the division for 30 years, died on April 30 at the age of 62. Dining Services posted a note in McElroy Commons about Mr. Devoe’s death and set up a message board with a photo of him involved in one of his favorite activities: playing guitar and singing. “Our team is still processing our loss today,” said Director of BC Dining Elizabeth Emery in an e-mail to The Heights, noting that in addition to the BCDS Christmas party, Mr. Devoe had often played in front of the Corcoran Commons fireplace for student diners. Another tribute to Mr. Devoe

was posted by the Music Guild of BC – a student-run club that organizes practice space and concerts and serves as a point of contact for student musicians – on its Facebook page: “Devoe blessed the Music Guild with his unwavering support and love of music. Devoe frequented our open mics and would put on a show anytime he could. The Guild’s favorite memory of Jim Devoe is his enthusiastic cover of ‘Fly Over States’ [a song popularized by country singer Jason Aldean] which would undoubtedly get a sing-a-long going.” “Grandpa Jim!” one comment read. “I love you! May the music be with you in heaven.” Mr. Devoe is survived by his wife, Joyce Jahrling-Devoe, and children James III, Thomas and Diane; his sisters Marcia Delaney and Christine Tufts; and his brothers Michael, Steven and Paul. –University Communications

BOSTON COLLEGE IN THE MEDIA The New York Times highlighted a report, co-authored by Prof. Claudia Olivetti (Economics), that found government spending on early childhood care and education – more than parental leave or flexible schedules – had the single biggest effect on boosting women’s employment and on decreasing gender pay gap. In an op-ed posted on The Conversation, Carroll School of Management Assoc. Prof. Gil Manzon and part-time faculty member Tim Gray argued that the Trump Administration tax proposal would cause faith in the fairness of the tax system to falter, with dire consequences. In advance of the Trump Administration’s 100-day mark, Prof. Patrick

Maney (History) appeared on New England Cable News’ “The Take” to discuss the tradition – which dates back to Franklin D. Roosevelt – of analyzing a new president’s term at that point, and whether it has done more harm than good. The anti-democratic spirit of the Trump administration is nothing new and nothing good, wrote Prof. Heather Cox Richardson (History) in an op-ed for the Washington Post. She also discussed Andrew Jackson as a “Make America Great Again” president on New England Cable News’ “The Take.” Instead of settling for tinkering with their constitution, Haitians should demand an altogether new one that can help to finally bring the peace and prosperity they have lacked for

over 200 years of independence, wrote Prof. Richard Albert (Law) in an op-ed for the Boston Globe. Whether Lent or Easter, in season or out of season, carrying the cross is not necessarily a choice but a way of life, wrote Assoc. Prof. Hosffman Ospino (STM) in The Pilot Alumni Relations Director of Student and Alumni Class Programs Meghan Butler ’03, who will receive a master’s degree from the Lynch School of Education at Commencement, spoke with the Boston Herald about the value of an advanced degree and the challenge of balancing of work and a graduate program. America Magazine published a Q&A with Canisius Professor and Jesuit Institute Director James Keenan, SJ, on the “pastorally engaged” moral theology of Pope Francis. Asst. Prof. Peter Krause (Political Science) was interviewed by New England Cable News’ “The Take” about his new book Rebel Power: Why National Movements Compete, Fight, and Win.

JOBS

Vice Provost for Faculties Billy S. Soo congratulates Allison Vander Broek, a graduate student in the History Department, on her award at the Graduate Teaching Recognition Ceremony. (Photo by Aaron Walters)

