The Boston College
Chronicle Published by the Boston College Office of News & Public Affairs may 21, 2015 Vol. 22 no. 17
COMMENCEMENT 2015
‘The Givenness of Life, the Grace of Life’ By Sean Smith Chronicle Editor
A college graduation represents an important milestone in adult life, Chicago Archbishop Blase Joseph Cupich told the Boston College Class of 2015 at Monday’s Commencement Exercises, but he urged graduates to hold onto one important trait of childhood: the “innate appreciation of the givenness of life.” “Children instinctively grasp that life is ever graced,” said Archbishop Cupich, who received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree at Commencement. “They sense that more is always coming, and the more, be-
INSIDE •Medical humanities journal debuts, page 2 •BC Clean, page 2 •Annual Leadership Awards, page 2 •BC eyes Turkey for study and research, page 3
•Morrissey College, BC Law to launch joint program, page 3 •Symposium in Jesuit Studies to be held, page 3 •Finnegan Award winner, candidates profiled, page 5 •Math’s Grigsby is first to receive new award, page 6 •Veterans’ Reunion Reception is May 30, page 6 •Dinner for retiring, 25year employees; ‘Parting Thoughts’ from BC retirees; BC Law says good-bye to Katz, page 7
Lee Pellegrini
cause it is beyond their making, is inexhaustible, leaving them unafraid of their God-given thirsts.” Retaining this childhood quality, he explained, is critical both for meeting personal and spiritual challenges throughout one’s life – especially in early adulthood – and for serving wider societal needs. “It will give you a generous and brave heart to speak for those who have no voice because they are too small, too poor, too old, too marginalized, too forgotten. It will prompt in you the strength to be patient as you respond to your God-given longing for intimacy by pursuing loving relationships that are both lasting and life-giving. It will make you wisely suspicious of the voices urging you to sell yourselves short by pursuing a frenetic life pace dotted by false intimacies that leave you empty or by
Chicago Archbishop Blase Joseph Cupich speaking at Monday’s Commencement.
the fever of acquiring more stuff, to the point that we become possessed by the things we try to possess.” The world, he said, “needs the hope of those who know and are inspired by the givenness of life, the
A Love of BC, in Many Words
Student Admission Program coordinator seeks to help others find their way to Boston College By Jack Dunn Director of News & Public Affairs
Robyn Gesek
Archbishop Cupich tells graduates to speak for ‘those who have no voice’
Rebecca “Reba” Hatcher ’16 has never been shy about sharing her love for Boston College. The New York City native and accounting and sociology major found the perfect outlet for her affection freshman year when she joined Boston College’s Student Admission Program (SAP), where she was given the opportunity to direct admissions tours for prospective students. After earning the reputation as one of BC’s best tour guides, she was named student tours coordinator as a rising junior, winning the respect of fellow student volunteers who praised her for her knowledge of BC, unwavering enthusiasm and people skills. It is these qualities, administrators say, that resulted in her being named head coordinator of SAP, one of the University’s premier student leadership positions. As head coordinator of SAP,
Rebecca “Reba” Hatcher ’16
Hatcher oversees all aspects of the 600-student volunteer organization, including Admitted Eagle Day, tour-guide training, volunteer student recruitment and governance of the SAP Council. She also leads the student guides who conduct tours for some 70,000 visitors annually, offering a unique opportunity to showcase the University to the next generation of students. It is a job Continued on page 6
QUOTE:
grace of life.” Also presented with honorary degrees Monday were: Sister Marie Chin, a mainstay of the Sisters of Mercy in Jamaica; Lynch School of Education alumnus Michael Mo-
tyl ’01, president of the Guadalupe Regional Middle School in Texas; executive, writer and motivational speaker Steve Pemberton ’89; and Lee Woodruff, journalist, best-selling author and co-founder of a foundation to aid veterans. [Read the honorary degree citations on page 4.] Some 4,000 BC students received their undergraduate and graduate degrees following the main Commencement event at Alumni Stadium, fanning out to separate ceremonies held around campus, on a cool yet comfortable day that began under gray clouds but gave way to clear, sunny skies. Jesuit Community Rector Robert Keane, SJ, offered the invocation, and Boston Archbishop Cardinal Sean O’Malley, OFM, Cap. delivered the benediction. Continued on page 4
More Success in Fellowships By Office of News & Public Affairs Staff
Boston College graduating seniors, current undergraduates and graduate students alike earned prestigious fellowships for the 2015-16 academic year. These included eight Fulbrights, with an additional six students named as alternates, pending confirmation of funding for their projects. The Fulbright awards support a year’s post-baccalaureate study abroad, and students typically pursue research in various disciplines, or serve an English Teaching Assistantship, through which they not only teach English language but also use the opportunity to provide insights about American culture. Other awards of note have included Goldwater, Truman, Gilman and Boren scholarships, and a Rappaport Institute Public Policy Fellowship. A look at Fulbright winners and alternates: ANDREW BABBITT
AIDS patients’ receptivity to medical services. He hopes this understanding can help lead to an increased participation in testing and treatment. Babbitt will analyze both the NGO and government models and find ways for models to complement each other. FUTURE PLANS: Will apply to a doctoral program in health policy, and hopes to pursue career with a focus on global health. “I am thrilled by the opportunity to travel to Guangzhou to conduct public health research. In my time at Boston College, I have had multiple opportunities to travel to China and have been able to develop my interests in public health, particularly focusing on the social determinants of health. The Fulbright is an exciting opportunity to further explore these interests, and I am thankful for the help and support I have received from the BC community.”
Kristy Barnes
(Alternate)
HOMETOWN: Plaistow, NH DESTINATION: Switzerland PROJECT: Using reconstructions of chironomid and beetle fossils from lakes within the Swiss Alps, Barnes hopes to confirm the validity of using past cliHOMETOWN: Hampden, Me. mate change as a basis for understandDESTINATION: Guangzhou, China ing effects of current climate shifts. PROJECT: Babbitt seeks to understand FUTURE PLANS: Graduate studies in the Chinese approach to helping HIV/ Continued on page 8 AIDS patients, and conversely, HIV/
“The 3+3 Program eases the financial burden of law school and brings wellqualified students to BC Law, while accelerating the timetable for them to receive their degree.” –Boston College Law School Dean Vincent Rougeau, page 3
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A ROUND
C AMPUS
A student journal that debuted this semester tells stories of health, illness, caregiving, bioethics, medicine and disability in a variety of literary and artistic genres. The Medical Humanities Journal of Boston College [www.mhjbc.org] is comprised of short stories, personal essays, poetry, artwork and academic papers by Boston College students and alumni. An affiliate of the medical humanities, health and culture minor, the journal was co-founded by rising seniors Emilee Herringshaw and Christopher Kabacinski, both medical humanities minors. Funding for the journal was provided by a grant from Institute for the Liberal Arts. The journal’s inaugural issue reflects its interdisciplinary approach, with a format combining analytical pieces with personal perspectives: Biology major Andrew Hawkins ’16 challenges the ethics of an experimental therapy for Ebola patients in West Africa, while International Studies major Lucas Allen ’16 advocates reconfiguring the global pharmaceutical system to eliminate the deprivation of essential medicines in developing countries. Meaghan Leahy ’15, meanwhile, writes about having a sister with a dual diagnosis of autism and Tourette syndrome, and Isabella Duffy ’17 and Maria Asdourian ’15 offer insights on losing a loved one to disease – Duffy’s mother to breast cancer, Asdourian’s
Lee Pellegrini
EXPLORING MEDICAL HUMANITIES
Journal editors Christopher Kabacinski ’16 and Emilee Herringshaw ’16.
