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
QUOTE:
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
T he B oston C ollege
Chronicle may 12, 2016
2
A ROUND
C AMPUS
TAKING THE REINS of candidates dropping out – including McCaffrey’s running mate – the UGBC elections committee decided to extend the elections schedule. “Meredith asked if I would consider running with her, and at that point I felt more able to commit,” said Simons. Simons has been involved in student government since taking part in the UGBC freshman leadership program. “I began to see the potential for student leaders to make a real difference on campus,” he said. “I think Boston College excels
Undergraduate Government of Boston College President Russell Simons and Vice President Meredith McCaffrey. (Photo by Lee Pellegrini)
inclusivity and accessibility. “We think it’s important that we do our part to communicate with students across the entire University to be able to adequately represent their voices in these conversations,” said Simons. “If there is a single issue we are most focused on, it’s building relationships with student and administrative leaders so that the areas of focus we each have individually can be brought to light where they can be appropriately addressed.” For all their high hopes for the next academic year, the team of McCaffrey and Simons almost never happened. Simons considered running for president when the semester began, but says the timeline for elections conflicted with his other commitments, while McCaffrey was originally running with another student. However, due to the number
at molding students into leaders who are eager to tackle our society’s most complex issues.” Simons is excited for this new opportunity. “UGBC has become my most significant involvement. Going into my senior year I was hoping to find a way to give back to the University. I’m beyond humbled that I’ve been entrusted with this role and responsibility and can only hope that I serve to the best of my ability.” For McCaffrey, the passion she witnessed in her fellow undergraduates inspired her to become involved in student government, an experience she describes as “incredibly rewarding.” She is upbeat about the prospects for UGBC. “I’m honored to serve as executive vice president for next year, and I’m very optimistic about the work we’ll be able to do,” she said. –Siobhan Sullivan
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
FIVE YEARS ON The Lynch Leadership Academy celebrated its fifth anniversary last week at Google’s Kendall Square offices, holding a school leadership summit and an evening ceremony to recognize innovative school leadership and support with awards named in honor of the academy’s late benefactor, Carolyn A. Lynch. The first educational leadership development program in the country to bring together principals from public, charter and Catholic schools, the Lynch Leadership Academy was established at Boston College through a $20 million gift from the Lynch Foundation, created by Trustee Peter S. Lynch ’65, H’95, P’01, and Mrs. Lynch H’09, P’01, who passed away last year. A joint initiative of the Lynch School of Education and the Carroll School of Management, the academy welcomed its first group of school leaders in 2011 for its yearlong leadership development program. An Aspiring Principal Program was launched in 2013 to prepare prospective school leaders. “This is the best thing we’ve ever done,” said Peter Lynch, noting that through their foundation, he and Mrs. Lynch were early supporters of national initiatives such as Teach for America. “Nothing compares with the scale of this. We think the Lynch Leadership Academy can be replicated in cities like Oakland, Miami, Philadelphia or Washington, DC. This could be a major initiative for the country.” The success of the academy was particularly gratifying since he and Mrs. Lynch – a tireless advocate on behalf of Catholic schools, inner-city schools and the teaching profession – worked on the design of the initiative prior to its launch in 2010, he said during an interview. “We were really involved in this one. And Boston College has done so much for the Lynch Leadership Academy,” said Lynch, singling out University President William P. Leahy, SJ, former Lynch School Dean Jo-
The Boston College
Chronicle www.bc.edu/chronicle chronicle@bc.edu
Rose Lincoln
After an extended nomination deadline and a change in running mates, rising seniors Russell Simons and Meredith McCaffrey were elected last month as the 2016-17 Undergraduate Government of Boston College president and executive vice president, respectively. The duo formally took office this month. “Meredith and I see one of our biggest roles as being bridge builders for the Boston College community,” said Simons, whose campaign with McCaffrey ran on the slogan “Strength in Unity,” focusing on themes of equality,
Lynch Foundation Executive Director Katie Everett presented the Carolyn Lynch Community Impact Award to Suzanne Norman, right, at the May 5 Lynch Leadership Academy event held in Google’s Kendall Square offices.
seph O’Keefe, SJ, and his successor Maureen Kenny, and Carroll School Dean Andy Boynton. To date, the academy has served more than 150 principals and aspiring principals, who provide leadership to schools that educate approximately 65,000 students combined, LLA Executive Director Thaly Germain said. Its sixth cohort starts this summer. To mark its fifth anniversary, the academy presented the Carolyn Lynch Impact Awards. Lynch Foundation Executive Director Katie Everett presented the Community Impact Award to Suzanne Norman, who serves as an executive advisor to Orchard Gardens Pilot School Principal Megan Webb, a 2014 academy alumna. Norman helped Webb reestablish the Roxbury school’s advisory board, expand its online presence and conduct a student art show fundraiser. The Student Achievement Award went to Salem Academy Charter School, led by 2014 academy alumna Stephanie Callahan. Students at the school have outperformed peer schools
on assessments and other measures. Germain spoke about the positive difference teachers and principals made in her own life and how those examples have guided the development of the academy’s work with school leaders. “Education is actually the civil rights movement of our time,” Germain said. “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.” Among the school leaders who have participated in the program, 100 percent of the Catholic and charter schools and 92 percent of the public schools led by fellows have demonstrated significant growth in student outcomes, according to Germain. Applications to the program have surged by 400 percent, leading to a competitive entrance process that accepts about 35 percent of all applicants. “We have not arrived,” Germain told the audience. “There is a ton of work to be done.” –Ed Hayward
The Woods College of Advancing Studies will host a cyber attack simulation seminar on May 18 from 9 a.m.-noon. Experts from Boston College, Mandiant, BakerHostetler and the FBI will share best practices and offer tips to prepare for a potential cybersecurity breach. Topics include legal disclosures, cyber insurance, incident response plans, communications, and working with law enforcement. The event is hosted by the Woods College master’s of science in cybersecurity policy and governance degree program. More information and registration links at http://events. bc.edu/event/cyber_attack_simulation#.VzJDyNemD0g. 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 may 12, 2016
Fellowship Will Enable BC Historian to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Spend Year at National Holocaust Museum Mass. Bay Honor Fr. Leahy “As a Jesuit, it’s a real honor to use academic and intellectual resources to further interreligious dialogue. This fellowship will be an opportunity to explore issues of mutual concern to many different faiths.”