The University’s Center for Teaching Excellence recently hosted the Graduate Teaching Recognition Ceremony, honoring the 47 winners of the Donald J. White Teaching Award and 23 graduates of the CTE’s Apprenticeship in College Teaching program. Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences Dean Gregory Kalscheur, SJ, performed the invocation and Vice Provost for Faculties Billy S. Soo thanked the graduate students for the important role they play in the educational experience of BC undergraduates. CTE Executive Director John Rakestraw paid tribute to the White Award winners for valuing their critical role in supporting the educational development of their students; he also praised the graduates of the ACT program for taking the time to reflect deeply on their practice and craft as teachers. The ceremony concluded with a speech by Teaching Excellence Award winner Joshuah T. Heath, on the importance of teaching in helping him with his research. Asst. Prof. Daniel Bowles (German sia’s Jewry?” to Tablet Magazine. He also Studies) was invited to give a lecture on presented “The Texture of Translingual his translation of Imperium at the Paul Memory, or Nabokov in the Attic,” Pratt Memorial Library Sunday Author at Re:Constructions: An InterdisciplinTalks series. He and co-author Christian ary Forum on Memory and Imagination at the University of Kracht also read from, and discussed their work RIEFING Virginia; and “Waiting for America: Stories of on, Imperium at the Yale University German Department and a Jewish-Russian Emigration” at Trinity conference on intertextuality at Colum- College; “Letters to a Jewish Muse: Vladimir and Véra Nabokov as Literature bia University’s Deutsches Haus. and History” at Projekt “Impuls” der JüProf. Maxim D. Shrayer (Slavic and dischen Gemeinde zu Berlin and at UniEastern Languages; English) pub- versity of Verona; “Bunin and Nabokov. lished “The Prospect for Russia’s Jews” A History of Rivalry” at University of in Mosaic Magazine and contributed “Is Florence and University of Pisa. it Time to Compose an Elegy for Rus-

BC B

The following are among the most recent positions posted by the Department of Human Resources. For more information on employment opportunities at Boston College, see www.bc.edu/offices/hr: Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications, Residential Life Director of Development, Law School Emerging Technology Analyst, Information Technology Coordinator, Club Sports and Recreational Camp, Athletics Intern, Business Administration or Digital Media, Athletics Manager, Data Center Operations, Information Technology Senior Writer, University Advancement Teacher of the Visually Impaired, Academic Affairs/Provost Director, Office of Student Involvement, Student Affairs/Residential Life Senior/Web Developer, University Advancement Associate Director of Digital Marketing, University Advancement Associate Dean for Undergraduate Student Services, Academic Affairs/Provost Events Assistant, Alumni Affinity Programs, Advancement

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A Writer’s Odyssey, from Ireland to BC to Bosnia and Beyond Continued from page 1 er spoke with Sean Smith of the Chronicle. [The interview below has been edited for space – the full version is available at http://bit.ly/ caitriona-palmer]

It seems like such a leap of faith for an adoptive child to reach out to his or her birth parents, since there’s no predicting what the outcome will be. At the time, keeping our “affair” secret was a temporary arrangement, or so it appeared, and one that seemed very reasonable. She had been married a long time, and had three children. I didn’t want to lose her again so quickly, and so I believed her. Her joy at us reuniting was so great, I couldn’t imagine she wouldn’t want to tell, so I thought it would just be a few months. I never expected a 15-year affair. This was a much bigger journey than I had ever imagined at the beginning. So before I decided to write the book, I asked Sarah’s permission, which was crucial. She was very brave to take this on, and I couldn’t have done it without her. And just as importantly, I involved my adoptive parents, Liam and Mary, who raised me with such love and care. This was, in many ways, a joint labor of love. What impact did your time at BC have on you, and the path you chose? Boston College literally altered the course of my life. I can honestly say that. I took a class on Balkan literature taught by [Professor of Slavic and Eastern Languages] Cynthia Simmons at around the time the war in Bosnia was ending. As a young

bones of this book began in Bosnia, and I’m grateful to BC, because everyone helped me get there. You talk about how your work in Bosnia served to crystallize a lot of the feelings you had built up over the years. How so? I joined the non-profit Physicians for Human Rights (PHR), which was involved in the effort to identify the victims of Srebrenica. Most of the work was centered in

Caitríona Palmer visited with students during her recent stop at Boston College, where she earned her master’s degree and found inspiration. “Boston College literally altered the course of my life,” she says. (Photo by Lee Pellegrini)

