SEPTEMBER 27, 2018 VOL. 26 NO. 3
PUBLISHED BY THE BOSTON COLLEGE OFFICE OF UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS
Senior Survey Reveals Strong Satisfaction Rates Class of 2017 rates Boston College experience as overwhelmingly positive BY JACK DUNN ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT FOR UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS
Eighty-nine percent of seniors in the Boston College Class of 2017 said they were satisfied or very satisfied with their overall college experience, and 87 percent said they would choose BC again, according to data from the College Senior Survey (CSS) released last week by the Office of Institutional Research, Planning & Assessment (IRPA). In addition, 92 percent of the class said they were similarly satisfied with the quality of instruction they received at BC; 88 percent with the courses in their respective majors; and 77 percent with the Core Curriculum.
INSIDE 3 BC Establishes Observatory
The University has created the Global Observatory on Pollution and Health to track efforts to control pollution and prevent pollution-related diseases.
5 10 Years for ILA
The Boston College Institute for the Liberal Arts is marking its first decade.
8 On Global Engagement
Vice Provost for Global Engagement Alberto Godenzi discusses the progress in BC’s efforts to increase its global presence.
Overall, 91 percent of seniors in the Class of 2017 said that Boston College had prepared them well for their careers, and 93 percent felt well prepared for advanced studies in graduate school—numbers that place BC at the highest levels of student satisfaction among peer institutions, administrators said. Designed as an exit survey for graduating seniors nationwide, the College Senior Survey, sponsored by the Higher Education Research Institute, collects data on students’ experiences, attitudes, and perceptions prior to graduation. The CSS focuses on a broad range of college outcomes, including academic achievement and engagement, student-faculty interaction, and satisfaction with the college experience.
Continued on page 4
STM Celebration The School of Theology and Ministry marked its 10th anniversary Sept. 20 with a Mass in St. Ignatius Church—concelebrated by (L-R) STM Dean Thomas Stegman, S.J., Kevin Oodo, S.J., M.Div.’18, University President William P. Leahy, S.J., and Timothy Kesicki, S.J., president of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the U.S.—and an evening lecture by best-selling author and America magazine editor-at-large James Martin, S.J., M.Div.’98, Th.M.’99. photos by frank curran
A Commitment to Undergraduate Teaching BC faculty members relish University’s emphasis on working with undergrads BY KATHLEEN SULLIVAN STAFF WRITER
When Emily Prud’hommeaux, a computer scientist with an interest in natural language processing, was interviewing at universities for a faculty position, she was struck by how often the teaching of undergraduates was talked about as either a necessary evil or something that could be minimized so as to not get in the way of her research. But Boston College and its emphasis on teaching as well as research, she said, stood out from other schools and was part of the reason she chose to accept a faculty position in the Computer Science Department earlier this year. “I love working with undergraduates,”
she said. “I put a lot of effort into my teaching, and l love that undergraduate teaching matters here and is appreciated.” Excellence in undergraduate teaching has long been a hallmark of a Boston College education and was recently affirmed in a ranking by U.S. News & World Report, which listed Boston College as 16th in the country among national universities for “best undergraduate teaching.” “Given our longstanding commitment to transformative undergraduate liberal arts education, it was gratifying to see the recent U.S. News recognition of our commitment to undergraduate teaching,” said Provost and Dean of Faculties David Quigley. Quigley himself is prime example of the Boston College’s commitment to undergraduate teaching. Though his responsibili-
ties as one of the University’s most senior leaders might make it challenging for him to spend time in the classroom, Quigley continues to teach. This coming spring he and Professor of English Carlo Rotella will co-teach the undergraduate elective Boston: History, Literature and Culture. Last spring, Quigley taught The Worlds of Moby Dick. His Moby Dick class was part of the University’s new innovative, team-taught core course offerings for first-year students. The interdisciplinary courses address either complex problems or enduring questions, and are a centerpiece of the University’s renewal of the core for the 21st century. The University’s commitment to the Core Curriculum, the bedrock of a liberal arts Continued on page 4
“When we identify potential partners or opportunities in global engagement, we ask, ‘Does this represent an area of strength for Boston College? Will it support not only our academic mission, but our formational mission as well?’ BC is now more intentional and holistic in considering its international presence and impact.” –Vice Provost for Global Engagement Alberto Godenzi, page 8
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September 27, 2018
Around Campus
‘Connected in a Special Way’ Oct. 3 BC Veterans Kickoff Event seen as helping to build ties among veterans and with BC community U.S. military veterans from alumni, student, employee, and ROTC groups of Boston College will come together for the second annual Veterans Kickoff Event on Oct. 3 in Cadigan Alumni Center, organized by the BC Student Veterans Association (BCSVA) with the goal of uniting veterans from all parts of the University community. Established in September of 2017, the BCSVA “aims to assist in the professional development of members, to promote camaraderie, and to raise awareness and support for the military on the Boston College campus.” “I believe that the veterans of Boston College, past, present and future, are connected in a special way” said David Cote, president of the Graduate Student Veterans Association. “Our service to our nation and our association with Boston College set us apart.” The Kickoff Event welcomes BC veterans and their guests to enjoy appetizers, drinks, and conversation with others who share a military as well as educational back-
ground. There is no fee to attend, but donations to help cover the cost of the event are appreciated. “The Veterans Kickoff Event is a great venue for veterans and those who work with them to get together, socialize, and form mutually beneficial bonds with one another” said Executive Vice President Mike Lochhead, a U.S. Army veteran. “Last year’s inaugural event was a great success due in large part to the leadership of the student, alumni, and employee affinity groups working in close collaboration. My hope is that this year’s event will continue the positive momentum by reaching more members of this important community here at Boston College.” Additional events hosted by the BC Student Veterans Association this year include a tailgate party during the home football game on Oct. 13 against Louisville, a Veteran’s Day Remembrance Mass and Ceremony, and informational talks on topics such as the transition into civilian employment. –Christine Balquist