grandfather to Alzheimer’s. “The Medical Humanities Journal is, to my mind, unusual for an undergraduate publication and extremely impressive both in its scope and in the quality of work it represents,” said English Professor Amy Boesky, director of the medical humanities minor. “The pieces represent work by undergraduates in many fields, from the natural and social sciences to the humanities. Also impressive is the decision to include recent alumni in a guest folio, showcasing some superb writing by young alums. Chris and Emilee are to be commended for their leadership in working with a talented and dedicated group of editors – the first issue shows great initiative and teamwork.” “A lot of students at Boston Col-
lege are incredibly brave in dealing with these complicated and personal issues,” said Herringshaw, a biochemistry major who is the journal’s managing editor. “And we’d like to thank them for their authenticity.” “We take up issues like medicine, health, illness, disease, disability and bioethics,” said editor-in-chief Kabacinski, an English major. “On the surface they seem straightforward when you look at them from biology or psychology, but when you put all vantages together things get so much more complicated and more interesting. That’s what the work in the journal shows.” Formally approved this spring after a two-year pilot, the medical humanities minor is an interdisciplinary, humanistic and cultural study of illness, health, health care, and the body. Students choose courses from the social sciences and the humanities as well as the natural sciences. The minor enhances the studies for those considering careers in medicine, health care policy or law, psychology, global health, social work, patient advocacy or health journalism. “It is wonderful to see the enthusiastic support both from the administration and from BC’s undergraduates,” said Boesky, who notes that the program has grown from a handful of students to more than 100, representing almost every de-
“Do you ever wonder,” the title reads, “where all that stuff that’s left in the residence hall goes after graduation?” So begins a new promotional video for BC Clean [http://bit. ly/1e3Ug3H], the University’s end-of-the-academic-year collection and donation program organized by Facilities Services, Residential Life, Boston College Police and the Office of Parking and Transportation. With the help of students, the University donates unwanted items from residence halls to BC area non-profits Household Goods Recycling Management of Massachusetts, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and More Than Words. In 2014, BC Clean collected and donated almost 30 tons of clothing, food, books, sofas, chairs, tables, lamps, dishes and other items. For information on BC Clean and other conservation and sustainability initiatives at BC, see www.bc.edu/sustainability.
partment in the Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences, as well as the Connell School of Nursing, Lynch School of Education and Carroll School of Management. “A unifying theme among these minors is their dedication to ethics and service. I think BC students are strongly drawn to studying health in the context of the ‘whole person,’ and that may be one reason the minor has had such strong appeal.” “It’s a wonderful minor,” said Herringshaw. “It challenges you to delve into areas outside your com-
fort zone. Values in Social Services and Health Care with [part-time Philosophy faculty member] David Manzo was probably one of my favorite courses here at BC. “Coming from a science background, the minor has really animated the knowledge I’ve learned in my classes,” she added. The editorial team is currently collecting submissions for the second issue of the journal which is expected to be published in late fall. –Kathleen Sullivan
CELEBRATION OF LEADERSHIP Graduating seniors, undergraduates, student groups and other members of the Boston College community were honored for their involvement, contribution and leadership in co-curricular life at the University, at the recent annual Leadership Awards ceremony hosted by the Office of Student Involvement. Honorees were: Catherine Senoyuit ’18, the Nicholas H. Woods Leadership Award, which recognizes a freshman who demonstrated initiative, motivation and potential for continued student leadership; Joi Dallas ’17, the Timothy M. Padulsky Award, for sophomores who mentor and encourage other students to develop effective skills in inclusive leadership and teamwork; Cassidy Gallegos ’16, the Paul Chebator and Mer Zovko Award, celebrating a student who embraced the junior year experience and has been instrumental
in creating community on campus, off campus or abroad; Brianna Hopkins ’17, the Jeffrey S. Keith Award, honoring a student who faced a physical or other significant challenge in his or her life while continuing to excel in academic and co-curricular activities; Cristina Foschi ’16, the St. Alphonsus Rodriguez Award, which recognizes a student employee who went beyond his or her paid responsibilities by fostering an atmosphere of hospitality, care, and concern, and who modeled student leadership by developing relationships, empowering others and creating community at the University, and Lisa Edouard ’16, the Alfred Feliciano and Valerie Lewis Award, a Thea Bowman AHANA and Intercultural Center award given to a student for extraordinary contributions that further the ideals of the AHANA acronym, and leadership in helping the Boston College commu-
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 Michael Maloney Photographers Gary Gilbert Lee Pellegrini
nity actualize the AHANA concept. Class of 2015 honorees were: Daniel Corning, the Brian D. A. Hall Award, for demonstrating a deep level of commitment to a student program or organization, and leadership that advanced the mission of the organization and enhanced the quality of student life; Tyler Bean, the St. Ignatius Award for Personal Development, for seniors whose participation in co-curricular activities led to a transformation and/or deepening of their values and ideals; Ted Raddell, the St. Ignatius Award for Faith In Action, for exemplifying the imperative to “Seek God in All Things,” and demonstrating love for God by serving his neighbor and inspiring others to do the same; Michael Lank, the Congressman John Joseph Moakley Award, a Campus Ministry award for the student whose international service and volunteer work demonstrat-
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Chronicle www.bc.edu/chronicle chronicle@bc.edu
ed a passion for faith and a desire for justice in the world; Kristen DiBlasi, the Welles Remy Crowther Award, a Volunteer and Service Learning Center award honoring selfless sacrifice and determination in serving the needs of others, and Yvonne Shih, the Robert A. Sherwood Award, an Office of the Dean of Students award recognizing commitment and contribution to community and civic engagement through excellence in leadership and service to the BC community and beyond. Full Swing was honored as the Student Organization of the Year for exemplifying their mission and enriching student life through their programs. The Student Athlete Advisory Committee was presented with the “Ever to Excel” Award for making an outstanding contribution to Boston College in areas such as education, social justice, service and safety.
Carroll School of Management Associate Professor of Information Systems John Gallaugher was selected for the Rev. John R. Trzaska, SJ, Award as a faculty member who expands the horizons, skills and value systems of BC students by providing support and guidance outside of the classroom. James Hutchinson of Media Technology Services was honored with the Mary Kaye Waldron Award, presented to a faculty or staff member who demonstrates a continual commitment to the ideals of Boston College with a self-evident belief in the need to enhance student life in a positive manner. For more on the award winners, including videos, see http://www.bc.edu/ offices/vpsa/student-leadership-awards. html. –Kathleen Sullivan
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.
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Chronicle may 21, 2015
“There is an opportunity for students to take greater advantage of study in locations that are not the typical choices. By introducing faculty to these areas and supporting their interests, we hope to spur interest at the undergraduate level.” –Nick Gozik Photos by Lee Pellegrini
BC to Explore Study, Research in Turkey By Ed Hayward Staff Writer
A group of eight faculty will travel to the Republic of Turkey next month to meet with academic, political, cultural and religious leaders as part of an Office of International Programs initiative to expand research and study opportunities for faculty and students in less frequently visited countries. OIP Director Nick Gozik said the overseas faculty seminar is part of a strategy to increase student interest in countries that are underrepresented among undergraduate study-abroad destinations. Faculty visits can foster institutional relationships and inform research and teaching that generate student interest in regions such as Africa, Central and Latin America, and the Middle East, he added. “There is an opportunity for students to take greater advantage of study in locations that are not the typical choices,” said Gozik, who also directs the McGillycuddyLogue Center for Undergraduate Global Studies. “By introducing faculty to these areas and supporting their interests, we hope to spur interest at the undergraduate level.” When faculty members return to campus, they will incorporate what they’ve learned into the courses they teach, he said. It’s a new approach to international programs, according to Gozik. For faculty, the seminar provides a short-term professional development opportunity without the need for a fellowship or sabbatical leave. An itinerary that includes visits to historic sites, university lectures, and meetings with leading members of Turkish society will immerse faculty for 10 days in the life of a country of nearly 80 million people, located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia and the Middle East. The group will visit the cities of Istanbul and Izmir and the Cappadocia region, meeting with academics, journalists, politicians, human rights advocates, and community-based organizations. The trip includes stops at religious sites and meetings at Melihsah University, Sabanci University and Bogazicin University, the latter of which re-
cently formalized a future collaboration with BC, Gozik said. Faculty members making the trip are Asst. Prof. Anjali Vats (Communication), Assoc. Prof. of the Practice Tracy Regan (Economics), Prof. Elizabeth Graver (English), Asst. Prof. Ann Lucas (Music), Asst. Prof. Peter Krauss (Political Science), Asst. Prof. Gustavo Morello, SJ, (Sociology) and Assoc. Prof. David Vanderhooft (Theology), from the Morrissey
born in Istanbul in 1903, during the Ottoman Empire. Graver said international projects have been a boost to her work. “For both my teaching and writing, I find uprooting myself and landing somewhere far away incredibly invigorating in all kinds of ways,” she said. “This kind of opportunity keeps you from getting stale. You bring back what you’ve learned and it ties into your research, writing and teaching.”
