PUBLISHED BY THE BOSTON COLLEGE OFFICE OF UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS
Page 3 Summer Construction Pine Tree Preserve nears completion; Harrington Athletics Village enters phase II.
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Endowed Chairs Filled
‘Glorious’ Partnerships
New appointments for Flatley Professor of Catholic Theology, Walsh Professor of Bioethics.
BC Irish Famine Memorial Fund supports alumni efforts to improve life around the world.
SUMMER 2019
PUBLISHED BY THE BOSTON COLLEGE OFFICE OF UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS
University Names Two Vice Presidents Moore appointed to lead Student Affairs division after serving in interim capacity
RISD VP will head up institutional research and and planning efforts
BY JACK DUNN ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT FOR UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS
BY JACK DUNN ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT FOR UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS
Joy Moore, who has led the division of Student Affairs at Boston College on an interim basis since August of 2018, has been named vice president for Student Affairs. A respected administrator who earned praise from students for her accessibility and attentiveness to their needs, Moore has worked during the past year to enhance the overall student experience for BC’s undergraduate and graduate students. A 1981 alumna, Moore assumed her interim position upon the retirement of
Boston College has named Mara Hermano, the vice president of integrated planning at Rhode Island School of Design, as vice president for institutional research and planning, effective Sept. 1. She succeeds Kelli Armstrong, who became president of Salve Regina University in July. Hermano has served as RISD’s founding vice president of integrated planning since 2015, where she conceived and established an office dedicated to evidence-based integrated planning, assessment, and continuous improvement for the Providence-based col-
Joy Moore
photo by lee pellegrini
Barb Jones, who served as vice president for Student Affairs from 2013-2018. Moore had previously managed the Boston College Alumni Association as associate vice president of alumni relations. A
Continued on page 7
Mara Hermano
photo by adam mastoon
lege of art and design. At RISD, Hermano led a wide range of planning and assessment efforts to achieve maximum efficiency with the school’s financial, human, and space resources, while
Continued on page 7
Telling the Tale Boston College team helps area schoolchildren ‘articulate their voices’ via digital storytelling BY PHIL GLOUDEMANS STAFF WRITER
Run of the Place
Campus Recreation staff tried out the facilities at the Margot Connell Recreation Center shortly before it opened on July 9. Read more about the center at bit.ly/connell-rec-center-10-things. photo by peter julian
Sophie Minihane, a 12-year-old middle school student at Saint Columbkille Partnership School, used her recently acquired digital storytelling skills to share her threeminute video on Afghan schools with a gymnasium full of parents, schoolmates, and their siblings who gathered in Brighton on a late May evening for the school’s annual Art Show. She confidently reported that unlike
American youth, “60 percent don’t attend school” in the South Asian country, and “there aren’t a lot of materials in the classrooms, which are sometimes outdoors.” “Most girls don’t go to school,” she noted authoritatively as she outlined the remarkable differences between the two countries. Sophie’s video on a developing country was one of four digital storytelling presentations—each representing a topic within social studies, ecology, math, and social jusContinued on page 9
“Our goal is to help faculty members create a Boston College educational experience that happens to occur online, including distinctive and valuable aspects rooted in our collective mission and history.” – bryan blakeley, center for digital innovation in learning, page 8
ADDRESS GOES HERE
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Summer 2019
Around Campus
Berardi Is Chosen for Service Award Technology Director of Applications Services John Berardi was selected as the 2019 Boston College Community Service Award winner for his long-time dedication to Little League baseball, as player, coach, umpire, and more recently, senior administrator. The award, organized by the Office of Governmental and Community Affairs, recognizes the outstanding contributions of a BC employee whose actions exemplify the Jesuit spirit of service to others. Berardi received his honor from University President William P. Leahy, S.J., at a recognition dinner held on May 29.
Technology Director of Applications Services John Berardi received congratulations from University President William P. Leahy, S.J., on winning the Community Service Award. photo by peter julian
Berardi is the Massachusetts Little League District 13 Administrator, overseeing Little League operations for 13 cities and towns, encompassing 550 teams and more than 6,500 players. He also volunteers on the Little League International Advisory Board. “It is a quite an honor to receive this award, particularly when I look at prior recipients,” said Berardi. “They are a group of very special people. I think of my parents, who were two of the most generous people with their time, serving the community in many ways. I am very fortunate to have the support of my wife, Joan—I could not do what I do without her. This honor would not happen without all the good people, fellow district administrators, district volunteers, and others who do not hesitate to volunteer.” In 2014, Berardi helped establish a ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT FOR UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS
Jack Dunn SENIOR DIRECTOR FOR UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS
formal partnership with the Red Sox Foundation that provides financial support and other assistance to the nearly 200 leagues in the state. The foundation offers a $500 sponsorship for each league, sponsors the state finals for 12-year-olds, and underwrites leadership and instructional skills training for coaches. In 2017, Berardi was named Red Sox Foundation Volunteer of the Year for his work on behalf of Little League; he received his award at Fenway Park prior to a Red Sox game. Interviewed by Chronicle after winning the Red Sox Foundation award, Berardi summed up his admiration for Little League baseball: “Learning to support your teammates, whether they had a great game or a bad game, is what it’s all about. Little League isn’t about building better athletes; it’s about developing better citizens.” In 2009, Berardi established “Little League Days” at Boston College: Each spring, Little League baseball and softball players are invited to attend a BC baseball and softball game; the youngsters also have a meet-and-greet with the players on the field after the games. Berardi, whose father George served as Mass. District 13 administrator for 50 years and Massachusetts Little League director for more than 40 years, played Little League baseball as a child and began umpiring games in his teens. John Berardi later volunteered as an assistant coach on each of his three children’s teams, and in the 1990s assisted his father in Little League official business. He also is the program coordinator for the Jimmy Fund Little League, a program founded by the elder Berardi and Red Sox players Rico Petrocelli and Mike Andrews which gives children the opportunity to play ball over the summer after the end of the regular season while also raising money for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Jimmy Fund. Berardi said he is upbeat about the outlook for Little League. “While some participation numbers dip related to school enrollment numbers, the engagement continues to be strong through coaches’ clinics, Red Sox Foundation events, the Little League regular season and tournament, and the summer Jimmy Fund Little League program. The towns in our district work very well together, which helps keep their Little League programs— small or large—positioned well for the future.” –University Communications
CONTRIBUTING STAFF
Sean Smith
photos by christopher soldt and peter julian
BC Establishes Catholic Religious Archives Boston College has established a Catholic Religious Archives Repository to assist in the collection, preservation, and study of institutional records and documents belonging to Catholic religious orders and congregations in the United States and Canada. The repository will be part of the University’s library system, and will be guided by an advisory committee of archivists and faculty associated with Boston College. After materials have been evaluated, accepted, and processed, they will be available for use by students and scholars seeking to learn about the contributions of religious communities of men and women to the Catholic Church, Catholic life, and wider culture. The decision to launch the Catholic Religious Archives Repository was made as a result of a 2018 conference Boston College hosted on “Envisioning the Future of Catholic Religious Archives.” The conference brought together 160 archivists, historians, and leaders of religious communities to consider ways of ensuring that archival holdings
Christine Balquist Phil Gloudemans Ed Hayward Rosanne Pellegrini Kathleen Sullivan
Chronicle
PHOTOGRAPHERS
www.bc.edu/bcnews chronicle@bc.edu
Patricia Delaney EDITOR
The fourth Diversity and Inclusion Summit, which took place May 22, included a keynote address by Carroll School of Management part-time faculty member Zareen Karani Araoz (at left), president of the consulting firm Managing Across Cultures. Some 200 faculty and administrators attended the event, which also included remarks by University President William P. Leahy, S.J., and participatory sessions (above). Read more at http://bit.ly/diversity-inclusion-summit-2019.
