The Boston College
Chronicle Published by the Boston College Office of News & Public Affairs september 4, 2014 VOL. 23 no. 1
HALL MONITOR
INSIDE •BC premieres ‘Ever to Excel’ PSA, page 2
Convocation Highlights Change and Continuity By Sean Smith Chronicle Editor
•Want to be a “Greening Eagle”? page 2 •Study Abroad Fair coming up, page 2 •O’Neill will be 24/5 study space, page 2 •Update on campus construction, page 3 •Author Dave Eggers to speak at FYC, page 3
Baldwin looked on as student volunteers with the Boston College Welcome Wagon helped freshmen move into campus residence halls last week. More photos on page 8. (Photo by Caitlin Cunningham)
Challenge Accepted
BC’s Frates Helps Inspire Internet Phenomenon
ties – ranging from George W. Bush and Patrick Stewart to Lady Gaga and Kermit the Frog – have joined He may not have invented the Ice the effort. A former baseball captain for the Bucket Challenge, but Director of Boston College Baseball Operations Eagles, Frates knows all too well Pete Frates ’07 has surely played a big about ALS: He was diagnosed with role in putting it on the map around it in 2012, at age 27. But he has been active in the fight against the termithe world. The grassroots campaign to spark nal disease that affects an estimated awareness and raise funds for Amyo- 30,000 Americans at any given time. trophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also His participation in the Ice Bucket known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, has Challenge seemed so appropriate, redefined the word “viral.” The Ice the perception arose in some quarters Bucket Challenge [#IceBucketChal- that he had come up with the idea. In fact, as Slate writer Josh Levin lenge] has taken over social media, with seemingly countless videos and explained in his article about the Ice By Sean Hennessey photos of people dumping buckets Bucket Challenge, the exact origin Staff Writer of ice water on their heads and chal- of the phenomenon involves a comJames P. Burns, IVD, was relenging friends and relatives to do plex interweaving of several other the same. Professional athletes, pop charitable efforts, and also has roots cently appointed as dean of the stars, politicians and other celebriContinued on page 5 Woods College of Advancing Studies, after having served as interim dean since 2012. A former director of faculty outreach and program assessment for Boston College’s University Mission and Ministry division, Fr. Burns formally assumed the dean’s post on Sept. 1. “I am grateful and humbled to be asked to lead this school, which is so critically important to the mission of Boston College,” said Fr. Burns. “I’m passionate about my work at Boston College and I embrace this opportunity the University is affording me, especially with the confidence that the Board of Trustees and University With the help of family and friends, Pete Frates ’07 took the Ice Bucket Challenge at Fenway Park. (Photo by Getty Images) President William P. Leahy, SJ, are By Michael Maloney Special to the Chronicle
•Robsham is venue for Whitey Bulger event, Crux website launch, page 3 •News from the summer: Keating to step down, Fr. Neenan mourned, p. 4-5
•Griffith new dean of Carroll School grad programs, page 6 •CDC awards early-career grant to Sabbath, page 6 •Surrealist Wifredo Lam retrospective at McMullen, page 8
Fr. Burns Is Appointed Dean of Woods College Lee Pellegrini
•Mass of the Holy Spirit, page 3
Speaking yesterday at a University Convocation that crystallized a time of transition at Boston College, University President William P. Leahy, SJ, reminded the audience that BC had survived changes – in size, scope, location, personnel and reputation – over the years and emerged as a stronger institution. BC will need the strength of its people and programs in the coming months and years to not only realize its own goals, Fr. Leahy told the gathering of administrators, faculty and staff, but to cope with challenges facing many colleges and universities: the federal government’s role in higher education; a renewed call for effective responses to sexual assault on campus; an uncertain landscape in athletics; and continuing concerns over the cost, and quality, of a college education. “We rely on the community, commitment, talent and dedication of all of us,” he said. “I am confi-
dent we will meet [the challenges], renewing ourselves and our mission in the process. So let us always strive to be beacons of faith and hope, and a light to the world.” The speaking program at Convocation, held in Robsham Theater, underscored the state of transition at the University, especially in senior leadership: David Quigley made his first address as provost and dean of faculties, a post he assumed in June; Patrick Keating gave his last Convocation speech as executive vice president, having announced this summer he would step down at the end of the fall [see page 4]. Fr. Leahy noted several recent appointments – including that of Quigley, College of Arts and Sciences Interim Dean Gregory Kalscheur, SJ, and Woods College of Advancing Studies Dean James Burns, SJ [see story below] – as well as ongoing and upcoming searches for successors to Keating, Vice President for Human Continued on page 7
NOTICE:
James P. Burns, IVD
placing in my leadership. “I am also very grateful for the encouragement of the Jesuit community who have been wonderful supporters and friends.” Reflecting on his tenure as interim dean, Fr. Burns said, “I took on the responsibility with the idea that I would really do my best to Continued on page 6
Boston College administrative offices will close tomorrow, Sept. 5, at 3 p.m. due to the BC-Pitt football game beginning at 7 p.m. The University asks that all vehicles be removed from campus as close to 3 p.m. as possible. Classes, labs, and discussion sections that would ordinarily start at 3 p.m. or earlier and extend past 4 p.m. may be held at the instructor’s discretion – those faculty should seek a special parking permit from their dean in advance, and must place their cars in designated special parking areas no later than 4:15 p.m.
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A ROUND
C AMPUS
‘MORE THAN JUST WORDS’ The Boston College 2014 PSA, “Ever to Excel,” will have its TV premiere during tomorrow night’s BC-Pitt football game. Created by the Office of News & Public Affairs (NPA) and filmed by NPA Video Producer Sean Casey, the 30-second spot – which will appear on broadcasts of Eagle athletic events during 2014-15 – was filmed on campus and features a cast of students and staff, including Director of Campus Ministry Fr. Tony Penna. Among the interior locations used were Fulton, Merkert and Carney halls and Alumni Stadium; exterior shots include Stokes Hall, the Quad, Linden Lane and the Higgins Stairs. “This year we really wanted to showcase as much as we could of what makes the Boston College experience unique,” said Casey. “When we were thinking about those elements – service, academic life, student interaction, athletics and our beautiful campus – we found a common thread: that, of course, is our motto, ‘Ever to Excel.’ “Our motto is more than just a few words on our crest, it’s our call to action. At Boston College, we are constantly striving to better ourselves and the world around us. Whether in the classroom, on the playing field, in the residence halls, or beyond the Boston College campus, our students, faculty, staff, and alumni truly live out the words ‘Ever to Excel.’” Casey adds that this year’s PSA also is notable for the debut of BC’s newest piece of film-
GREEN FOR THE GAME Members of the Boston College community interested in helping raise awareness about campus recycling and other conservation efforts are invited to serve as “Greening Eagles” at BC home football games this fall. The Greening Eagles program, organized through a partnership of Athletics, Facilities Services and the Office of Sustainability, is part of a BC initiative to achieve a 50 percent recycling rate goal at University athletic events – an increase of 25 percent over last year. Plans call for improved recycling signage, additional blue recycle bins as well as distribution of packets with blue recycling bags and clear plastic trash bags to tailgaters. As Greening Eagles, faculty
ABROAD-MINDED
Scenes from the Boston College “Ever to Excel” PSA.