Assoc. Prof. Paul Poteat (LSOE), left, and Asst. Prof. Ann Lucas (Music) are among the BC faculty members who will travel to Turkey in June as part of an Office of International Programs initiative.
College of Arts and Sciences, and Assoc. Prof. Paul Poteat (Counseling, Developmental and Educational Psychology) from the Lynch School of Education. Many of the faculty have never been to Turkey, or have had very few personal or professional connections with the country, which offers visitors a fascinating mix of geo-political importance, historical significance and contemporary flair. Poteat’s research focuses on bias among adolescents and adults and inter-group relations. He is interested in efforts to identify and resolve tensions among different groups within Turkish society. “I would be especially curious about the experiences of contemporary youth in Turkish society and how they perceive and experience relationships among different groups in society and how they counter prejudice,” he said. For some professors, the country fits with their research interests. For one, there is a personal connection. Graver said the trip will contribute to her research for an upcoming novel based on the life of her maternal grandmother, who was
Secularly governed with a predominantly Muslim population, the Turkish republic’s geo-political significance makes it of great interest to the students in Krauss’ political science and international studies classes. “More and more BC students want to learn new languages, study abroad and study the international community – with interest in the Middle East overwhelmingly high,” said Krauss. “One way to do that is to develop stronger relationships with universities around the world. I’m looking forward to meeting faculty and hopefully in the long term helping to grow BC’s relationship with the country.” Gozik said an additional benefit is the chance for faculty from different departments at BC to connect with colleagues they may not otherwise have the chance to meet. “This is a learning experience,” he said. “So it offers opportunities to have great conversations on topics across a range of subjects with faculty from multiple disciplines. That’s an added benefit for faculty attending the seminar and for the University as a whole.” Contact Ed Hayward at ed.hayward@bc.edu
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New Program to Combine Undergraduate, Law Degrees By Jack Dunn Director of News & Public Affairs
Boston College Law School and the Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences have announced an accelerated admissions program that will allow students to earn their undergraduate and law degrees in six years, providing a more affordable and seamless option for students who are already a part of the Boston College community. Under this new initiative, called the 3+3 Program, exceptionally well-qualified students from the Morrissey College will be allowed to enter BC Law after completing their junior year of undergraduate study. Prospective students will apply to the Law School during their third year and, if accepted for admission, will begin law school immediately following completion of their junior year. Students will earn a bachelor’s degree from Boston College after their first year of law school, provided they maintain certain GPA standards. Once they have successfully completed the remaining two years of law school, students will earn their JD. BC Law Dean Vincent Rougeau said the Law School will carefully evaluate the quality of an applicant’s academic record, faculty recommendations and LSAT score. Admissions interviews, he
said, will be required for all applicants. Other qualifications, including extracurricular activities, involvement in cultural or civic affairs, and work experience, will also be considered. “The 3+3 Program eases the financial burden of law school and brings well-qualified students to BC Law, while accelerating the timetable for them to receive their degree,” said Rougeau. “It is our intention to eventually expand this program to include other undergrad Jesuit institutions, following successful implementation with the Morrissey College.” Morrissey College Interim Dean Greg Kalscheur, SJ, said the 3+3 Program was created to respond to changing student needs, and to provide a clear path from the liberal arts and sciences to a professional school for BC students who desire a career in law. “We believe that this program may be attractive to certain students who possess the skills and desire to expedite their legal studies,” said Fr. Kalscheur. “It will be one more valuable option for freshmen in the Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences to consider as they enter Boston College.” Details on the new initiative are available at https://www. bc.edu/schools/cas/academics/ law-school-3-3.html. Contact Jack Dunn at jack.dunn@bc.edu
University Will Host First International Symposium on Jesuit Studies in June The distinctiveness of Jesuits and their ministries will be the theme of the First International Symposium on Jesuit Studies, to be held June 10-14 at Boston College. Sponsored by the University’s Institute for Advanced Jesuit Studies, “Exploring Jesuit Distinctiveness,” which is free and open to the public, will focus on the quidditas Jesuitica – “the specifically Jesuit way of proceeding in which Jesuits and their colleagues operated from historical, geographical, social, and cultural perspectives,” according to organizers. Through the symposium, the institute seeks to establish a “platform for academic exchange” that will enable scholars to cross thematic and chronological boundaries and reflect the vast interdisciplinary scope of Jesuit studies, which includes art history, theology, international law, science and other fields as well as historical periods such as the Renaissance and the Enlightenment. The conference will feature keynote speeches by Georgetown University Professor of Theology John O’Malley, SJ, who was co-editor of an award-winning volume of essays inspired by a BC conference on early Jesuit missionaries; Yasmin Haskell, who holds the Cassamarca Foundation Chair in Latin Humanism, Department of Classics and Ancient History at the University of Western Australia; and University of Toronto Professor Emeritus of History Paul Grendler. Examining the distinctive elements characterizing the way Jesuits live their religious vocation and conduct their various works, the symposium also will explore how this “way of proceeding” played out in the epochs and cultures in which Jesuits have worked. Participants will discuss the changes and constancies in the order throughout its history, and the impact on the apostolic works and lives on Jesuits. For more information on the symposium, see the institute website, www.bc.edu/iajs. –Office of News & Public Affairs
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Chronicle may 21, 2015
COMMENCEMENT 2015
Continued from page 1 University President William P. Leahy, SJ, in his welcoming remarks at Commencement, expressed gratitude to graduates and guests who were gathered for the ceremony: the former he praised for the “intellectual and personal gifts, commitment to service, and abundant energy” they had shared with Boston College; to the latter, he cited the “support, encouragement and guidance” they bestowed on graduates. Fr. Leahy also thanked BC faculty and administrators for their contributions to “the intellectual and personal development of today’s graduates” and alumni and friends of the University “whose generous gifts of time, advice, and financial resources made it possible for many to graduate today.” Those receiving diplomas, he said, had witnessed important moments in Boston College history, including the opening of Stokes Hall and renovation of St. Mary’s Hall while enduring a record winter snowfall and the tragedy of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings. Amidst all these and other changes, Fr. Leahy said, is the constancy of Boston College’s educational mission, challenging students to “learn in depth about a particular major or a graduate specialty, and to acquire the habits of an educated person that will last a lifetime”; to “discover the deeper meaning of their experience, to reflect on the kind of person they wish to become”; and “to use their talents to transform the world into God’s kingdom and to work for the greater glory of God.” In a reference to Matthew’s Gospel, Fr. Leahy urged the 2015 graduates to follow the example of their predecessors at BC who led
fulfilling lives: “those who used their education and talents in the service of society, who have given life and given it abundantly.” Archbishop Cupich lauded BC’s efforts in service of society and the Catholic community, singling out the Church in the 21st Century initiative and the center established to carry on its work. He noted that, like the many families in attendance, his own had celebrated a college graduation: that of his niece Emily, whose childhood anecdotes served as a basis for his observations about children’s capacity to appreciate grace. Commencement, he said, should be viewed as a means “to spark in you a renewed sense of the givenness of life.” Recalling how Emily’s kindergarten classmates, upon seeing a photo of him in his vestments and miter, thought that he was a “ninja warrior,” Archbishop Cupich said cultural icons and symbols can have the power to undermine “our sense of the givenness, the grace of life,” especially those that distort human life and freedom, and champion the individual at the expense of others. “The ripple effect of this indifference is already in full view as the numbers of people who are not just poor but trapped in poverty grow to staggering proportions around the world. Global communications is becoming the game changer that should alarm us about how this will play out. Young people today and even more in the future, living on this flat earth with no hope yet tantalized by what they see in the world of opulence, will be challenged to deal with rising expectations in a non-violent way.” Holding onto the givenness and grace of life, he told the graduates,
Lee Pellegrini
Fr. Leahy Praises Grads, Families
Gary Gilbert
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University President William P. Leahy, SJ, with this year honorary degree recipients: (front, L-R) Sister Marie Chin, RSM, Lee Woodruff; (back, L-R) Steve Pemberton, Michael Motyl, Archbishop of Chicago Blase J. Cupich.