BC Events Calendar a Useful Resource The Boston College Events Calendar [events.bc.edu] is a centralized resource useful for promoting campus lectures, discussions, concerts, seminars, performances, and other events organized through the University community. To enter an event, BC community members can click “submit an event” on the BC events webpage and specify the event name, description, location, and time. Multiple filters such as event type and audience type can be added to sort the event. By selecting a web filter, events will automatically appear on the school, department, or office website for increased visibility. The calendar software, Localist, provides a platform where events can be searched, sorted, and showcased. Members of the University community or visitors can view ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT FOR UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS
Jack Dunn SENIOR DIRECTOR FOR UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS
listings of events by a specific day, week, school or interest. “Localist is exactly the easy-to-use, centralized, web-based calendar tool that the University has sought for years.” said Brock Dilworth, managing director of creative services in the Office of University Communications, which maintains the events calendar. “The more people that use it, the more useful it becomes. Since the beginning of the academic year, 5,250 individual members of the Boston College community have visited the site either to enter or view events. An additional 9,500 people have visited from off campus, which demonstrates the added benefit of the calendar—showcasing to the world just how active and engaged this community really is.” –Christine Balquist
CONTRIBUTING STAFF
Sean Smith
High Fives, Warm Feelings Campus School year off to a good start, thanks to BCPD volunteers Members of the Boston College Police Department (BCPD) enthusiastically greeted students from the Campus School at Boston College upon their arrival on Sept. 14, delivering a “High Five Friday” start for the 42 enrollees. Ten uniformed officers voluntarily participated in the first-ever event that included a squad car-lined street with warning lights lit, personal welcomes for each student, sticker badges, photos of students sitting on a police motorcycle, and classroom readings with safety-themed youth books featuring law enforcement officers. The publicly funded Campus School currently enrolls special education students, ages three-21, from 32 Massachusetts communities. Campus School students face complex physical and developmental challenges that may affect communication, vision, cognition, sensory processing, movement, or fine motor skills. The school develops age-appropriate thematic units that align with the Massachusetts General Education Curriculum Frameworks. “As a community service-oriented department, BCPD is dedicated to giving back,” said Patrol Sergeant Robert Wayne, who coordinated the event on behalf of the BCPD. “‘High Five Friday’ was just our latest event in collaboration with the Campus School, and we learned that the students would respond positively to the presence of uniformed officers and the police warning lights. To see the reaction on
Christine Balquist Phil Gloudemans Ed Hayward Roseanne Pellegrini Kathleen Sullivan
Chronicle
PHOTOGRAPHERS
www.bc.edu/bcnews chronicle@bc.edu
Patricia Delaney EDITOR
BC Police welcomed Campus School students to Campion Hall on Sept. 14. photo by frank curran
Gary Wayne Gilbert Lee Pellegrini Peter Julian
the students’ faces as we helped them into school was very memorable, and reminded us how amazing these students are.” “The BC Police are very important to our school and students,” said Campus School Marketing/Admissions and Outreach Coordinator Kristen Morin, who noted that the welcome event was also timed to honor 9/11 first responders. “It’s critically important that they understand our students’ needs, and that they and our students are comfortable with each other. We so appreciate BCPD’s willingness and enthusiasm to engage with us as members of the BC community.” Each student received a personal escort into the building, complete with applause and cheers through a tunnel of blue-clad officers. According to Morin, the mother of an 18-year-old Campus School student emailed the school to express her gratitude to the BCPD: “Imagine...they clapped for my boy while he walked into school,” she wrote. “What a ‘special’ event. Thank you so much!” Another parent reported that her seven-year-old was so excited after sitting on a police motorcycle that he could barely sleep Friday night following the event. The Campus School students presented handmade thank-you cards to attending officers as well as their colleagues, expressing gratitude for their friendship and keeping them safe. –Phil Gloudemans
The Boston College Chronicle (USPS 009491), the internal newspaper for faculty and staff, is published biweekly from September to May by Boston College, with editorial offices at the Office of University Communications, 3 Lake Street, Brighton, MA 02135 (617)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 University Communications, 3 Lake Street, Brighton, MA 02135. A flipbook edition of Chronicle is available via e-mail. Send requests to chronicle@bc.edu.
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Lionel Richie to Perform at Pops on the Heights Maestro Keith Lockhart will raise his baton in Conte Forum tomorrow evening to celebrate the 26th Pops on the Heights Barbara and Jim Cleary Scholarship Gala, the annual musical extravaganza which brings the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra to campus. The University’s largest fundraising event for financial aid has made a Boston College education a reality for more than 2,500 students. The gala—once again sold out—is co-chaired by BC Board of Trustees member and former chairman John Fish and his wife, Cyndy P ’13, ’18. International superstar Lionel Richie, who has sold more than 100 million albums worldwide during his long and distinguished career, is the special guest performer. His honors include an Oscar, a Golden Globe, and four Grammy Awards. He also was the 2016 MusicCares person of the year and Kennedy Center honoree in 2017. Richie is no stranger to Boston College: In 1986, the University awarded him an honorary degree in music. “Pops on the Heights is an experience best felt in person—-it’s difficult to describe the energy when you walk into Conte Forum and see the thousands of people gathered there to support scholarships for BC students,” said Office of University Advancement Vice President for Development Beth E. McDermott. “They have a lot of
Four-time Grammy winner Lionel Richie will appear with the Pops Esplanade Orchestra.