Associate Professor of History Charles Gallagher, SJ, who is writing a book on a World War II Boston-based Nazi conspiracy, will spend the 2016-17 academic year in Washington, DC, finalizing his manuscript with the help of a prestigious fellowship. Fr. Gallagher, a faculty member at Boston College since 2010, was awarded the William J. Lowenberg Memorial Fellowship on America, the Holocaust and the Jews from the Jack, Joseph, and Morton Mandel Center for Advanced Holocaust Studies, at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. The fellowship – named for philanthropist and Holocaust survivor William J. Lowenberg – supports endeavors targeted to examining issues connected to the Holocaust and the United States. “I feel very humbled to receive this fellowship, and am grateful to the Lowenberg family and the Holocaust Memorial Museum,” said Fr. Gallagher. “I’m also grateful to my History Department colleagues who’ve given me support and offered examples of innovative research that provided inspiration. “As a Jesuit, it’s a real honor to use academic and intellectual resources to further interreligious dialogue. This fellowship will be
Lee Pellegrini
By Sean Smith Chronicle Editor
–Charles Gallagher, SJ
an opportunity to explore issues of mutual concern to many different faiths.” Fr. Gallagher’s book project, “The Nazis of Copley Square: Catholic Anti-Semitism and Secret Intelligence in Wartime Boston, 1939-1945,” examines efforts by the Nazis to recruit Catholic members of South Boston’s Christian Front organization – which later moved its headquarters to the Copley Square Hotel – to act as propaganda tools. The research also chronicles a secret British intelligence operation in Boston to suppress the Christian Front. The FBI arrested the Nazi ringleaders in 1940, but the organization appeared to persist for
three more years, said Fr. Gallagher. “The book will chronicle the espionage dynamics of this multifaceted case, but it also aims to seek answers to questions about the theological context which allowed some ordinary Boston Catholics to bend toward the Nazi line,” said Fr. Gallagher, who used a travel grant from BC’s Clough Center for the Study of Constitutional Democracy to track down correspondence and other materials at archives in Berlin, London, California and Washington, DC, that aided his research. Contact Sean Smith at sean.smith@bc.edu
The Boston College baseball team recently honored former captain and current director of operations Pete Frates by retiring his No. 3 jersey. Frates championed the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge in the summer of 2014, which raised more than $220 million for research and patience care. He and his support network continue to raise awareness and funds to find a cure for ALS. The only other number retired at Shea Field, No. 13, is the winningest coach in BC history, Eddie Pellagrini, for whom the diamond is named. (Photo by John Quackenbos)
University President William P. Leahy, SJ, was honored by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay, in recognition of “BC Bigs,” Boston College’s campus-based mentor program that matches BC undergraduates with children in need of caring adults. Fr. Leahy received the 2016 John B. Pearson “Excellence in Mentoring” Award for his “significant positive and immeasurable impact on the lives of children in the local community,” according to the organization, which presented the award at its May 5 Big of the Year gala. “Throughout his nearly 20 years as president, Fr. Leahy has been committed to providing opportunities for the growth and development of all students, within the Boston College community and beyond.” Currently, 265 BC students serve as Big Brother and Big Sister mentors in the BC Bigs program, a partnership between BC, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay and Big Sister Association of Greater Boston that began in 2010. Student mentors meet with their “Littles” on campus, in the children’s schools, during afterschool programs and throughout the Boston community. In addition to receiving valuable mentoring, these chil-
3
dren are able to visit a college campus for the first time. “Through their connections with Boston College mentors, these children – many of whom live in areas that are difficult for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay to reach through traditional community-based programming – are now pursuing their own plans for college,” the organization said. BC’s role has been particularly valuable in providing mentoring to young males – a priority emphasized by Big Brothers Big Sisters: Since 2010, BC male “Bigs” have spent more than 10,000 hours mentoring in the program, with 82 percent of those mentoring relationships lasting until a Big has graduated, or beyond. The success of BC Bigs also has provided a campus-based program model for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay, which has now entered into similar partnerships with Babson College, Massachusetts Maritime Academy and Endicott College. Fr. Leahy presented remarks at the event, as did Andrew Marchesani ’16, who has been matched with his Little since freshman year. –Office of News & Public Affairs Read a 2012 Chronicle story about BC Bigs at http://bit. ly/1VYcYN7.
Biologist Wins PBK Award Continued from page 1 experience for me, too.” Taghian teaches Cancer Biology, Molecules and Cells, Molecular and Cellular Exercise Physiology and the Honors Thesis Seminar. In the past, she has taught Molecular and Cellular Biology, Developmental Biology, Mammalian Cell Culture and labs in Genetics. Early in her career, Taghian conducted research into DNA recombination and repair mechanisms and the response of human cancers to ionizing radiation. She decided to focus strictly on teaching prior to her arrival at BC. “Teaching is a lot of fun for me,” says Taghian, who earned her PhD at Harvard University. “It’s about the connections you make with students inside and outside of class, helping them get where they want to be or find out where their passions lie. That is the thrill of it.” Students praised Taghian for her subject mastery and carefully crafted lectures and labs that emphasize the application of critical thinking skills to complex
problems in the discipline and its topics. “She has been the best professor I have had at Boston College,” said one student nominator. Said another student: “Dr. Taghian is a wonderful biology professor who has inspired my desire to seek a career in oncology. Thanks to her, I will be conducting cancer research at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center/Harvard Medical School for the next two years and hope to then continue on to medical school in hopes of becoming an oncologist.” “I didn’t go to BC, but my family tells me I bleed maroon and gold,” says Taghian, who earned her undergraduate degree from Tufts University. “The student body is unreal at BC. They are very special and very different than students at many of the best universities in the country. I am the one who is privileged to teach them.” Contact Ed Hayward at ed.hayward@bc.edu
T he B oston C ollege
Chronicle may 12, 2016
4
Read full interviews at www.bc.edu
Ryan C. Lee
Hometown: Federal Way, Wash. Major: Applied psychology and human development; minor in computer science Notable Activities/Achievements: Gates Foundation Millennium Scholar; president, Students for Education Reform; Teach for America campus coordinator; co-founder of educational technology start-up TradeRoutes; ran Boston Marathon to raise funds for Brookline Mental Health. Post-Graduation Plans: Harvard Graduate School of Education, EdM in technology, innovation and education. Overview: Lee’s mentor at Boston-based startup program LearnLaunch told him “Think: you can do whatever you want.” With that advice, Lee channeled his interests in education, entrepreneurship, digital media, and computer science into a business idea. As a junior, he co-founded TradeRoutes to develop “adventure-driven” online resources for social studies teachers and students; TradeRoutes placed second in the social enterprise track of this year’s BC Shea Center Venture Competition. Late in his junior year, Lee was diagnosed with a mental health condition, and while he was able to recover enough to complete a summer internship at the US Department of Education’s Office of Educational Technology, he acknowledges it took time to learn to manage his mental health care and regain some of the confidence he’d lost. He started step-by-step, literally, training to run the 2016 Boston Marathon, and although it wasn’t an easy day, he crossed the Boylston Street finish line, savoring the sense that once again, anything is possible.
