Boston College Chronicle by Boston College

The Boston College

Chronicle Published by the Boston College Office of University Communications SEPTEMBER 28. 2017 VOL. 25 NO. 3

CORE VALUED

Pilot courses demonstrate faculty enthusiasm for Core Curriculum renewal BY SEAN SMITH CHRONICLE EDITOR

How do democracies turn into authoritarian regimes? What do migration stories – whether in literature or from one’s family – say about the formation of self and community? What can stage acting teach us about certain brain functions like memory, empathy and personal identity? Boston College freshmen are studying these questions through pilot courses that debuted in the Boston College Core Curriculum this semester. Other new interdisciplinary courses examine the impact of STEM on American society, from ethical concerns and awareness of climate change to the rise of “DIY” and geek culture; illuminate the complex relationship between humans and the environment in coastal areas, using Boston and Venice as case studies; explore societal depiction and representation of death through the cultures of ancient Greece and Continued on page 4

INSIDE 3

•Trustees to welcome new chair and members; Pops on the Heights hits 25

to lead new minor 5 •Ards in journalism

aided film on Nobel 6 •BC Prize winner Hume Professors en8 •Monan hance theater offerings; Robsham fall slate

First Salem Professor is expert on impact of war on children and families

Faculty members teaching the newest cohort of pilot core courses talked about their classes and how they might appeal to students. (Read the full text at http://bit.ly/ fall-2017-core)

BY ED HAYWARD STAFF WRITER

COURSE: Science and Technology in American Society FACULTY: Andrew Jewett (History), Christopher Kenaley (Biology)

JEWETT/KENALEY: “We worked backward, starting with how firstyear students have already encountered science and technology in their own lives. Everyone has a cell phone, for example. Where did that technology come from? But we also wanted to get at the less obvious ways in which science and technology shape our surroundings – for example, the research endeavors that change our understandings of human personhood, or political battles over issues like climate change. Our goal is to show our students not only that science and technology are everywhere in our society, but also that their meanings and instantiations are far from straightforward. Indeed, we’re emphasizing cases in which new find-

Groundbreaking Researcher Joins School of Social Work

Lee Pellegrini

“No matter where our BC freshmen are ‘from’ – and they are increasingly from a wide array of places across the globe – they are all embarking on a journey to college, itself a sort of migration that offers a wonderful vantage point from which to look both forward and back, inside one’s self and across the world.” –Elizabeth Graver (English)

Continued on page 4

Theresa S. Betancourt, whose groundbreaking research has laid bare the ravages of war on children, their families and communities, has joined Boston College’s School of Social Work as the inaugural Salem Professor in Global Practice, School of Social Work Dean Gautam Yadama announced today. Betancourt joins Boston College from Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health, where she spent 11 years as an assistant and associate professor of child health and human rights and directed the Research Program on Children and Adversity, studying the emotional trauma experienced by former child soldiers and examining how war-affected young men and woman can go on to live meaningful and productive lives. The RPCA, a 12-person lab with an annual research expenditure of approximately $2 million, joins her at

Theresa S. Betancourt

Chris Soldt/MTS

BC. “Professor Betancourt’s research is truly global in scale, but focused on what matters most: the well-being of children, families and communities, particularly those devastated by the effects of war and conflict,” said Yadama. “Theresa’s pioneering work in mental health and the design and evaluation of interventions will add a new dimension to the School of Social Work’s focus on improving the lives of children, youth and families around the world and here in refugee and Continued on page 5

Eagle Intern Fellowships Make for ‘Valuable Experiences’ BY SEAN SMITH CHRONICLE EDITOR

Allison Kaika ’18 was passionate about food justice – linking access to healthy, nutritious foods with positive social, economic and health outcomes – but for a while she didn’t know how best to act on her interest. Then a study-abroad experience in Tanzania showed Kaika – a Charlotte, NC, native majoring in environmental studies with a focus on food and water systems – the role of government policy in sustainability, food production and related issues she had been following, so she looked for an opportunity to learn more. She found what seemed a promising one via an internship with the National Family Farm Coalition (NFFC), a

Thea Bowman AHANA and Intercultural Center Director Ines Maturana Sendoya congratulated David Jasso ’20 at a presentation/reception event for participants in the Eagle Intern Fellowship Program. (Photo by Yiting Chen)

non-profit advocacy group with an office in Washington, DC. But there was a problem: NFFC couldn’t pay her. Fortunately, Kaika was able to realize her dream opportunity

QUOTE:

through the Career Center’s Eagle Intern Fellowship Program, which provides financial support to Boston College undergraduates who obtain summer internships with organizations that are not able to

provide a salary. Students are thus able to explore their career interests, gain new skills and experience the world of work. “The internship allowed me to learn on my own and helped me cultivate a lot of self-confidence,” said Kaika, whose duties included attending congressional hearings on US Food Aid funding, the US Department of Agriculture FY2018 budget, appropriations of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and other matters. One of her most memorable experiences with NFFC was speaking with and representing a group of family farmers and beekeepers who came to Washington to voice concerns about the proposed BayerMonsanto merger and its impact on farming and the environment. Continued on page 6

“Pops on the Heights is a visible symbol of the University’s commitment to need-based financial aid and the many individuals whose philanthropy helps to make that commitment possible.” – Vice President for Development Beth McDermott, page 3

T he B oston C ollege

Chronicle SEPTEMBER 28, 2017

A ROUND Boston College’s Affinity Groups held a “Welcome Luncheon” earlier this month to reconnect, socialize and plan ahead for workshops and programs to be held this academic year. Volunteer employee-managed groups that promote the interests of their respective constituencies, the Affinity Groups at BC bring together individuals with common interests to advance and sustain a campus culture and climate that welcomes diversity and inclusiveness. “As members of the Affinity Groups continue to build community within their respective groups, it is our hope that the cross-community building among groups and the University community – as demonstrated during the luncheon – will become an ongoing occurrence, building capacity for inclusive excellence at Boston College,” said Patricia Lowe, executive director for institutional diversity. “The groups help to move diversity and inclusion strategies forward through various efforts and are instrumental in championing a campus community that is welcoming, respectful, and fosters engaging

dialogue amongst all people.” The eight Affinity Groups at Boston College are: Asian, Pacific Islander Employees (APIE); Black Faculty, Staff and Administrators Association (BFSAA); Latino/as at

C AMPUS

GROUP HUG

“The BC Affinity Groups are a testament to the commitment of the University, and Human Resources in particular, to build cultural competence and capacity and to celebrate our community,”

vices employees for all they do to make the University a better place. In the long term, we hope the welcome luncheon will become an annual event that allows us to celebrate the community that is BC and to

Scenes from the Boston College Affinity Groups “Welcome Luncheon” earlier this month. The volunteer employee-managed groups bring together indviduals with common interests as a way of promoting diversity and inclusiveness. (Photos by Lee Pellegrini)

Boston College (L@BC); Lesbian and Gay Faculty, Staff and Administrators Association (LGBT@BC); The Middle-Eastern Employees and Allies Affinity Group (MEEA@ BC); The Women’s Collaborative; Staff Advisory Senate; and the Veterans Affinity Group.