fun singing along to the Pops and will no doubt want to dance all night long to Lionel Richie, but at the end of the evening, the event is really all about our students. “There is no person who exemplifies the support of these young people more than the chair of this year’s Pops, John Fish,” she added. “He has worked tirelessly to ensure that every seat is filled and that we are therefore maximizing the impact of Pops Scholarships on deserving students.” As part of their greeting published in
the event program, the Fishes write: “We are thrilled to be surrounded by thousands of members of the Boston College community who are reaffirming their belief in BC and its mission: to educate young men and women who will lead lives in service to others, with the hope of a more just and loving world.” Celebrated conductor of “America’s Orchestra,” Lockhart has led more than 1,900 Boston Pops concerts. The evening will feature a Leonard Bernstein tribute, with
performances by student musical groups including the University Chorale, conducted by director John Finney, and the Screaming Eagles Marching Band directed by David Healey. Intermission will feature “Becoming an Eagle,” a multimedia art project created by students of Studio Art Associate Professor Sheila Gallagher. Founded in 1993 by the late Barbara and James F. Cleary ’50, H’93, a BC trustee and founder of the Fides and President’s Circle annual giving societies, Pops on the Heights has raised $50 million in Pops scholarships. The Clearys’ children—-Kara ’84, MA’91, Kristin ’89, JD’93, and Jim Jr.—-continue their philanthropic legacy as Pops benefactors. In addition, the annual James F. Cleary Masters Award, given to a fundraising volunteer who exemplifies creativity, dedication, and leadership, was established in honor of the Clearys. Carney Family Pops Scholar Kasey L. Smith ’20 was among Pops Scholars, both young alumni and current students, highlighted in the event program with comments on how the scholarship has made a difference in their lives. “I look forward to making a difference in peoples’ lives like you have made in mine,” she said. –University Communications
University Establishes Global Observatory on Pollution and Health Boston College to partner with United Nations Environment agency in effort to seek policy solutions BY ED HAYWARD STAFF WRITER
Boston College has established the Global Observatory on Pollution and Health to track efforts to control pollution and prevent pollution-related diseases that account for an estimated nine million deaths worldwide each year. The observatory, directed by public health expert and Professor of Biology Philip J. Landrigan, M.D.’63, takes shape as BC develops the Schiller Institute for Integrated Science and Society, the cornerstone of the $150-million life sciences facility slated to begin construction on campus next year. “The observatory is going to take on major issues at the intersection of pollution, human health and public policy,” said Landrigan. “We’ll study particular segments of the problem—how it affects particular countries, different populations, like children, or particular diseases, like cancer. Our reports will be disseminated broadly and aimed at the general public as well as policy makers. What we want to do is mobilize society to see pollution as a serious threat, change public policy, prevent pollution and, ultimately, save lives.” The observatory will collaborate with the Center for Climate, Health and the Global Environment at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, directed by former EPA Administrator Gina Mc-
Carthy. The study center will examine pollution’s role in children’s health and adolescent health, cardiovascular disease and death, cancer, and the loss of “human capital” caused by toxic pollutants that impair brain function in children. Asbestos, lead, and mercury are among the major toxins to be studied. On Monday, Landrigan and BC officials signed a memorandum of understanding with the United Nations Environment, establishing the observatory’s first partnership in advance of a study of pollution in India, said Landrigan. UN Under-Secretary-General Erik Solheim, executive director of the UN Environment, said, “Air pollution is one of the biggest public health emergencies of our time. I welcome the partnership between UN Environment and Boston College in providing us high-quality, real-time data to tackle air pollution. Importantly, by providing us early warnings of air quality issues, we will have the science we need to chart a course for cleaner air for all.” The observatory was inspired by the groundbreaking Commission on Pollution and Health established by the British medical journal The Lancet. Landrigan, BC Vice Provost for Research Thomas Chiles, and BC School of Social Work Dean Gautam Yadama served on the commission, which concluded pollution sources lead to approximately nine million premature
deaths per year—16 percent of all deaths worldwide. The Lancet commission also found that the tools needed to control pollution and prevent pollution-related disease already exist, but need to be more evenly distributed. “The observatory will add significant transnational and multidisciplinary col-
laborations to Boston College’s global public health initiatives,” said Chiles. “The University’s strategic goals ask us to draw upon our world-class faculty and scientific research to make an impact in the world—not just in the lab, but in society. We think this initiative can touch the lives of people in the U.S. and around the globe.”
Quigley Chairs New Accrediting Body Boston College’s longstanding accrediting body, the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education (CIHE)—one of four constituent commissions within the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)—has completed a substantial reorganization to meet the U.S. Department of Education’s requirement that all regional higher-education accrediting commissions function as “separate and independent” entities. As a result of CIHE/NEASC’s restructuring, Boston College will now operate under the established Standards for Accreditation and associated policies and procedures of the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), which serves as the federally recognized regional accreditor for the six New England states. Provost and Dean of Faculties David Quigley, a veteran member of CIHE/
NEASC, has been named chairman of NECHE. “As I begin my two-year term as chair of NECHE, my fellow commissioners and I are committed to maintaining the commission’s credibility with member institutions and the general public,” said Quigley. “As NECHE evolves, our current accreditation standards, guidelines, and processes, as well as our commitment to quality assurance, will not change.” Boston College administrators say they look forward to offering their full support to NECHE during this transition. “We recognize NECHE’s value to both public and member institutions,” said Jess Greene, director of University assessment and accreditation services. “We are eager to work with them as this new accreditation model unfolds.” —University Communications
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September 27, 2018
Class of 2017 Seniors Give BC High Marks Continued from page 1
In 2017, 1,149 BC seniors participated in the survey, for an overall response rate of 51 percent. Through IRPA, the CSS results are matched against a national sample of college students to gain a comparative measure of BC seniors’ self-assessment vis-a-vis peers. Among the findings: •77 percent of BC students held an internship while at BC, 12 points above the national average. •72 percent of BC students held a leadership position in a student organization, 10 points above the national average. •54 percent studied abroad while at BC, 20 points above the national average. •And nearly one-third of BC students participated in undergraduate research opportunities with faculty, three points above the national average. On the issue of personal growth, a majority of Boston College seniors rated themselves above average or in the highest 10 percent compared to their peers in writing ability, academic ability, leadership, drive to achieve, physical health, understanding of others, public speaking,
mathematical ability, and intellectual selfconfidence—results, administrators say, that constitute a remarkable endorsement of the BC undergraduate experience. “The CSS was designed to measure the impact of a college education, examining both academic and social experiences,” said Kelli Armstrong, vice president of planning and assessment. “BC students have consistently scored higher than our peers on a vast majority of the outcome measures, particularly those that demonstrate a commitment to the liberal arts and a values-based education. In general, BC students report higher levels of satisfaction with their educational experience than our peers. This year was no exception.” “The results of the College Senior Survey provide powerful evidence that Boston College students are getting a great education and are challenged and supported by their faculty,” said Provost and Dean of Faculties David Quigley. “The recent US News survey, which ranked Boston College 16th overall in the new ‘Best Undergraduate Teaching’ category, offers notable external recognition of our continuing success in this essential area.”