How did you catch the entrepreneurship bug? I don’t come from that background. My dad works for the US Postal Service, my mom is a homemaker. It wasn’t part of my upbringing. When I got to BC, I was very interested in video and digital media. During my internship at LearnLaunch, I got to know partner Hakan Satiroglu. His message was “Think: you can do whatever you want.” It got me thinking big. What led you to co-found TradeRoutes? I studied abroad in Nepal, where I kept a weekly video and photo blog [www. ryanchenlee.com/nepal]. I was piecing together this great content from the country and sharing it with my family and friends. When I came back, I realized I didn’t want to stop doing that. TradeRoutes [www.traderoutes.co] is about providing high-quality media, presented in a way that teachers can use to improve their teaching. Teachers are artists. When you give them the best materials to work with, they create the most beautiful things. Which members of the BC community have had the greatest impact on you? There have been many: Assistant Dean Audrey Friedman in the Lynch School, Assistant Dean for Student Outreach and Support Caroline Davis in the Dean of Students Office, and the team at the Shea Center. I was a research assistant with Lynch School Assistant Professor Vincent Cho, who works in the education technology field. He got me to think about the big picture of technology in the classroom. He’s been a mentor to me and got me thinking a lot about where ed tech is going and how to apply that. How has BC made a difference in your life? I got here and I was a clueless freshman. But everyone at BC – faculty, academic advisors, staff members, the program leaders – has supported me. I’d call it a family of support, be it in the Lynch School of Education, the Carroll School of Management, or the Shea Center. They helped me to connect my many interests, from pedagogy to technology to starting a business. What experience at BC had the greatest impact on you? As a junior, I was diagnosed with a mental health condition and it took a lot to deal with that. I got a lot of help from people on campus. Running the Boston Marathon was a challenge to me to get back on track. I thought if I can run this marathon, then I could get through anything. I called it Marathon For Mental Health [www.marathonformentalhealth.com] and ran to raise funds to support the Brookline Mental Health Center. To get to the starting line, to make it to the finish line is what I will always remember about BC – the support of my friends, my professors and advisors, my family. It told me how much I have. What will you miss most about BC? I will miss seeing all my friends every day. I’ll miss the network of people who support you – some people call it the “bubble.” Just being part of BC opens doors. Having “bc.edu” on your email means you can reach out to teachers, principals, superintendents, or a CEO or a museum director, and someone will respond. –Ed Hayward
Photos by Lee Pellegrini
Alexandra “Alex” Carpenter
Hometown: North Reading, Mass. Major: Psychology; General education minor Notable Activities/Achievements: Captain, women’s hockey team; 2015 Patty Kazmaier Award winner as top player in NCAA Division I women’s ice hockey and top three finalist for the 2016 award; nation’s leading scorer in 2015 and 2016; selected All-America three times, nominated twice for first team; selected four times for Hockey East All-Star; won silver medal with 2014 US Olympic team; played on gold medal-winning US national team in 2015 and 2016. Post-graduation plans: Was first pick in the inaugural National Women’s Hockey League draft, selected by the New York Riveters then traded to Boston Pride; considering options for the season, which begins in October. Overview: The BC women’s hockey team has achieved unprecedented success over the past few years, and Carpenter has been at the heart of it. The Eagles’ leader, poised to transition to a professional hockey career in the new NWHL, leaves behind BC’s Kelley Rink, which has become a second home. With a demanding schedule of academics, hockey practice, and games – both at home and away – she has honed her time management skills and achieved balance, both on and off the ice, during her undergraduate years.
How did it feel to be first pick in the National Women’s Hockey League draft? It was pretty special to be the first overall draft pick in the NWHL
James Brogan
Hometown: Coral Springs, Fla. Major: Physics, minor in chemistry Notable Achievements/Activities: 2015 Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship; 2015 Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship; General Chemistry Achievement Award; Society of Physics Students member; volunteer, Brigham & Women’s Hospital; Dean’s Scholar; Phi Beta Kappa, Sigma Pi Sigma (Physics) and Alpha Sigma Nu (Jesuit) honor societies. Post-Graduation Plans: MD program at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY Overview: Brogan’s interests lie at the intersection of science and medicine, where the problem-solving challenges of research meet the privilege of caring for people. He found a home in the lab of Professor of Chemistry Paul Davidovits, where he estimates he spent more than 2,000 hours conducting experiments with atmospheric aerosols. After narrowly missing out as a sophomore on a Goldwater Scholarship – the nation’s premier undergraduate award in the sciences – he re-applied and received the prestigious award last year. His Gilman Scholarship allowed him to spend six weeks in Peru, studying Spanish and volunteering in health care settings.
What was the major takeaway from your experiences in Cusco, Peru, last summer? I’d say it really shook me up. I had never been outside the US before. I went from BC to Cusco, Peru. There were stray dogs, air pollution, and long
draft. It is something that will always be a highlight in my hockey career. I think that playing professionally will be a completely different experience than playing at BC and in the Olympics, because the league is so new. [It is] playing an instrumental part in growing women’s hockey and I think that it will only continue to grow the sport.
understanding of my hectic hockey schedule, and that is something that I am extremely grateful for. Who have been some of the most influential people you’ve known at BC and why? Fr. Tony Penna [director of Campus Ministry] has definitely been a very influential person in my life. We would have weekly meetings for a half hour and talk about so many things. I feel like he helped me see myself in different ways, which helped me to grow as a person. What experience(s) at BC have had the most impact on you and why? I believe playing on the hockey team has had the greatest impact on me as a hockey player, but more importantly as a person. You have to interact with your teammates on a daily basis and you learn a lot about teamwork and respect, two things I believe are exceptionally important in everyday life.