making equipment: an aerial imaging platform, otherwise known as a “drone.” Four separate shots, including the opening and closing scenes, were accomplished using this tool. “The drone allows us to capture the beauty of our campus from a previously unseen vantage
point. We’ve been very happy with the results so far and can’t wait to use it in future videos.” Watch the “Ever to Excel” PSA on the BC YouTube channel [youtube.com/BostonCollege]. –Sean Smith
O’NEILL THE PLACE FOR STUDY SPACE The O’Neill Library will replace Bapst Library’s Gargan Hall as BC Libraries’ 24/5 study space beginning this semester, University Librarian Thomas Wall has announced. O’Neill Library will be open continuously Sunday–Thursday, and will close at 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, a change designed to provide late-night access to a variety of study spaces
and staff serve as game day ambassadors, welcoming fans to BC at various sites and offering information and answering questions about recycling resources and activities on campus. Participants are expected to be available for a minimum of four games; greeting activities take place about three hours prior to kick-off. Faculty and staff (“senior”) ambassadors receive a pair of season tickets in appreciation of their efforts, noted Sustainability Program Director Robert Pion, and select student groups and alumni are invited to take part in the Greening Eagles program. Those interested must respond by Monday, Sept. 8. Contact Pion at robert.pion@bc.edu or ext.2-0339. –Office of News & Public Affairs
as well as to O’Neill’s extensive collections and services. Bapst Library, including Gargan Hall, will close at 2 a.m. As in the past, all library hours are subject to change during holidays, breaks and the summer months. “Before making this decision, we surveyed late-night users of Gargan Hall and consulted with members of the Quality of Stu-
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
dent Life Committee,” said Wall, who added that the change in hours at each library will be assessed over the coming academic year. “Staffing requirements will be reviewed and library patrons will be surveyed again. We think this change will provide a great service to Boston College students and look forward to seeing them take advantage of the 24/5 O’Neill Library.” –Office of News & Public Affairs
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Each year, some 1,200 Boston College undergraduates go on an international experience, whether for the summer, a semester or a full academic year. On Sept. 17, the Office of International Programs will hold its annual Study Abroad Fair, from 6-8 p.m. in Conte Forum, to give students an overview of the experiences that await them, whether by studying at colleges or universities or through internships or service opportunities. BC student veterans of international experiences will join OIP staff and current visiting exchange students in talking to interested undergrads about overseas programs – available in more than 60 countries, with options to suit any number of educational, vocational or other interests. Among those endorsing the
study-abroad option is Megan Cooley ’16, who spent a month in Kuwait this past summer. In an essay reflecting on the events, impressions and lessons of those four weeks, Cooley mused: “I was struck through countless personal conversations by the fact that people everywhere share so many of the same concerns and in many cases simply lack the education, means, or incentive to address those concerns. From disenchantment with the political system to dealing with sexuality, or even which filter to choose for Instagram, the human element is constant.” [Read Cooley’s essay at http://bit.ly/1oYuT6A] For information about international opportunities through BC, see the OIP website at www. bc.edu/international. –Office of News & Public Affairs
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.
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Eggers Will Speak at First Year Convocation Sept. 11
St. Mary’s, 2150 Comm. Ave. Projects Progress
Lee Pellegrini
Campus Construction
By Ed Hayward Staff Writer
By Sean Smith Chronicle Editor
Continued progress on the St. Mary’s Hall renovation, now in its final months, and the start of construction of the 2150 Commonwealth Avenue residence hall highlighted construction activity at Boston College this summer. Other projects of note, according to Vice President for Facilities Management Daniel Bourque and Associate Vice President for Capital Projects Management Mary Nardone, included work on the soonto-be-opened Center for Teaching Excellence in O’Neill Library, installation of new playing surfaces in Conte Forum’s Power Gym and the Newton Campus Field Hockey Complex, improvements to the Eagle’s Nest and Addie’s Loft serving areas, and upgrades to Welch and Roncalli residence halls’ student lounges for study and reflection. Brighton Campus sidewalks, the Gasson Hall belfry, and stairways in McElroy Commons and O’Neill Library Atrium also received attention this summer. “We continue to be very satisfied with the quality of work we’re seeing,” said Nardone last week, “whether it involves major construction or smaller-scale projects and upgrades.” Renovations for St. Mary’s, the primary residence for BC’s Jesuit community, remain on schedule for completion in November, Bourque and Nardone said. Inside the building, upper floors are receiving a final paint job and touch-up, and finishes are being installed, while activity on the first floor includes historic restoration of plaster walls and in-
University President William P. Leahy, SJ, visited the St. Mary’s Hall construction site last month and examined blueprints for the project with Associate Vice President for Capital Projects Management Mary Nardone, Senior Construction Manager Thomas Runyon and Vice President for Facilities Management Daniel Bourque.
stallation of millwork. The masonry has been completed for the new entrance on St. Mary’s southeast corner, which will lead to the new locations for the Woods College of Advancing Studies and the Communication and Computer Science departments. Outside, installation of granite curbing for roadways and sidewalks has begun, as has landscaping around the building and on the adjacent deck of the Commonwealth Avenue parking garage. This work will continue for the next few months, and may occasionally affect pedestrian or vehicular traffic in the vicinity. Bourque said the Jesuit residents are expected to return to St. Mary’s in December. The relocation of Woods College from McGuinn Hall to the ground floor, and Communication and Computer Science from Maloney Hall to the upper floors, are slated to occur during the semester break. St. Mary’s will formally reopen in January. Related to the progress at St. Mary’s, during the summer work continued in Maloney Hall in advance of other relocations. The Student Affairs division recently completed its move from the second to the fourth floor, and the existing space on the second floor, and part
of the third, will now be renovated to house the Connell School of Nursing, which will shift from Cushing Hall next summer. The 2150 Commonwealth Avenue project began in late May, with the demolition of More Hall and site clearance taking place in June and July. In addition to foundations work, recent site activities have involved some ledge removal and excavation down to grade level in preparation for the start of the utilities phase. The approximately 240,000 square-foot residence hall, when completed in the summer of 2016, will provide an additional 490 beds in four and six-person apartments for BC undergraduates. In addition, the building – which will vary between five and six stories – will house two staff/faculty-in-residence apartments, seminar and music practice rooms, and the BC Health Services Center, which will relocate from Cushing Hall. “As always, we will do our best to inform the University community about any potential traffic or parking-related inconveniences that may result from construction work during the academic year,” said Nardone.