Teaching Undergraduates a Draw Continued from page 1
education, is the first strategic direction in its strategic plan, “Ever to Excel: Advancing Boston College’s Mission.” The appeal of teaching undergraduates is not limited to newcomers like Prud’hommeaux. Veteran faculty members at BC relish undergraduate teaching as well. “There is nothing more satisfying than working with young people eager to learn and explore, willing to face our history and wrestle with it,” said Associate Profes-
Emily Prud’hommeaux: “It’s rare to find a place where you can have a serious research career and still have the opportunity to work with and mentor undergraduates.” photo by lee pellegrini
sor of History Cynthia Lynn Lyerly, who has been at BC since 1995. “Our students are so smart and so engaged that I learn as much from them as they do from me.” Lyerly, who specializes in the American South, women, race, and religion, is currently teaching Union in Crisis, a writing seminar for undergraduate history majors, and American Hate, which satisfies the cultural diversity core requirement. She has also recently taught a class that fulfills the history core requirement. “Teaching the core is a special kind of joy, because some students in that class are there simply because of the requirement and the time of day my class meets works with their schedule. Sharing with them the excitement of history, showing them how historians think about the world, hoping that they come away with at least a respect for history and some understanding of its breadth is a teaching challenge and I love it,” she said. For Boston College faculty, a commitment to teaching undergraduates and conducting research and scholarship does not come as an “either-or” proposition. For example, Prud’hommeaux is the principal investigator of a NIH grant to examine speech patterns of high-functioning adults with autism spectrum disorder. Lyerly is working on a forthcoming book titled Thomas Dixon, Jr.: Apostle of Hate. “It’s rare to find a place where you can have a serious research career and still have the opportunity to work with and mentor undergraduates,” said Prud’hommeaux.
The Class of 2017 at Commencement. Ninety-one percent of the class said that BC had prepared them well for their careers, and 93 percent felt well prepared for advanced studies in graduate school—numbers that place BC at the highest levels of student satisfaction among peer institutions. photo by lee pellegrini
Armstrong said that one of the advantages of the CSS is its ability to link student responses in their senior year to the same items that were asked during their freshman year of college. “This allows us to measure change over time,” said Armstrong. “In these links, we’ve seen wonderful areas of growth for BC students. For example, students ad-
Snapshot
Hispanic Heritage Month
Students participated in the Parade of Flags opening ceremony, above, as Boston College celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month on Sept. 20 in the Yawkey Center’s Murray Function Room. Highlighting the event was a talk by Stephanie Valencia ‘04, who discussed her new book, West Wingers: Stories from the Dream Chasers, Change Makers, and Hope Creators Inside the Obama White House, and her experiences as a Latina in politics. Right, Valencia—a past winner of the University’s Romero Scholarship—spoke with last year’s recipient, Jorge Mejía ‘19.
vanced 14 points in the measurement of their writing ability during their time at Boston College, seven points above the peer group. The data clearly show the successful outcomes resulting from a BC education.” Details on the College Senior Survey are available on the IRPA website at www. bc.edu/IRPA. PHOTOS BY CHRISTOPHER HUANG
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Institute for the Liberal Arts Celebrating 10 Years of Supporting Faculty Collaborations Across Disciplines Marking its first decade, Boston College’s Institute for the Liberal Arts (ILA) upholds the enduring commitment of Jesuit, Catholic colleges and universities to the centrality of liberal arts education, by providing opportunities to consider seriously the place of the liberal arts in the 21st-century university. Since its founding, the ILA has fostered collaborative interdisciplinary research and teaching in the liberal arts, hosted conversations, and supported programs that examine and advance liberal arts education. Commemorating the ILA’s 10th anniversary, an exhibit in the O’Neill Library Reading Room—“Celebrating 10 Years of Interdisciplinary Collaboration: ILA Major Grant Projects”—showcases many of these initiatives, including regional, national, and international conferences, musical performances, publications, and more. On view through November, the exhibit illustrates the ILA’s work with existing programs and centers, to forge connections across campus and support scholarship that bridges the humanities and other disciplines. “I believe that the ILA has been successful in increasing collaboration of BC faculty across departments and schools, and in encouraging interdisciplinary projects,” said ILA Director Mary Crane, the Thomas F. Rattigan Professor of English. “It has brought many distinguished scholars and
Provost and Dean of Faculties David Quigley credits the leadership of Institute for the Liberal Arts Director Mary Crane, above, for sustaining “a campus-wide conversation about the transcendent value of the liberal arts.” photo by yiting chen
artists to the BC campus. The success of the ILA has stemmed from hard work on the part of BC faculty, including the members of the executive board, the governing board, and the many faculty who have used ILA funding to carry out innovative projects.” Some 90 ILA Major Grants of up to $25,000 have supported projects conceived by interdisciplinary teams of BC faculty to advance knowledge and understanding
across the liberal arts, and the ILA remains dedicated to cultivating initiatives that enhance the intellectual life of students and faculty. “Having been present at the creation of the Institute for the Liberal Arts over a decade ago, I join colleagues across campus in celebrating its 10th anniversary this fall,” said Provost and Dean of Faculties David Quigley. “Mary Crane’s visionary leadership