said Assistant Director for Student Organizations and BFSAA member Karl Bell. “In the short term, BFSAA will partner with other groups in November for a ‘Gathering of Gratitude’ event to thank our Facilities, Grounds, Trades and Dining Ser-

recognize the beauty of our collective vision for the BC community. Women’s Collaborative members agreed that the luncheon was a successful event for the groups to advance their collective mission. “The Women’s Collaborative is thrilled with the success of the lun-

cheon, the first collaborative event bringing us all together to connect, socialize, and share ideas on how to build a more diverse and inclusive community at BC,” said Government Relations Director Jeanne Levesque of the Office of Governmental and Community Affairs. “The lunch was a wonderful first step and we look forward to working with [the Office for Institutional Diversity] and the other Affinity Groups on future socials, workshops, training or community service events to continue the collective progress,” said Levesque. Associate Director for Selection, Development and Formation and Veterans Affinity Group member Michael Lorenz said the opportunity to connect with other Affinity Group members is a great way to build from common ideas. “While we each have our own passions, we often intersect at the idea that we want BC to be a welcoming place for faculty and staff to engage and interact with one another,” said Lorenz. The Affinity Groups are open to all University employees. Learn more at http://bit.ly/boston-collegeaffinity-groups. –Siobhan Sullivan

‘A NEW MOMENTUM’ a renewed process of moral formation and pastoral practice with regard to marriage and family life that is rooted in Sacred Scripture and the Church’s faith,” Fr. Keenan notes. On a broader level, the pope set out a vision of renewal for the whole Church, Fr. Keenan said. Central to that are opportunities for discussion and reflection based upon the model of the synods that bring together church leaders. Fr. Keenan said the symposium aims to assist the US church in further “receiving” Amoris Laetitia and beginning to fulfill the vision set forth by Pope Francis. In particular, the panels will look at the issues facing Church leaders at the diocesan level. “It is a new way of listening, consensus building, and setting an agenda for the future of the Church,” said Fr. Keenan, co-host of the symposium with Cardinal

ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT FOR UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS Jack Dunn DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS Patricia Delaney EDITOR Sean Smith

CONTRIBUTING STAFF Phil Gloudemans Ed Hayward Rosanne Pellegrini Kathleen Sullivan Siobhan Sullivan PHOTOGRAPHERS Gary Gilbert Lee Pellegrini

Cupich. “Pope Francis doesn’t want a grand plan. But he wants to know what each country wants to do.” In other countries, major members of the hierarchy have co-hosted with Catholic universities similar seminars on Amoris Laetitia. Fr. Keenan hopes that this seminar of bishops and scholars might further the agenda of Pope Francis, particularly on the important topic of marriage. Conference participants include clerics, academics and journalists from across the US and Europe. Boston Archbishop Cardinal Sean O’Malley, OFM, Cap., and Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, chairman of the US Council of Catholic Bishops Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth, are unable to attend, but are sending their delegates, Bishop Mark O’Connell and Andy Lichtenwalner, executive director of the arch-

The Boston College

Chronicle www.bc.edu/bcnews chronicle@bc.edu

bishop’s committee, respectively. Boston College faculty participants include Professor of Theology Kenneth Himes, OFM, Darald and Juliet Libby Professor Cathleen Kaveny, Associate Professor of Theology Brian Robinette,

Joseph Professor of Catholic Systematic Theology Richard Gaillardetz, J. Donald Monan Professor of Theology Lisa Sowle Cahill, and School of Theology and Ministry Associate Professor Hosffman Ospino. –Ed Hayward

Christopher Huang

Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago will be among the leading clergy and theologians on campus Oct. 5 and 6 for the symposium “Amoris Laetitia: A New Momentum for Moral Formation and Pastoral Practice,” hosted by the Jesuit Institute, led by institute director and Canisius Professor of Theology James F. Keenan, SJ. The product of two synods on the family convened by Pope Francis in 2014 and 2015, Amoris Laetitia (The Joy of Love) is an apostolic exhortation on love, individuality and the family that was signed by the pope in March of 2016. The announcement gained attention for its call to appreciate the difficulties of married life today, stress understanding over condemnation, and concern for the sacramental needs of divorced and remarried Catholics. Through Amoris Laetitia, the pope “is inviting the Church to

The McMullen Museum of Art held another event in its “Art After Dark” series for students, to celebrate the opening of the exhibitions “Nature’s Mirror: Reality and Symbol in Belgian Landscape” and “Esteban Lisa: The Abstract Cabinet.” Attendees enjoyed food, live music, art activities, games and movies. 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)5523350. 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.

T he B oston C ollege

Chronicle SEPTEMBER 28, 2017

in Cary, Ill., Brown is a 36-year veteran of the healthcare industry. He joined Sage in 1981 and held leadership roles which culminated in his 2006 promotion to president and COO. Upon its 2012 sale to Madison Dearborn Partners he was appointed CEO. He is active in philanthropic endeavors benefiting healthcare, education and youth programs, and serves on numerous boards of directors. He

grees from Princeton, Yale, the University of Texas, and Weston Jesuit School of Theology (now the School of Theology and Ministry at BC), and has served on the boards of trustees of Marquette, Regis, and Saint Louis universities. Denise M. Morrison ’75 – Morrison is president and CEO of Campbell Soup Company, a leader in soup, fresh carrots, re-

Cynthia Kim

The new members of the Boston College Board of Trustees (clockwise from top left): Denise Morrison, D. Scott Brown, William Connell, Robert Morrissey and Douglas Marcouiller, SJ.

Roy Sebastian

Partners, Markell is responsible for financial oversight of a $12.5-billion operation with assets of approximately $16 billion. He has responsibility for all finance, treasury, real estate, human resources, information systems, and research management areas. Prior to Partners, he held leadership positions at Ernst & Young LLP, and implemented the merger of Ernst & Whinney and Arthur Young in 1989. Markell also serves on the boards of Eastern Bank, CRICO and McLean Hospital. He received a bachelor’s degree from BC in accounting and finance. He and his wife, Kathleen, have a daughter, Laura, a 2008 alumna. The board also will elect State Street Corporation Chairman and CEO Joseph “Jay” Hooley ’79 as board vice chairman and Susan Martinelli Shea ’76, president and founder of the Philadelphia nonprofit Dancing with the Students, as secretary. The five new trustee candidates are: D. Scott Brown ’79 – The retired president, CEO and vice chairman of Sage Products LLC

received a bachelor’s degree from BC in finance and marketing. William C. Connell ’ 94 – A co-founder and partner of High Road Capital Partners, a New York-based private equity firm, Connell previously had been with the private equity firm The Riverside Company. Prior to that, he was at Connell Limited Partnership, a family-held company founded by his father, and currently serves on its board of advisors. He is the son of BC Trustee Associate Margot H’09 and William F. Connell ’59, the late, longtime trustee, former board chair, and 2001 recipient of the Ignatius Medal. He received a bachelor’s degree from BC in English and an MBA from Harvard Business School. Douglas W. Marcouiller, SJ – Based in Rome since 2015, Fr. Marcouiller serves the Society of Jesus as general councilor and as the Superior General’s assistant for Canada and the USA. He taught economics at BC and at Saint Louis University before becoming the Missouri Province provincial superior in 2009. He holds de-