Lee Pellegrini Peter Julian
of various religious orders and congregations would be maintained and available to future generations. “Catholic religious communities have made enormous contributions to Catholicism in the United States and Canada and to society at large,” said University Librarian Thomas B. Wall. “In education, health care, social policy, and service to the poor, men and women religious have played an invaluable role. Their archives provide evidence of dedication, commitment, and impact, and must be maintained to enrich historical understanding of the influence these religious congregations have had on the Church and American society.” Religious orders and congregations interested in additional information regarding the Catholic Religious Archives Repository at Boston College should contact Michael J. Burns, Special Assistant for Jesuit and Catholic Collections, Boston College Archives, at michael. burns.7@bc.edu or 617-552-8846. —University Communications
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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Summer 2019
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Preserve, Harrington Village Projects Progress Completion of the Pine Tree Preserve—a four-acre woodland recreational area at the eastern edge of Lower Campus—and work on the second phase of the Harrington Athletics Village on Brighton Campus highlight Boston College construction projects this summer. The two projects reflect the University’s efforts to provide open and green spaces and promote recreation and athletics as part of the overall BC experience. Located on Thomas More Road across from the Chestnut Hill Reservoir, the Pine Tree Preserve will feature pedestrian walkways, park benches, viewing areas, and lighting, and will be open to the University community and general public. The project stems from an agreement between the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority, which controls the parcel, and Boston College, which will oversee maintenance of the property.
This spring saw the removal of some trees and rough grading at the site, according to Senior Construction Project Manager Edward Stokes. A sub base for the walking path has been laid and utilities for lighting and irrigation completed. Once landscaping around the border is finished, the path—which will be handicapped accessible—will be paved and lighting installed. Stokes said the construction of Pine Tree Preserve is expected to be complete by the end of July. Landscape Planning and Services Director Regina Bellavia said there will be minimal replanting, with flowering trees like dogwood and witch hazel, and ground cover along the path, so as to provide greater visibility within and around the preserve. A related project will involve converting the former section of Campanella Way between the preserve and the recently opened Margot Connell Recreation Center into
Rendering of Pete Frates Center in Harrington Athletics Village.
Work on the Pine Tree Preserve continued last week. photo by peter julian
green space, Stokes noted. Work began in late May on the new two-level support building for the Harrington Athletics Village, which opened in April of 2018 as the home of BC’s baseball, softball, and intramural fields, and is named for University Trustee Associate John L. Harrington ’57, MBA’66, H’10, P’82, ’89, ’94. The 31,000 squarefoot building’s lower level will include team locker rooms and lounges, strength and conditioning space, and the officials’ locker room. The upper level will feature a hospitality suite with an outdoor terrace overlooking the baseball field, and an indoor practice area that can be divided into batting cages. Last month, the University announced that the building will be named the Pete Frates Center, in honor of former BC baseball captain Pete Frates ’07, who has helped lead the fight against amyotrophic lateral sclerosis since he was diagnosed with the disease in 2012. Frates was the
inspiration for the Ice Bucket Challenge, which raises funds to combat ALS. [Read the announcement at http://bit.ly/fratescenter-announced] The building will be located on the present site of the north parking lot for 129 Lake Street, adjacent to the smaller support facility built during the first phase of construction. Roadway utility work will take place over the summer, according to Construction Project Manager Michael Leone. Although there will be a temporary loss of some parking spaces, he said, a temporary lot near the existing adjacent parking lots will be made available. By fall, foundation work will begin on the support building, Leone said, and from late fall through early winter will be the structural steel phase, followed by building finishes in the spring. The project is slated to be completed during the summer of 2020. –University Communications
PoliSci’s Erickson Wins 2019 PBK Teaching Award Associate Professor of Political Science Jennifer Erickson, an award-winning researcher on global security and arms control, was chosen for the 2019 Boston College Phi Beta Kappa Teaching Award. Each year, BC students in the prestigious honor society submit nominations for outstanding teachers who have positively influenced their experiences at BC, either inside or outside the classroom. Faculty are selected for the award based on the cumulative nominations from students over multiple years. Students who nominated Erickson for the PBK Teaching Award cited her willingness to offer insight and direction beyond the classroom, whether for specific assignments or as a means to better understand issues, trends, and events related to her expertise. “She is phenomenal at explaining the complexities of international relations and always willing to help students in office hours. She helped me devise a topic for my thesis and served as an informal academic adviser during the course selection process.”
Jennifer Erickson
photo by gary wayne gilbert
“Professor Erickson has spent countless hours helping me to refine my original ideas and stimulate my curiosity as a student and scholar, especially with regards to my thesis. Her wisdom taught me to persist until I found the right topic.” “Her Introduction to International Studies course, to this day, still remains
one of my favorite courses I’ve taken here at Boston College. It was challenging, yet engaging, and her passion and interest in her students was evident in the way she conducted class.” Erickson, also a member of the International Studies Program faculty, came to BC in 2010 after serving as a postdoctoral research fellow in the War and Peace Studies Program at the Dartmouth College Dickey Center for International Understanding. She teaches graduate and undergraduate courses on international relations theory, global governance, globalization and national security, and European Union foreign affairs. In 2017, Erickson won the American Political Science Association Foreign Policy Section Award for her book Dangerous Trade: Arms Exports, Human Rights, and International Reputation. Her other honors include a first prize in social sciences awarded by the Council for European Studies for her article on human rights and European arms transfer policy.
Erickson said the Phi Beta Kappa award is special to her by virtue of it being given by BC students. “They are the ones who see professors in the classroom for weeks at a time, who get to know us as teachers more than anyone, and they are the ones in whose intellectual and professional development we faculty members hope to play a lasting role. The professors I had as an undergraduate and graduate student did that for me—in fact, I would not be a professor without their mentorship—and I would like very much to do the same for my students at Boston College, whatever they aspire to do in their careers. “I also want my students to grow in their thinking and ability to analyze the world around them, and so my classes challenge them to grapple with difficult arguments and empirical topics about world politics for which there are no easy answers.” —Sean Smith Read more at http://bit.ly/erickson-pbk-award
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Summer 2019
Two Endowed Chairs Are Filled New Flatley Professor of Catholic Theology Hunter brings interest in ethical issues
STM’s Fr. Vicini named Walsh Professor of Bioethics, will join Theology Dept.