How has BC made a difference in your life? BC has taught me how to be a leader in the community. I’m fortunate enough to have been put in leadership positions on the hockey team and that has carried over into various aspects of my life. I have enjoyed all of my classes at BC. My professors have been very
What will you miss most about BC? I will definitely miss my teammates the most, as well as practicing and playing at Kelley Rink. It will be tough knowing that I will not be playing there anymore, but it is also nice to remember all of the great memories that will forever be rooted on that ice surface. –Rosanne Pellegrini
lines at hospitals that were incredibly unsanitary. I stood in on an operation where the window to the operating room was wide open. It really changed my view on the world and reinforced my desire to work with under-served populations as I pursue my medical degree. You estimate you spent more than 2,000 hours doing research in the Davidovits lab. What motivated you? I love the challenge of figuring things out. That’s science. Professor Davidovits and his former postdoctoral associate Andrew Lambe taught me a lot about how to hold myself as a researcher. Andrew set an example for enjoying what you do. Working with somebody like that for two years was just an invaluable experience. He was always a positive mentor to me and was there to help me if something didn’t go well. Which other professors made an impact on you? David McFadden and Mary Roberts in Chemistry. Andrzej Herczynski [Physics] is the most influential professor I have had from the perspective of the classroom. As an educator, his courses are among the most rigorous I’ve taken at the University. I knew I was going to learn everything an undergraduate would want to know
about the class topic. Outside of class, he is available to talk to students, to help them discern what they really want. How did your studies at BC prepare you for the future? The coursework at BC is very rigorous, in particular the core curriculum, which really made me step out of my comfort zone and learn how to apply myself to a full range of courses in the liberal arts. Coming into BC, I would say I was weak in the humanities. But the core and the rigor of the education as a whole have strengthened me and taught me how to work through the hard stuff. I think getting through that has made me a better person, a more well-rounded person. –Ed Hayward
T he B oston C ollege
Chronicle may 12, 2016
Claudio Quintana
Hometown: Lake Oswego, Ore. Major: Information systems and marketing Notable Activities: Fellow at .406 Ventures; founder, Quabblejack, LLC, which launched three revenuegenerating ventures; member, Start@ Shea Board; student speaker, 2016 Wall Street Council Tribute Dinner; regional president, The Kairos Society; teaching assistant, Analytics and Business Intelligence course; volunteer, Haley House and Project Bread; award winner, Startup Weekend, Global Fashion Battle New York (2014); team member, Capital One Case Competition (2014). Post-Graduation Plans: Currently in talks with several Boston-based early stage start-up companies; plans on launching his own product or company in three or four years. Overview: Presidential Scholar Quintana got the entrepreneurial spirit early on. In middle school, he went on eBay and began buying, fixing up and selling old computers for a profit so he could purchase an Apple computer. In high school, he launched his own company that eventually would evolve into Quabblejack, which sold camera straps and other specialized apparel designed by Quintana. After his freshman year at Boston College, Quintana landed a coveted fellowship at .406 Ventures, a Boston-based venture capital firm where he stayed for two years. On campus, he was a key organizer of the Shea Center for Entrepreneurship’s student group, which organized activities and the annual Venture Competition.
running Quabblejack that put everything in focus. I saw a young person post on social media that the camera strap was her Christmas gift – this was the highlight of her Christmas and she was so excited and was going to take pictures. I really enjoyed what I was making but I took for granted perhaps how much someone else could enjoy it too. Finally, the light bulb went off: I realized that what was important to me could also be important to a total stranger. The next time I launch something or join a team, I want it to be an entity that is valuable to someone. Not just what the team thinks is valuable but something that is valuable to others and could make a difference in their lives.
What fires your entrepreneurial interest? I think it’s the combination of creation, love for art and technology. I had a cool moment while creating the camera straps while
Who has had the biggest influence on you at BC? Fr. Jim Keenan and Professor John Gallaugher. Over my time here, Fr. Keenan pushed me to think more about the common good and
Kellie Murray
The Office of Health Promotion offers programming about stress, healthy alcohol consumption, nutrition and sleep. They have individual health appointments, too. I joined my freshman year and sophomore year I started teaching programs about stress. Junior year I was a team manager for the stress group. Then senior year, I was one of the lead health coaches for all the different groups. It’s been an awesome experience. Being a part of OHP has helped me learn a lot about health, but has also helped with public speaking. I’ve taught programs to small groups of girls in a residence hall and groups as big as 60 or more.
Hometown: Massapequa, NY Major: Nursing Notable Activities/Achievements: Lead health coach and health coach team manager, Office of Health Promotion; Undergraduate Research Fellow; senior leader, Connell School of Nursing SCRUBS retreat for sophomores; peer advisor, CSON Freshman Seminar; lifeguard and facility supervisor, Flynn Recreation Complex; volunteer, Our Lady of Lourdes pilgrimage; volunteer, Habitat for Humanity; Appalachia Volunteer. Post-Graduation Plans: Murray will marry her fiancé Ethan Penny on July 1 and relocate to Georgia in the fall, where she will seek a nursing position and Penny will begin basic training in the US Army. Overview: Murray is a born caregiver, demonstrating the art and science of nursing in her clinical rotations in Boston’s world-class hospitals, in summer positions as a personal care associate and nurse extern at North Shore University Hospital in New York, and when accompanying and caring for a very ill patient on a pilgrimage to the shrine in Lourdes, France. Her care for others is also showcased on campus in her work as a health coach, peer advisor, retreat leader and lifeguard, and off campus through her volunteer activities with Habitat for Humanity and the Appalachia Volunteers. You’ve been active in the Office of Health Promotion’s programming since freshman year. Can you talk about what do there?