frigerated juice, and organic baby food, with prominent brands in those, and other, food industry sectors. She previously held leadership positions at Kraft Foods, Nabisco, Nestle and Pepsi-Cola, and began her career at Procter & Gamble. She serves on several boards of directors, was on the Obama Administration’s Export Council and is ranked among Fortune’s 50 Most Powerful Women in Business. She received a bachelor’s degree from BC in economics and psychology. Robert F. Morrissey ’95, JD ’02 – A partner with the Bostonbased law firm Morrissey, Hawkins & Lynch, Morrissey was admitted to the Bar of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in 2002 and to the Bar of the State of Florida in 2003. He received a bachelor’s degree from BC in history, and began his professional career as a licensed bond broker for Cowan in New York City prior to law school. He serves as a trustee on numerous boards and is the son of BC Trustee Associate and current Investment and Endowment Committee Chair Robert J. Morrissey. –University Communications

Special guests at this year’s Pops on the Heights include Grammy winner Jennifer Hudson (above) and composer/conductor John Williams, who will be awarded the President’s Medal for Excellence.

25-Year Anniversary for Pops on the Heights Tomorrow Night Boston College’s sold-out marquee event, the Pops on the Heights Barbara and Jim Cleary Scholarship Gala, marks its 25th anniversary tomorrow in Conte Forum. Led by BC Board of Trustee members, it has evolved into one of Boston’s biggest philanthropic events. “Pops on the Heights is a visible symbol of the University’s commitment to need-based financial aid and the many individuals whose philanthropy helps to make that commitment possible,” said Vice President for Development Beth McDermott. The gala, which annually brings together the BC family in a powerful show of support for student scholarships, has expanded in size and scope each year since its inception in 1993. In its first two years, approximately $2 million was raised for Boston College’s scholarship endowment. In total over the past 24 years, that amount has grown to some $45 million and has made a BC education a reality for nearly 1,900 Pops Scholars. The 2017 event is anticipated to top previous record-breaking years. The traditional kick-off to BC’s Parents’ Weekend once again features the Boston Pops Orchestra conducted by Keith Lockhart, who has led “America’s Orchestra” in more than 1,700 concerts, and some special guests. Luminaries on hand to celebrate the occasion include legendary composer and conductor John Williams, who will be honored at the event with the President’s Medal for Excellence. During his five-decade career, Williams has written dozens of works for the concert stage and scored some of the most successful films in Hollywood history. He has garnered 50 Oscar nominations, won numerous prestigious awards and is one of the nation’s most distinguished musical voices. Grammy Award-winning artist and Academy Award-winning actress and “American Idol” alumna Jennifer Hudson will take the stage to perform with the Pops, and acclaimed actor and active 1992 alumnus Chris O’Donnell will chair the

Todd Rosenberg

Boston College Trustees will hold their annual fall meeting tomorrow, where they will formally select Peter K. Markell ’77 as chairman of the board and welcome five new members. Markell, executive vice president of administration and finance, CFO and treasurer of Partners HealthCare System, will succeed outgoing chairman John F. Fish, chairman and CEO of Suffolk. At

Chris Floyd

Trustees To Name New Chair, Members

medal ceremony at the gala. Boston College student groups also will perform during the evening. “While the entertainment at Pops is always amazing, it’s the impact of the dollars raised that draws our benefactors back year after year. They’ve now supported an entire generation of Pops Scholars, and that’s a remarkable thing to think about as we celebrate the event’s 25th anniversary,” McDermott said. Founded by the late, longtime University Trustee James F. Cleary ’50 and his wife Barbara, the Pops on the Heights mission in support of student financial aid demonstrates the BC community’s commitment to being “Eagles for Others,” organizers note. In recent years, Pops leadership was taken over by outgoing BC Board of Trustees Chair John Fish — currently an event chair emeriti with his wife Cyndy, fellow Trustee Charles I. Clough Jr. ’64 and Clough’s wife, Gloria MDiv ’90, MS ’96 — who took the initiative to another level in its fundraising goals and success. This year’s event is chaired by David P. O’Connor ’86 and his wife Maureen, and alumnus Philip W. Schiller ’82 and his wife Kim D. Gassett-Schiller. “I’d like to think that we’ve fulfilled or even exceeded the vision of Jim Cleary, the founder and true visionary behind Pops. He created quite a legacy - not just with the event itself, but with the many hundreds of Pops Scholars who are now out in the world doing extraordinary things,” said McDermott. –University Communications

T he B oston C ollege

Chronicle SEPTEMBER 28, 2017

Innovative Courses Reaffirming Core’s Importance to BC Continued from page 1 modern-day Russia; and compare the ways mathematicians and philosophers view, and explain, the world around us. [See separate story] Subjects of new pilot courses coming in the spring semester include the history and politics of terrorism; human rights from both a US foreign relations and a health/ healthcare perspective; metamorphosis as depicted in biology and literature; and socio-cultural and media representations of gender. The pilot course program, which began in 2015, is part of

based “energy and excitement about the liberal arts and a reaffirmation of its importance to Boston College” that the core renewal has sparked. Bourg noted some corerelated activity has involved faculty collaborations with non-academic areas such as University Mission and Ministry, Student Affairs and even the Office of Undergraduate Admission. “For example, Admission included an essay in the application for prospective students inviting them to design their own Enduring Questions or Complex Prob-

“We’ve been heartened by the response of the University community to the core pilot program, and are confident the effort to affirm the Core Curriculum’s importance to BC will continue to show progress.” –Julian Bourg Gary Wayne Gilbert

BC’s broad-based initiative to renew its core curriculum – an effort that has been marked by innovative faculty collaborations, some representing seemingly unlikely combinations of disciplines like theater and political science, chemistry and English, theology and earth and environmental sciences, and nursing and English. This year will see an expansion in number of undergraduates taking the pilot courses to more than 1,000. Pilot courses come in two categories: “Complex Problems” are team-taught, six-credit classes of 80 students that address a contemporary problem; “Enduring Questions” are paired, distinct threecredit classes taken by the same 19 students and each taught by a faculty member from a different department but connected by common topics, sets of questions, readings and assignments. “The ripple effects we’ve seen from the core renewal these past few years have been impressive: Faculty and departments have come up with their own ideas for revitalizing the core, and this has led to a lot of innovation in the classroom,” said Associate Dean for the Core Julian Bourg, chair of the University Core Renewal Committee (UCRC), pointing to conversations the English Department has held on renewing the literature core by supplementing traditional pedagogy with out-ofclassroom experiences and reflection, among other methods. Best of all, he said, is a broad-

lems core course. This gives us an insight into what’s on students’ minds and can help in creating core classes.” The University continues to provide encouragement and support for core course development, said Bourg, including social events and receptions to promote faculty dialogue and “match-making,” and a wiki for faculty members to post and view ideas for core courses. Faculty whose course proposals are accepted take part in UCRC pedagogical workshops, co-sponsored by the University’s Center for Teaching Excellence, that provide instruction for collaborative and team-teaching, as well as an overview of the Core Curriculum’s relationship to Jesuit identity and mission. “Faculty have found this a very valuable resource for working with their partners to design course syllabi,” said Bourg. Proposals for core courses to be taught in 2018-19 are now being accepted until Oct. 6. For information, go to www.bc.edu/core. “The UCRC will, as always, have our eyes and ears open for thoughts and impressions of the core renewal, from students as well as faculty,” said Bourg. “We’ve been heartened by the response of the University community to the core pilot program, and are confident the effort to affirm the Core Curriculum’s importance to BC will continue to show progress.”