BY SEAN SMITH CHRONICLE EDITOR
BY KATHLEEN SULLIVAN STAFF WRITER
David G. Hunter, an internationally renowned scholar in early Christian studies with a particular interest in ethical issues, has been appointed as the Margaret O’Brien Flatley Professor of Catholic Theology. The former Cottrill-Rolfes Professor of Catholic Studies at the University of Kentucky, Hunter succeeds Roberto S. Goizueta, who retired at the end of last academic year. The Flatley Chair was established in 1990 through a $2 million endowment by commercial real estate developer Thomas J. Flatley, who was a benefactor to Boston College and served as a trustee. Hunter’s primary research area is in patristic theology and literature, and he has written extensively on ethical issues pertaining to marriage, family, sexuality, and celibacy. Last year, he published Marriage and Sexuality in Early Christianity, a revised and expanded edition of his 1992 book Marriage in the Early Church. Co-editor of The Oxford Handbook of Early Christian Studies, Hunter is the author of Marriage, Celibacy, and Heresy in Ancient Christianity. His current projects, such as studies on the origins of priestly celibacy and sexual continence in the early Church and the question of divorce and remarriage in early Christianity, offer perspectives on crucial contemporary issues in the Catholic Church. “Professor Hunter brings to Boston College impressive academic credentials and a deep knowledge of Catholic history and life,” said Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences Dean Gregory Kalscheur, S.J. “He will contribute to the distinctive mission of the University through his significant scholarship in foundational aspects of the Catholic intellectual tradition regarding issues that are highly relevant to the contemporary Church. “His experience has been that approaching Christian thought and practice from a historical perspective enables students to grasp something of the inner logic of the tradition: They come to understand why Christians believe and do the things that they do.” “Boston College is a wonderful, prestigious institution, and its Theology Department is at the top of Catholic theology departments around the world,” said Hunter, who also has taught at the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota and Iowa State University—as the Monsignor James A. Supple Professor of Catholic Studies—before going to Kentucky in 2007, where he held a joint appointment in the departments of History and Modern and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Cultures. “My primary motivation for accepting the Flatley Professorship was to return to a Catholic institution to teach Catholic theology, but it’s also linked to a desire to contribute to
Physician and ethicist Andrea Vicini, S.J., has been named professor of theology in the Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences and the Michael P. Walsh, S.J., Professor of Bioethics at Boston College. Fr. Vicini, who begins his Theology Department appointment Sept. 1, succeeds inaugural Walsh Professor John Paris, S.J., who served from 1990 until his retirement in 2017. Funded through support by Boston College alumni medical and dental professionals, the Walsh Chair is named for Michael P. Walsh, S.J., who served as University president from 1958 to 1968. Fr. Vicini’s research interests include fundamental moral theology, theological bioethics, global public health, biotechnologies, reproductive technologies, endof-life issues, medical ethics, genetics, and environmental issues. He is author of the book Human Genetics and the Common Good and co-editor of Just Sustainability: Technology, Ecology, and Resource Extraction. He has held teaching posts in Italy, Albania, Mexico, Chad, and France. “I am delighted and very grateful to be the new Walsh Professor of Bioethics,” said Fr. Vicini, who has taught at the School of Theology and Ministry since 2011 and will retain a courtesy appointment as an affiliate faculty member on its ecclesiastical faculty. “Bioethical challenges are complex and increasing, and require interdisciplinary expertise. Since it was instituted, the Walsh Chair has shown how theological discourse enriches the field of bioethics. Theological bioethics engages scientific discourses, philosophical reflections, policymaking, law, and the experience of many people dealing with bioethical matters. In addressing each bioethical issue, the overall goal is to promote the common good of all people–with a particular attention given to those who are more vulnerable—and of the whole planet.” Born in Italy, Fr. Vicini earned his medical degree and a specialization in pediatrics from the University of Bologna. He joined the Society of Jesus in 1987 and was ordained a priest in 1996. He earned a doctorate in theological ethics from BC in 2000. “Fr. Vicini’s dual expertise as a theologian and physician and his capacity to integrate science and theological ethics make him an ideal choice to service as the Walsh Chair in Bioethics,” said Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences Dean Gregory Kalscheur, S.J., in announcing the appointment. “His ability to work with doctoral students in the Theology Department, graduate students in the STM, and undergraduates interested in the Global Public Health and the Common Good program make him a unique faculty resource at BC. He will be a tremendous contributor not
David G. Hunter
photo by peter julian
the contemporary Catholic Church—a desire I believe is shared by the BC theology faculty.” His academic experience, as student and professor, has given him a clear perspective on the role of historical research in Catholic theology, said Hunter. “Theology attempts to make Christian tradition and beliefs credible. A theologian—whether a church historian, a Biblical scholar, or a systematician—brings forth the resources to sustain that theological mission. At this point in time, the Catholic Church is facing a crisis of confidence, of authority, and of belief, and so it is important for theologians to look into the past and to explore how crucial issues in the Church were addressed, and the impact this had, short and long term. What lessons can we learn?” Hunter has used the writings of foundational early Christian theologian St. Augustine—a frequent source for his scholarly work—to examine other areas of controversy, such as clerical misconduct. “What you discover is that early Church history can make things more complex, and reveal a diversity of thought and practice. History is an inoculation against ideology; it is neither ‘conservative’ nor ‘liberal’ to explore Christian tradition and try to understand the reasons for its development. The Catholic faith tradition is fundamentally historical, which means that it is not, and never has been, static. It evolved over time in response to compelling issues or events. “History doesn’t give a clear blueprint for the future, but it does suggest a helpful set of criteria for determining the way forward.” Hunter holds master’s and doctoral degrees in theology from the University of Notre Dame; he earned a master’s degree in theology from the University of St. Michael’s College, and bachelor’s and master’s degrees in classics from the Catholic University of America. Read more at bit.ly/hunter-flatley-professor
Andrea Vicini, S.J.
photo by lee pellegrini
only to the Theology Department, but to the Schiller Institute for Integrated Science and Society as well.” Fr. Vicini notes that theological bioethics has a very broad agenda that continues to expand. Topics include the beginning of human life (reproductive technologies, prenatal diagnosis, oncofertility, and abortion); biomedical research (experimentation, transplantation, and stem cell research); and the end of human life (euthanasia, palliative care, and the vegetative state), as well as global issues (global public health, pandemics, sustainability, and trafficking) and bioethical concerns raised by developing biotechnologies (genetics, neuroscience, nanotechnology, cybertechnology, robotics, artificial intelligence, transhumanism, and astrobiology). Fr. Vicini emphasized that the Walsh Chair will continue to foster opportunities of engagement, collaboration, synergy, and research with colleagues across campus working on contemporary, complex ethical problems and enduring questions in health, biotechnologies, the environment, and society. Fr. Vicini and Philip Landrigan, M.D., director of the Global Public Health and the Common Good program and director of the Global Observatory on Pollution and Health, are co-organizing an international conference at BC on Sept. 16 on “Ethical Challenges in Global Public Health: Climate Change, Pollution and the Health of the Poor.” The event will bring together scholars in ethics, law, public policy, economics, and global public health to examine contemporary ethical challenges in the field of global public health, with a particular focus on pollution and climate change. The conference coincides with the launch of the new undergraduate minor in Global Public Health and the Common Good, and BC undergraduates, as well as graduate students, have been invited to submit posters that will be on display throughout the conference. Read more at bit.ly/vicini-walsh-professor
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Change of Scenery After 23 years at Lynch School, Fulton moves to new role in Office of the Provost BY PHIL GLOUDEMANS STAFF WRITER
Culminating 23 years as the Lynch School of Education and Human Development’s associate dean for finance and administration, and more than 40 years of employment at Boston College, Mary Ellen Fulton AB ’75, MBA ’87 borrowed Ernest Hemingway’s six-word story-telling device to succinctly capture her time at the Heights: “Reluctant administrator finds love of work.” “Boston College’s mission-driven focus resonates with my values,” said Fulton, who initially targeted banking as her profession. “I realized that a bottom-line driven business wasn’t for me. I really love higher education.” The Lowell native closed her Lynch School tenure in May, but she simply crossed Beacon Street in June to begin the next chapter at BC as director of special projects in the Office of the Provost, focused on de-