How has BC made a difference in your life?
how you tackle problems. Working on an idea, a start-up, or a team, you approach that community-building process in the sense that there’s so much more to think about than just the objective or goal. John Gallaugher and I started our connection when I visited BC as a potential Presidential Scholar and continued it all through my time here. We got coffee or lunch at least a couple of times a month. He has this unique perspective and has been such a huge part of BC’s entrepreneurial community – having watched so many people build relationships, succeed and fail with businesses. Professor Gallaugher pushed me to go for difficult things and embrace these things that I can go do. What advice would you give incoming freshmen? One of the things people shared with me was “work on something you’re interested in.” I wish I had learned earlier to share that process of what you’re working on with more people, and as early as possible. Now, if there’s something I want to work on or am passionate about, I’ll go find other people who are also passionate and knowledgeable in those areas, and collaborate. Along those same lines, find a professor who has similar questions that you have or find one that is working on solving problems or doing research on something you’re interested in. I’d also suggest that you try to embrace what makes you unique, and bring your whole self to whatever you are working on. –Sean Hennessey BC has given me confidence in myself. All the different experiences have pushed me out of my comfort zone. Whether it’s academics, public speaking as a health coach, the volunteer clubs, going to church, everything has helped me be confident in who I’ve grown to become. Who has been an influential person during your time at BC? My first clinical instructor Kendra Conlon from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center was one of those nurses you want to be. She is so smart and confident, so in-tune with how to care for people and so compassionate. My class with Colleen Simonelli of CSON was inspiring to me. To hear from someone who is such an expert, and so passionate about being a labor and delivery nurse, made me want to be the nurse who has the answers and can help women. What will you miss most about BC? I will miss how easy it is to do so many great things. You can go to class and learn, have lunch with your best friends, go volunteer, and then go to the gym. Every day can be filled with so many good things. If you’re bored or you want to pick up a hobby or join a club, it’s all right there. There are endless things to do and take advantage of, and they are all conducive to learning and giving you good experiences that will help you in the future. –Kathleen Sullivan
Marissa Marandola
5
Hometown: Cranston, RI Major: Political science; American studies and management and leadership minor Notable Activities/Achievements: Harry S. Truman Scholarship; editor-in-chief of undergraduate research journal Elements; BC Splash executive board member; Liturgy Arts Group; Clough Center junior fellow; peer tutor, Connors Family Learning Center. Post-graduation Plans: Harvard Law School; career in government and public service involving educational or employment issues. Overview: Serving formative internships through the Gabelli Presidential Scholars Program and doing research for Political Science faculty members David Hopkins and Kay Schlozman have been critical experiences at BC for Marandola, who envisions a career in public service focusing on educational advocacy and reform. She saw her interest affirmed last year when she was selected for a Harry S. Truman Scholarship, which is regarded as a touchstone of commitment to public service leadership.
What impact has Boston College had on you? The phrase cura personalis – care of the individual – is one we hear at BC a lot, to the point where it’s almost casual. But it is very true: I see cura personalis in the classrooms, in relationships with faculty, employees and my peers. To see the personal connections that happen, and how these contribute to intellectual and spiritual development, it’s made me more intentional about impacting the community. How has your time at BC helped nurture your interest in educational reform and advocacy? I can think of several courses that guided my focus. First, the Western Cultural Tradition seminar sequence offered through the Arts and Sciences Honors Program made me seriously reflect on the importance of education in my life and the obligation of a Jesuit-educated adult to contribute to the larger community in a substantial way. Professor Gigi Georges’ seminar on the Politics of Education Reform was also key in solidifying my interest in education law and policy. Outside of the classroom, my work with BC Splash caused me to realize in a more concrete way the impact that a positive educational experience can have on a child’s life, while volunteer placements at the Italian Home for Children and Educational Development Group Inc. (EDG) through the Gabelli Presidential Scholars Program’s summer service learning program enhanced my understanding of the educational inequities that vulnerable populations face and the lifelong consequences of an inadequate education. I also have to acknowledge David Hopkins and Kay Schlozman in Political Science for providing me with research opportunities, Mark O’Connor of the A&S Honors Program for being a formative influence, and Gabelli Presidential Scholars Program Director James Keenan, SJ, for encouraging me to apply for the Truman. Talk a little more about a couple of experiences that shaped your career interests. EDG, where I volunteered the summer after freshman year, provides a number of resources and services with a focus on the vulnerable, like ESL for immigrant children and aid for dysfunctional families. I’d done community service while in high school, but this was more involved, and more direct. I could see how an organization would set its priorities and then arrange its activities and manpower to accomplish these. BC Splash involves bringing hundreds of high school kids to campus for classes and workshops that are taught by BC students. The idea is to get them excited about education and to see college is not just for kids from the suburbs. This semester I taught my last BC Splash class, which I called “Raucous Caucus”: It was a simulation of a presidential primary caucus, to teach them about how politics works. BC Splash is an example of how you can make a difference to someone in a very direct way, even if it’s only for a day. It was wonderful to be able to work together with my fellow BC students and make it happen. There seems to be an unpopular view nowadays of government and public service. Why do you find yourself drawn to them as a career? I think a lot of people appreciate the quiet ways government has an impact on life: worker protections like paid sick days and anti-discrimination; public education; basic services like public safety and maintaining infrastructure. They aren’t necessarily all hot-button issues, but they do make a difference in how we live. I got some valuable insight when, as a Presidential Scholar, I did my professional internship the summer after sophomore year. I worked in the Office of the Governor of Rhode Island. For me, it was a place formed by mission, where there were shared goals and objectives that everyone worked toward. Not everything went right all the time, of course, but still, the people there knew the mission was to serve their public and that defined what they did. Working there really confirmed my motivation for law school and working in government.