Continued from page 1 ings and devices have inspired controversy, in order to highlight what’s at stake in scientific and technological development.”

or her to do that which takes our breath away. Since our students watch a fair amount of television and film (or so I would guess!), discovering how these amazing artists do what they do, while also learning about what’s happening in their brains as they do it, should grab their attention.”

COURSES AND FACULTY: How Democracies Die: A Political Postmortem – Matthew Berry (Political Science) How Democracies Die: A Historical Postmortem – Jesse Tumblin (History)

BERRY: “How Democracies Die is designed to be immersive because the Enduring Questions series of courses is meant to foster a community among the students. The students see each other every day and we have multiple events scheduled for outside normal class time. We’re hoping that they will continue the discussion in the cafeteria, say, or late into the night in the residence halls.” TUMBLIN: “One of the central problems we’re trying to address with this course is a sense that our contemporaries feel unprepared to navigate this media and political landscape. In general, the course aims to train the students with some core ideas about what threatens the health of democratic regimes and some skills they might use to address those threats.”

COURSES AND FACULTY: Living on the Water: Coasts, Development, and Sea Level Change from Venice to Boston – Gail Kineke (Earth and Environmental Sciences) Living on the Water: Venetian Art, Architecture, and the Environment – Stephanie Leone (Art History)

LEONE: “My course will interest freshmen because it will teach them how to make connections between studying the past and the world in which they live. It will show them that we are not the first humans to grapple with how to live in an inhospitable environment.” KINEKE: “I often start by asking students if they’ve ever been to the beach; if they’ve ever been fishing in the ocean, sailing, diving, are they from a coastal state, etc. After a few short minutes, everyone in the room has raised their hand. So, people have a personal connection with the coast, but not everyone understands what happens beyond the shore’s edge or below the surface or the physical processes that bring about change in coastlines.” COURSES AND FACULTY: Roots & Routes: Writing Identity, Migration, and Culture – Lynne Anderson (English) Roots & Routes: Reading Identity, Migration, and Culture – Elizabeth Graver (English)

GRAVER: “No matter where our BC freshmen are ‘from’ – and they are increasingly from a wide array of places across the globe – they are all embarking on a journey to college, itself a sort of migration that offers a wonderful vantage point from which to look both forward and back, inside one’s self and across the world.”

COURSES AND FACULTY: Death in Ancient Greece: Achilles to Alexander the Great – Hanne Eisenfeld (Classical Studies) Death in Russian Literature: Heroes, Cowards, Humans – Thomas Epstein (Slavic and Eastern Languages and Literatures)

Lee Pellegrini

“[People] have a personal connection with the coast, but not everyone understands what happens beyond the shore’s edge or below the surface or the physical processes that bring about change in coastlines.” –Gail Kineke ANDERSON: “Students will draw from their own experiences as they explore the course themes of migration, culture, and identity. Through the sharing of writing, I’m hoping students gain insight from one another’s migration stories and the diverse perspectives they bring to BC.”

EISENFELD: “We are inviting our students to grapple with big, unanswerable questions at a safe distance and then to bring that understanding to bear on the phenomena that shape their own worlds, from thinking about scientific changes that affect human mortality to understanding ways that conceptions of the afterlife shape decisions about how life is lived...We invite them to keep their eyes out for the way that our own societies talk about (or repress) issues related to death – anything from how a funeral home advertises to the way that ‘Game of Thrones’ uses murder and violence – and to tie those threads together with the material of our courses.”

COURSES AND FACULTY: Being Human: The Philosophical Problem of Nature and Mathematical Knowledge – Colin Connors (Philosophy) Understanding Mathematics: Its Philosophical Origins, Evolution, and Humanity – Ellen Goldstein (Mathematics)

CONNORS/GOLDSTEIN: “Like many human endeavors, exploration of the unknown motivates both mathematics and philosophy. Similarly, our students are embarking on their own exploration of the unknown, whether living away from home for the first time or beginning a rigorous course of study. Math and philosophy specialize in developing means of articulating knowledge and analyzing the truth of that knowledge.” COURSES AND FACULTY: Your Brain on Theatre: On Stage and Off – Daniel Kirschner (Biology) This Is Your Brain on Theatre: Neuroscience and the Actor – Patricia Riggin (Theatre)

RIGGIN: “Many people think that acting has more to do with ‘talent’ rather than years and years of training. It truly is a craft, and with passion, hard work, and years of study, it actually does change the actor’s brain and allows him

Lee Pellegrini

“We invite [students] to keep their eyes out for the way that our own societies talk about (or repress) issues related to death – anything from how a funeral home advertises to the way that ‘Game of Thrones’ uses murder and violence – and to tie those threads together with the material of our courses.” –Hanne Eisenfeld

Read the full text at http://bit.ly/fall-2017-core

T he B oston C ollege

Chronicle SEPTEMBER 28, 2017

Re-envisioning Journalism in a Liberal Arts Context Angela Ards wants to change how we think about journalism BY SEAN SMITH CHRONICLE EDITOR

Ards. “At BC, we teach our students to bring all of their learning, and all of their being, to produce work that is of good use to the world. “With this new minor, we want to take the strengths of BC’s journalism program and make them available to students who see themselves as pursuing other fields or interests. The outcome will be

The interdisciplinary journalism minor is envisioned as a marriage “of craft and context, with that distinctive Boston College flair,” says Ards. Lee Pellegrini

Associate Professor of English Angela Ards has heard it all about the so-called death of journalism: nobody reads anymore, newspapers and magazines are dying all over the place, they’re so biased anyway, and there’s all that fake news they print. But Ards believes there is a future for journalism, and that Boston College can have a hand in it. That’s a big reason Ards joined BC this fall, after 10 years on the faculty at Southern Methodist University. In addition to teaching African American and contemporary American literature, Ards will help develop and direct a new interdisciplinary minor in journalism expected to debut next fall. A former editor and writer at The Village Voice and The Nation who also has contributed to Ms. Magazine and other publications, Ards has considerable professional experience on which to draw. But her work as a scholar, whose research interests encompass literature, history and cultural studies, will be equally important in BC’s effort to recast journalism in a modern, multidisciplinary liberal arts framework while retaining aware-

ness of its tradition and tenets. “There’s no question that journalism as we knew it is facing many challenges nowadays,” says Ards, who holds a doctorate in English from Princeton University, a master’s in African American Studies from UCLA and a bachelor’s in English and African American Studies from University of North