has sustained a campus-wide conversation about the transcendent value of the liberal arts in an era when critics abound, across the nation and around the world. I look forward to seeing how the ILA evolves to meet the challenges of the next decade.” Over the years, the ILA has sponsored a range of symposia, collaborated with The Council for Women of Boston College on programming, supported appearances by distinguished speakers via the Park Street Series and Lowell Humanities Series, and, with Boston College Libraries, provided support for a number of undergraduate student publications. The ILA also provides smaller grants of up to $2,500 to individual faculty members who want to bring in speakers, organize seminars, or pursue other projects. “As part of our 10th-anniversary celebration, we plan to solicit input from faculty about how ILA funds might better foster and support interdisciplinary collaboration at BC,” Crane noted. “We hope that good ideas will emerge and will help determine the direction of the ILA for the next 10 years. In the future, I hope to provide more resources to support innovative graduate education and resources to facilitate projects in the arts that have social impact.” –University Communications
Burns Library Hosts Launch for New Irish History BY PHIL GLOUDEMANS STAFF WRITER
The John J. Burns Library welcomed The Cambridge History of Ireland General Editor Thomas Bartlett, the respective volume editors, and contributor Professor of the Practice of History Robert J. Savage at a Sept. 20 reception celebrating the publication of the four-volume collection. Written by a team of more than 100 leading historians from 38 institutions worldwide, The Cambridge History of Ireland covers 1,500 years of Irish history, from 600 to the present. Savage and his former History colleague Kevin Kenny— now at New York University—contributed, respectively, to Volume 4 and Volume 3. The 3,000-page series, published by Cambridge University Press, has been characterized as the most comprehensive and authoritative account of the island nation ever attempted. In a recent interview with the Irish Times, Bartlett said he had agreed to serve as editor of the series “because I had become concerned that the explosion in publications in Irish history over the past 40 years had rendered the subject all but inaccessible both to the student and to the interested reader. “Hence a new synthesis, drawing on the most recent scholarship was badly needed—one that would pull together the
Former Irish Minister of State Liz O’Donnell speaking at the reception for The Cambridge History of Ireland. photo by justin knight
most significant writings on Irish history and provide a stimulus to further research,” added Bartlett, professor emeritus of Irish history at the University of Aberdeen, editor of Volume 4, and a former Burns Visiting Scholar in Irish Studies at BC. “The Cambridge History of Ireland is a remarkable achievement,” said Savage. “What
is particularly striking is the variety of voices and the range of scholarship in these volumes. There is a healthy mix of young, early-career historians and more established academics who enhance these histories, delivering rich political and cultural history along with wonderful examinations of class, gender, leisure and material culture. I’m delighted to be one of the few U.S.-based historians to be featured in this landmark publication.” Other past Burns Scholars contributing to the series included Guy Beiner, Paul Bew, Alvin Jackson, Ciaran O’Neill, and Colman Ó Clabaigh, OSB. The evening featured keynote remarks by Liz O’Donnell, a former Irish Minister of State in the Department of Foreign Affairs, on the Northern Ireland peace process, the advancement of women in Ireland, and social progress. “The learned historians here today know far more about my country than I do in any great historical detail,” said O’Donnell. “They have done us a great service by compiling these accomplished essays, which record and analyze Irish history in a very broad way. They deserve our thanks, respect, and recognition.” A concluding panel discussion included an audience Q&A with O’Donnell, Bartlett, and the other volume editors, James Kelly, professor of history at Dublin City University; Jane Ohlmeyer, Erasmus
Smith’s Professor of Modern History at Trinity College Dublin; and Brendan Smith, professor of Medieval history at the University of Bristol. “We were thrilled that Liz O’Donnell keynoted this special event that celebrates the work of Irish historians and the forward momentum of Irish society,” said Robert M. Mauro, director of BC’s Global Leadership Institute, an event sponsor. O’Donnell participated in an Irish Institute leadership program hosted by Mauro in 2011. The BC event was part of a U.S. tour that began at the Embassy of Ireland in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 18, keynoted by former Vice President Joe Biden, and the following day at New York University’s Glucksman Ireland House. “The Cambridge History of Ireland has earned its place as a landmark survey of Irish history,” said Shane Cahill, consul general of Ireland in Boston, an event co-sponsor. “We are proud to support the U.S. launch of this important contribution to the study of our story, which is an original and new take on Irish history from multiple perspectives. We are particularly proud to partner with the John J. Burns Library, which is so important to the history of the Irish in America.” Additional event co-sponsors included Boston College Libraries, Cambridge University Press, and the Boston College Center for Irish Programs.
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September 27, 2018
Q&A with Ben Birnbaum
40 Years of Getting to ‘Know BC to the Core’ Last Friday, at a reception in Gasson 100, Ben Birnbaum formally said goodbye to friends and colleagues after a 40-year career at Boston College that began when he joined what was then the Office of Public Relations. The University changed dramatically over the next four decades, and Birnbaum helped to chronicle and promote that change as a writer, as editor of Boston College Magazine, and in senior leadership positions, notably as director of publications and print marketing, marketing communications, and as special assistant to the president. Birnbaum also participated in the intellectual campus life of Boston College, giving lectures, moderating panel discussions, and participating in ongoing seminars. On the eve of his farewell, Birnbaum spoke about his life and times at Boston College with Sean Smith of the Chronicle.[This article has been edited for space. Read the full Q&A at http://bit.ly/ben-birnbaum-retires] Q: Let’s go back to 1978: Here you are, a Jewish guy from Brooklyn with a Bachelor of Talmudic Law degree, well-traveled, now married and settled down—and looking for a writing job. What brought you to Boston College? Birnbaum: When I applied for the job as staff writer, I thought BC was a public institution. In New York City, there was City College of New York, Brooklyn College, Queens College, and so on, all of them part of the City University of New York system; I just assumed that Boston College must belong to the City of Boston. But when I was told, in an off-handed way, that BC was Jesuit—the person who told me never said “Catholic”—it didn’t really register; I didn’t know a Jesuit from a jelly bean then.