Robsham to Host Film, Panel on Whitey Bulger Case CNN chief national correspondent John King will moderate a panel discussion on Sept. 16 at 5:30 p.m. in Robsham Theater to discuss the new CNN Films documentary “WHITEY: United States of America v. James J. Bulger.” The panel and a screening of the film, which begins at 4 p.m., are open to the public. Joining King will be Bulger defense attorney J.W. Carney, JD ’78, Boston College Law School Professor Robert Bloom ’76, former federal prosecutor Brian T. Kelly, WBUR-FM reporter David Boeri and film producer Joe Berlinger. The documentary probes the complex case against the one-time Boston mob boss, who remained a fugitive for 16 years before he was captured, tried and convicted last
August of 31 counts, including racketeering and 11 murders. He was sentenced to two life terms, plus five years. For more information about
the documentary, see http:// www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/ video/bestoftv/2014/08/13/whitey-cnn-film-trailer.cnn.html –Office of News & Public Affairs
Globe to Launch Crux Website at BC The Boston Globe will launch its new Catholic website, Crux, with a panel discussion on the papacy of Pope Francis at Boston College’s Robsham Theater on Sept. 11 at 6:30 p.m. The event, “A Pope for the 21st Century,” will feature Boston Archbishop Sean O’Malley, OFM, Cap., School of Theology and Ministry Assistant Professor Hosffman Ospino, Globe Vatican expert John Allen Jr., Harvard Law School Professor Mary Ann
Glendon and Catholic blogger Robert Christian. Crux spirituality columnist Margery Eagan will serve as moderator. The panel, which will explore the effect Pope Francis has had on Catholicism and the world at large, will be followed by an audience Q&A. Tickets for the event are limited. Contact the Office of News & Public Affairs for details at ext.2-3350. –Office of News & Public Affairs
Author Dave Eggers, whose acclaimed novel The Circle is this year’s freshmen class read, will address the annual First Year Convocation next Thursday, Sept. 11, at 7 p.m. in Conte Forum. A writer, editor, publisher and social entrepreneur, Eggers has been recognized for his distinctive literary voice, and for giving voice to a broad range of people around the world who might not otherwise be able to tell their stories. First Year Convocation begins with the assembly of freshmen on Linden Lane, followed by the “First Flight” ceremonial walk through Gasson Hall and on to Conte Forum, a trip that mirrors the path seniors take to Alumni Stadium the morning of Commencement. A graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Eggers first gained recognition for his 2000 memoir, A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, about helping to raise his younger brother after their parents’ deaths. The book was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. Eggers’ latest novel was chosen as the class read by the Office of First Year Experience, which welcomes new students and parents through summer orientation programs and continues with courses, retreats and the ongoing Conversations in the First Year. “A common reading program allows us to engage in a broader set of questions of not only ourselves but also the Boston College community at large,” according to FYE. “Dave Eggers’ The Circle provides us a unique lens, which helps us understand and reflect on our relationships.” A fast-moving, cautionary tale about the influence of today’s hightech organizations, The Circle offers an examination of a society where technology trumps the human ex-
Dave Eggers
perience and transparency masks the lives it was intended to reveal. The Circle follows up on Eggers’ 2012 novel A Hologram for the King, which was a finalist for the National Book Award. At times, the prolific Eggers’ 11 books of both fiction and non-fiction appear almost as a sideline to a range of initiatives that revolve around expression and social justice. In 1998, Eggers launched the publishing house McSweeney’s and in 2002 he co-founded 826 Valencia, a tutoring center focused on writing and education that now operates in eight cities across the United States. His writing and social justice efforts are often closely related. Following the publication of his 2006 novel What Is the What, Eggers created the Valentino Achak Deng Foundation, a literacy and education initiative named on behalf of the Sudanese civil war survivor whose life story inspired the book. Eggers’ 2004 oral history Voice of Witness grew into a non-profit organization that reports the stories of survivors of human rights abuses and offers a human rights curriculum to schools. Contact Ed Hayward at ed.hayward@bc.edu
Mass of the Holy Spirit Takes Place Sept. 11
Boston College’s annual Mass of the Holy Spirit will be celebrated at noon on Sept. 11 on the Plaza at O’Neill Library (rain location is Conte Forum). The Mass is open to all faiths and noon classes will be cancelled to allow for attendance. The event also will serve as a memorial Mass for William B. Neenan, SJ, who died this past summer after more than three decades of service in key leadership positions at BC. [see story on page 5]. University President William P. Leahy, SJ, will be the principal celebrant, with members of the Jesuit community and other BC priests concelebrating. The homilist will be Associate Professor of Theology Father Kenneth Himes, OFM, and students will participate as lectors and Eucharistic ministers. Music will be provided by the Liturgy Arts Group. The traditional opening to the academic year at Jesuit universities and secondary schools, the Mass of the Holy Spirit is organized by the Office of Campus Ministry, part of the division of University Mission and Ministry. –Kathleen Sullivan
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Patrick J. Keating, Boston College’s executive vice president since 2001 and a key figure behind the University’s successful strategic planning and campus development efforts, announced this summer that he will step down from his position at the end of the fall semester. Keating, a respected administrator who leads the areas of facilities management, finance, human resources, information technology, student affairs and planning and assessment, will stay on as a consultant to the provost, beginning this coming April. He will also serve as a professor of the practice in higher education in the Lynch School of Education, and continue to oversee Boston College-Ireland and the Irish Institute programs. During his 13 years as executive vice president, Keating assisted University President William P. Leahy, SJ, through a period of
Social Welfare PhD Program Extended
Gary Gilbert
Keating Will Step Down at End of Fall
extensive campus growth, including the construction of Stokes Hall, the renovation of Gasson and St. Mary’s halls, and the design of the new student residence hall at 2150 Commonwealth Avenue, among other projects. He also coordinated many important technology improvements, ranging from the data center at St. Clement’s Hall to the implementation of open source administrative systems, and initiated planning and assessment functions that have reduced costs while sustaining growth. [For more, see http://bit. ly/1vNZ9F2] –Jack Dunn