HONORARY DEGREE CITATIONS Excerpts from the citations for this year’s honorary degree recipients; for the full versions, see http://bit.ly/1dkdTED
Archbishop of Chicago Blase Joseph Cupich (Doctor of Laws)
Passing St. Ignatius en route to Alumni Stadium.
will help them to become leaders who work for the common good, “advocate for inclusion and economic security for all,” are unafraid to “challenge models of governance that seek to maximize the freedom of markets and individual choice at the expense of all other moral considerations.” For those times ahead when the new graduates might encounter setbacks and experience disappointment and doubt, Archbishop Cupich suggested they recapture that givenness and grace of life simply by teaching a new song to a fiveyear-old. “Delight in her perceptiveness and swift ability to pick it up; marvel at his readiness to receive a new grace, and then be ready yourself to find new hope. For in all of this it will dawn on you that this child will always remember you as the person who taught them a new song.” Contact Sean Smith at sean.smith@bc.edu
In September of 2014, Pope Francis chose Bishop Blase Cupich to lead the Archdiocese of Chicago, the third-largest Roman Catholic diocese in the United States and home to more than 2.2 million Catholics. Known for his down-to-earth style characterized by humility, humor, and pragmatism, he began his ministry 40 years ago as a parish priest in his native city of Omaha. In 1998, he was appointed bishop of Rapid City, South Dakota, where he made deep connections with Catholics and the wider community. Twelve years later, he was named bishop of the diocese of Spokane, Washington, where he was credited with helping to revitalize Catholic schools. Like Jesus, he has consistently reached out to those on the margins, including immigrants, Native Americans, and the poor, championing the call for economic and social justice on their behalf. The night before his installation Mass in November he said, “So many are left unconnected because of poverty spread across generations, racism, or not having mentors to guide and inspire them.…Our aim should be to make sure everyone has a place at the table of life.”
Sister Marie Chin, RSM (Doctor of Humane Letters)
Sister Marie Chin, a native of Jamaica, embodies the mission and commitments of her religious order, the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas. Its more than 4,000 members serve in North, South, and Central America, the Caribbean, Guam, and the Philippines and vow to live lives marked by service and advocacy for those on the margins of society. Since she heeded the call to serve and entered religious life more than a half century ago, she has dedicated her life to alleviating poverty and suffering as a leader within the Sisters of Mercy. Reflecting on her life of service, she describes it as a tapestry woven with three strands of thread: teaching adolescent girls, learning to tap into and channel the desires of newer members of the Sisters of Mercy, and unleashing the incredible energies of women of Mercy for community, mission, and ministry.
Michael J. Motyl (Doctor of Science in Education)
Connecticut native Michael J. Motyl first glimpsed life on the US-Mexico border as a Boston College undergraduate. He immersed himself in the lives of residents and migrants in both countries during a break between semesters and heard the call to use his education and talents in the service of society. In the Rio Grande Valley of Texas, where more than one-third of the population lives in poverty, Motyl is the president of Guadalupe Regional Middle School in Brownsville, which provides a tuition-free, Catholic education to 80 boys and girls in grades six through eight. Founded in 2002, Guadalupe Regional is one of 35 tuition-free Catholic middle schools in the NativityMiguel Coalition. Appointed principal in 2008 and named president two years later, this 2001 Lynch School of Education graduate has spearheaded the development of an academically challenging school and a community permeated by the Gospel values of love, justice, and respect for others. Small class sizes, an extended school day, and a longer school year offer more time for instruction and enrichment in a safe and caring environment.
Stephen Joseph Pemberton (Doctor of Business Administration)
Steve Pemberton’s life serves as a powerful example of what hope, humility, and tenacity can help us achieve. A caretaker once wrote that he “didn’t have a chance in the world,” but through hard work and strong will he triumphed over adversity to become a corporate executive, youth advocate, best-selling author, husband, and father of three. Separated from his siblings by state authorities as a young child, he was placed in a physically abusive foster home environment. Instilled with a love of learning by a caring neighbor and dedicated teachers, he eventually graduated from Boston College and excelled in the business world as the first diversity and inclusion officer at Monster.com, and then as vice president and chief diversity officer at Walgreens. Fortune Magazine has cited him as among the top 20 in his field. A New Bedford, Massachusetts, native, he wrote the critically acclaimed memoir A Chance in the World — also the name of the non-profit corporation he co-founded. He has testified before Congress and inspires others to overcome difficulty, see challenge as opportunity, and become more than their circumstance.
Lee Woodruff (Doctor of Humane Letters)
Clockwise from top left: a moment of reflection before the processional to Alumni Stadium; a tip of the hat (or mortarboard) at the end of Commencement; a cheer during the ceremony; (center photo) a special Commencement Day message. (Photos by Lee Pellegrini and Robyn Gesek)
“Life can change in an instant.” For Lee Woodruff, these words came to describe the harsh reality that altered the course of her life. A successful public relations executive, this mother of four — including Cathryn, Boston College Class of 2015 — saw her world change dramatically nine years ago when her husband Bob, a respected network news reporter on assignment in Iraq, suffered a traumatic brain injury that nearly took his life. Out of this ordeal came a new calling. Along with Bob, she wrote a best-selling memoir drawn from journals she kept during his recovery. Their book, In An Instant: A Family’s Journey of Love and Healing, put a public face on traumatic brain injury. She and her husband also established the Bob Woodruff Foundation to help wounded veterans get much-needed care and support. It has raised more than $20 million for grassroots organizations and programs around the country to serve the long-term needs of veterans and assist in their reintegration into society.