Ben Birnbaum offered reminiscences at his farewell reception last week. photo by peter julian
I quickly learned, of course, that BC was Catholic as well as Jesuit, and that gave me pause: Would I fit in here? But BC began to embrace me, for reasons only it knows, and trusted me to do important work. I felt that, despite my being neither Catholic nor Jesuit nor Bostonian nor football devotee, the University really wanted me to be here. Q: You said you felt embraced and trusted by BC. What else struck you about the place? Birnbaum: There were many things I liked. I liked the tension between Athens and Jerusalem, the uneasy mixture of
knowledge, science, and religion that I had experienced in my rabbinical college and in my personal religious life. Catholics had the same problems: How does Genesis fit with Darwin? How does philosophy fit with revelation? I enjoy that tension. It’s my natural habitat. I also liked BC’s elasticity when I arrived. It was as if the Big Bang had just happened, and things were hot and flexible. There was a vast amount of freedom to be inventive. And there was the community itself. “Community” is a much-used word in higher ed, but I found BC’s community to be real. Landing at BC, I also felt somewhat like an American in Paris. When we travel, whether it’s to Paris, or Prague, or Beijing, we feel how cultures do things differently. We’re always learning. It’s exciting. So my early years here were much like living abroad; there was a certain thrill of discovery. Q: The arc of your career at BC coincided with a revolution in academic communications and marketing: more attention to design and graphics, professionalquality writing and editing, outreach to media, and so on through the advent of the digital age. How did you experience this? Birnbaum: Yes, there was a major shift. Higher education itself was in the throes of change, and not only in terms of communications and marketing, and this was particularly true for BC, which was beginning to feel that it had possibilities worth talking about—and that gave me the chance to talk about those possibilities. At the time I
arrived, BC had a monthly newspaper, Colleague, that published news and features— and things like births, engagements, personal milestones—concerning faculty and staff. Boston College Magazine had started the year before. I became deeply involved in both those publications, and later Biweekly, which was the successor to Colleague, only more focused on news, research, and such. There were many projects over the years that manifested BC, and it was exciting to be engaged with them. The central and lovely challenge for me has been to know BC to the core. Writing about a university from a place of ignorance is a dangerous thing, so understanding BC has been a central part of my work. Q: What, for you, have been the simple, everyday pleasures of BC—activities that you’ve found personally nourishing? Birnbaum: One was participating in faculty seminars that would have me. Had I known what the professoriate was about when I was a young man, I’d be a senior faculty member today. But I knew no college faculty growing up, and so I couldn’t imagine being one. And I’ve always liked eating lunch at the Rat. There’s space, and I can eat my sandwich, be invisible, and listen to students. I hear their stories, their language, and I love it. It’s affirming to hear them— their energy, their silliness, their perception, to feel their affection for each other. And they struggle with what we struggled with at their age: What am I going to be when I grow up? How do I keep my parents from driving me crazy? Who will I love? Even as BC has changed, in many ways the students have stayed the same.
DeVoy Theatre Series to Host Playwright Gardley The Theatre Department will host a lecture by award-winning playwright Marcus Gardley on Oct. 11 at 7 p.m. in Robsham Theater, as part of the University’s Matthew R. DeVoy and John H. DeVoy IV Perspectives on Theatre Series. Following the lecture, which is free and open to the public, Dawn M. Simmons, artistic director of The Front Porch Arts Collective, will lead a Q&A with Gardley. Described by The New Yorker as “the heir to Federico Garcia Lorca, Luigi Pirandello, and Tennessee Williams,” Gardley has produced plays at some of the country’s most renowned theaters, such as Arena Stage, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Lincoln Center Theater, and Yale Repertory Theatre. His recent work, “Black Odyssey”— which blends Greek mythology and African-American folklore to form a new vision of Homer’s eighth-century classic—received nine Excellence in Theatre Award nominations from the San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle, and won seven Theatre Bay Area awards for its 2017 West Coast premiere at California Shakespeare Theater. “Black Odyssey” will have its Boston premiere this coming April, co-produced by Central Square Theater and The Front
Porch Arts Collective—a black-led theatre company committed to advancing racial equity in Boston through theater. “Marcus Gardley’s work is both relatable and sublime,” says Maurice Emmanuel Parent, executive director of The Front Porch Collective and Boston College’s 2017-18 Rev. J. Donald Monan, S.J., Professor in Theatre Arts. “He blends magical realism with the particulars of the Black experience in a way that is impactful to members of our community and speaks to the essential humanity of all people.” Gardley, named one of “50 to watch” in 2009 by The Dramatist magazine, is a former recipient of the PEN/Laura Pels award for a Mid-Career Playwright, which honors a “playwright whose literary achievements are vividly apparent in the rich and striking language of his or her work.” He is a former United States Artists James Baldwin Fellow for Theater and Performance, which recognized him as one of “America’s most accomplished and innovative artists.” His work often centers on African American history and allegory, challenging audiences by tackling complex social and political issues and he views it as a form of activism. In a 2015 interview with the
Marcus Gardley
National Endowment for the Arts, Gardley said, “What I intend for [the plays] to do, is cause conversation. From that conversation, [I hope] people are not only inspired to see more theater, but also inspired to do things in their community, so that the work is actually causing a spark for change.” Gardley’s “Every Tongue Confess,” winner of the 2010 Edgerton Foundation
New Play Award, depicts intergenerational tales of loss and redemption in the town of Boligee, Ala. His “The Gospel of Lovingkindness”— a drama about faith, family, and loss at the hands of gun violence—won the 2014 Black Theater Alliance Award for best play/playwright. “The Road Weeps, The Well Runs Dry,” concerning the myth, folklore, and history of the Black Seminole people in the first all-black U.S. town in Wewoka, Okla., was a finalist for the 2014 Edward M. Kennedy Prize for Drama Inspired by American History, which honors plays or musicals that “enlist theater’s power to explore the past of the United States, and to participate meaningfully in the great issues of our day through public conversation.” The DeVoy Perspectives on Theatre Series, a program made possible by a gift from the DeVoy family, annually brings professionals and creative forces in theater and the performing arts to Boston College, to share their experience and vision. For questions about the event, e-mail Theatre Department Chair Crystal Tiala at tiala@bc.edu or Administrative Assistant Julie-Anne Whitney at whitneju@bc.edu. —Rosanne Pellegrini
Chronicle
September 27, 2018
WELCOME ADDITIONS
BC in the Media
An Introduction to New Faculty at Boston College STEFANO ANZELLOTTI
HIBA HAFIZ Assistant Professor Boston College Law School DEGREES: Wellesley
Assistant Professor of Psychology Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences DEGREES: University of Trento (BA); Harvard University (MA, PhD) WHAT HE STUDIES: Person knowledge and its perceptual foundations, such as recognition of identity and facial expressions; computational models of cognitive and neural mechanisms at the transition from perception to conceptual knowledge, with a focus on how we understand others.
WHAT HE’S TEACHING: Advanced Topics in Social Neuroscience
What, to you, are the most interesting aspects of social neuroscience? “Social neuroscience investigates how the brain supports our ability to interact with others, a key part of our lives. The field studies humans with the help of methods from psychology, neuroscience, and artificial intelligence—an exciting convergence of different approaches that is opening up new opportunities for both academic research and applications.”