Carolina-Chapel Hill. “But the need for sound, quality journalism – as opposed to punditry or entertainment – in a healthy democracy is as great as ever, and will remain so. Hopefully, journalism will figure out its business model in the next several years; in the meantime, this generation of college students can still find a way to write journalistically, for print or some other platform.” The interdisciplinary journalism minor is envisioned as a marriage “of craft and context, with that distinctive Boston College flair,” says

graduates who are able to bring a journalistic perspective to their particular vocation.” Professor of English Carlo Rotella, who directs BC’s American Studies Program and is involved in developing the journalism minor, says the program will be a “flexible one that can respond quickly to changes in a fast-changing field while also offering a solid grounding in the journalistic tradition. “We’ll offer a mix of foundational training in journalism as a way of thinking – much like one would study law or history – and

craft training in reporting, writing, digital reporting, investigative practices, and other hands-on skills, as well as ethics. In shaping the program and the new minor, we’re making what we offer in journalism much more systematic and purposeful, and also better fitted to both the university and the profession.” Rotella notes that journalism continues to be an in-demand program of study at BC – with upwards of 15 courses per semester offered – and says Ards is well suited to the task of heading up the new minor. “In addition to her resume as editor and writer, she’s a tenured professor experienced in organizing and running things in a university setting. That combination is essential. We have students eager to explore the field, and we have tenure-line faculty and a fabulous crew of working-journalist instructors who want to teach them. She’s perfectly equipped to put them together in ways that will benefit all concerned.” For Ards, Boston College’s interdisciplinary character dovetails with her scholarly modus operandi, blending a journalistic approach with a sweeping literary, historical and cultural vision. Her book Words of Witness: Black Women’s Autobiography in the Post-Brown Era examined how the memoirs of Melba Beals, Rosemary Bray, June Jordan, Eisa

Davis, Edwidge Danticat and other civil rights activists diverge from presumptive “official” accounts of the era, and seek to shape contemporary social political thought. Ards’ current project, meanwhile, looks at a less-chronicled aspect of the post-World War II Great Migration that transformed America’s racial demographics. Focusing on the Dallas neighborhood in which she grew up, Ards is conducting an oral history of black Americans who, for various reasons, opted to stay put instead of relocating to other parts of the US. Their stories, she says, challenge widely held views of non-migrants as lacking in ambition or fortitude. “I was very enthused to see that the kind of teaching, research and writing I really like to do is valued at Boston College,” she says. “The opportunity to come to this University, in a vibrant city of such amazing institutions, was impossible to pass up. I look forward to helping make this new, liberal arts-driven concept of journalism a part of the BC undergraduate experience.” Ards’ fellowships and honors have included fellowships at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study and the W.E.B. DuBois Institute for African and African American Research at Harvard, a residency at the Kopkind Writers Colony, and a dissertation research grant from the Program in African American Studies at Princeton.

Betancourt Becomes First Salem Professor in Global Practice Continued from page 1 immigrant communities within the Greater Boston region. “This combination of robust research and practice innovation will distinguish our social work program, and strengthen our ability to improve vulnerable lives through evidence-based interventions here at home and across the globe.” Betancourt’s research has taken place in Rwanda, Uganda, India, Ethiopia, the Russian Federation and Sierra Leone, where she has spent the past 15 years directing the intergenerational study of waraffected youth. The project has been cited as the most extensive examination of post-war intergenerational relationships since studies of Holocaust survivors. Betancourt has also worked with refugees in Boston and in communities around the world. “Understanding the longer-term consequences of the direct and indirect effects of war is critical to designing strengths-based interventions to help young people and their families to thrive,” said Betancourt. “We aim to position our research at the crossroad of policy and evidencebased practices to both understand potential leverage points for change

and then to use this knowledge to develop intervention models that can be feasible, effective and ultimately scalable and sustainable to assist children, youth and families facing adversity.” An early study co-authored by Betancourt was based on one of the first randomized controlled trials of mental health interventions among African adolescents affected by war. Among her findings, Betancourt’s research has shown that effective treatments can work even in remote, impoverished regions beset by conflict where access to highly trained mental health professionals is limited. As part of her more than $8.5 million in research funding, Betancourt serves as the principal investigator of a National Institutes of Mental Health-funded project to integrate evidence-based behavioral interventions for war-affected youth into employment initiatives in Sierra Leone, and principal investigator for a National Institutes of Mental Health-funded project to work to strengthen families for Somali Bantu and Bhutanese refugees in New England.

The Salem Professorship in Global Practice was established in 2014 through a major gift from Boston College Trustee Navyn Datoo Salem ’94, H’12 and her husband Paul J. Salem. The endowed professorship supports a scholar whose work is international in scope. “Finding innovative ways to address global challenges is both a personal and a professional passion for me,” said Salem. “That is why Paul and I are so honored to establish the Salem Professorship in Global Practice at the School of Social Work, and to welcome Theresa Betancourt to the faculty. Our hope is that with her critical research and expertise, the School of Social Work will lead the way offering substantive practical applications to ameliorate global challenges, particularly those that affect the most vulnerable members of our society. “I can think of no better place to accomplish this goal than Boston College, which remains committed to helping all members of our world flourish.” Betancourt has written extensively on mental health, child development, family functioning and

resilience in children facing trauma and adversity, including articles in publications that include Child Development, Lancet Global Health, the Journal of the American Medical Association, the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and Social Science and Medicine. In 2016, Betancourt received the T.H. Chan School’s Alice Hamilton Award, which recognizes the impact in public health and the future promise of a woman faculty member. Her work has focused as much on interventions to help traumatized children as it has revealed the depths of that trauma. Working from available evidence, Betancourt devised her own child protection framework, known as SAFE. The model reflects the basic security needs and rights that are central to promoting child protection, specifically Safety from harm; Access to basic needs such as food, shelter and medical care; Family or connection to “attachment figures”; and Education and economic security. The framework has been employed by Betancourt in India, Sierra Leone, Rwanda, and northern

Uganda, as well as by other researchers in Haiti and Lesotho. “It’s about interrelatedness,” Betancourt told Harvard magazine. “Kids need attachment figures. If they’re not finding it from their immediate family, they’re going to find it somewhere.” Betancourt serves on the American Association for the Advancement of Science Committee on Scientific Freedom and Responsibility, the Academic Steering Committee of the Center for Refugee Trauma and Resilience at Boston Children’s Hospital and on the International Advisory Board of the Peter C. Alderman Foundation, which has dedicated itself to addressing the consequences of trauma globally. She collaborates frequently with nongovernmental organizations such as CARITAS and the International Rescue Committee. A graduate of Linfield College in Oregon, Betancourt earned a master’s degree in expressive art therapy from the University of Louisville and a doctorate in maternal and child health and post-doctoral training in psychiatric epidemiology and biostatistics from the T.H Chan School.