–Sean Smith
T he B oston C ollege
Chronicle may 12, 2016
6
Continued from page 1 enough pay, lots of stress – but too many of them read a case file and think they understand everything about the child. I come in with a different approach: The child and his/her family, they are the experts of their lives.” Last month, Charette and his family shared their story with the Boston College community, at a panel discussion hosted by BCSSW’s Children Youth and Families program, Special Interest Group on Adoption and Foster Care and Social Workers for Social Justice group. Charette was joined by his mother, brother Paul, sister Addy and her husband – who are foster and adoptive parents themselves – and moderator Adam Pertman, president and founder of the National Center on Adoption and Permanency. The event was a meaningful one for Charette: an opportunity not only to introduce his BCSSW friends and peers to his family, but to have them hear first-hand the concerns and insights shared by many foster families. As he prepares for graduation, Charette finds himself reflecting on the path that brought him to this new direction in his life. [Watch a video about the event at https://vimeo. com/165584055] “I barely remember the social workers I had as a kid, because they were always changing,” he says. “But I just assumed that everyone had a social worker.” Growing up, Charette says he was intrigued at the differences in behavior between himself and his two brothers – “Why is it easier for me to listen to Mom than it is for them? What made me who I am?” he recalls thinking – and decided he would study psychology. But feeling he needed a different kind of environment, Charette joined the military – also in part to help pay for school – where he got some human services experience as a mental health specialist. Charette eventually earned a psychology degree from University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth, and then decided to re-enter the military through the Providence College ROTC program. This time, however, he wound up working with field artillery, and was deployed to Iraq. But Charette realized that the
military “wasn’t my calling,” and when his deployment was over he searched for a new vocation. His brother Paul, a therapist, suggested he consider studying social work, and Charette began looking at programs. BCSSW caught his eye, and not just for its top 10 ranking. “I’d recently rediscovered my faith in Catholicism, and I liked the school’s mix of religiosity with social work,” he says. “I just really felt I belonged.” One of the members of the BCSSW community with whom Charette found a strong connection was Donahue and DiFelice Professor Ruth McRoy, a national expert on adoption and foster care, who directs the school’s Special Interest Group on Adoption and Foster Care. “She’s a real mentor, and she brought me into a world I didn’t know existed,” he says. “I was mad about the system I grew up with, and she talked about all the subjects that had been of concern to me. I felt like I had a lot of closure, and so now I can speak not just from personal insight but with an educational perspective.” Says McRoy, “Eric is very impressive in a number of ways. Not only has he been willing to come forward and describe what his life and his family’s life has been like, but he has a firm commitment and desire to give back and help others.” Once he gets his degree, Charette says he would contemplate returning to the military to work with families, or perhaps the Veterans Administration. “I know, though, that I’ll be connected with children,” he says, and he has already gotten a lifetime of best practices on which to draw. “What I respect about my mother is, even when she had a tough case, she always stuck with it and did whatever she could for the child,” he says. “Kids can’t always communicate in a way that social workers can grasp. But Nana, she’s always been able to understand – no matter how bad the trauma, she finds a way to get through.” Read Boston Globe columnist Yvonne Abraham’s piece on Mary Charette at http://bit.ly/1rEUwwF Contact Sean Smith at sean.smith@bc.edu
Technology has given consumers a lot of power, according to a Carroll School researcher. So how do marketers respond? when email is sent to consumers but gets flagged as junk or spam; and the behavioral opt-out, when people see the emails – and who it is from – but never open it. “Marketers know about optouts, but it’s usually not high on their list of things that they measure and monitor,” Smith
By Sean Hennessey Staff Writer
Digital and mobile technology has created a brand new world of possibilities for consumers – and a more challenging one for marketers, according to Carroll School of Management Professor Jerry Smith, author of the new book, The Opt-Out Effect: Marketing Strategies that Empower Consumers and Win CustomerDriven Brand Loyalty. Marketers, he explains, find they are no longer in control of their relationship with consumers and instead are confronting the “opt-out effect” of would-be buyers who are empowered by search knowledge, mobile agility and social media. “Consumers have invested in digital assets like mobile phones, iPads and laptops available to them all the time. They use them and they are prone to innovate with them, so there are lots of things they can explore and do. As a result, they have embraced this technology at a much faster rate than marketers have. They are becoming masters of the digital universe.” To gather research for the book, Smith used field interviews with brand managers, advertisers, digital managers and marketing teams, and large-scale surveys with consumers and marketers to compare how both sides answered the same questions. For example, Smith explains, when engaged consumers tweet or send something out to a brand on social media, 32 percent expect a company response within 30 minutes, and 42 percent within an hour. Two-thirds of customers opt out of email and pop-up ads while a third update their preferences to block such communications. If you’re a brand marketer, you ignore this trend at your peril, Smith says – but that’s what many seem to be doing. According to his research, 57 percent of consumers think they get too many pop-up banner ads while only 21 percent of marketers feel that’s the case. Smith says consumers choose three ways to opt out. First, there’s the explicit opt-out where people click on an email or popup ad and say they don’t want any more. Smith found 23 percent of companies have very high opt-out rates of about 40 percent of their customer bases. Then there are two opt-out options marketers will never know about: the silent opt-out,
able for them.” Smith points to several examples of this new technology-driven paradigm: the Loreal MakeUp Genius app; Coke’s crowd-sourcing message strategies; Disney’s MagicBand experience customization; and Apple with its seamless customer experience.
The digital age provides consumers with “the ultimate tools to enable them to manage the brand relationship,” says Prof. Jerry Smith (CSOM). “They are becoming masters of the digital universe.”
says. “Instead, they are looking at response rates, click-through rates, or open rates – things consumers do to purchase. But at the same time, they have other people who are draining out the other end, people who aren’t clicking through or are annoyed so they’re opting out.” The digital age provides consumers with “the ultimate tools to enable them to manage the brand relationship,” says Smith. “They do want emails, they just don’t want them all the time; they do want good advertising, but they just want what they want. If you give them the digital tools, consumers will create a relationship that really is comfort-
He also cites the “user-generated designs” offered by Nike and New Balance. Through Nike’s iD app, customers can send in their favorite picture, which the company uses to design a pair of shoes with the customer’s preferred colors. New Balance’s web platform enables consumers to design their own shoes from scratch — a specific heel and tongue for a sneaker, saddle, toe, lining and desired colors. “What happens is, when consumers experience that from Nike or New Balance, they then expect that same capability from somebody else.” Contact Sean Hennessey at sean.hennessey@bc.edu
Lee Pellegrini
Charette Ready to Serve
Opting Out
Lee Pellegrini
Eric and Mary Charette speaking last month at the School of Social Work. “What I respect about my mother is, even when she had a tough case, she always stuck with it and did whatever she could for the child.” (Photo by Lee Pellegrini)
On April 19, the Institute for Advanced Jesuit Studies hosted the launch of the first book of Jesuit Sources at Boston College, Jesuit Pedagogy, 1540–1616: A Reader. Among those at the event were the book’s editor, Jesuit Sources Associate Editor Claude Pavur, SJ (left), and Cristiano Casalini, a visiting scholar with the Institute (center), as well as Robert Maryks, associate director of the institute and editor of Jesuit Sources. Jesuit Sources is home to more than 100 volumes specializing in preserving texts in Jesuit history, spirituality, and pedagogy.