JANE CASSIDY Assistant Professor of Studio Art Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences DEGREES: Trin-
College (BA); Columbia University (MA); Yale University (PhD); Columbia Law School (JD)
WHAT SHE STUDIES: Legal solutions to labor market concentration and inequality. WHAT SHE’S TEACHING: Administrative Law; Antitrust Law; Work Law and the New Economy.
How did practicing as an antitrust attorney impact your scholarship on labor law? “I was drawn to antitrust law first because I was inspired by the ‘trustbusting’ era of antitrust enforcement. But I also wanted to understand how lawyers can deploy legal theories and social scientific methods to analyze and combat private concentrations of wealth and power that occur at the expense of workers. I was lucky enough to work on my firm’s ‘labor monopsony’ cases, suing employers for suppressing workers’ wages through wage-fixing, agreeing not to poach each other’s workers, and merging to monopolize entire industries. Practicing antitrust was transformative because it involved a tremendous amount of expert work, incorporating social scientific theory and evidence into proving systemic harm and damages to workers, and establishing a rich record of data on how employer buyer power can impact workers’ access to economic opportunity on an industry-wide basis.”
ity College Dublin (BA, M.Phil.); Tulane University (MFA)
KAREN LYONS
WHAT SHE STUDIES: Installation, animation,
Associate Professor Connell School of Nursing DEGREES: Univer-
projection, video, electro acoustic composition, and electronics. WHAT SHE’S TEACHING: Animation; Introduction to Digital Media
Your research interests lie in audio-visual immersive environments, visual music, live VJing, and multi-channel work. Can you talk about your work as an artist, as well as the opportunities for your creative pursuits here in the U.S., versus in your native Ireland? “My practice for the past two years has focused on documenting the landscape and the experience of the west coast of Ireland through video and audio recordings. It’s a peaceful and awe-inspiring place. When working, I create visuals and write music at the same time. It helps me create a type of synaesthesia for the viewer so that multiple senses are ignited. Usually my goal is to create a type of sanctuary that is meditative, playful and draws the viewer in for a long time. In relation to opportunities, Ireland is tiny in comparison to the U.S., and because it is an island, it can be limiting at times. It’s never short for inspiration, but for now, the U.S. is great for the wealth of experience and opportunity.”
photos by gary wayne gilbert, lee pellegrini and peter julian
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sity College Dublin (BA, MA); Pennsylvania State University (PhD). WHAT SHE STUDIES: Family and dyadic experiences of chronic illness. WHAT SHE’S TEACHING: Developing the Research Purpose, Aims and Questions; Conceptual Basis for Advanced Practice Nursing
Your research is on patients and their primary caregivers across a range of chronic illnesses, such as cancer, heart failure, and Parkinson’s. What have you learned from studying both patients and caregivers? “When illness occurs we tend to reduce familial relationships into roles of caring and receiving. Yet, my team over the years has found the family care experience to be fundamentally an interdependent one. For example, when patient-caregiver dyads share similar appraisals of the illness they tend to collaborate more around illness management; both of which lead to better outcomes for patient and caregiver. When we focus solely on one member of the care dyad, we miss an important piece of the puzzle and hinder our ability to optimize dyadic health.” –Phil Gloudemans, Rosanne Pellegrini, Kathleen Sullivan, Sean Smith
With the assault allegation against U.S. Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh having raised the issue of delayed reporting, Asst. Prof. Jessica Shaw (BCSSW), a community psychologist, spoke with The Washington Post about the factors that may keep a victim from coming forward. Prof. Ray Madoff (Law) offered remarks to The Washington Post on the announcement by Jeff Bezos, the world’s richest man, of his plans for philanthropic organizations to support homeless families and preschools for low-income communities. Assoc. Prof. David Hopkins (Political Science) was among the panelists for WBUR’s “Radio Boston” who discussed the extraordinary number of women running for office in Massachusetts. Asst. Prof. Michael Serazio (Communication) commented on branding, corporate social responsibility, and consumer expectations in The Guardian. Prof. Patrick Maney (History) spoke with The Boston Globe and USA Today about the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum’s digitization of
Nota Bene Boston College Law School faculty members M. Cathleen Kaveny and Mary Sarah Bilder have received prestigious professional honors. Kaveny, the Darald and Juliet Libby Professor with appointments in the Law School and Theology Department, was named the Cary and Ann Maguire Chair in Ethics and American History at the John W. Kluge Center of the Library of Congress for the fall semester. The Kluge Center welcomes scholars and practitioners at the height of their fields for residencies. Among prominent thinkers have been MacArthur Fellow William Julius Wilson, the late Czech president Václav Havel, and political commentator Morton Kondrake. Kaveny is using her residence to work on a book about people’s complicity with the wrongdoing of others, drawing together resources from philosophy, theology, anthropology, and law. Bilder, the Founders Professor of Law, is serving as the 2018 Mount Vernon Distinguished Visiting Lecturer of American History at George Washington’s Mount Vernon historical site in Virginia. As the visiting lecturer, Bilder will present three illustrated talks this fall (the first of which was presented Sept. 20) in an educational series presented by the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association on the theme, “The Lady and George Washington: Female Genius in the Age of the Constitution.”
1,700 vintage Kennedy family snapshots, all now viewable online. Turkey’s central bank has sharply raised interest rates in an attempt to counter the country’s economic problems. Prof. of the Practice Can Erbil (Economics) discussed the move in The Wall Street Journal. A review in The New Yorker called the forthcoming book by Prof. Ellen Winner (Psychology), How Art Works, “exhilarating and exciting.” O’Neill Professor of American Politics R. Shep Melnick discussed his National Affairs essay “The Strange Evolution of Title IX” as part of CSPAN’s “Washington Journal.” Research Prof. Peter Gray (Psychology), a longtime advocate of “free play” for children, weighed in for WGBH News on a new project called “Let Grow” that advances the benefits of allowing kids independence, free time, and self-directed play. His comments also were cited in a New York Times op-ed on the importance of teaching today’s children to shape a better political climate in the future.