veloping new academic revenue streams. “We are thrilled that Mary Ellen has joined our team in the Office of the Provost as the director of special projects,” said Vice Provost for Finance and Administration Joseph M. Carroll. “Mary Ellen’s many years of experience and wealth of knowledge will be crucial to the success of several new initiatives that we will be putting in place over the next 12-24 months. I look forward to working with her.” Fulton’s familial ties with BC are extensive: They include her father (’48), brother (’74) and children, Elizabeth (’06) and Craig (’09, M.Ed.’10); her husband Stephen’s grandfather graduated in 1904. Her BC employment odyssey began in 1975 as assistant director for financial affairs in the Office of University Housing, a post she held for five years, followed by three years as assistant to the vice president for student affairs, and one year as an editor and assistant to the director of community affairs. Between 1984 and 1996, Fulton worked
French Is New Registrar Mary French, director of academic services in the Office of Student Services, was named University registrar effective July 1. French, a respected and versatile administrator with 25 years of experience in Undergraduate Admission and Student Services at Boston College, had worked in the Office of Student Services since January, assisting in the implementation of the Eagle Apps Enrollment Module, part of the University’s new enrollment and student services system. “Colleagues across the undergraduate schools have worked closely with Mary French on transfer admission and advising over many years, and we’re all pleased to have Mary in her new role as University registrar,” said Provost and Dean of Faculties David Quigley. “Her leadership will help as we complete the transition from UIS to Eagle Apps and as we build on Student Services’ strong history of working with students, schools, and departments.” Added Vice Provost for Enrollment Management John Mahoney, “Through her years leading transfer admissions, Mary built the knowledge base and relationships with deans and faculty that make her an ideal choice as registrar. Her boundless energy and positive spirit have inspired both colleagues and students.” French said she is looking forward to this new challenge in service to Boston College. “I am honored to have been selected to take on the role of University registrar,” said French. “I look forward to working with the Academic Services group as well as the larger Student Services team to provide the faculty, staff, alumni and students at Boston College with the highest level
Mary French, with 25 years of experience at BC, became registrar July 1. photo by peter julian
of service Kathleen McGuinness, who had held the registrar position since 2017, will remain at BC on a part-time basis working to bring the Eagles App project to a completion. “The 25 years I have worked at BC have provided me wonderful opportunities for challenge and growth,” said French. “I look forward to continuing to partner with colleagues across campus working toward the betterment of the University.” –University Communications
Mary Ellen Fulton’s ties with BC go beyond her more than 40 years of employment here. photo by lee pellegrini
outside of BC as a management consultant, and as marketing director for a publishing company. She returned to the University in 1996 as assistant director for BC’s Neighborhood Center. Soon after, a brief conversation with longtime and beloved BC administrator William B. Neenan, S.J., changed the direction of her career. “The new role of associate dean for finance and administration was being instituted University-wide in the late 1990s, and Fr. Neenan encouraged me to apply for the position at what was then the School of Education,” she said. “Little did I know then that not only would I be hired, but those few words would commence a career that would span over 20 years.” Fulton’s BC career also includes a six-year stint as an adjunct faculty member for the Carroll School of Management where she taught Introduction to Ethics, and three years as the University’s harassment counselor. “Mary Ellen Fulton has been the most
important pillar supporting the successes of the Lynch School over the past two decades,” said Stanton E.F. Wortham, the Charles F. Donovan, S.J., dean of the Lynch School. “Whether it involved human resources, finances or compliance, previous deans and I could always rely on her to anticipate challenges and opportunities, design solutions, and work collaboratively to bring about those solutions. Many others who know Mary Ellen’s talents have told me that they wished they could steal her to work in their unit, and someone has finally succeeded. We will miss her, but I wish her well with her new responsibilities and her new grandchild.” “The opportunity to work closely with Mary Ellen during my time as associate dean and dean at the Lynch School was a true privilege,” said Maureen Kenny, now a professor in the Lynch School’s Department of Counseling, Developmental, and Educational Psychology. “I could always count on her as a highly trusted colleague to offer sound judgment and a balanced, wise, and ethical approach to problem solving. In addition to her high level of professional competence and network of relationships across the campus, Mary Ellen brought to the dean’s office a caring and compassionate spirit, along with an ability to be clear and firm as needed.” Her nearly 30 years of ongoing volunteerism—including as an officer, board member, and grant committee member of the Natick Education Foundation, and trustee chair and board member of Brighton’s Saint Joseph Preparatory High School—were acknowledged in 2017 when she was chosen for BC’s Community Service Award, which recognizes a BC employee whose actions exemplify the Jesuit spirit of community service and involvement. Fulton plans to work part-time starting next spring. “I’m a new grandmother now, so my infant grandson is a priority,” she said. “Plus, it will give me more time to try to improve golf game.”
Boston College Faculty Recognized at Catholic Press Association Awards Boston College faculty members were among the honorees at the recent Catholic Press Association of the U.S. and Canada 2019 awards, which were presented in June. Winning first place in the “Scripture: Academic Studies” category was The Paulist Biblical Commentary, for which with School of Theology and Ministry Dean Thomas Stegman, S.J., and Professor Emeritus Richard Clifford, S.J., served as co-editors. Fr. Stegman and Fr. Clifford also contributed commentaries along with STM colleagues Associate Professors Andrew Davis and Angela Kim Harkins and Assistant Professor Michael Simone, S.J. In addition, Fr. Stegman and Fr. Clifford co-authored “The Christian Bible” and Professor of Theology Pheme Perkins
wrote “The Gospels” for the publication. Another first-place winner, in the “Pastoral Ministry: Parish Life” category, was By What Authority? by Joseph Professor of Catholic Systematic Theology Richard Gaillardetz. STM Associate Professor of the Practice Theresa O’Keefe took second place in the “Pastoral Ministry: Catechetical” category with Navigating Toward Adulthood: A Theology of Ministry with Adolescents. Professor of Theology Emeritus M. Shawn Copeland’s Knowing Christ Crucified: The Witness of African American Religious Experience won third place in the “Theology: Morality, Ethics, Christology, Mariology, and Redemption” category. –University Communications
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Summer 2019
Child Soldiers, Adult Lives
Families and communities are central to recovery for Sierra Leone's former child soldiers, Boston College researchers find in 15-year study of war-affected youth, the first to follow child soldiers into adulthood BY ED HAYWARD STAFF WRITER
Nearly two decades removed from a brutal civil war that made them both captives and combatants, many of the former child soldiers of Sierra Leone have gradually earned greater acceptance from families and communities as they try to overcome their childhood trauma, according to a sweeping new report on their adult lives from a team led by Boston College researchers. Former child soldiers experience mental health problems as a result of their experiences, but earning acceptance from families and communities shapes the lives of these men and women and shows promise to help them to continue to improve emotionally and socially, according to the groundbreaking study, published in the online edition of Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. It may take a greater focus on family- and community-based approaches to help former child soldiers achieve social reintegration, according to the co-authors, a group of professors and researchers from Boston College, the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Harvard’s T. H. Chan School of Public Health, and Child Trends of Bethesda, Md. “Not only were child soldiers exposed to horrors during the war, but when they returned to their families and communities stigma was one of the biggest barriers to overcome. We set out to study the effects of the post-war environment on these already-vulnerable youth,” said lead author and Boston College School of Social Work Salem Professor in Global Practice Theresa Betancourt, one of the project’s founding researchers. During the 11-year civil war, several warring factions abducted children and forced their involvement in armed groups. An estimated 15,000 to 22,000 boys and girls of all ages were subject to repeat sexual violence, forced use of alcohol and drugs, hard physical labor, and acts of violence until the war ended in 2002. The Longitudinal Study of War-Affected Youth interviewed 500 former child soldiers beginning in 2002 and periodically through 2016-2017, the latest survey of these individuals. The grim statistics of their lives under the control of rival warlords recalls the grisly nature of the conflict in Sierra Leone. The average age of the respondents is now 28. More than a quarter of them reported they had killed or injured others while conscripted. Nearly half of the women surveyed and five percent of the men reported having been raped. Thirty-two percent reported the death of a parent. “Sierra Leone’s child soldiers experienced violence and loss on a scale that’s hard to comprehend,” said study co-author Stephen Gilman of the Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.