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2015 FINNEGAN AWARD
LESSONS LEARNED
Finnegan Award winner says Boston College helped her find her niche in all the important parts of her life By Rosanne Pellegrini Staff Writer
Elizabeth Stief, a Carroll School of Management Honors Program student who distinguished herself on campus through outstanding academics, leadership and service, received the Edward H. Finnegan SJ, Award at the University’s 139th Commencement Exercises on Monday. BC’s most prestigious honor, the award is given annually to the senior who best exemplifies the spirit of BC’s motto “Ever to Excel.” “I truly try to live my dayto-day life with the values that I have learned here at BC in mind at all times, so to be recognized is such an honor,” said the Brookfield, Wisc., native and magna cum laude graduate, who earned a bachelor’s degree in business management with a concentration in accounting and a minor in international studies. She has been nominated for membership in Beta Gamma Sigma, the premier honor society recognizing business excellence. “Winning this award speaks volumes to the many lessons that I have learned at BC because those are what motivate me to think and act the way that I do.” Enthusiastic support for Stief’s Finnegan Award nomination came from Caroll School students, administrators, staff members and faculty, including a quartet of her Accounting Department teachers: Sweeney Professor Peter Wilson, Senior Lecturer Amy LaCombe and Lecturers Elizabeth Quinn and Edward Taylor. “Elizabeth’s journey at Boston College has been inspired by the two ideals we cherish most: ‘Ever to Excel’ and ‘men and women for others,’” according to Wilson. “She was one of the top students in a sophomore honors course I taught but I was most impressed by her willingness to help others succeed in the course. “Based on my confidence in her interpersonal skills and intellect, I selected her to be a teaching assistant at the start of her junior year. She tutored small groups, gave interactive help sessions to upwards of 100 students and created online lectures. Feedback was effusive, especially from students she worked closely with
in small groups, who were struggling.” Friend and classmate Jenni Mannion ’15 added, “She is somehow able to give everything she has to every commitment.” “BC has given me so much, I find it necessary to always think of ways to use my strengths to give back,” Stief said of her desire to help fellow students. “The gifts and talents that I have been blessed with would mean noth-
4Boston placement and the discussions with 4Boston peers. “Through everything BC offers, I have been able to find my niche in every one of my areas of interest – my faith, dance, academics and teaching and service. The opportunities speak volumes [about] the commitment BC makes to educate each person intellectually, spiritually and socially.” She cites mentors like Peter
“I have always been connected with my faith,” says Elizabeth Stief ’15, “but I would have never thought that my time at BC would deepen, strengthen and clarify that connection.” Robyn Gesek
ing if I didn’t use them to share with others. I have realized the importance of being a good role model and passing down knowledge willingly and selflessly.” Beyond stellar academics – which included international study experiences and positions on the CSOM Honors Program Executive Board – hallmarks of her undergraduate years were leadership, faith, service and arts activities. She served on the Church in the 21st Century Center’s Student Advisory Board, was a treasurer and member of Synergy Hip-Hop Dance Company and of the Dance Organization of Boston College, and a 4Boston volunteer for four years, working in an after-school program for Somali refugee children and in adult education at the Jackson Mann Community Center. “I have always been connected with my faith, but I would have never thought that my time at BC would deepen, strengthen and clarify that connection. I have learned so much about my spirituality through the stories told at Agape Latte, the interactions with the children at my
and Carolyn Wilson – “two of the most dedicated, passionate, and selfless individuals I have ever met” – and C21 Associate Director Karen Kiefer –“an incredible woman who is so clearly motivated by keeping God at the center of her life” – as well as her roommates and other peer mentors, as instrumental to her BC success. “My years at BC have been the most incredible of my life,” said Stief who will stay on in Boston, working downtown as an assurance associate at PricewaterhouseCoopers. “The lifelong friends and role models, the opportunities to learn, dance and perform, and serve others, and the everyday exposure to a wide range of perspectives through classes, discussions and reflections that have made me more knowledgeable and curious about the world – all have made a difference to me. I will take away each and every one of my experiences at BC and carry them with me for the rest of my life.” Contact Rosanne Pellegrini at rosanne.pellegrini@bc.edu
Three other outstanding seniors were finalists for the Finnegan Award: •Wall Street Council Presidential Scholar Mary Rose Fissinger earned a bachelor of science degree in mathematics from the Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences at Commencement. This aspiring civil engineer was deeply involved in campus life and service activities, including four years at The Heights (culminating in the position of opinions and special projects editor); Center for Student Formation retreats and programs; membership on the MCA&S Academic Integrity Committee; Student Admission Program tour guide and Eagle for a Day coordinator; Mathematics Department tutor as well as vice-president and webmaster for the BC Mathematics Society. She volunteered at St. Columbkille’s Partnership School, Suffolk County House of Correction, as an ESL tutor for immigrants through the Education Development Group, and internationally for two summers – in community development in Belize and as a tutor in Morocco. Duffy Presidential Scholar and Lynch School of Education student Alicia L. McKean earned a bachelor of arts in applied psychology and human development and minored in leadership in higher education and community settings. She volunteered at St. Francis House; tutored students with behavioral disorders and underperforming Boston school children; taught preschoolers weekly as a volunteer in two urban centers, and to increase her expertise in this area, earned preschool teacher qualification. She spent summers volunteering with early learners in poor communities in Nairobi, Kenya and Argentina, reinforcing her goal to improve the human condition and enhance the lives of disenfranchised individuals. Through LSOE’s Community Research Program, she examined educational professionals’ perceptions of the racial achievement gap and presented findings at the Undergraduate Research Symposium. Supported by a summer travel grant, she conducted cross-country research
in 10 major cities to examine perceptions of America’s education system through a series of video interviews that resulted in a documentary. A walk-on varsity rower, McKean raced in the Swiss National Championships, the Head of the Charles and the Women’s Henley Regatta and last year she was named the team’s “Rower of the Year.” She currently holds four top 10 BC rowing records and has received an ACC scholarship to pursue graduate work. Faculty and peers have lauded Connell School of Nursing graduate Colleen McGauley for her commitment to excellence and service, humility and “dedication to mobilizing her peers and enriching our community as a school.” As a volunteer peer advisor in freshman seminars, she guided new CSON students through their first semester on campus as a mentor, leading weekly discussions on college culture, the nursing curriculum and academic planning. She served as vice president and president of the Boston College Student Nurses’ Association, spearheading food drives and charity walks for cancer research and the American Diabetes Association. She represented CSON as delegate to the national student association and participated in the Keys to Inclusive Leadership in Nursing program, aimed at increasing diversity and leadership in the profession. A member of the nursing honor society Sigma Theta Tau International, she was the recipient of its scholarship for academic achievement. As an Undergraduate Research Fellow for one of her professors, she was involved in NIH-funded research and co-authored abstracts. She participated in University-wide as well as CSON service trips to Appalachia and Nicaragua, and has studied abroad in Spain. Her varied interests and involvements also included teaching Irish step-dancing at BC to four to 13-year-olds. She supported her education at BC by working as a clinical care technician at Tufts Medical Center and at the CSON academic reception desk. Information from students’ Finnegan Award nomination papers was used for this article. –Rosanne Pellegrini Photos by Lee Pellegrini
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Assistant Professor of Mathematics J. Elisenda Grigsby is the inaugural recipient of the AWM-Joan and Joseph Birman Research Prize in Topology and Geometry, awarded by the Association for Women in Mathematics (AWM). The award, which recognizes exceptional research in topology and/or geometry by a woman early in her career, was presented to Grigsby at the Joint Mathematics Meetings held earlier this year. Grigsby was selected for the Birman Prize for her “pioneering and influential contributions to low-dimensional topology, particularly in the areas of knot theory (the study of loops imbedded in three-dimensional space) and categorified invariants,” according to AWM. Grigsby’s research focuses on the interplay between the combinatorial theory of Khovanov homology and the more geometric Heegaard-Floer homology. The mathematical objects she studies are relevant to fields ranging from information technology to DNA research. “I am deeply honored to have received this award, especially since Joan Birman is a personal hero of mine,” said Grigsby, who in 2012 received a CAREER award, the National Science Foundation’s most important prize for early-career faculty. “Her work laid the foundations for much of my own, and the field of topology would be far poorer without her contributions. Her academic accomplishments are particularly impres-
Lee Pellegrini
Grigsby Is First Winner of New Mathematics Prize
Robyn Gesek
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Boston College held its first Excellence in Teaching Day on May 13, sponsored by the Center for Teaching Excellence to promote discussion on issues in teaching and learning at Boston College and in higher education. The day featured plenary sessions with social media/digital technology expert Mike Wesch and University of California at Berkeley neuroscientist Silvia Bunge, and a series of afternoon workshops on various topics.
“She speaks to all of our guests with an energy and authenticity that sets her apart,” says an administrator of Rebecca “Reba” Hatcher ’16 (at right in photo), coordinator of the University’s Student Admission Program.