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: Manager, Purchasing & Vendor Relations, Dining & Catering/Auxiliary/Public Safety Director, Stewardship and Donor Engagement, University Advancement Assistant/Associate Director of Annual Giving, University Advancement Senior Data Analyst, University Advancement Development Assistant, Stewardship & Donor Engagement, University Advancement Associate Dean, Student Conduct, Student Affairs/Residential Life Treasury Analyst, Financial/Budget Systems Manager, Lynch School of Education, Academic Affairs/Provost Library Systems Administrator, Academic Affairs/Provost
Senior Business Intelligence Analyst/Developer, University Advancement Assistant Director, Strategic Sourcing, Financial/Budget Public Safety Dispatcher, Dining & Catering/Auxiliary/Public Safety Fitness and Wellness Coordinator, Athletics Social Media, Access & Web Specialist, Student Affairs/Residential Life
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September 27, 2018
BC Global
Godenzi: University’s Global Engagement Moving Forward BY SEAN SMITH CHRONICLE EDITOR
Boston College’s global engagement efforts have proceeded along several fronts, from community-wide dialogue among administrators, faculty, students, and staff to assessment of data on peer institutions’ international activities—and, more recently, a focus on the Jesuit-Catholic dimensions of global engagement. In the past few months, BC has been active in new and ongoing international consortia for Jesuit and Catholic education, and been confirmed as the host for a major international conference for Catholic universities in 2021. These developments are notable in and of themselves, said Vice Provost for Global Engagement Alberto Godenzi, but also reflect BC’s new global approach, a commitment inscribed in “Ever to Excel,” the University’s 10-year Strategic Plan. “In the past, we seized opportunities abroad without a comprehensive global strategy,” explained Godenzi, co-chair of the Global Engagement (GE) Committee, appointed by University President William P. Leahy, S.J., in 2017 to assess the scope of BC’s current international activities, identify the best avenues for growth, and determine the resources and structures necessary to meet the University’s objectives. “That is changing. When we identify potential partners or opportunities in global engagement, we ask, ‘Does this represent an area of strength for Boston College? Will it support not only our academic mission, but our formational mission as well?’ BC is now more intentional and holistic in considering its international presence and impact. “‘Ever to Excel’ also stresses BC’s role in educating leaders for the Catholic
BC Scenes
Full Steam Ahead into the Semester
Church around the world, and sustaining the University’s Jesuit heritage. These new partnerships not only speak to advancing our global engagement, but affirming our identity as a Jesuit, Catholic university.” Godenzi discussed the newest global engagement milestones: • International Association of Jesuit Universities–Formed in July in Loyola, Spain, the IAJU is the international advisory and coordinating body to the secretariat of Jesuit higher education and, through him, the Jesuit Superior General and his assistants in matters related to higher education and the intellectual apostolate. Its member universities and institutions represent the six regions of the Society of Jesus: Africa, East Asia, South Asia, Europe, Latin America, and North America. “What’s significant is that this is a Jesuit organization which is global, instead of being regionally focused,” said Godenzi. “The IAJU is an attempt to spur more contact and collaboration between the regions. It is also directly tied to the call of the Jesuits’ General Congregation that all Jesuit institutions promote the faith that does justice and become communities of discernment and reconciliation. “The association expressly states the goals of serving the Church’s mission by advancing Catholic social thought through teaching and research as well as advocacy, and of fostering collaboration and research between scholars and institutions within the IAJU on priority issues and challenges. Those are very much in agreement with Boston College’s own objectives.” • Strategic Alliance of Catholic Research Universities–SACRU, which will be officially launched on Oct. 12 in Lisbon, also includes Catholic universities in Portugal, Spain, Chile, Japan, Brazil, and PHOTOS BY LEE PELLEGRINI, PETER JULIAN AND YITING CHEN
With the University now settled into the 2018-19 academic year, the campus calendar was full of activity this month. Among the events were (clockwise from top right) the Career Center’s annual fall Career Fair; a luncheon for Boston College Employee Affinity Groups; a special “after dark” opening for students of the new McMullen Museum of Art exhibition, “Carrie Mae Weems: Strategies of Engagement”; and “The Minds behind ‘Mindhunter’” a discussion with Connell School Professor Ann Burgess and retired FBI special investigator John Douglas, both of whose work helped inspire the Netflix hit show “Mindhunter.”
Alberto Godenzi, at right, speaking at a town hall event on global engagement earlier this year. photo by lee pellegrini
Australia. Its members’ shared principles are identified as a university culture inspired by Catholicism, with respect for academic freedom; a spirit of “great rigor” in the academic quality of teaching, research, and service to the community; a commitment to develop a research-intensive environment championing academic freedom and ethical responsibility; and a commitment to cooperation that allows for enhancement of the global alliance via special sector agreements. “The phrase ‘strategic alliance’ is key here,” said Godenzi. “BC and its SACRU partners will work to cooperate in teaching, research, and service to the community, promote teaching and research exchanges among faculty and students, and encourage joint research projects and publications. This is an exciting prospect for BC in so many respects, especially the opportunity to partner with eminent Catholic universities in other parts of the world.” • International Federation of Catholic Universities General Assembly–This conference, held every three years—it took place in Ireland this past summer—brings together presidents, vice presidents, and senior international officers from more than 200 Catholic universities around the world. Among other objectives, the federa-
tion seeks to contribute to the development of Catholic higher education, and the assertion of its distinctive identity, while promoting experience and skill exchange, and reflection on mission among Catholic colleges, universities and institutions. “Hosting such a high-profile event like this is a coup for Boston College,” said Godenzi. “We will literally be opening our campus to the world, and welcoming leaders in Catholic higher education. The assembly provides a setting for important conversations about the challenges—social, political, economic—that our institutions seek to address through our academic and formational missions.” Meanwhile, the GE Committee is wrapping up a report, expected to be finished next month, that will lay out a blueprint for initiatives, programs, resources, and other means for expanding BC’s global engagement. “We’ve been very pleased with the response to our efforts, and with the support we’ve received from Fr. Leahy and [Provost and Dean of Faculties] David Quigley,” said Godenzi. “There have been a lot of details to pull together, and we look forward to sharing these with the University community.” For more on global engagement at BC, see www.bc.edu/global.