T he B oston C ollege
Chronicle may 12, 2016
7
Warrior Athlete Initiative to Expand
couraging. “All participants had reductions in Aspiring Boston College enbody fat and visceral fat trepreneurs pitched their busipercentages, increases ness ideas – some of which have in lean muscle mass, already been put into action – at and decreases in BMI,” last week’s annual Shea Venture said Sheehy, who noted Competition, sponsored by the weight loss ranged from Shea Center for Entrepreneur15 to 25 pounds. ship at the Carroll School of “Morale and energy Management. levels among the WarTaking home top prize of riors improved, too,” $10,000 in the Traditional Busiadded Burgess. ness Track was Emocean, an iOS “You have to comapplication that allows two or mit to the program, but more users to listen to a song the payoff is so much at the exact same time. Cobigger,” said James. founded by Michael Gordon ’16 “They guide you well and Christian Nicholson ’15 and and set you up for sucincluding Jeffrey Sabo ’15 and cess. In the end, you’re Anders Bill ’17, the product won better off for it.” the Shea Center’s Elevator Pitch Burgess and Sheehy competition last fall – under the Prof. Ann Wolbert Burgess (CSON), director of expressed gratitude to name Music Splitter – and rethe College Warrior Athlete Initiative. the Athletics Departcently placed in the top of the unteers were: Kelsey Golden ’18 ment, particularly Jamie DiLore- ACC InVenture Competition. (swimming and diving), Megan to, Alison Quandt, Jaime Seguin “We were so excited to have Cooley ’16 (softball) and Leah and Caitriona Taylor, for their won,” said Bill. “The money will support of the CWAI. Settipane ’16 (field hockey). go to scaling – buying servers A new cohort of 12 Warriors Following the workouts, the and things along those lines. We veterans attended class led by will come to campus May 24 to also have two guys, Michael and graduate students in the Connell begin a second session of the pro- Christian, who work on it fullSchool, School of Social Work gram. In addition, CSON has ex- time. They don’t take a dime and Morrissey College of Arts and panded the program to a satellite for themselves. Just to have that Sciences, under the supervision location at Norwich University, money to help them out is huge.” of Burgess. The Tuesday classes and is exploring other satellite The $10,000 winners in the covered topics such as nutrition, locations. Social Enterprise Track was PurBurgess also teaches a new spirituality, stress, social networks ple Parachute, which hopes to use and mental health, among other course, Warriors in Transition, a “buy one-give one” subscripissues. Thursday classes intro- open to students from all majors, tion service to sell creative play duced the veterans to BC faculty that focuses on ways to help vet- kits in the United States while members who presented topics in erans’ transition after active duty. supporting the needs of children “I had 44 students and a wait their areas of expertise. living as refugees. The idea took “There were so many faculty list of 20 students,” said Burgess. root when team member senior members, from across the Univer- “BC students, both undergradu- Megan Greeley read about the sity, who were eager to assist with ates and grad students, are inter- plight of Syrian children who had this project because it was about ested in learning more about the fled their country and were now issues facing veterans and how helping veterans,” said Burgess. living in refugee camps. Those who volunteered their they can use their education and “We were interested in explortime to speak at the classes were: talents to help them.” ing how social enterprise might Susan Kelly-Weeder, RichContact Kathleen Sullivan at kathleen.sullivan@bc.edu ard Ross, SJ, Yaguang Zheng (CSON); Stacy Schwartz, Darren Kisgen, Michael Pratt, Thomas Wesner (Carroll School of Management); Ashley Duggan (Communication); Caroline Bicks (English); Daniel Bowles (German Studies); Robert Savage (History); John Dacey (Lynch An introduction to new faculty members at Boston College School of Education); Joseph Lee Pellegrini Tecce (Psychology); Rory Browne of the Academic Advising Center Ilija Zeljkovic Assistant Professor of Physics and graduate student Kelly Ben- Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences DEGREES: Washington University, St. Louis (BS); nion. “I think the class was my favor- Harvard University (PhD) WHAT HE STUDIES: Atomic-scale examination of ite part,” said James. “The caliber quantum materials, such as topological insulators and of the professors was astonishing. high-temperature superconductors. He uses several They were all incredibly talented techniques to discover and manipulate novel electronic phenomena in these unique materials. and I learned about things I never WHAT HE TEACHES: Graduate seminar in microscopy and spectroscopy techniques would have otherwise.” Burgess and Sheehy reported What does your current research entail? “In essence, we are interested in the fundamental electronic properties of quantum materials and their that the results from the pilot applications in technology. In our lab, we aim to create new materials with class, which used a holistic well- novel properties for applications. Specifically, we focus on materials that can ness model to assist with War- improve the performance of electronics, such as computers, as well as materials that could transform the way we transport energy, such as power lines.” rior reintegration transition while –Ed Hayward promoting health, were very en-
Josh Levine
Continued from page 1 ager who has served as a nurse in the Army and Air Force. “More than 60 percent of these veterans gain significant amounts of weight. About 43 percent of them are in the obese category, which creates all sorts of health problems and also results in social isolation and depression.” According to the Wounded Warriors Project, since Sept. 11, 2001, more than 52,000 service members have been severely wounded, some 300,000 have incurred traumatic brain injuries and more than 400,000 have some level of post-traumatic stress disorder. “The CWAI was designed as a workout buddy system because when serving in the military, everyone has a ‘battle buddy’ and platoon mates who they can trust and depend on,” said Sheehy. “Our goal was to create a similar connection — someone to depend on, someone who will ‘have your back.’” Sheehy collected bi-weekly measures of the veterans’ weight; percentages of body fat, lean body mass and visceral fat (amount of fat surrounding a major organ); and body mass index (BMI) using a body composition analyzer. “You can get into a slump when you get back [from active duty],” said veteran Robert [Boston College is prohibited from using the participating veterans’ real names], who admitted he was apprehensive about trying the program. “But the fitness program can pull you out of a depression. I also found I had a lot to share with my buddy. I felt like a big brother.” BC football player Tim Joy ’16 said he did not hesitate to volunteer for the CWAI, given that he is joining the US Army’s Special Forces in the fall and has a number of family members in the military. He and his veteran partner “bonded right away. Being an athlete means working hard physically and having that team mentality. It is the same for veterans. We were going through this program together. I feel like real friendships have been made.” Having a workout buddy made a big difference, according to Robert. “It helped with my motivation. It was great having another person there to help you push yourself. It became a friendly competition.” “The athletes and the veterans were similar,” said veteran James. “We both work really hard. I found the athletes have a lot to offer us, and the veterans had a lot of real-world perspective to offer the students.” The other student-athlete vol-