BCSSW Salem Professor Theresa Betancourt: “There is healing power in the relationships young people build within their families and communities. What these latest findings show is that just as much attention should be paid to family and community relationships as to the traumatic events of their past.” photo by christopher soldt
Nearly half the respondents detailed symptoms of anxiety and depression, with 28 percent suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, according to the recent report, titled “Stigma and Acceptance of Sierra Leone’s Child Soldiers: A Prospective Longitudinal Study of Adult Mental Health and Social Functioning.” A deeper examination of the respondents’ lives—particularly the stigma they are subject to and the level of acceptance by family and community—led to the classification of three groups: •The Socially Protected group, nearly two-thirds of the respondents, reported they were not heavily stigmatized for their war involvement and had high levels of acceptance from their families and communities. This group reported largely that they had lower levels of exposure to wartime violence. •The Improving Social Integration group included respondents who in 2002 reported high levels of stigmatization and low rates of acceptance. This group, largely female and more likely to have been raped, have since reported a decrease in stigma and increase in acceptance by families and communities. •The Socially Vulnerable group—roughly 10 percent of the respondents—report adverse mental health outcomes and only slight improvements from 2002, when they were highly stigmatized and had low family and community acceptance. This group is largely male, spent more time in fighting forces and were more likely to have killed or injured others during the war. Those in the Improving Social Integration group made gains, though they reported problems such as getting in trouble with local police. However, members of the socially vulnerable group were about twice as likely as those in the socially protected group to experience high levels of anxiety and depression. They were three times
more likely to have attempted suicide and over four times more likely to have been in trouble with the police. The authors concluded that efforts to address family and community relationships with particular attention to improving social supports and reducing stigma remain critical ingredients of interventions to help former child soldiers adapt to postconflict life. “There is healing power in the relationships young people build within their families and communities,” said Betancourt, who directs the Research Program
on Children and Adversity at BC. “What these latest findings show is that just as much attention should be paid to family and community relationships as to the traumatic events of their past. Efforts to alleviate mental health problems and improve life outcomes for former child soldier need to focus much more on family and community relationships.” Participants in the study have been interviewed four times—in 2002, 2004, 2008, and 2016 to 2017—about their involvement with armed groups, exposure to violence in the war, and about their family and community relationships after the war. Interviewers also asked questions assessing their mental health status and their psychological adjustment at multiple time points. “Conducting a study like this over so many years in Sierra Leone is a real challenge,” said co-author and Research Program on Children and Adversity statistician Robert T. Brennan. “Addresses are approximate, birthdays, even ages, are often unknown, and natural disasters displace whole communities. We even had to postpone data collection due to the Ebola outbreak of 2014 to 2015.” “Because this study follows a single cohort of former child soldiers—some as young as 10 years old—into young adulthood, it is certain to be a landmark in the study of the exploitation of children by armed groups,” said Boston College School of Social Work Dean Gautam N. Yadama. See an interview with Betancourt at https://vimeo.com/343320182
BC Scenes
Round the Reservoir
PHOTO BY PETER JULIAN
Campus Recreation hosted the second annual Ever to Excel 5K on June 14, sponsored through the HEALTHY YOU program. Some 120 faculty and staff participated in the event, which involved running or walking two laps around the Chestnut Hill Reservoir.
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Poluzzi Directs Grad. Enrollment Management Adam Poluzzi, former associate dean of enrollment management in the School of Theology and Ministry, became assistant vice provost for graduate enrollment management earlier this summer. In his new role, Poluzzi provides leadership and expertise across all of the University’s graduate and professional schools in the areas of enrollment planning, admissions, recruitment, financial aid, and innovation. Specifically, Poluzzi will engage Boston College’s graduate programs and key partners to attract and enroll a talented and diverse graduate student population. He is charged with developing data-driven strategies related to recruitment and financial aid, while building a strategic enrollment plan to assist the schools in achieving their enrollment goals. “Adam brings more than a decade of experience in graduate admissions in the Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences, Lynch School of Education and Human Development, and School of Theology and Ministry, and he has excelled in every step along the way,” said Provost and Dean of
Adam Poluzzi
photo by caitlin cunningham
Faculties David Quigley. “The University will benefit from his creative approach to designing and implementing enrollment strategies for our graduate and professional schools.” Poluzzi began his professional career at BC in 2003, working in the Morrissey Col-
lege as admissions systems administrator for the online application system, before serving the Lynch School as director of admissions and financial aid, and the School of Theology and Ministry as associate dean. He also received three degrees from Boston College, including a bachelor’s in English in 2003, a master’s in history in 2009, and a doctorate in higher education in 2015. Among his responsibilities as assistant vice provost, Poluzzi will work with Student Services and Information Technology Services to effectively utilize Slate, the University’s CRM System for enrollment, and with the Provost’s Office, external vendors, and individual graduate schools in their digital advertising campaigns on behalf of key graduate programs. He will also monitor peer and competitor schools to evaluate BC’s programmatic offerings and identify new opportunities through online, hybrid, or on-campus programs, while working with the Office of University Communications to effectively market BC’s existing graduate and professional programs. “This is an exciting opportunity to share
my approach to graduate enrollment management, which has already been successful at a number of schools at BC, across the entire University,” said Poluzzi. “My work takes a personalized approach to the graduate admissions process, which I think is an important reflection of the Jesuit value of care for the whole person. Thinking about how we best communicate with applicants every step of the way, addressing concerns and supporting good decision making— that’s what I do, and I’m excited to collaborate with the schools on this important effort.” Graduate programs at Boston College and peer institutions nationwide have faced increased challenges in recent years as demographic shifts and competition from online programs have reduced applications. The changing landscape has forced colleges and universities to embrace new technologies and strategies to achieve their enrollment and revenue goals. –University Communications Read more at: http://bit.ly/poluzzi-appointment-2019
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skilled strategic thinker and planner, she directed the University’s Commencement in 2018 and 2019. Prior to joining the University’s Advancement division in 2011, she led the Archer School in Los Angeles and Dana Hall School in Wellesley before becoming the interim head of the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa. She was awarded an honorary degree from Boston College in 2010. “I am pleased to announce that Joy will be appointed as vice president for Student Affairs,” said Executive Vice President Michael Lochhead. “It has been a pleasure working closely with Joy over the past year. During this time, she has earned the respect of her staff and the students they serve, and has proved herself to be a strong leader and tireless advocate. I look forward to continue working with her in the coming years.” Moore said she was honored to accept this new role and looked forward to working closely with BC’s students in the coming year. “I have been associated with Boston College since 1977, when I was afforded the opportunity to attend as a member of the Class of 1981,” said Moore. “Now, in 2019, I have the opportunity to give back in a way I never thought possible—as vice president for Student Affairs. BC is thriving on all fronts, and it is an exciting time to be part of the growth and expansion taking place. I am thrilled to be able to continue to build close working relationships with students, so that together we can enrich and enhance the student experience for all. We made some strides this past year in a number of areas, but there
is still work to be done and new ideas to be considered.” Moore announced several personnel changes to her leadership team that coincide with her appointment. Associate Vice President and Dean of Students Tom Mogan will assume the title of associate vice president for student engagement and formation. Associate Dean of Student Conduct Corey Kelly will become director of student conduct. In addition, Associate Vice President for Residential Life George Arey will add special projects to his title, while Associate Vice President for Student Affairs Melinda Stoops’ new post will be associate vice president for student health and wellness. Under the realignment, Carrie Klemovitch, special assistant to the vice president and director of special projects, will take on the role of special assistant to the vice president for administration and strategic initiatives, and Associate Dean of Student Outreach and Support Services Caroline Davis will become director of student outreach and support services. Joseph Du Pont will continue as associate vice president for career services. “These title changes within the Student Affairs leadership team are designed to reflect our commitment to providing the best possible outreach and services to our students,” said Moore. “I look forward to working with the entire Student Affairs team and colleagues from across the University to make BC the most welcoming and supportive college campus possible, while enabling everyone to thrive and achieve their personal best.”