University Introduces Two New Faculty Grant Programs The Office of the Provost and Dean of Faculties launched two new grant programs designed to provide “seed” funding for new faculty scholarship, encourage cross-discipline collaborations and help researchers compete for external funding, according to Vice Provost for Research Thomas Chiles. The Ignite program will award three to four grants of up to $30,000 three times a year to full-time, tenure-track and nontenure track faculty, Chiles said. The program, which awarded its first round of grants in May, is designed to respond to requests throughout the academic year and provide a relatively short turnaround time between application and funding. The second new program, Research Across Disciplines and Schools (RADS), will have a single funding cycle, annually awarding up to $50,000 to as many as five projects. This initiative is designed to encourage interdisciplinary research projects between faculty in different disciplines, departments and schools, Chiles said. Combined, the two new grant programs make available up to
$550,000 annually to faculty and, along with the Research Expense Grants and Research Incentive Grants programs, broaden research support opportunities at the University. [Read more at http://bit. ly/1pd05Jx] –Ed Hayward
Penelope Ismay, who joined the History Department in 2013, was named the Cooney Family Assistant Professor. The new assistant professorship was made possible through a gift by University Trustee Robert J. Cooney ’74, partner in the Chicago law firm Cooney & Conway, and family. [Read more at http://bit. ly/1kx5R7F]
A Boston College program that aims to build global expertise in social welfare has been renewed for three years, following an agreement with Banco Santander, a division of Santander Bank, NA. University President William P. Leahy, SJ, and Roman Blanco, president and CEO of Santander Bank US, formally extended the BC-Santander agreement at a July 8 signing ceremony attended by BC and Santander representatives. Under the agreement, Santander will continue its support for the University’s international doctoral program in social welfare, headquartered in the Graduate School of Social Work. Established in 2011, the social welfare program enables BC to form partnerships and exchanges with Jesuit, Catholic universities in Latin America, Spain and elsewhere in the world to advance
University President William P. Leahy, SJ, shakes hands with Roman Blanco, president and CEO of Santander Bank US, at a July 8 signing ceremony to extend BC’s international social welfare doctoral program, headquartered in the Graduate School of Social Work. (Photo by Lee Pellegrini)
and professionalize the field of social welfare. The program offers research-driven knowledge, experience-based insight, and field-tested skills to address the unique issues faced by students’ respective countries or communities. The program’s first two stu-
dents, both from Mexican universities, were at BC during the 2013-14 academic year; a second cohort is slated to arrive on campus this fall, and a third has been admitted to the program. [Read more at http://bit. ly/1uxZudv] –Sean Smith
Honors and Accomplishments
Members of the Boston College community who received notable honors during the summer included: •Vanderslice Millennium Professor of Chemistry Amir Hoveyda, winner of a 2014 Eni Award for New Frontiers in Hydrocarbons from an international panel of world-class scientists assembled by the Enrico Mattei Foundation of the Italian energy giant Eni SpA. Hoveyda was honored in the “downstream” category for transformations of hydrocarbons drawn from raw materials. [http://bit.ly/1AjERlF] •Carroll School of Management Galligan Professor of Strategy Sandra Waddock, recipient of a lifetime achievement award from the International Symposium on Cross Sector Social Interactions for her pioneering work in cross-sector collaborative research. Waddock, whose research in the field began 30 years ago, is only the second person to receive this honor from the symposium. [http://bit.ly/1rAAa1q] •Director of Undergraduate Admission John L. Mahoney Jr., who was presented with the Harry R. Carroll Distinguished Service Award, the highest accolade given by the New England Association for College Admission Counseling (NEACAC), for his commitment to excellence and ethics, exemplary service and leadership style. [http://bit.
ly/1rdldXD] •BC Law Professor Ray Madoff, named to Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly’s “Top Women of Law” list. Each year, the publication honors women who have made tremendous professional strides and demonstrated great accomplishments in the legal field, which includes: pro bono, social justice, advocacy and business. Eight BC Law alumni were also named to the list: Rachel Brown ’04, Patience Crozier ’02, Susan Farina ’94, Cynthia Gates ’83, Mary Jo Johnson ’88, Robyn Laukien ’88, Regina Mandl ’74 and Mary K. Ryan ’77. [http://bit.ly/1nWddCl] •Catholic Press Association book award winners Christianity and the Political Order, by Theology Professor Kenneth Himes, OFM, (first place, Social Teaching); Encountering Jesus in the Scriptures, published by the Church in the 21st Century Center, edited by School of Theology and Ministry Professor Daniel Harrington, SJ, and STM Research Professor Christopher Matthews, (first place, Scripture/ Popular Studies); Visions of Hope: Emerging Theologians and the Future of the Church, based on conference organized by graduate students in the Theology Department and School of Theology and Ministry, edited by Kevin Ahern PhD ’13 (first place, Works Related to 50th Anniver-
sary of Vatican II); Handbook of Roman Catholic Moral Terms, by School of Theology and Ministry Professor James Bretzke, SJ (second place, Reference Books). [http://bit.ly/1BjSjar] •S. Eve Rabinoff, a former Philosophy Department teaching fellow who received her doctorate during the past year, has received an award from the Review of Metaphysics for her essay on Aristotle’s ethics. [http://bit.ly/ XDzCzt]
Carroll School MSF Earns High Ranking The Carroll School of Management’s master of science in finance was the second-highest ranked US program in its category, according to a 2014 global survey released by the Financial Times this summer. According to the survey, the Carroll School MSF program was 21st overall in the world – up from 28th in 2013 – along with Poland’s Kozminski University, but the MIT Sloan School, tied with Skema Business School of France for 10th overall, was the only other American institution to rank higher. The rankings were calculated according to information provided by business schools and their alumni. Criteria included placement success, international mobility, alumni’s salary levels, and institutional diversity. The survey is available at the Financial Times Business Education website, www.ft.com/intl/businesseducation.
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William B. Neenan, SJ
novels, biographies, histories and other books. [Read the full obituary at http:// bit.ly/1lOATI2] Dr. Jeghelian, who helped lead Boston College’s institutional efforts in affirmative action and discriminatory harassment, died on June 21. She was 85. While pursuing her doctorate at BC in the 1960s, Dr. Jeghelian served as the administration’s liaison in discussions with students about issues of concern to them, and was later appointed to a committee to examine in particular the role of women at the Heights. In 1971, she was chosen to direct BC’s new Office of Affirmative Action, and formulated an affirmative action program for the University that was approved by the Board of Trustees in 1973. That same year, she was appointed as special assistant to the president with a specific focus on affirmative action – among her tasks was to coordinate BC’s compliance with Title IX, the federal statute prohibiting discrimination in educational programs and activities on the basis of sex.