T he B oston C ollege

Chronicle SEPTEMBER 28, 2017

Eagle Intern Fellowship Program Makes Difference in Students’ Lives Continued from page 1 “To hear these farmers share their stories about the reality of life on a family farm was inspiring. They were not trained or paid to lobby, they simply spoke from their experiences and ultimately from the heart. They deeply believe in the importance of family farms and the significance of producing food. “So now, having seen how important it is to the struggle for food justice, I’m definitely looking at policy work as a direction for my post-BC life.” Kaika is one of more than 260 BC students who have benefitted from the EIFP since it began in 2014, working for groups such as the International Rescue Committee, Foundations for Sustainable Development, Earthwatch Institute, Boston Children’s Hospital, as well as in academic settings – including BC – and national, state or local municipal offices and departments. “The Eagle Intern Fellowship Program directly aligns with the University’s strategic direction of re-envisioning liberal arts education and enhancing the University’s commitment to formation among students,” said Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Career Center Director Joseph Du Pont. “The fellowship program removes financial barriers for students and allows them to explore career

formative experience.” “I’ve known for a while that I wanted to work for the government, and to serve my country abroad, but I hadn’t really known what the Foreign Service was all about,” explained MacLennan, an economics and communication major from Ridgewood, NJ. “I got to experience a small embassy environment and all the responsibility associated with it. I did high-level work like writing remarks for the acting ambassador and organizing events for US representatives and Vatican officials, which was challenging, but incredibly rewarding.” What’s more, while in Rome, MacLennan was able to meet and talk briefly with Pope Francis. “I was determined to speak to him in Spanish, and while waiting for him I rehearsed what I was going to say: I asked him for blessings for my family, health and education, but also to pray for peace and unity in our country.” MacLennan said her post-graduation plans are to work in strategic communications and compile skills that will enable her to pursue a career in the Foreign Service. “I’m so grateful for the Eagle Intern Fellowship Program for giving me this glimpse into what my future could be.” Eagle Fellows often derive personal and spiritual growth from their internships, as well as vocational for-

Career Center Assistant Director Nicholas Paschvoss spoke with a student at a presentation of Eagle Intern Fellowship projects, hosted by the center earlier this month. (Photo by Yiting Chen)

possibilities, engage in reflection, and develop their competencies so they can make a thoughtful decision about their next step. We are continuously working to increase the number of students who can take advantage of this fellowship program.” Students interested in the Eagle Fellows program must submit an application and a letter of recommendation, along with their resume and a description of the internship offered. Among other requirements, those who make the cut keep a blog about their internship experiences, check in regularly with a Career Center staff member, complete pre- and post-assessment evalua-

tions, and make a presentation at a campus poster session – as the 2017 Eagle Fellows did earlier this month. Through participation in the program, said Career Center administrators, Eagle Fellows are enabled to articulate skills and competencies employers seek in college graduates, and cite examples of how these were developed through the internship in a professional setting. The students also create three action steps based on reflection of skills, interests, values and organizational culture. Senior Kyla MacLennan called her internship at the US Embassy to the Holy See in Rome “a valuable

A documentary on Nobel Prizewinning Northern Irish politician John Hume that debuted in Boston last week includes archival material housed in the University’s John J. Burns Library. “In the Name of Peace: John Hume in America,” which premiered at the Boston Film Festival, traces Hume’s efforts to enlist prominent US politicians – including BC alumnus Thomas P. “Tip” O’Neill Jr. – in securing a peaceful solution to the conflict in Northern Ireland. Directed by Maurice Fitzpatrick and narrated by actor Liam Neeson, with music by “Riverdance” composer Bill Whelan, the film includes interviews with former presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter, British ex-prime ministers Tony Blair and Sir John Major and pop star/activist Bono, among others. Now retired from politics, Hume was a major figure in the Northern Irish civil rights movement and became Northern Ireland’s leading Catholic politician. In 1998, Hume was named co-recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize with Unionist leader David Trimble, who worked with Hume to forge the Good Friday Agreement. Hume has had extensive ties with Boston College, which awarded him an honorary Doctor of Laws degree

at the 1995 Commencement Exercises, where he addressed the graduating class. In 1980, the Eire Society of Boston presented Hume with its annual Gold Medal. Interviewed last week, Fitzpatrick said the intention behind “In the Name of Peace” is to examine what he felt was an underappreciated chapter of Hume’s life. “As we approach the 20th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, it’s important to remember the critical role John Hume played in the process, and how much of a vital figure he is in Anglo-Irish history. “It’s also important to realize that Hume created a new consciousness in the US, and I think his experiences in Boston – where he met Irish politicians in positions of great power like Tip O’Neill and Edward Kennedy – were quite important in that regard.” Fitzpatrick found there was little source material about Hume’s outreach to the US. But through his past experience with Boston College – in 2010, he launched a US lecture tour for his documentary “The Boys of St. Columb’s” through BC’s Center for Irish Programs – Fitzpatrick knew the Burns Library’s rare books and special collections would likely have what he wanted.

Sure enough, Fitzpatrick found a number of Hume-related items in the Thomas P. O’Neill Jr. Congressional Papers, and the archive of Northern Irish photographer Bobby Hanvey. These included correspondence between O’Neill and his chief of staff Kirk O’Donnell about meetings with Hume, and statements by Hume on the death of imprisoned Irish hunger-strikers in 1981, as well as various candid and formal photos of Hume. The materials not only contributed to the film’s narrative but also its visuals: Fitzpatrick and his crew spent the better part of a day in the library’s O’Brien Fine Print Room setting up and taking footage of the items. “It was a pleasure to work with the Burns staff,” said Fitzpatrick. “They were helpful and attentive to our needs, and we were able to get important work done.” Burns Librarian Christian Dupont said Fitzpatrick’s project – while one of the more high-profile uses of its resources – is among many the library handles in a given year. “Burns Library assists everyone from undergraduates to international scholars to filmmakers and other artists,” he said. “We’re glad to have played a part in help-

Contact Sean Smith at sean.smith@bc.edu

Chronicle file photo

Hume Documentary Gets Assist from BC

mation. International Studies major Perry Bowers ’18 of Guilford, Conn., worked with Gateway Arts, a non-profit that provides art supplies, professional arts instruction and care for adults with developmental disabilities, who display and sell their creations in the organization’s attached store. It was, she said, “incredibly rewarding but also tiring. As an introvert, I had to learn to take care of myself after work, resting and replenishing my energy for the next day.” Whatever the demands of the job, Bowers added, “the most satisfying element was the joy you would see on the artists’ faces throughout the day. Gateway Arts reminds them that they have value to their community. When they get up in the morning, they have a place to go, co-workers to see, and work to complete. “In such a short time I felt so connected to people I otherwise wouldn’t have come in contact with. They brought so much joy to me, and I feel so grateful for their presence in my life.” Applications for the 2018 Eagle Intern Fellowship Program open Jan. 16. For more details, see http://bit.ly/ eagle-intern-fellowships.