Catholic upbringing. The support I got from the BC community was incredible. Adele Dalsimer [co-founder of BC Irish Studies Program] was another important figure during my time here. Fr. Neenan [Vice President and Special Assistant to the President William B. Neenan, SJ] took an interest in me and my work, and when I indicated that I wanted to explore what was going on in Bosnia, he basically crowd-sourced my move there. It was the beginning of an odyssey, a life-changing journey. The

Tuzla, since that’s where a lot of families had fled. I was a jack-of-all-trades, basically. I was helping with PHR’s communications, getting the word out, serving as a liaison with journalists. But mostly I was interacting with the families who were trying to find out what happened to their loved ones. Since there was no scientific DNA analysis to use, we’d have family members describe the missing person in as much detail as possible – clothing, facial features, teeth, old injuries, anything that might be a clue – and then match

these with the post-mortems. So my days and nights were filled with the world of the missing, and it was a terrifying place to be. And things I’d thought about before slowly worked their way up. Part of knowing that I was adopted was a sense of inner dislocation, of feeling incomplete – an emotional itch I couldn’t scratch – and this had influenced a lot of my behavior and self-image. In Bosnia, I was surrounded by those who had been left behind, and although obviously my situation was in no way comparable to theirs, I experienced a fresh awareness of being left behind myself. It was a series of revelations over a period of time that inspired you to search for Sarah? Yes, although I can point to one moment in particular. There was an abandoned hospital in Bosnian Serb territory where we thought there would be medical records we could use. One day, we broke in and started looking around the building. And as I was holding onto these medical files, I just found myself thinking “What am I doing helping to look for information about dead strangers when it’s obvious I need to look for my own?” At a certain point, you expanded the scope of the book to take a wider look at how unwed mothers like Sarah were treated in Ireland. It’s important to set the context. When Sarah came into my life, it was the “Celtic Tiger” era, a very exciting time in which Ireland no longer seemed to be under the yoke of the past. And then the stories started to surface about the way Irish so-

ciety, and the Catholic Church in particular, had dealt with women who didn’t meet the exacting moral standards: the Magdalene laundries, the sub-standard “homes” for unwed mothers, the neglect of mothers and children alike. [Associate Professor of English] James Smith here at BC has been out in front of those raising the issue. This was the kind of reality Sarah faced in being pregnant out of wedlock, and I began to understand there were other women like her. I began to look at my story as a journalist would, so I did more research – and the more I learned, the more appalled I was that this chapter of Irish history had been unexplored. Obviously, there are still loose ends: Sarah’s secret essentially remains intact, and there could yet be more changes in your relationship with her. Did this make it difficult to finish the book? As the first adoptee of my generation to write a memoir like this, I’ve uncovered a part of Irish history that needed to be put in the light of day. The most unexpected part of it all is the hundreds of e-mails I’ve received from people like me, and like Sarah. So that, for me, is the ending of my story. But Sarah’s courage has impacted the lives of others. “Your book saved my life,” said one woman who’d been suffering for years. I know An Affair with My Mother made people uncomfortable, but truth-telling does that. I just feel fortunate that life’s journey allowed me to tell this story – and I really feel that so much of it began here at BC. Contact Sean Smith at sean.smith@bc.edu

ARTS ALL AROUND

Frank Curran

Musicians, dancers, writers, poets, painters, thespians and other artists in the University community were out in force for the 19th annual Boston College Arts Festival April 27-29. The festival also included an appearance by network television executive Tracey Wigfield ’05 (below), winner of the Arts Council Alumni Award for Distinguished Achievement.

Lee Pellegrini

BC SCENES

student embarking on a degree in political science, I really wanted to get a grasp of the conflict, and Cynthia gave me a very nuanced understanding. I developed confidence and curiosity, along with other tools that would help me down the road. BC’s social justice agenda made a big impression on me, and my decision to work in the area of human rights. BC defined for me the moral compass I’d carried from my

Gary Wayne Gilbert

Yiting Chen

Lee Pellegrini