Dr. Jeghelian assumed the title of director of professional development in 1985 and continued to work on issues and initiatives related to the growing presence of women and persons of color in the University. She chaired a committee that in 1984 proposed building a day care center; four years later, the Boston College Children’s Center opened its doors. In 1990, University President J. Donald Monan, SJ, appointed Dr. Jeghelian to chair a committee charged with revising BC’s policy on discriminatory harassment; she had headed the committee that drafted the original policy in 1982. As part of the new guidelines, Fr. Monan announced in October of 1991 that Dr. Jeghelian would be the University’s first harassment counselor, to assist faculty, staff or students experiencing problems related to sexual, racial or other forms of harassment. Dr. Jeghelian retired from BC in 1994 after 25 years of service. [Read the full obituary at http:// bit.ly/1qrn0n4] Ms. MacIntyre, a receptionist and staff assistant in the President’s Office, died on Aug. 14. She was 75. She came to Boston College in 2001 after having served for 13 years as an administrative assistant in the Cadillac and Chevrolet Motor Division. A native and resident of Allston, she graduated from St. Joseph’s Academy in Boston and attended Massachusetts Bay Community College in Wellesley. [Read the full obituary at http:// bit.ly/1pYrwdN] –Office of News & Public Affairs
Debut for CSOM’s Catalyst Program This summer saw the launch of a new Carroll School of Management program offering nonmanagement students an opportunity to learn a thing or two about business. The Carroll School Summer Management Catalyst Program – created in response to the demand for business classes at BC, which has intensified because the Carroll School no longer accepts internal transfers – is an intensive 10week full-time curriculum that aims to “develop a solid and broad foundation in the functional areas of management.” The 32 students in Catalyst, primarily sophomores and juniors, took courses in business management, accounting, finance, marketing, operations, ethics, and strategy, along with a workshop in Excel. Candidates
Caitlin Cunningham
The Boston College community mourned the deaths this summer of William B. Neenan, SJ, Alice Jeghelian and Carol MacIntyre. Fr. Neenan, who died June 25 at age 85, was a much-beloved Jesuit whose leadership in several key posts was integral to BC’s emergence as a premier national university. From 1987-98, as academic vice president and dean of faculties, Fr. Neenan oversaw a steady strengthening of Boston College’s undergraduate and graduate programs, with the University named among US News & World Report’s top 40 national universities and top 20 universities for teaching. He became vice president and special assistant to University President William P. Leahy, SJ, in 1998, a position he held for the past 16 years. A respected economist, Fr. Neenan came to Boston College in 1979 as the University’s first Gasson Professor, and the following year was named dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, a position he held until 1987. Whatever his academic and administrative achievements, Fr. Neenan endeared himself to BC on a personal level, through the countless spontaneous handshakes and introductions (“Hello friend, I’m Fr. Neenan”) he proffered to those he met; his founding of the “Iowa/Nebraska Luncheon Club” as an opportunity for BC students to gather and socialize – its popularity spawned other regional luncheons for undergraduates from all over the US – and his annual “Dean’s List of Recommended Reading,” a lineup of his favorite
Lee Pellegrini
In Memoriam
Human Resources Officer Emmanuel Johnson, left, congratulates Matt Johnson of Norwood at an Aug. 22 luncheon honoring participants in the Private Industry Council Job Collaborative Program. Through PIC, high school students work at Boston College, gaining valuable employment experience.
Frates Helps Lead Ice Bucket Challenge Continued from page 1 in longstanding traditions like the Polar Bear Plunge. Levin points to golfer Chris Kennedy as the one who, in taking the icy shower on July 14, specifically linked the challenge to ALS. Among those inspired to follow Kennedy’s lead was Patrick Quinn, a Yonkers, NY, native diagnosed with ALS and a good friend of Frates. Through Quinn, Frates took up the challenge, with the assistance of family and friends. Then Frates put the call out to his Facebook friends to do the Ice Bucket Challenge, including people from the network he’d cultivated during his treatment – people like New England Patriots Tom Brady and Julian Edelman, Red Sox owner John Henry and player Will Middlebrooks, and BC alumni husband-wife duo the Ryans, Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt and Sarah, who works for the WNBA Atlanta Dream. They accepted his challenge and nominated other high-profile personalities to raise awareness for the ALS cause, and the momentum grew. With the Frates family ties to BC – his parents John and Nancy, sister Jennifer and wife Julie (who gave birth to their daughter Lucy on Sunday) are all alumni – the University community also rose to the challenge. From July 29 to Aug. 25, the University’s official Facebook and Twitter channels received 17.2 million impressions – the number of times a post is displayed – including more than 6.5 million on
Facebook alone just on Aug. 7. How the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge began is less important to Frates and his family than the results it has achieved: The ALS Association announced last Friday that it had received $100.9 million in donations, compared to $2.8 million during the same time period last year (July 29 to August 29), and $64 million for all of 2013. “Something miraculous is happening,” said John Frates last week, “and it’s happening partly because Pete was willing to put himself out there and willing to share his story. When the face of ALS is a handsome, young, charismatic, former Division 1 baseball player, the nation and even the world are waking up to the unacceptability of not having a treatment for this debilitating disease.” Another compelling part of Pete’s story, says John, is his determination to stay connected to the sport he has loved for so long. Pete was named director of baseball operations the day after his diagnosis by head coach Mike Gambino, who was an assistant during Pete’s career. Pete is in the dugout for every baseball game, sharing his experiences with the team. “Being a part of the baseball team for the last two years has been an incredible experience for Pete,” said John. The snowball effect of the Ice Bucket Challenge, and the support that has come with it, illustrate for the Frates family how a simple act can make a big difference. “It’s truly a miracle,” John said.
Affiliates Program Seeks Candidates Kate Hall led a class in the Carroll School of Management Summer Management Catalyst Program. (Photo by Lee Pellegrini)
for the program must have taken at least one course or received advanced placement credit in math and are evaluated based on academic standing and extracurricular activities. “The Catalyst Program is another effort to build a bridge between the Carroll School and the other schools on campus, in
particular the College of Arts and Sciences,” said Carroll School Dean Andy Boynton. “The program will immerse students into the world of management and be an extremely valuable experience, regardless of their program of studies or career trajectory.” [Read more about Catalyst at http://bit.ly/1kSuphc] –Sean Hennessey
The University Affiliates Program, which provides AHANA professional staff with opportunities to broaden their management experiences and to study critical issues in higher education, is seeking candidates for the 2014-15 academic year. Sept. 15 is the deadline for all applications. The program has implemented some changes to eligibility criteria and the application process. Information and applications are available at www.bc.edu/content/bc/offices/diversity/programs/affiliates.html. For other details, contact Damita Davis at ext.2-8730 or damita.davis@bc.edu. The announcement of the 2014-15 Affiliates cohort will be on Oct. 10. –Office of News & Public Affairs