Hatcher Is Selected as SAP Coordinator J. Elisenda Grigsby
sive in light of the fact that she received her PhD only after a 15-year detour in industry, during which she also had three children. She is without question one of the most amazing people I have ever known.” While appreciative of the recognition accompanying the award, Grigsby said, “working on interesting mathematics that may at some point be useful to the world is reward enough.” Grigsby, who teaches courses in linear algebra, advanced calculus and algebraic topology, holds an undergraduate degree in mathematics from Harvard University and a doctorate from the University of California-Berkeley. Prior to joining the University in 2009, she was an NSF Postdoctoral Fellow at Columbia University and held a position at the Mathematical Sciences Research Institute. –Sean Smith
Photos by Robyn Gesek
Continued from page 1 Hatcher relishes, and one that elicits the best of her many talents. “Reba has great instincts with people,” said Associate Director of Undergraduate Admission Chris O’Brien, who oversees SAP. “She speaks to all of our guests with an energy and authenticity that sets her apart from student guides they meet at other schools. She takes immense pride in her work, is always prepared and never gets flustered. She believes in our mission and lives it out in her everyday life.” Added Director of Undergraduate Admission John L. Mahoney, “Reba has been a three-year star with the Student Admission Program. She is organized yet flexible, firm but composed. I think it is the balance she demonstrates that inspires her volunteers and makes them feel valued by the organization.” Raised by a loving single mother on Manhattan’s upper West Side, Hatcher lost her mother unexpectedly to a post-surgical infection at the start of second-semester freshman year, which challenged her to summon the strength she needed to finish her collegiate journey alone. “While I draw confidence from all of the leadership skills I have developed during my high school and college years, I attribute my sense of self to my mother’s relentless encouragement,” said Hatcher. “She taught me how to turn a no into a yes, while also teaching me how to be a compassionate person. She means absolutely everything to me, and I have made it through every difficult moment by knowing that she loved me.” Hatcher says her mother’s enduring love motivates her to excel in all aspects of her BC experience, whether studying in the classroom, serving as vice president of BC’s Women in Business program, or leading SAP. “I came to BC as a typical freshman and got involved in SAP and Women in Business,” said Hatcher. “But when my mother died
and my advisor, Lonergan Center Associate Director Kerry Cronin, offered to drive me home to New York, and so many students, administrators and faculty reached out to provide support, I knew Boston College was a special place. “It means a lot to me to publicly represent an institution that has played such a significant role in my life. We are taking care of the whole person here, and living up to our pledge to create men and women for others. I don’t know that other colleges and universities can say that.” Hatcher credits faculty such as Cronin, and Carroll School of Management senior lecturers Amy La Combe and Tom Wesner, for being mentors who guided her through her business classes and encouraged her to pursue her second major in sociology. “The double major changed my outlook on the world,” said Hatcher. “It made me look at what I learned in class and ask, ‘What does it mean for the rest of the world?’” It is an outlook, friends say, that sets Hatcher apart among other student leaders. “Reba is an individual who truly loves the people in her life and would do anything for them,” said Bridgette McDermott ’15, the outgoing head coordinator of SAP.
“She has experienced such loss at a young age, and her willingness to share her story helps to inspire authenticity among all of our student volunteers. She is a remarkable person who is the ideal choice to lead the SAP.” This summer, in advance of her fall duties with SAP, Hatcher will intern in the advisory department at Ernst & Young in Boston, before spending the second half of the summer at the international accounting firm’s Melbourne office. She hopes these internships will enable her to choose between her career options of accounting and advising, as she prepares for her last year at Boston College. “My years at BC have been an amazing experience,” said Hatcher. “I urge any student at Boston College to sit in on one of John Mahoney’s admission talks to hear about the privilege it is to be part of the one percent of people worldwide who attend an institution of higher learning. The privilege of attending Boston College puts you in a position to experience the love of BC and how its helps you to grow personally, spiritually and academically. I encourage all of my fellow students to find that here.” Contact Jack Dunn at jack.dunn@bc.edu
Huse to Speak at Veterans’ Reunion James G. Huse Jr., a 1965 alumnus and retired US Army captain who served as inspector general of the Social Security Administration, will be the keynote speaker at the fifth annual Veterans’ Reunion Reception, to be held May 30 on the Burns Library lawn. Huse was an ROTC cadet while at Boston College, and following graduation was commissioned a US Army officer with assignments in the infantry and counter-intelligence branches. He served two tours of duty in South Vietnam, and later returned as the special intelligence officer assigned General Creighton Abrams, commander of US forces in Vietnam. For his military service, he received a Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal with V device, the Joint Service Commendation Medal and other prestigious decorations. Huse worked for 26 years as a US Secret Service special agent, rising to the rank of assistant director. He was appointed by President Clinton in 1998 as inspectoral general for the SSA. –Office of News & Public Affairs
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Employees who have retired or marked 25 years of service to the University during the past year will be honored at a dinner hosted by University President William P. Leahy, SJ, on May 28. Fr. Leahy will also present the 2015 Community Service Award. Retired administrators, faculty and staff being recognized are: Nancy Baker, Suzanne Barrett, Adeane Bregman, Rachele Brindle, Carol Brown, Christine Buscemi, Robert Capalbo, Robert Chibka, Richard Clifford, SJ, Domenic DeLeo, Carole DiFabio, Joseph Ducie, Howard Enoch, Diane Fahey, Duart Furtado, Edward Givens, Mary Hennessey, Ernest Holeman, Richard Jefferson, Ellen Kana, Evan Kantrowitz, Sanford Katz, Marie Kelly and George King. Also, Lee Le Blanc, Janet Leonard, Katherine MacDonald, Patricia Mahoney, Ronald Marsh, Joanne McAuley, Christine Merkle, Patricia O’Kane, Fernando Pereira, Henry Perry, Peter Rollins, Harry Rosser, Paul Schervish, Kenneth Schwartz, Robert Sheehan, Luisa Sical, Rita Simpson, William Stevenson,
Mark Sullivan, Frank Taylor and Robert Wolff.
Newsmakers
Publications
How can the exploitation of workers be stopped? Put the onus on the free market architects, said Prof. Juliet Schor (Sociology), writing in the New York Times “Room for Debate” section.
Assoc. Prof. Andrea Vicini, SJ (STM), was co-editor of the recently published book The Legacy of Vatican II.
BC BRIEFING Prof. James Bretzke, SJ (STM), was interviewed on National Public Radio affiliate WAMC’s “Diane Rehm Show” about a recent Pew Research Center study that found Christians in the US will be the majority for many decades to come, but their numbers are slipping, with shifts taking place within all age groups in all regions of the country Prof. Marc Landy (Political Science) discussed with CBS Boston the rising political clout of US Senator Elizabeth Warren, as evidenced by her charge against the TransPacific Partnership. Assoc. Clinical Prof. Mary Holper (Law), director of the Boston College Law School Immigration Clinic and an affiliated faculty member at the Center for Human Rights and International Justice, offered comments to National Catholic Reporter on the challenges facing unaccompanied minors and other undocumented youth in the court system.
Those completing 25 years of service are: Anne Mary Campbell, Christopher Curry, Patricia Doherty, Paul Flaherty, William Gartner, Joseph Harrington, Cindy Jones, John Katsulas, Dard Miller, Diane Nagy, Kenneth Noel, Maureen Raymond, Peggy Saunders-Lieberman, Cesar Valladares, Donald Woodring, David Webb, Hugo Argueta, Robert D’Amelio, Heraldo Laguerre, Rosa Snow, Karen Arnold, Margaret Guider, Dean Hashimoto, Charles Hoffman, Clifford Holderness and Amir Hoveyda. Also, Elisabeth Keller, Thomas Oboe Lee, James Mahalik, Alan Marcus, Alan Minuskin, Nancy Netzer, John Paris, SJ, Edward Sciore, Billy Soo, Eileen Sweeney, Laura Tanner, William Avila, Edith Flores, Scott Jones, Luis Madera, Andrew McNulty, Fernanado Senatore, Theresa Alden, Anna Branco, Barbara Burdick, H. Joseph Keough, Lee Le Blanc, Gloria Rufo, Federico Vasquez, Shirley Wilson and Peter McKenzie.
Visiting Scholar Nadia Smith (History) contributed “Rebecca de Winter and Jan Ricardo: Parallel Lives” to the Brattle Film Foundation’s Film Notes.