promoting the effective use of data for institutional decision-making. She also redesigned the academic program review process to align with the school’s accreditation and multi-year resource planning, and oversaw two strategic planning processes at RISD, the most recent of which seeks to creatively reimagine organizational and financial models to support the school’s goals of contributing to a just local and global society and a sustainable planet, and engaging in new levels of research, creative practice, and critical scholarship. Prior to being named vice president at RISD, she was associate vice president of planning and effectiveness and chief of staff to the school’s president, and executive director for strategic planning and academic initiatives. Earlier in her career, she served as special assistant to the dean of the Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts at Washington University in St. Louis. “I am pleased to announce Mara’s appointment as vice president for institutional research and planning,” said Executive Vice President Michael Lochhead. “Mara brings with her a fresh perspective and strong resume of accomplishments and related experience that will greatly benefit Boston College and build upon the success of the Office of Institutional Research & Planning. I am looking forward to welcoming Mara and working with her as she makes the transition from Providence to Chestnut Hill.” Hermano said she is excited for the opportunity to come to Boston College in September to join a university that is an established leader in the areas of research, planning, and assessment. “Part of my work has involved thinking about the value of higher education—given the rising cost—and how we give greater access to deserving students and regain
public trust,” said Hermano. “From my experience, institutions that have a robust planning culture and use data effectively are better able to respond to the challenges facing higher education. It allows us to be agile, to make adjustments, and respond to issues and new opportunities. Boston College has recognized strengths in these areas and strong ambitions to address the critical issues facing higher education. I am excited to join this effort as a member of the BC community.” Hermano received her master’s degree in art history from The Institute of Fine Arts at New York University, and bachelor’s degree in art history from Sarah Lawrence College. A native of the Philippines, she is fluent in three languages—English, Spanish, and Tagalog. She is the co-editor of The Art of Critical Making: Rhode Island School of Design on Creative Practice and co-author of At Home with Filipino Art and Artists. She also served as editor of Spanish Artists from the Fourth to the Twentieth Century: A Critical Dictionary and Lamesa: The Filipino Table. “BC’s Jesuit tradition has been a part of my upbringing, as my father and other family members attended Jesuit schools in the Philippines,” said Hermano. “BC’s clear and focused mission and values are resonant and compelling to me. I am very interested in framing the work of institutional research and planning in the context of the Jesuit traditions of intellectual rigor and inquiry, service, and social justice. My work with data is deeply informed by my training as an art historian. “I have heard that BC is a very special community and I look forward to ensuring that the Office of Institutional Research & Planning contributes to the University’s goals and ambitions in meaningful ways.”
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New Center Supports Digital Teaching and Learning BY SEAN SMITH CHRONICLE EDITOR
Bryan Blakeley, former director of operations and learning design at the Boston College Center for Teaching Excellence, has been appointed executive director of the University’s new Center for Digital Innovation in Learning (CDIL). The CDIL will be a centralized service center for all facets of online education support at BC and an innovation space for new digital teaching and learning initiatives. Its online education support responsibilities will include planning, course development, budgeting, technology support, and student and faculty support. As CDIL executive director, Blakeley will be responsible for ensuring the quality of BC’s online education efforts, and providing leadership in best practices and innovative course design and delivery. Blakeley’s technology-related experience at BC—which included a stint in the University’s Instructional Design and eTeaching Services prior to its incorporation into the Center for Teaching Excellence—is complemented by his academic background: He holds a master’s degree in history from BC and is completing a doctorate in higher education administration at the Lynch School of Education and Hu-
Former Center for Teaching Excellence administrator Bryan Blakeley heads up the newly created Center for Digital Innovation in Learning.
man Development. “Bryan Blakeley has helped lead Boston College’s efforts to utilize technology in creative ways across our classes, first in Instructional Design and eTeaching Services, then in the Center for Teaching Excellence, and now as founding executive director of the Center for Digital Innovation in Learning,” said Provost and Dean of Faculties David Quigley. “In this new role, he will
continue to collaborate with faculty and deans in the development of new programs and in the renewal of existing offerings. “Bryan has been responsible for an impressive expansion of our online and hybrid offerings, and I’m looking forward to working together with him to drive innovation while assuring academic quality.” Discussing the CDIL’s mission, Blakeley said the establishment of the new center reflects the University’s commitment to a greater presence in digital learning, and to support faculty in their use of technology, especially for online learning. “This is a direction in which BC has been moving for several years,” said Blakeley, who joined the CTE when it opened in 2014. “The University has so many amazing faculty members who are innovative teachers, and the CDIL provides a new capacity for supporting them and their plans for digital pedagogy.” The CDIL will be a project-based, “bigpicture” support organization for academic programs seeking to develop online programs, Blakeley said. Center staff will assist with all aspects of course development, including instructional design and media production, and building the course in the learning management system, as well as with evaluation and assessing outcomes. Aiding faculty initiatives will be critical
to boosting BC’s activity in online education, an area Blakeley believes holds great promise for the University. “Online education today is providing students with academic credentials, which is a noble mission,” he explained, “but it is often lacking in the kind of formative emphasis that Boston College seeks to provide. Our goal is to help faculty members create a Boston College educational experience that happens to occur online, including distinctive and valuable aspects rooted in our collective mission and history.” Blakeley noted that he is familiar with the transformational character of the BC experience, as someone whose focus on the liberal arts widened into the field of academic technology. The CDIL will benefit from existing collaborations between, among others, the CTE, University Libraries, Information Technology Services, the Office of Student Services, and the Academic Technology Advisory Board, Blakeley added. “Having been involved in academic technology at BC, first as a graduate student and then as an administrator, I have been fortunate to work with colleagues from across the University to broaden BC’s activity in digital learning and online education, and I look forward to continuing to partner with them.”