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By Sean Hennessey Staff Writer
By Sean Smith Chronicle Editor
Erika Sabbath, a newly arrived assistant professor in the Graduate School of Social Work, has been selected for a major grant through a US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) program that supports early-career scholars. Over the next three years, Sabbath will receive $324,000 for a Mentored Research Scientist Development Award, known as a K01 grant, from the CDC and its National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. The grant, the first of its kind for a GSSW faculty member, provides “support and ‘protected time’ for an intensive, supervised career development experience in the biomedical, behavioral, or clinical sciences leading to research independence,” according to the CDC. The grant will enable Sabbath, a researcher on issues related to occupational health, life-course epidemiology, health disparities, and healthy aging, to focus on her research project “Quantifying Economic & Health Effects of Psychosocial Workplace Exposures” during her first three years at BC. “This is a very exciting opportunity for a number of reasons,” said Sabbath, who was a postdoctoral fellow at the Harvard School of Public Health Center for Population and Development Studies prior to joining BC this fall. “The K01 grant allows you to learn the skills needed to manage a federal grant – both from scientific and leadership perspectives – from an experienced mentor. Those skills then enable you to be competitive for future funding opportunities. “The grant is also a way to explore a new area of research and have the time to really invest in growing your knowledge base and skill set. For me, those new areas are economics and workplace interventions.” Sabbath’s mentor for her project is Glorian Sorensen, director of the Center for Communitybased Research at Dana Farber Cancer Institute, who is leading a study that serves as a basis for Sabbath’s work. Sabbath’s research for this project seeks to quantify the economic and health impact of work-related stress among hospital employees. Many kinds of stress – such as lack of flexibility in work arrangements or bullying by supervisors – disproportionally affect lower-income employees, Sabbath explained, and are linked to health problems rang-
Erika Sabbath
ing from depression to workplace injuries. Sabbath will also receive mentorship from senior faculty at GSSW, including Associate Dean for Research David Takeuchi and Professor Marcie Pitt-Catsouphes. While work stress has also been loosely linked to organizational issues like turnover or absenteeism, the actual economic impact of these stressors on hospitals has never been calculated. “The purpose of the research is to give the employer evidence of how work stress can affect their bottom line,” she said. “For example, if you show the effect of bullying in the workplace costs the hospital ‘X’ amount of dollars due to lost productivity and health issues, the employer may be more motivated to address those stressors, which would benefit not only the employer, but also the worker’s health and wellbeing – a win-win. “Once we finish this grant, the next task is to create a workplace intervention that will address certain kinds of stress, and measure the impact of that program both from the employee and employer perspective. Right now, we want to create the motivation for the employer to enact changes. Next, we can develop the tool enabling the employer to accomplish this.” Sabbath said the Graduate School of Social Work might appear an unlikely setting for someone with her academic background – she holds degrees in social and behavioral sciences from the Harvard School of Public Health – but she sees an advantage in the blend of disciplines. “A major reason why I came to GSSW is that it has a very expansive view of social work as a means to promote positive change in multiple environments and make people’s lives better. Applying social work tools to what have traditionally been seen as public health problems could make a meaningful impact on both fields, and on the communities we work with. I’m very happy to be starting my career off here on such a positive note.” Contact Sean Smith at sean.smith@bc.edu
The Carroll School of Management strengthened the business and academic experience in its leadership ranks with the hiring this summer of Elizabeth “Betsy” Griffith as its associate dean of graduate programs. Griffith comes to Boston College after a five-year stint at Georgetown University, where she was a senior associate dean responsible for MBA marketing and new program development. She succeeds Jeffrey Ringuest, who stepped down after eight years. “BC is a great institution,” said Griffith, who earned her MBA at the University of Virginia’s Darden School and her doctorate in liberal studies from Georgetown. “It’s values-based and associated with the Jesuits - those were major hooks for me. [Carroll School Dean] Andy Boynton is a visionary leader. This is a big challenge, and very exciting for me.” New ideas and insights are just some of the assets Griffith possesses, according to Boynton. “Betsy Griffith brings talent, experience, expertise, energy and leadership to our graduate programs. In short, she’s a game changer.” Griffith’s arrival in academia followed an impressive career in the non-profit world where she worked for such entities as Monticello, the Phillips Collection, National Public Radio, and the Corporation for Pub-
Lee Pellegrini
Griffith Heads CSOM Graduate Programs
Lee Pellegrini
GSSW’s Sabbath Earns Major CDC Grant
lic Broadcasting. In those positions, she worked with finance, budgeting, accounting, treasury, human resources, information technology, facilities, contracts, board liaison and customer service. Now, Griffith looks forward to bringing this “real-world” perspective to the Carroll School. “Anybody who has been an ex-
Elizabeth “Betsy” Griffith
ecutive,” said Griffith, “who has run multiple units, made dozens of hires, led teams, customer service initiatives and software implementations, dealt with budgets and audits, and participated in hundreds of board meetings – that person has a sense of what employers look for in MBAs. So you develop a little bit of radar for the kind of training MBA students – and students in other graduate business programs – need in both a curricular
and a co-curricular sense.” Griffith’s transition to academia started in 2009 when she joined Georgetown, beginning a second career she had always contemplated during her two-decade run in nonprofits. “I had a great run in executive and non-profits, did a lot of good work, but I wasn’t going to learn anything new in year 21,” said Griffith. “And I had always had an interest in education and mentoring, so I made a conscious decision to pursue a second career in higher education.” At Georgetown, Griffith took leadership of the university’s new MBA evening program, helping the school rapidly rise in the rankings and bringing about growth in applications, enrollment and revenues. Griffith lauds the Carroll School’s “broad and value-based” view of management, pointing to its various research centers in Corporate Citizenship, Retirement Research, Work and Family, and Leadership and Ethics. “I like what it says about how BC looks at a business education. The Carroll School, particularly through the CEO Club, is very tightly woven into the Boston business community. These can be resources to the MBA program, and that’s a richness most MBA programs don’t have. I look forward to working with the very talented and dedicated people who run these centers and the graduate programs.”