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: Assistant/Associate Director, Alumni Chapters, Alumni Association Fiscal Assistant, Auxiliary Services Executive Director, Office for Institutional Diversity Assistant Director, Graduate Student Life Technology Support Specialist, Residential Life Assistant Director, Office of Employee Development Staff Psychiatrist, University Counseling Manager, Montserrat Coalition Third Cook, Dining Services Director of Major Gifts, Athletic Association
PARTING THOUGHTS:
Retiring faculty, staff bid BC farewell By Kathleen Sullivan, Rosanne Pellegrini and Sean Smith
Donald Hafner Vice Provost for Undergraduate Academic Affairs, Professor of Political Science, Director of University Fellowships Program Joined BC: 1971
“I’ve always been blessed with wonderful colleagues and students who had imaginative ideas about how to make BC a better place, and my greatest satisfaction has been aiding them in translating ideas into programs. A good example is the Advanced Study Grant program, which planted seeds for the great blossoming of undergraduate research that we’ve seen at BC. “The idea for the Advanced Study Grants came from my colleagues on the University Fellowships Committee, and especially from Mark O’Connor, then head of the A&S Honors program. The challenge was to get university funding. I proposed a bold approach. We persuaded a half-dozen students to draft proposals, with no promise at all of funding. I took those to Fr. Bill Neenan, who was then the academic vice president, placed them on Bill’s desk, and proposed that if BC did not want to fund them, he should contact the students and tell them why. Bill was amused and came up with the money that first year. By the time I pulled this trick the third year in a row, BC gave us a regular budget. “I’ve stayed at Boston College for 43 years because there has always been something new, interesting, and admirable happening on campus that has challenged me to think afresh about the craft of teaching and my role in the formation of students.”
Photos by Lee Pellegrini and Gary Gilbert
BC to Honor Retiring, 25-Year Employees at May 28 Dinner
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Richard Jefferson Executive Director for Institutional Diversity Joined BC: 1985
“I’ve enjoyed working with a broad cross-section of the University: vice presidents, deans, faculty, Dining Services,
Facilities – the opportunity to interact with so many different people has been enriching in many ways. I’m also thankful for having worked with [former Vice President for Human Resources] Leo Sullivan for so many years, and various groups through the Office for Institutional Diversity, such as the Affinity Groups and the Voices of Diversity and Inclusion. “One of the most satisfying initiatives I’ve been involved with has been the University Affiliates Program. It’s been really wonderful in offering a chance for people to get know mentors in leadership positions at BC, gain visibility, and have opportunities for advancement. I also liked being part of the Project Delta Steering Committee – a lot of the ideas and programs from there have come to fruition over the years – and the implementation of PeopleSoft and other technology initiatives. BC gives you the chance to stretch yourself and tackle things you might not normally think you would be doing.”
Adeane Bregman Bapst Art Librarian, Bapst Library Joined BC: 1987 “Bapst had just reopened after extensive renovations and when it became the art library in 1993, and I was the successful candidate to be entrusted with the responsibility to nurture and develop the collections and services in support of the visual arts, while maintaining and preserving the special significance of the building. Although the building has not changed, the collection doubled and the services evolved to match the scholarly needs of our students and faculty. “While I am very proud of this, my fondest memories will be of all the special
encounters and meaningful conversations with students, faculty, colleagues, alumni and guests, not only in the Bapst Library, but in the many classrooms, departments, dining and residence halls all across the campus. Boston College afforded me many wonderful opportunities to learn and grow and to participate and contribute in ways I could never have imagined.”
Paul Schervish Professor of Sociology, Director of the Center on Wealth and Philanthropy (formerly the Social Welfare Research Institute) Joined BC: 1979
“The combination of my training in economic sociology, statistics, philosophy, theology, and spirituality was brought to fruition in 1984, just as I was appointed director of what was later called the Center on Wealth and Philanthropy. [Graduate School of Arts and Sciences] Dean Donald White introduced me to Thomas Murphy ’51, who wanted to investigate whether wealth-holders with more money than they needed became more philanthropic. With his and other foundations’ funding, my colleague John Havens and I blended qualitative, philosophical, theological and statistical analyses to discover, communicate and apply knowledge about the meaning and practice of wealth. “I am pleased that we contributed to Boston College’s research reputation. More important, I am grateful for my fulfilling vocation of teaching and research due to the support and encouragement afforded me by Tom Murphy, John Havens, Father J. Donald Monan, Father William Leahy, and by my department, deans, provosts, vice provost and vice presidents.”
Read the full “Parting Thoughts” feature at http://bit.ly/1efuaux
After 47 Years, Katz Retires from BC Law Family, friends and colleagues gave a fond farewell on May 7 to Sanford Katz, who is retiring from the Boston College Law School faculty after 47 years. Katz, the inaugural holder of The Darald and Juliet Libby Chair, was the chief drafter of model child welfare legislation for the federal government, among many other accomplishments. Guest speaker US Sen. Ed Markey (DMass.) ’68 JD’72 said of his former professor: “He made you love the law the way he loved the law.” Law School Professor Emeritus Hugh Ault said that people in academic careers typically become revered scholars in their ivory tower or deeply invested in their community, but “what Sanford has done is both of them.” In his remarks, Katz quoted T.S. Eliot – “It’s the journey, not the arrival, that matters” – and noted that, with a book in the works, he would still be on campus: “I’m not going away, so I’ll see you around.” To read more about this event, see http://bit. ly/1HevkgX –Boston College Law School Magazine Editor Vicki Sanders
Sanford Katz, center, was joined at his farewell reception by his former student US Sen. Edward Markey (D-Mass.), right, and Boston College Law School Dean Vincent Rougeau. (Photo by Christopher Soldt, Media Technology Services)
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Fellowships Continued from page 1
geological and ecological studies; pursue career as professor and researcher. “Boston College has given me the tools to ask deep questions, to explore my interests, and to make lasting connections. The purpose of the Fulbright is not only to conduct novel research, which the Earth and Environmental Science Department has certainly prepared me for, but also to create conversation and relationships within the host country. Boston College has given me the ability to do just that. Through its Jesuit mission, I have been taught the importance of authentic interactions and how to be present and attentive. It would be an honor to represent this University through the Fulbright Program.”
Durham. In terms of connections to my work at BC, I’ve actually had to do most of my research off-campus, so I’m excited to have the opportunity to study and do research at a single institution with the latest technology, as well as in a country with direct connections to the historical populations I would be interested in studying.”
Martin Gamboa
HOMETOWN: Bronx, NY DESTINATION: Poland PROJECT: ETA FUTURE PLANS: Graduate school “Poland represents a great opportunity to examine a school system that has rapidly
such a globalized world, but can also help to build Nepali students’ self-confidence. I’m honored and excited to join a new community and work to impart my love for the language.”
Maria Ireland
(Alternate)
HOMETOWN: Vorhees, NJ DESTINATION: Belfast, Northern Ireland PROJECT: Ireland will pursue a master’s degree in legislative studies and practice at Queen’s University Belfast, which will include hands-on experience working with the Northern Ireland Assembly. She hopes to undertake a photojournal-
Daniel Cattolica
(Alternate)
HOMETOWN: Fair Oaks, Calif. DESTINATION: Italy PROJECT: ETA (English Teaching Assistantship) FUTURE PLANS: A master’s or doctoral program in a still undetermined field, possibilities range from philosophy to Italian studies to comparative literature and to counseling psychology and therapy. “The Fulbright ETA in Italy is both the perfect culmination of my academic and personal focus at Boston College – exploring a country whose language, people, and culture have captivated me since I first visited it back in my freshman year – as well as an ideal next step towards a future career. Having spent nearly an entire year in Italy over the past three years between summer programs and the Fall 2014 semester at Parma, which culminated in a senior honors thesis on the detective novels of Sicilian-born writer Andrea Camilleri, my story with Italy has rewarded me with incredible experiences that continue to shape and inspire me as a person. The story, however, is not over yet. While I have enjoyed my time at Boston College and remain indebted to a number of friends, faculty, and mentors here, the Fulbright will provide me yet another opportunity to pursue my own connections and grow both as an intellectual thinker and as an individual.”