Wyttenbach to Lead Roche Ctr. for Catholic Education BY ED HAYWARD STAFF WRITER
Melodie Wyttenbach, an educator and leader focused on transforming and strengthening Catholic schools, has been named executive director of the Barbara and Patrick Roche Center for Catholic Education at the Lynch School of Education and Human Development, Charles F. Donovan, S.J., Dean Stanton E.F. Wortham announced earlier this month. Wyttenbach, currently an assistant professor at the Mary Ann Remick Leadership Program at the University of Notre Dame’s Alliance for Catholic Education, succeeds Patricia Weitzel-O’Neill, who has retired after leading the Roche Center since 2010. “We are thrilled to have Dr. Melodie Wyttenbach join us as the new executive director of the Roche Center,” Wortham said. “She has extensive experience working as a Catholic school principal and working on the professional development of Catholic school leaders at Notre Dame. She also has excellent connections with research and practice networks in Catholic education. Dr. Wyttenbach will build on the considerable successes of the Roche Center and move it forward to have even more impact improving Catholic education across the country.” Founded in 2007, the Roche Center is named for the late Patrick E. Roche ’51, H ’01, co-founder of the Wellesley, Mass.based Roche Brothers supermarket chain, and his wife, Barbara, whose $20 million donation endowed the center. The center
“The formation of faith-filled, transformational teachers and leaders is critical to sustaining Catholic schools.” –Melodie Wyttenbach
has risen to prominence through initiatives serving Catholic schools nationally and advancing Boston College’s role as a leader for excellence, equity, and faith formation in Catholic education. “Catholic schools were founded over a century ago, and have a tradition of being a beacon of light by providing the highest quality education to many children in our country, particularly children from immigrant families,” Wyttenbach said. “I am humbled by this opportunity to advance the mission of the Roche Center at this fine Jesuit institution. With the advent of charter schools, Catholic schools exist in a much more complex and competitive ecosystem. The formation of faith-filled, transformational teachers and leaders is critical to sustaining Catholic schools. Our schools
are only as good as the talent we have, and by investing in our educators, Catholic schools will have a vibrant future where children come to know Christ.” In addition to her teaching role at Notre Dame, Wyttenbach served as academic director for ACE’s Remick Leadership Program from 2016 to 2018. She earned her doctorate at the University of Wisconsin and has held a number of roles in service to Catholic schools and networks. Wyttenbach served as president of Nativity Jesuit Academy in Milwaukee from 2013-15, and she worked previously as a teacher and administrator for the academy’s middle school. From 2010-12, she was an administrator with the Nativity-Miguel Network of Schools, a group of faith-based schools that serve low-income communities
throughout the U.S. Wyttenbach recently co-edited the book Responding to the Call for Educational Justice: Transformative Catholic-led Initiatives in Urban Education. She is also finishing work on a second book, Strategic Planning for Catholic School Leaders, to be published this fall. The Roche Center’s signature programs include the Urban Catholic Teacher Corps, a two-year master’s degree and mentoring program that places new teachers in Boston-area Catholic Schools. The Emmaus Leadership Program provides a broad professional development program for veteran school leaders. The Two-Way Immersion Network for Catholic Schools partners with more than 20 schools around the U.S. that offer a duallanguage immersion education in the elementary grades. These programs and others play instrumental roles ensuring that Catholic schools continue to serve families seeking educational excellence and faith formation for their children, said Wyttenbach. “Programs at the Roche Center focus on the development of teachers and leaders who pursue excellence in their Catholic schools. I’m excited to work with the two-way immersion network of schools as they honor the linguistic and cultural diversity of their communities. I look forward to building on the strong foundation Patty Weitzel-O’Neill developed and to working collaboratively with many in the Boston College community to advance Catholic education.”
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“The teachers and I have tried to help students use digital storytelling not only to learn subject matter but also to help them develop a sense of meaning and purpose, together with a commitment to the larger society.” –Deoksoon Kim, Lynch School of Education and Human Development
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tice—selected for viewing at the evening’s festivities, which reflected the yearlong leadership and assistance of Lynch School of Education and Human Development Associate Professor Deoksoon Kim, together with 12 Boston College students. “We wanted to help the Saint Columbkille students articulate their voices while connecting to the larger society and the world,” said Kim, who piloted the program in 2017 with a three-week digital storytelling project for 63 sixth- and seventhgraders. Using still images, music, video, and narration, together with the WeVideo editing tool, the Saint Columbkille middle school students and their teachers collaborated with the BC team to provide “the space, time, and resources for the young students to demonstrate what they learned, also known as reflective learning,” said Kim. “We have a wonderful working relationship with BC and the Lynch School,” said Head of School William Gartside, who noted that Saint Columbkille was designated a lab school by BC in 2018—the only such arrangement between a university and an elementary school in the city of Boston. The designation enhances opportunities for teacher training, professional development, and educational research; the latter
is jointly designed by faculty from both institutions, and targets Saint Columbkille’s specific needs. Two other Lynch School faculty members now have an ongoing relationship with Saint Columbkille: literacy specialist Professor Maria Estela Brisk, and early childhood education expert Associate Professor Mariela Páez. “The BC professors are amazing,” said Gartside, who also acknowledged previous contributions by current BC faculty members Michael Barnett, Laura O’Dwyer, and David Scanlon, and retired faculty member Jean Mooney, who has volunteered for several years at Saint Columbkille. “They give so much of their time.” “The digital storytelling project serves as a model for additional partnership activities going forward,” said Stanton E. F. Wortham, the Charles F. Donovan, S.J., dean of the Lynch School. “We now have a systematic collaboration between BC and Saint Columbkille underway.” Following Sophie’s presentation at the Saint Columbkille Art Show, her three classmates outlined their respective productions: “Looking at Math in the Real World,” which explored estimation skills a person might need during a visit to a bakery; “Save our World,” a presentation on global warming; and a social justice inves-
Saint Columbkille Partnership School student Sophie Minihane presented a video on Afghan schools she produced as part of a digital storytelling project, with help from a Boston College faculty member and students. photo by lee pellegrini
tigation into unsafe personal care products which put consumers, particularly women who use cosmetics with dangerous ingredients, at risk for illness or harm. “The teachers and I have tried to help
students use digital storytelling not only to learn subject matter but also to help them develop a sense of meaning and purpose, together with a commitment to the larger society,” said Kim.