Fr. Burns Takes Charge of WCAS Continued from page 1 help move the Woods College forward, and my intention was to work for however long it was necessary in order to prepare the college for its next phase. It wasn’t my expectation that I would necessarily become the next dean.” But Fr. Burns proved to be an energetic leader and a man of ideas, said University Provost and Dean of Faculties David Quigley. “Fr. Burns has worked tirelessly to strengthen the Woods College undergraduate and graduate programs over the last two years. He has partnered successfully with faculty and colleagues from around the University and we are poised to make great progress going forward. The Woods College has long advanced our University’s distinctive mission and I am confident that Dean Burns will continue that tradition in creative and powerful ways.” Fr. Burns says he plans to see how the school, with its long history of service to non-traditional students, measures up with peer institutions and identify areas with new potential. “Part of our vision has included collaborative partnerships with other units at BC in order to re-examine our place within
BC, and more broadly in the field of post-traditional learning and adult education. Since 2012, we have strengthened our undergraduate and graduate offerings while also examining the potential for growth opportunities in the local market and beyond especially in the area of applied master’s degrees. “In 2015, we are planning to launch a new MS degree in applied economics, having consulted with the Economics Department. This is a model we will use to develop additional professional master’s degrees in cyber-security and forensic science in the future. We are also revitalizing our certificates and executive education programs, while seeking to collaborate with other areas of the University around continuing education opportunities. In addition, we have made concrete efforts to reach out to the local Latino and Brazilian populations, crafting materials in Spanish and Portuguese.” Fr. Burns praised his predecessor, the WCAS founding dean and namesake James Woods, SJ, who led school for 44 years. “I have come to really appreciate many of the ways Fr. Woods
cared for so many of the students and graduates of the Woods College. I hope to continue that important tradition, especially with the help of the wonderfully dedicated staff that I am privileged to work with every day.” Prior to arriving at BC in 2010, Fr. Burns was co-chairman and associate professor of the Graduate School of Psychology at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minn. He also has served as an assistant professor in counseling psychology and religion at Boston University, a postdoctoral fellow at BU’s Center for the Study of Religions and Psychology, and an instructor in psychology and a research/clinical postdoctoral fellow at Harvard Medical School. Fr. Burns holds a doctor of philosophy degree in counseling psychology from Northeastern University, a master’s degree in counseling psychology from the University of St. Thomas and a master’s degree from St. Paul Seminary’s School of Divinity. He received his undergraduate degree in accounting from the University of St. Thomas School of Business. Contact Sean Hennessey at sean.hennessey@bc.edu
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University Convocation
Continued from page 1 Resource Leo Sullivan (who will “It’s been my pleasure to oftake the role of senior advisor to fer these updates over the years,” the president) and Church in the concluded Keating, who received a 21st Century Center Director Erik standing ovation at the end of his Goldschmidt, and candidates for speech. “I wish you all good health the new position of vice provost and a productive new year.” for enrollment management. Quigley, who came to BC as All three speakers also expressed a faculty member in the History sorrow at the passing in June of Department in 1998 (he became William B. Neenan, SJ, a key fig- A&S dean in 2009), said the serure at BC for more than three vice of past chief academic officers decades [see page 5]. like Fr. Neenan and Joseph Quinn Outlining other topics of ma- – who served as interim provost in jor relevance to the University, 2013-14 and was A&S dean for Fr. Leahy described BC’s relation- seven years – provided an inspiraship with the City tion and a model of Boston as “quite for him. His aim, positive,” praising “We enter this year he said, is to enable Vice President for “to sustain our blessed with gifted BC Governmental and remarkable trajecCommunity Affairs students, dedicated tory while protectThomas Keady and those distinctive faculty and staff, and ing his staff for their elements that have work. clear momentum.” driven our success Fr. Leahy also and at the same –Fr. Leahy touched on the time working to adprogress of the Light dress areas of ongothe World caming concern.“ paign, which as of last month He identified two such areas, has raised $1.278 billion in cash which he added also offer much and pledges toward its $1.5 billion in the way of opportunity. One is goal, for which he congratulated a proposal, currently in the planSenior Vice President for Univer- ning stages under the direction of sity Advancement James Husson Vice Provost for Research Thomas and his staff. The campaign’s im- Chiles and Executive Director for pact on BC has included 26 en- Research Administration Guilldowed professorships, $250 mil- ermo Nunez, for strategic investlion for student financial aid and ments for faculty and facilities in $85 million towards initiatives in integrated, applied and materials Jesuit/Catholic heritage and stu- sciences. dent formation. Another is the core curricuLooking at various academic, lum renewal initiative, which he administrative and other develop- called “a key strategic priority” for ments, Fr. Leahy said, “We enter his leadership. He noted that Fr. this year blessed with gifted stu- Kalscheur had led a task force in dents, dedicated faculty and staff, the spring that produced a vision and clear momentum.” statement for the core’s role in Keating, discussing financial BC’s Jesuit, Catholic mission. He trends, said that despite somewhat said a task force will work this acalower revenues than expected for demic year to begin formulating fiscal year 2014, the University pilot courses for 2015-16, and as benefited from a 13.4 percent re- part of the process will solicit facturn on endowment, a record year ulty comment and ideas; a “town in fundraising with $198 million hall”-type event on the core rein pledges and cash, and sound newal is planned for Oct. 15. management of expenses, espeQuigley also ticked off some cially in utilities, health care and positive indicators of BC’s acaoperations. He expressed confi- demic success, including another dence that BC would continue to strong freshman class, the launch deal effectively with tuition and of new interdisciplinary programs, financial aid pressures and revenue and the arrival of 44 new faculty challenges while continuing its members. strategic plan investments, notably “I’m looking forward to workin academic quality. ing with our talented deans and His review of current and up- faculty, and with colleagues from coming campus construction in- around this university, to continue cluded a report on the St. Mary’s our good work in 2014-2015,” he Hall and 2150 Commonwealth said. “I feel very lucky to have this Avenue projects [see page 3], and opportunity and I’m eager to get the envisioned relocation of the started.” McMullen Museum of Art to the [A Q&A with David Quigley Brighton Campus. He also spoke will appear in a forthcoming edion information systems projects tion.] and an ongoing compliance reContact Sean Smith at view effort, including of policies sean.smith@bc.edu on sexual assault.
Newsmakers Prof. James Bretzke, SJ (STM), offered comments to USA Today regarding Pope Francis’ expression of support for military intervention to stop Islamic militants from attacking religious minorities in Iraq. Prof. Ann Burgess (CSON), a pioneer in the teaching of forensic nursing, spoke with the Boston Herald about the importance of collecting evidence in caring for crime victims. What innovations have made it increasingly possible for the dead to have virtually unending financial power over the living? Prof. Ray Madoff ’s (Law) research related to this question was highlighted by the Boston Globe “BetaBoston.” In the language of government, immigrant Gilberto Francisco Ramos Juarez is called a UAC, or “unaccompanied alien minor.” In the words of faith, Gilberto is a precious and irreplaceable child of God, wrote Assoc. Prof. Paul Kline (GSSW) in The Pilot. Young Latin Americans are paying the price for America’s immigration policy, wrote Prof. Peter Skerry (Political Science) in the Weekly Standard. In the wake of actor-entertainer Robin Williams’ suicide, Assoc. Prof. Usha Tummala-Narra (LSOE) discussed aspects of depression, such as its frequent connection to drug dependency, in an interview with WCVB-TV News. Carroll School of Management Drucker Professor Alicia Munnell, director of the Center for Retirement Research, discussed possible solutions to ensure the future of Social Security on Fox Business News. Some American corporations are bailing out of American “citizen-
Provost and Dean of Faculties David Quigley was among those welcoming the Class of 2018 to campus on Aug. 28. (Photo by Lee Pellegrini)
ship” in order to pay lower taxes on the same operations. Prof. Diane Ring (Law) discussed this strategy of “tax inversion” on NPR’s “On Point.” In good times as in bad, the “Taylor rule” could help the Federal Reserve explain its policies to lawmakers and the American public, Murray and Monti Professor of Economics Peter Ireland wrote in a piece for Economics 21.
BC BRIEFING
Honors/Appointments Prof. Jeffrey Cohen (CSOM) assumed the post of senior editor for Auditing: A Journal of Practice and Theory, published by the American Accounting Association. Dark Matter: Invisibility in Drama, Theater, and Performance, by Assoc. Prof. Andrew Sofer (English), received honorable mention for the Association for Theatre in Higher Education’s 2014 Outstanding Book Award.
T i m e a n d a H a l f What can high school grades indicate about future success? Assoc. Prof. Karen Arnold (LSOE) discussed her research tracking valedictorians after their graduation with the Miami Herald.