John Hume speaking at Boston College in 1997, the year before he won the Nobel Prize. He was awarded an honorary degree by BC and served as a visiting lecturer.

ing the world learn more about John Hume’s leadership and contribution to peace in Northern Ireland. I hope that Maurice’s documentary will inspire greater multi-party and multilateral dialogue on compelling social and political issues.” Boston College historian Robert Savage, a specialist on Northern Ireland and Irish media, welcomed the release of “In the Name of Peace,” which he said offered an opportunity to reaffirm Hume’s links with BC. Hume has spoken several times on campus, including at the University’s 1997 Laetare Sunday Communion Breakfast, and in the late 1990s lectured as a visiting professor of history. “John was a regular visitor to my course A History of North-

ern Ireland,” recalled Savage. “He would come to Boston for a week and visit the class to talk about his experience in Northern Ireland. He usually addressed his involvement in the campaign for civil rights and his interactions with US political leaders like Reagan, Clinton, Bush, Ted Kennedy, Hugh Carey, Daniel Patrick Moynihan and Tip O’Neill. “I believe that he is the one person most responsible for the Good Friday Agreement and I’m delighted his story is being told in this new film.” A screening of “In the Name of Peace: John Hume in America” and a panel discussion will take place at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum on Oct. 10 at 6 p.m. –Sean Smith

T he B oston C ollege

Chronicle SEPTEMBER 28, 2017

–Casey Beaumier, SJ

Christopher Huang

“BC is a hub of Jesuit resources. We are stewards of the gifts of the Society of Jesus.”

Immersion in Jesuit Studies Unique BC certificate program deepens participants’ knowledge of Jesuit history, spirituality, leadership Twenty educators and other professionals recently expanded their understanding of the spirituality, history and leadership methods associated with the Society of Jesus through a oneof-its-kind program offered by Boston College. The Certificate in Jesuit Studies, a nine-credit summer program organized by the University’s Institute for Advanced Jesuit Studies (IAJS), combines experiential learning and pilgrimages in Spain and Rome with graduate-level coursework at BC that examines the Spiritual Exercises, the history of American Jesuits, and contemporary leadership strategies. According to IAJS Director Casey Beaumier, SJ, Boston College is the only Jesuit college or university offering a program such as this, though other universities are beginning to consider it. “When people want to learn about the Society of Jesus, more and more they look to Boston College,” said Fr. Beaumier, noting the recent opening of the IAJS Portal to Jesuit Studies. “BC is a hub of Jesuit resources. We are stewards of the gifts of the Society of Jesus.” Nearly all of this year’s certificate participants were involved in Jesuit education at the high school or college level. “There are very few opportunities for Jesuit higher education and Jesuit secondary education to mingle,” said Fr. Beaumier, director of BC’s Loyola House residence for those discerning possible Jesuit vocations, and recently-named vice president and University Secretary. “This experience magnifies the efforts at both levels. The participants feel a bigger sense of how this all fits together, which is very good for Jesuit education.” Participants began the program in mid-June in Spain, immersing themselves in the life of Ignatius and the Jesuit order through visits to key places, readings, and study of a variety of written and visual primary and secondary sources. The sites visited included Loyola, Ignatius’ hometown and place of his conversion; Montserrat, where Ignatius made his confession and cast

off his old identity, and Manresa, where Ignatius did his penance and wrote the Spiritual Exercises. Students then headed to Rome to visit many sites, including Santa Maria Maggiore, the basilica where Ignatius celebrated his first Mass in 1538. Participants wrote daily reflections during their time in Europe. In July, the program shifted to the Boston College campus, where students spent three weeks in full-day, graduate-level courses examining the dynamic of the Spiritual Exercises, the history of American Jesuits, and several contemporary leadership strategies through case studies, workshops, and guest lectures. Courses were taught by Fr. Beaumier and IAJS Associate Director Seth Meehan. “It was hard work, but it was well worth it,” said Lar Duffy, an English teacher at Gonzaga College, SJ, a high school in Dublin. “The experience was a unique and thrilling one, beginning with travel to and investigation of historical Jesuit sites in Spain and Italy, and continuing with our work in Boston. A cohort of Jesuit educators and administrators, with some not directly connected to Jesuit institutions, contributed to vibrant and immersive discussion of issues past and present.” Another participant, Woods College of Advancing Studies Associate Dean for Enrollment Management Claudia Pouravelis, noted that the certificate program already had a direct influence on the structuring of a new student formation program, the Woods College Manresa Experience. “The Woods College is very committed to ensuring our students have an understanding of Jesuit values and what it means to be a Boston College student,” said Pouravelis. “I participated in the Certificate in Jesuit Studies program because I wanted to gain better insight into the Jesuits so I could effectively communicate their charism to our students.” –Kathleen Sullivan and Patricia Delaney Read the full story at http://bit. ly/jesuit-studies-certificate

BOSTON COLLEGE IN THE MEDIA Is US Senator Dianne Feinstein an anti-Catholic bigot based on her comments at the confirmation hearing of Amy Coney Barrett, nominated by President Trump to the US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit? In an op-ed for the Washington Post Libby Professor of Theology and Law Cathleen Kaveny wrote that a judge’s moral views are relevant to his or her behavior on the bench. Interviewed by the Boston Herald, Prof. James Bretzke, SJ, (STM) described as “counterproductive” a “filial correction” letter signed by a group of clerics and theologians that claims Pope Francis’ writings put forth heretical positions regarding marriage and Communion Director of American Studies Prof. Carlo Rotella (English) wrote a

piece for The New York Times on former world middleweight champion Jake LaMotta – the boxer behind the character portrayed by Robert De Niro in Martin Scorsese’s “Raging Bull” – who died this month at age 95.

“When he was singing, there was the voice of a man living hand in hand with his own spirit”: Campus Minister JoJo David, who died last October, was recalled last week on WBUR’s Remembrance Project.

Prof. Heather Cox Richardson (History) discussed President Trump’s first speech before the United Nations General Assembly on WBUR’s “Morning Edition” and on New England Cable News’ “The Take.”

A report co-authored for the MIT Sloan Management Review by Assoc. Prof. Sam Ransbotham (CSOM) provides information on strategies used by companies leading in artificial intellgience, prospects for its growth, and steps executives need to take to develop a strategy for their business.

In an interview with ABC Radio in Australia, Asst. Prof. Peter Krause (Political Science) provided insights into a possible FatahHamas unity agreement for the Palestinians following months of sanctions on Gaza and regional tensions.

NOTA BENE Associate Professor of Theology Mary Ann Hinsdale, IHM, has been selected as the winner of the 2017 St. Elizabeth Seton Medal from Mount St. Joseph University in Cincinnati. The award is named in honor of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, founder of the Sisters of Charity, the congregation that established Mount St. Joseph University in 1920 and continues to sponsor it. Recipients are selected for their contributions to an area of theology, including scripture, systematics, spirituality, ministry, and historical theology. They must possess a doctorate in a related field and be distinguished by a career in higher education for excellence in teaching and/or making a major contribution to scholarship within the field. Sister Hinsdale, who will receive the award on Monday, joins Theology colleagues Pheme Perkins, Lisa Sowle Cahill and M. Shawn Copeland as St. Elizabeth Seton Medal winners.

The proposed Financial Choice Act, which would restructure the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and strip it of much of its enforcement powers, has drawn a letter of opposition signed by more than 150 academics from universities across the nation. Liberty Mutual Professor of Law Patricia McCoy joined several of the signatories in Washington, DC, to discuss their position with CBS News.