Paul Davey
(Alternate)
HOMETOWN: Kansas City, Mo. DESTINATION: Germany PROJECT: ETA
Frank DiRenno
HOMETOWN: Crompond, NY DESTINATION: Durham, United Kingdom PROJECT: Pursue master’s in archeological science degree, and hopes to develop knowledge of bone isotope chemistry to answer questions on the origin, diet and health of past populations. FUTURE PLANS: Expects to apply to medical school. “Apart from the opportunity to continue to study in a field that I’ve become passionate about at Boston College, I was really drawn to the Fulbright program’s emphasis on global exchange. Even though the UK is similar in many ways to the US, as I was preparing my application, I realized that there was still a lot I didn’t know about it. It made me that much more excited when I received the award that I would be able to learn more about a country and culture I had never experienced. “I’ve enjoyed serving in the Boston community during my time at BC, and I hope to continue during my year in
Victoria Mariconti
HOMETOWN: Wrentham, Mass. DESTINATION: Poland PROJECT: ETA; explore Polish musical traditions and styles. FUTURE PLANS: Will pursue graduate studies. “I had two opportunities to study and live abroad while at BC. The first was two weeks in Perugia, Italy, through my Advanced Study Grant following freshman year; the second was a month-long course in Paris taken through the Arts and Sciences Honors Program. Urban Italian and French culture are not the most diverse international experiences to be had, but both were nonetheless educations in participation in, and cultivation of, respect for another way of life. Plus, both experiences were educations in the practical and logistic matters of living abroad with language barriers. I know I am better prepared for living in Poland next year because of these two opportunities. “In general, my time and studies at Boston College have been defined by daily interaction with diverse people and ideas. At the same time, I have also been able to strengthen my sense of self and the idea of who I am and what I believe in. Boston College has prepared me for the Fulbright and life after by leading me through the cultivation of a stable but flexible self that is hungry to continue growing through new languages and encounters.”
Alexandra Moscovitz
Boston College fellowship winners include (L-R) Corleone Delaveris, Frank DiRenno, Alexandra Moscovitz, Eleanor Hildebrandt, Cameron Givens, Victoria Mariconti and Enise Koc. (Photo by Lee Pellegrini)
become one of the best in the world. My long-term goal of research on comparative urban education would be enhanced by comparing Polish urban schools to those in other parts of the world.”
Cameron Givens
HOMETOWN: Hopkinton, NH DESTINATION: Saxony, Germany PROJECT: ETA FUTURE PLANS: Givens aims to continue his studies and pursue a doctorate in history, with a goal of teaching at the college level. “Although my name may be the only one to show up as the grant awardee, there were so many people – friends, family and professors – without whom this would not have been possible, so I am beyond thankful that all of their hard work will allow me to pursue this oncein-a-lifetime opportunity.”
Eleanor Hildebrandt
HOMETOWN: Mercer Island, Wash. DESTINATION: Nepal PROJECT: ETA; she also plans to be involved with the community as a tutor and hopes to participate in cultural activities. FUTURE PLANS: Considering graduate programs in English and international history and is interested in working in education in some capacity. “The themes of education and development have come up over and over throughout my International Studies courses at BC. I believe that a facility with English is not only a professional asset in
istic project documenting life in Belfast, and volunteering with reconciliation and peace-building organizations. FUTURE PLANS: Work in public policy or diplomacy, then pursue a doctoral degree and supplement field work with a position in academia. “I have learned to make connections, think critically, and ask good questions through my coursework at Boston College, although my experiences outside the classroom have impacted me just as profoundly. Participating in various initiatives, such as the Arrupe International Immersion Program and National Jesuit Student Leadership Conference, have helped me develop strong values and skills of organization and leadership, while allowing me to see how the theories discussed in my courses play out in practice.”
Omar Khan
(Alternate)
HOMETOWN: Portland, Ore. DESTINATION: United Kingdom PROJECT: Graduate study FUTURE PLANS: PhD/MD program in oncology. “My core philosophy in applying for this program includes not only furthering knowledge of cancer for my future goals, but fostering personal growth through an interchange of ideas. I will not likely stop the tides of cancer, but I may make the barriers holding them back a little taller while also giving back to patients and the community.”
HOMETOWN: Guilford, Conn. DESTINATION: Dominican Republic PROJECT: Study comparative food security in rural and urban communities. FUTURE PLANS: NGO project manager; graduate school. “[This project offers] a first experience on the ground doing research and will enhance my knowledge of human security issues in order to participate in academic conversations regarding food security. The project will contribute to fostering an understanding of food security issues as well as spread knowledge about the agricultural practices and food culture in the Dominican Republic.”
Siobhan O’Brien
(Alternate)
HOMETOWN: Amherst, Mass. DESTINATION: Germany PROJECT: ETA FUTURE PLANS: If O’Brien receives funding for her Fulbright year, she hopes to stay in Germany to attend graduate school and pursue an advanced degree in international relations, with a goal of a career with the US Department of State in educational program development. “A Fulbright award has long been my goal after graduation. It perfectly ties into much of the work that I have done at Boston College as an undergrad, but ultimately allows me to live in a country that I love, and to pass on my love of learning through the topic of culture and language.”
Tashrika Sharma
HOMETOWN: Flushing, NY DESTINATION: Austria PROJECT: Working at the University of Applied Arts in Vienna to continue in the field of mathematical visualizations she started in her senior thesis, which consisted of visual models demonstrating foundational principals of knot theory, a branch of low-dimensional topology. FUTURE PLANS: Graduate studies in pure mathematics or media arts and sciences. “I am deeply honored that the Fulbright program decided to support my research proposal. I hope to produce more sophisticated work to make me worthy
of this opportunity as I represent my mentors and my family – the external foundations for who I am.” Alexandra Rabasco is the first Boston College School of Social Work student to be awarded a Rappaport Institute Public Policy Fellowship, which provides a paid, 10-week summer internship in key Greater Boston-area state and local agencies, to help encourage graduate students consider public service in their career plans. Rabasco will work closely with the office of Massachusetts Secretary of Health and Human Services and former BCSSW faculty member Marylou Sudders in its role heading up Governor Charlie Baker’s newly convened Opioid Working Group. State House data identifies opioid abuse as a growing problem in Massachusetts, where accidental overdoses from prescription drugs were up 46 percent in 2013 from the previous year. [For more on Rabasco’s fellowship, see http://bit.ly/1QtCWCY.] •Corleone Delaveris ’15 has been awarded a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship that will support his graduate studies at Stanford University. [Read more at http://bit. ly/1Ligaex.] •Gabelli Presidential Scholar Marissa Marandola ’16 was selected for a Harry S. Truman Scholarship, which supports the graduate education and personal development of standout undergraduates committed to public service leadership. Marandola is a political science major with a minor in management and leadership from Cranston, RI, and a student in the Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences Honors Program. [Read more at http://bit.ly/1E2aIX9.] •James Brogan ’16 was awarded a Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship, which are presented on the basis of academic merit to the country’s most promising college students in math, science and engineering. A native of Coral Springs, Fla., Brogan is a double major in physics and chemistry. [Read more at http://bit. ly/1F94J86.] •Brogan also was one of three BC recipients of Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarships, which provide upwards of $5,000. The program aims to diversify the population of students who study abroad, and the countries and regions to which they travel, by supporting undergraduates who might not otherwise participate in these opportunities due to financial constraints. Brogan will travel to Peru, where he will study Spanish and work in local hospitals to develop his bilingual medical vocabulary. The two other BC students to earn Gilman Scholarships were: Eleni Callas ’16, an Anaheim, Calif., native majoring in philosophy, will study intensive intermediate French in Bordeaux, France; and Jared Collier ’16, a linguistics major from Moab, Utah, will study colloquial Tibetan in Nepal at the Rangjung Yeshe Institute. •Enise Koc ’17, of Elmwood Park, NJ, who majors in Slavic Studies and Islamic Civilizations and Societies, has been awarded a National Security Education Program David Boren Scholarship, which encourage and support American students who wish to acquire skills and experience in less commonly studied languages and cultures. After a fall semester at Bogazici University in Istanbul through BC’s program there, she will utilize the Boren Scholarship to study in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, during spring and summer 2016. She will learn intensive Bosnian with the American Councils for International Education while also doing research for her senior thesis.