Publications Assoc. Prof. of the Practice Michael C. Keith (Communication) published a short story in American Mensa’s summer edition of Calliope. O’Neill Library Manager of Instructional Services Kwasi Sarkodie-Mensah wrote the entry “Nigerian Americans” in the Gale Encyclopedia of Multicultural America.
NOTA BENE
Prof. Sharlene Hesse-Biber (Sociology) presented the keynote address at the international conference “Mapping & Critical Assessment of Existing Tools for Including Gender in Research” held in Barcelona.
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: Receptionist/Staff Assistant, Office of International Programs Vice Provost for Enrollment Management Associate Director, Employer Outreach, Law School Career Services Transportation Manager
&
Parking
Administrative Assistant, Career Center
Prof. R. Michael Cassidy (Law) was appointed by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court to a committee to study attorney-conducted voir dire during jury selection in criminal and civil trials in Massachusetts.
Systems Manager, Lynch School of Education
Sheila Blair, co-holder of the Calderwood University Professorship of Islamic and Asian Art, and Adj. Assoc. Prof. Luke Jorgensen (Theatre) were included in the Arts Career Project’s [artscareerproject.com] “15 Notable Art Professors in Boston.” The selected faculty members were described as “behind-the-scenes contributors who not only influence the art world through their own work but also by helping groom the next generation of young artists.”
Associate Vice President/Dean of Students
Associate Director, School Development, University Advancement
Assistant Director, Graduate Student Life Associate Director, Residential Life Assistant Director, Undergraduate Programs, Center for Student Formation
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Chronicle september 4, 2014
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On BC Bookmarks [bcbookmarks.com]: •Asst. Prof. Dana Sajdi (History) talks about her book The Barber of Damascus and the concept of “nouveau literacy” – scholarly works produced by commoners.
McMullen Highlights Legacy of Surrealist Wifredo Lam By Rosanne Pellegrini Staff Writer
Surrealist artist Wifredo Lam (1902–82), widely hailed as an international visionary in the artistic world, is the subject of a groundbreaking retrospective now on display at the McMullen Museum of Art through Dec. 14. “Wifredo Lam: Imagining New Worlds,” which comprises more than 40 paintings and a wide selection of works on paper – many never before displayed together – is the first exhibition to examine Lam as a global figure whose art expanded cultural boundaries and transcended established categories among artistic movements of the 20th century. Born in Cuba to parents of Chinese and African/Spanish descent, Lam provided a new context for art. Rooted in four continents, he gave expression to his multiracial and multicultural ancestry and engaged with the major political, literary, and artistic circles that defined his century. “Imagining New Worlds” offers a reexamination of the range of his canon, a reassessment of his importance in 20th-century art, and chronicles how his poetic imagination inspired depictions of “new worlds.” The paintings, drawings, etchings, lithographs, African and Oceanic sculptures from Lam’s personal collection, and photographs on display — which represent all of the artist’s major periods — are outstanding examples which re-
veal the imprint on Lam’s hybrid style of surrealism, magic realism, modernism, and postmodernism. Together, these works offer a new understanding of Lam, giving expression to his heritage and experience. “The McMullen Museum is pleased to present a retrospective examination of this most important 20th-century artist, Wifredo Lam, as a global figure,” said McMullen Museum Director and Professor of Art History Nancy Netzer. “The interdisciplinary team of scholars contributing to the exhibition’s narrative and catalogue has forged a new understanding of Lam’s relationship to artistic, literary, religious, and political movements of
SETTLING IN
the last century.” Previous studies of Lam’s body of work have focused on his European associations, and assumed that artistic and literary movements in France and Italy most profoundly affected his art. The McMullen presentation highlights the artist’s Spanish influences — which have been underappreciated until this exhibition — and demonstrates their presence in several of his greatest masterpieces. The exhibition also examines the influence of Spanish baroque poets and Spanish, French, and Latin American avant-garde artists and writers including Pablo Picasso, André Breton, Federico García Lorca, Alejo Carpentier, Gabriel
with an opportunity to trace Lam’s development over six decades.” A scholarly catalogue, published by the McMullen Museum, accompanies the exhibition, with essays by experts in a range of disciplines from Boston College, including curator Goizueta, Fine Arts Department Professor and Chair Claude Cernuschi, and Flatley Professor of Theology Roberto S. Goizueta. Other contributors include Roberto Cobas Amate, curator of Cuban “Vanguardia” art at the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes in Havana and Lowery Stokes Sims of the Museum of Arts and Design, New York. This exhibition is underwritten by Boston College and the Patrons of the McMullen Museum. For more information, see www. bc.edu/artmuseum. Contact Rosanne Pellegrini at rosanne.pellegrini@bc.edu
“Jesuit Survival & Restoration” Through Sept. 30 Burns Library
A current exhibit at the Burns Library offers new insights into an often overlooked historical event: the restoration of the Society of Jesus, which took place 200 years ago. “Jesuit Survival & Restoration” is the complement to an international conference on the same topic held in June by the Jesuit Institute. Comprised of books from the Burns’ Jesuitica collection and religious artifacts from the library’s Liturgy & Life Collection, the exhibit shows how Jesuits responded to the 1773 suppression of their order, and subsequent expulsions and banishments. For more about the “Jesuit Survival & Restoration” conference, see http://bit.ly/1z13a5g.
The 2014-15 academic year officially began on Tuesday, but the days leading up to it saw the arrival of the Class of 2018, which was given a welcome on Aug. 28 by Vice President for University Mission and Ministry Jack Butler, SJ (below at right), and other administrators.
Caitlin Cunningham
BC SCENES
“À la fin de la nuit, 1969” (above) and “Composición, I, 1930” are among the works on display at the McMullen Museum exhibition on surrealist Wifredo Lam.
García Márquez, and Aimé Césaire. Organized by the McMullen Museum of Art at Boston College, “Wifredo Lam: Imagining New Worlds” is curated by Elizabeth T. Goizueta, who teaches in the Hispanic Studies section of the Romance Languages and Literatures Department. Her research interests focus on the relationship between art and literature in 20th-century Latin America and Spain, and she works closely with the McMullen to promote Latin American art. “The McMullen Museum is the first museum to unite Lam’s paintings with his drawings, etchings, portfolios, and books and to make new connections among them,” she said. “Outstanding loans of paintings and works on paper selected from private collections and museums [in Europe, Latin America and the US] demonstrate a metamorphosis in the artist’s imagery and iconography, providing visitors
Lee Pellegrini Caitlin Cunningham
Lee Pellegrini
Student volunteers in the BC Welcome Wagon were on hand to help new arrivals like Connor Van Cleef (left) move onto campus last week.
Left, Assoc. Prof. Ralf Gawlick (Music) was among those ready to help provide information on specialized academic programs and majors and minors, volunteer opportunities, campus retreats, campus recreation, intramurals, student employment and other aspects of BC life, at the Opportunities for First-Year Students event. Lee Pellegrini