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: Alumni Communications Specialist, University Advancement Director of Development, Law School Director, Advancement Talent, University Advancement Campus Minister, University Mission and Ministry Associate Vice President, Principal Gifts, University Advancement Head Librarian, Academic Affairs/Provost Research Associate, Academic Affairs/Provost Senior Philanthropic Advisor, University Advancement Third Cook, Dining & Catering Marketing Content Manager, University Advancement Senior HRIT Analyst, Human Resources

Associate Professor of English and Irish Studies James Smith introduces former BC graduate student Méabh Ní Fhuartháin, now a lecturer at National University of Ireland at Galway, for her keynote address at the "Nótaí/Notes: Music and Ireland" research symposium held in Gasson Hall on Sept. 23. The event – co-sponsored by the NUI Galway Comhrá Ceoil Centre for Irish Studies with Boston College Libraries and the Boston College Center for Irish Programs – gathered international scholars from a variety of disciplines to discuss social, cultural, political and other aspects of Irish music. (Photo by Sean Smith)

Senior Public Safety Dispatcher, Auxiliary Services Field Education Program Assistant, Academic Affairs/Provost Associate Director, TRIO Program, Academic Affairs/Provost

T he B oston C ollege

Chronicle SEPTEMBER 28, 2017

TWO FOR THE SHOW Monan Professors bring professional backgrounds to teaching theater A group of Boston College theater students enjoyed a trip to New York City last weekend for an insider’s tour of the Great White Way, hosted by acclaimed Broadway producer Nick Scandalios ’87, who is serving this semester as Rev. J. Donald Monan, SJ, Professor in Theatre Arts, an appointment he shares with renowned production and lighting designer Scott Clyve.

Nick Scandalios ’87, above, and Scott Clyve are sharing the Monan Professorship in Theatre Arts.

Scandalios hosted students in the theater course taught by StageSource Executive Director Julie Hennrikus on a tour of the Nederlander Organization, one of the largest owners of theaters in the world, and of which he is executive vice president. They also toured Nederlander’s Palace Theatre, enjoyed brunch at the renowned restaurant Sardis and took in performances of the hit shows “Hamilton” and “Cats,” both hot tickets on Broadway. “It is a great honor to have Nick

Scandalios, a man who has been part of the massive revitalization of for-profit theater on Broadway and elsewhere, return to Boston College to interact with our students,” said Theatre Department Chair and Associate Professor Crystal Tiala. “A product of the Carroll School of Management and BC Theatre, Nick is as generous and kind a person as he is a brilliant businessman.” Scandalios has a nearly three decade-long association with 104-yearold Nederlander, which has produced more 100 Broadway and touring productions, and been home to several Tonywinning hits including “Hamilton,” “Waitress,” “Next to Normal,” “Wicked,” “The Lion King,” “Chicago,” “West Side Story,” “Cats” and “Annie,” among others. The company also has built a network of historically significant theaters, and manages multiple venues across the United States and in London’s West End. He is the immediate past chairman of the Board of Governors of The Broadway League, dedicated to fostering interest in Broadway theater and supporting the creation of profitable theatrical productions. Among other philanthropic involvement, he is on the Board of Trustees of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, a nonprofit that raises funds for AIDS-related causes across the country. Scandalios was the 2016 recipient of the Boston College Arts Council Alumni Award for Distin-

guished Achievement, in recognition of his accomplishments and contributions to his field. Clyve, Scandalios’ co-holder of the Monan professorship, has won critical acclaim for his lighting and production designs, which have been seen for nearly three decades on Broadway, off-Broadway, in regional theaters across the United States, and on television. Beyond Broadway stages, his designs extend to such high-profile events as the 2016 White House Frontiers Conference hosted by President Barack Obama and concerts featuring such artists as Bon Jovi, Keith Urban and others. A Boston arts scene staple, Clyve has brought his expertise to many hub theaters as well as to Boston College: Most recently, he worked on the Theatre Department productions of “Waiting for Lefty” (2016) and “Carousel” (2015). He has been won two – and been nominated for several other – Independent Reviewers of New England Awards, which recognize extraordinary talent in the Boston theater community. “Working with Scott Clyve is a true joy,” Tiala said. “He brings his experience from so many varied types of performances and has an impressive list of credits to his name. Yet, as busy as he may be flying to various parts of the world, he brings his full attention to every project, and we are thrilled to have him back at BC this year.”

Lee Pellegrini

“Chicago,” one of the most iconic musicals in modern theater, brings the “Razzle-Dazzle” – as a visually exciting production and via one of its signature songs – to Robhsam Theater Arts Center (above) next month, launching the main stage 2017-18 season. The longest-running American musical in Broadway history and winner of six Tony Awards, including best musical revival, “Chicago” – adapted into an Academy Awardwinning film – offers rousing song and dance numbers. Its Theatre Department production, directed by former Monan Professor in Theatre Arts Michelle Miller ’98, runs Oct. 18-22. Set in Roaring Twenties Chicago, the story features aspiring vaudeville performer Roxie Hart, who murders a faithless lover and convinces her hapless husband to take the rap – until he learns he has been duped and turns on her. Convicted and sent to death row, Roxie and fellow “merry murderess” Velma Kelly vie for both the spotlight as performers and for the headlines surrounding their sensational crimes. Ultimately, the arch enemies join forces in search of their

American Dream of fame, fortune and acquittal. “The Cherry Orchard,” Russian playwright Anton Chekhov’s last work, will be presented Nov. 1619, under the direction of Associate Professor of the Practice of Theatre Patricia Riggin. Widely regarded as a classic of 20th-century theater, the play charts the precipitous descent of a wealthy family and in the process creates a bold meditation on social change and bourgeois materialism. Forced to auction their estate, with its massive cherry orchard, the life of this impoverished aristocratic family is drastically altered. Its members spend a summer together debating about love, money, education, the strain between the social classes, and the ability to face the massive social upheaval going on around them. Ticket prices (service fee included) for the productions are $17 for adults; $12 for BC students with valid ID, faculty and staff (one ticket per ID), and seniors. More information, including performance times, casts and production teams, is available at www.bc.edu/offices/ robsham/tickets –University Communications

In addition to designing the lighting for two of the Theatre Department’s 2017-18 season productions – “Chicago” [see above] and “Stop Kiss” – he will teach the new spring semester course Event Production and Organization, and lead a professional development workshop for students interested in

production design. The Monan professorship was established in 2007 by a gift in honor of the late University Chancellor and former President J. Donald Monan, SJ. The position also commemorates the late University trustee and benefactor E. Paul Robsham. –University Communications

WORLD OF WORK

BC SCENES

The Career Center held its annual Fall Career and Internship Fair on Sept. 12 in Conte Forum, with more than 140 organizations in attendance to speak with students on full-time and internship opportunities across many industries. A twist on this year was a “Reverse Career Fair” held earlier in the day at the Shea Room in Conte Forum, bringing together student organizations and employers to network and build connections.

Photos by Lee Pellegrini