The Boston College
Chronicle Published by the Boston College Office of News & Public Affairs may 12, 2016 vol. 23 no. 17
Connell School Program for Veterans Completes First Phase, Will Expand By Kathleen Sullivan Staff Writer
Lessons Learned from ‘Nana and Papa’ BCSSW student has a very personal insight into foster families By Sean Smith Chronicle Editor
Empathy is regarded as an important quality for social workers to have, and Boston College School of Social Work student Eric Charette will have plenty to call upon when he joins the profession, especially when it comes to helping children and families. Charette, who will receive his MSW degree from BCSSW at Commencement on May 23, was a foster child – one of some 230 who
were cared for by Fall River couple Mary and Paul Charette over three decades. He came to the Charettes when he was three years old, and later was adopted by them. The years Charette spent living with Mary and Paul Charette – “Nana and Papa” as their children called them – were full of love and laughter, sadness and change, and the presence of numerous young lives. Paul died in 2010, but Mary has continued this long legacy of
Taghian Is Phi Beta Kappa learned from Nana and Papa, and Teaching Award Winner his many siblings, is that family is a matter of “bond, not blood,” quoting author Richard Bach. It’s a lesson he feels is an important one for those whose job is to assist foster children and families in finding support and services they need. “How much the social worker truly cares about a child – or how much the child believes the social worker cares – is critical,” he says. “This may be the only person who
INSIDE
2 •Lynch Leadership Academy fifth anniversary; new UGBC leaders
Leahy honored by Big 3 •Fr. Brothers Big Sisters
4-5 •Seniors to Remember
Social Work student Eric Charette and his mother, Mary. (Photo by Lee Pellegrini)
devotion to children in need of a loving home. As Charette has settled into adulthood, his parents’ unstinting commitment has provided a model for his personal life, but also his professional one, during which he has made a career transition from the military to human services. Among the things Charette has
Each was paired with a Boston College student-athlete who served as a workout buddy. The 75-minute workouts were designed and led by a certified athletic trainer and incorporated cardiac and strength and conditioning components. The veterans were also given Fitbits to track their activity levels and nightly sleep. “Physical fitness is a real issue facing post-9/11 veterans,” said CSON Visiting Scholar Susan Sheehy, the CWAI project manContinued on page 7
can make a difference in that child’s life. But is the social worker willing to dig deep and find out as much as possible about the child and his or her family – or make life-long decisions from a five-minute conversation? “I understand the challenges facing social workers – long hours, not Continued on page 6
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By Ed Hayward Staff Writer
Biology may focus on the basic elements of life on Earth, but that hasn’t stopped the Biology Department’s Danielle G. Taghian from occasionally turning to outer space. The assistant professor of the practice even hosted NASA’s Thomas Marshburn, MD via Skype for a discussion with her students about the effects of life in space on the human body. “NASA will give you an astronaut for an hour and Dr. Marshburn is a physician who has done space walks and Space Station assignments – he’s a fascinating scientist who helped us explore issues in physiology,” says Taghian. Taghian, whose skills as a teacher are matched by her commitment as a mentor and advisor, is this year’s recipient of the Phi Beta Kappa Teaching Award, selected annually by Boston College students in the prestigious honors society. Each year, Phi Beta Kappa students submit nominations for outstanding teachers who have positively influenced their experiences at BC, either inside or outside the classroom. Faculty are se-
Lee Pellegrini
BC Sharps sang with all their hearts, and hands, at the annual Boston College Arts Festival held April 28-30. More photos on page 8. (Photo by Lee Pellegrini)
The College Warrior Athlete Initiative, a research project directed by the Connell School of Nursing to improve the wellbeing of post-9/11 veterans, has successfully completed its pilot phase and will expand this month to include more veterans. Directed by CSON Professor Ann Wolbert Burgess, the CWAI is a collaborative program that brings post-9/11 veterans into con-
tact with the health, athletic and educational resources of a college campus in order to improve their fitness and wellness. Veterans are enrolled in a 12-week program that involves twice-a-week workouts followed by a class led by graduate student volunteers. The CWAI is funded by a $250,000 grant from the Wounded Warriors Project, one of three initiaves awarded nationally in 2015-16. This past semester, four veterans participated in the program.
Asst. Prof. of the Practice Danielle G. Taghian (Biology)
lected for the award based on the cumulative nominations from students over multiple years. A faculty member since 2002, Taghian says she draws inspiration from her students, many of whom she works with from freshman year through graduation. “This is the highest honor in my career as a teacher,” she says of the award. “I want to thank the students. It has always been about them. I meet them when they are just out of high school and work to help get them through their senior year. It is an Continued on page 3
“Education is actually the civil rights movement of our time. There is a huge debate about that. But I see it when I think about the importance of the teachers, school leaders and our partners and how we have all impacted the lives of so many students.” –Lynch Leadership Academy Executive Director Thaly Germain, page 2