Shea Ctr. Venture Competition Spotlights Student Entrepreneurs be able to address some of the challenges faced by Syrian refugees,” she explained. “We started looking at how we might be able to bring childhood back to these kids and read up on the psychological benefits of creative play for young kids.” Greeley and Christina Stellingwerf ’16 developed a recreation center in a box and modeled the business as a non-profit, but then pivoted toward a for-profit social enterprise. They asked MBA student Colleen White to join, and she hatched the idea for a subscription service of creative play kits for sale in the United States. Purple Parachute’s next step is to connect with a focus group to better shape what the product prototype might look like. “The energy and excitement in the room was at a level I’ve never seen before,” said Shea Center Executive Director Jere Doyle. “What was most impressive to me was the enthusiasm and passion that the students all showed for their ideas. That entrepreneurial spirit is exactly what we are trying to cultivate on campus.” Second-place winners were Xperii, a website service that hopes to revolutionize how researchers and test subjects are brought together, in the Business Track; and TradeRoutes, which is offering a K-12 social studies teaching platform that brings history to life, in the Social Enterprise track. –Sean Hennessey
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: General Service Worker, Dining Services Audio and Event Services Specialist, Media Technology Services Campus Minister for Arrupe Programs, Campus Ministry Head Librarian, Digital Scholarship, O’Neill Library Asst./Assoc. Director, Alumni Chapters, Alumni Association Staff or Senior Staff Psychologist, University Counseling Services Director of Career Education, Career Center Dean, School of Social Work
T he B oston C ollege
Chronicle may 12, 2016
8
Learning Is Different for These Students – But Not Impossible By Sean Smith Chronicle Editor
Two Boston College freshmen have been recognized by a national nonprofit as role models for persons with learning disabilities. Auburn Stephenson of Bel Air, Md., and Connor Brady of Mendham, NJ, were both diagnosed with dyslexia in high school – considerably later than is typical – after struggling for years to keep up with school assignments. Through Learning Ally, which helps blind, visually impaired and dyslexic students succeed in education, Stephenson and Brady were able to find resources and develop strategies that enabled them to manage their schoolwork. Stephenson and Brady were selected by Learning Ally for its 2016 National Achievement Awards: Stephenson was one of three recipients of Marion Huber Learning Through Listening Awards for Students with a Learning Disability, while Brady was among seven NAA Special Honors winners. Dyslexia is usually detected in elementary school due to poor academic performance, but things aren’t always so straightforward. Stephenson and Brady found they had to read and study material at least twice – sometimes more – to internalize it, while most of their classmates would skim texts. In such situations, a student with dyslexia can easily feel frustration and embarrassment, and balk at speaking up
BC SCENES
in class. “I can read, it just takes me a little bit longer – since word recognition takes a different path in my brain,” Stephenson explains. “Imagine a car driving around a circular track. In a non-dyslexic
“The first book I downloaded was Huckleberry Finn,” she recalls. “I did my reading assignment in about an hour-and-a-half, instead of the three or four hours I typically spent. It was unbelievable. I was actually able to have what ev-
“What I try to convey – whether it’s to teachers, students or parents – is that there are people, like me, who don’t fit into neat little categories of learning. You have to look deeper into that person to see what’s really going on.” –Auburn Stephenson ’19
brain, the time it takes to recognize a word and say it out loud could be seen as one time around the track. In my brain, the car has to go around three times, down to Wal-Mart and back. I’m an accurate reader, just not very fast. I just don’t give up.” “Because I was proficient in math, I thought I just had slow reading speed,” says Brady. “When I went to specialists I was told I wasn’t working hard enough.” Discovering that she had dyslexia “was like finding a light switch,” says Stephenson. She was able to get specialized tutoring that taught her alternative methods of reading, and make the process quicker. Through Learning Ally, she had access to an extensive collection of audio books, which proved to be a revelation.
eryone wants: more time. There’s something about listening to people, and relying on your ears instead of your eyes, that changes your perspective. I realized there were different ways to understand and learn new concepts.” Brady felt mixed emotions about his diagnosis. “I was relieved that my difficulties weren’t a case of ‘not trying hard enough,’ and that I had resources to use. But then I thought about how I’d made it so far without anyone realizing what the problem was, and my feeling was: ‘How many more are there like me who struggle like this and don’t have the help they need?’” Once Brady began using audio books and other reading and study aids through Learning Ally, he raised his history grade from C-plus to A-plus. Having been able to realize
their goal of going to an academically rigorous college, Stephenson and Brady say BC’s Connors Family Learning Center was instrumental in helping them adapt to the demands of a collegiate workload and obtain audio books and other material they need. “They never made me feel like a label,” says Stephenson. Adds Brady, “I am indebted to the Connors family for having the foresight to support something that has such a drastic impact on me and other students.” “BC has a long history of welcoming students with learning disabilities to campus and of embracing their unique learning styles and talents,” says Connors Family Learning Center Director Kathleen Duggan, who notes that the center serves about 500 undergraduate and gradate students with learning disabilities
Photos by Lee Pellegrini
organize their classwork – especially if it involves reading – days in advance, and pace themselves with regular breaks so as not to overload. Spontaneity is a rare quality in their lives. But thanks to the post-diagnosis interventions and strategies, and the support from the Connors Center, the two do have time to enjoy other aspects of being a college student. Stephenson, for example, sings with the University Chorale and traveled on the ensemble’s tour of Vienna and Budapest; she is also part of a group of BC students with learning disabilities who mentor children at the Thomas Edison School in Brighton dealing with similar difficulties. “What I try to convey – whether it’s to teachers, students or parents – is that there are people, like me, who don’t fit
“I thought about how I’d made it so far without anyone realizing what the problem was, and my feeling was: ‘How many more are there like me who struggle like this and don’t have the help they need?’” –Connor Brady ’19
and ADHD. “These are highly accomplished students who add significant value to our student body.” Still, dyslexia does exact some concessions. Brady and Stephenson have to carefully plan and
into neat little categories of learning,” she says. “You have to look deeper into that person to see what’s really going on.” Contact Sean Smith at sean.smith@bc.edu
ARTS IN THE SPOTLIGHT Boston College held its annual Arts Festival April 28-30, featuring performances by campus music, dance, theatrical and other groups – including (at left) Synergy, BC bOp! and Fuego del Corazon – as well as participatory activities. In addition, 1987 graduate Nick Scandalios, executive vice president of the renowned Nederlander Organization, received the BC Arts Council Alumni Award for Artistic Achievement in recognition of his distinguished career and commitment to promoting excellence in professional theater. At an “Inside the BC Studio” event, Scandalios (at left in photo below) was interviewed by fellow 1987 alumnus Paul Daigneault.
Photos by Lee Pellegrini