Lynch School Signs MoU with South Korean University BY PHIL GLOUDEMANS STAFF WRITER
The Lynch School of Education and Human Development has agreed in principle to establish a dual degree master’s program with South Korea’s Yonsei University College of Educational Sciences. The agreement was announced by Stanton E.F. Wortham, the Charles F. Donovan, S.J., dean of the Lynch School, and Yonsei University College of Educational Sciences Dean Lee Myung-geun. Provost and Dean of Faculties David Quigley and Lee signed the five-year renewable agreement at Boston College in June. The memorandum of understanding (MoU) is the Lynch School’s third with a South Korean university—and fourth overall with a foreign university—during the last 16 months, reflecting BC’s commitment to developing programs that promote global cooperation, as articulated in the University’s 2017 strategic plan. Other MoUs have been signed with the Seoul National University of Education, South Korea’s foremost school of education for future public elementary school teachers, to develop collaborative academic cooperation activities; Mary Immaculate College,
a top-ranked Irish college of education and liberal arts, to co-develop academic and student/faculty exchange programs; and the College of Education at Seoul National University, South Korea’s preeminent research institution, for faculty exchange and research collaboration. “We are very pleased to partner with Yonsei University on a joint degree program, as well as potential research collaborations,” said Wortham. “As one of the most prestigious universities in South Korea, Yonsei is a great partner with whom to launch our dual degree. Their faculty edit important journals and conduct work that is internationally recognized. We would love to have some of their excellent students come to BC, and our students will benefit from the opportunity to study there.” Each institution can annually send as many as two master’s degree student candidates to the respective partner school for one year of study in the dual degree master’s program. Professor Ana M. Martinez Aleman, the Lynch School’s associate dean for faculty and academic affairs, will oversee and coordinate the collaboration on behalf of Boston College. Yonsei University, established in 1885,
is a private research university, and one of South Korea’s three “SKY” (Seoul National, Korea, and Yonsei) universities, considered the country’s most prestigious institutions. Yonsei, with more than 4,500 faculty members, offers graduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programs in Korean and English to nearly 27,000 undergraduates, and 12,000 graduate students. The urban university was ranked 105th overall in 2016 by QS World University Rankings,
and 104th worldwide by the Center for World University Rankings in 2017. The name “Yonsei” is derived from the respective first syllables of the names of its two parent institutions, Yonhi College and Severance Union Medical College, both Christian institutions, which merged in 1957; the latter has its roots in Korea’s first modern medical center. Among other things in common, Yonsei and BC share a mascot: the eagle.
BC Once Again Among the Top Producers of Peace Corps Volunteers Boston College is among the top volunteer-producing colleges and universities for the Peace Corps in 2019, according to the agency. Boston College is ranked 18th among medium-size schools, with 19 BC alumni currently volunteering in countries around the world. BC has placed among the top 25 medium-size schools (defined as having between 5,000 and 15,000 undergraduates) every year for the past decade. Since the Peace Corps’ founding in 1961, more than 800 BC alumni have served abroad as
volunteers. “My experiences at BC led me to see my role in the world as someone who must use my education to understand the world through the experiences of others and to increase their opportunities,” said Matthew Mikrut ’17, who graduated with a double major in international studies and economics and is currently serving as a youth development volunteer in Thailand. “BC helped me recognize this as a definition of service.” –University Communications
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Scholarship, Fellowship Programs Supporting BC Undergrads’ Study-Abroad Experiences BY ROSANNE PELLEGRINI STAFF WRITER
Three Boston College students are immersed in the study of Chinese, Russian, and Arabic abroad this summer, through U.S. Department of State Critical Language Scholarships (CLS). The CLS recipients include two members of the Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences class of 2021. Reginald Anadio of Gloversville, NY, an economics major with a Chinese minor, is studying Chinese in Dalian, China; Suzanna Diehl of Watervliet, NY, a chemistry major, is studying Russian in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Megan Richards of Boxford, Mass., who graduated from BC in May with a major in international studies and minors in political science and Arabic studies, is studying Arabic in Meknes, Morocco. The trio is among approximately 550 competitively selected U.S. college and university students who received CLS awards in 2019. Their awards bring to 23 the number of BC students who have earned these scholarships since 2006. “We are incredibly proud of the Boston College students who have received the Critical Language Scholarships,” said Office of International Programs Director Nick Gozik. Part of a U.S. government effort to expand the number of Americans studying and mastering critical foreign languages, the initiative gives CLS scholars the opportunity to gain critical language and cultural skills that enable them to contribute to U.S. economic competitiveness and national security. “These scholarships are essential in both recognizing and rewarding the talent of Boston College students, who will gain so much from their overseas experiences, as well as in helping the University achieve its stated goal of promoting less traditional languages and locations for education abroad,” Gozik said. “We are very grateful to the U.S. Department of State, and specifically the CLS Program, for their ongoing support of our students.” The program includes intensive language instruction and structured cultural enrichment experiences designed to promote rapid language gains. Participants live with host families and are part of small cohorts in classes that take place at locations abroad selected by the CLS program. CLS scholars are expected to continue their language study beyond the scholarship and apply their critical language skills in their future careers. “The CLS Program gives students a unique opportunity to master languages that are less frequently studied but that are critically needed for US national security and cultural competency in a globalized world,” said Professor of the Practice of Political Science Kathleen Bailey, who co-directs the Gabelli Presidential Scholars Program and is associate director of the Islamic Civilization and Societies Program. “In addition to an immersive experience in the countries where these languages are spoken, students are exposed to different
perceptions and points of view, which have a lasting impact on their lives by expanding their horizons,” added Bailey, who works with OIP to prepare students in the CLS application process. “CLS is a highly competitive, first-rate program; BC students who have been se-
selected from a pool of 851 applicants. The goal of NSEP, a federal initiative, is to build a broader and more qualified pool of U.S. citizens with foreign language and international skills. Morrissey College rising junior Nicholas Rokosz was selected as a Boren Scholarship Programs like Critical Language Scholarships, according to Office of International Programs Director Nick Gozik, “are essential in both recognizing and rewarding the talent of Boston College students, who will gain so much from their overseas experiences, as well as in helping the University achieve its stated goal of promoting less traditional languages and locations for education abroad.” photo by lee pellegrini
lected to participate are outstanding in every way, and return with a renewed commitment to further their knowledge and understanding of the region.” A number of BC students received other summer study-abroad awards, including prestigious national awards as well as Boston College scholarships and grants. •Through a David L. Boren Scholarship, rising senior Oliver Mai of Flushing, NY, a mathematics major and ROTC cadet, is studying with CET Academic Programs in Osaka, Japan. The Institute of International Education, on behalf of the National Security Education Program, awarded 244 Boren Scholarships to undergraduate students
Alternate. •Janasia Little ’22, of New Haven, Conn.—a biology major and African studies minor—is participating in the BC faculty-led summer program “Paris Noir: From Négritude to Hip Hop” in Paris, via a Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship. The awards provide students of limited financial means the opportunity to study or intern abroad, and gain skills critical to American national security and economic competitiveness. •McGillycuddy-Logue Travel Grants are supporting 40 undergraduates studying abroad this summer. Awarded through the OIP’s McGillycuddy-Logue Center for
Undergraduate Global Studies, the summer travel grant program provides international educational experiences to academically excellent BC undergraduate students for whom such experiences would otherwise remain out of reach. This fall, the grant program will fund study-abroad opportunities for 42 students. •Students are selected for the Fung Scholars Program, which supports study in Asia, based on academic excellence and leadership qualities and potential, with a preference given to candidates who focus on language study. Four Fung Scholars are participating in the BC Summer Internship Program in Hong Kong; this fall, six more will study abroad through BC programs in Asia. •Mizna Fellowships fund research, language study, internships and servicelearning initiatives throughout the Islamic world. Morrissey College rising senior Kyle Costa of Cincinnati, who is studying Islamic Civilization and Societies (ICS) and political science, is participating in a project at the Al-Jusoor Summer Volunteer and Service Program in Beirut. The fellowships are administered jointly by OIP and ICS. •Omar A. Aggad Travel and Research Fellowships aim to expand understanding of the Arab world and the relationships between Arab societies and the West. Two Morrissey College students are pursuing summer projects in Beirut via the fellowships: Czar Sepe ’21, a political science and history major from Parsippany, NJ, “The Politics and Culture of Christianity in Lebanon: Language Acquisition and Cultural Immersion”; and Matthew Aboukhater ’20, an international studies and economics major with minors in French and finance from Watertown, Mass., “Finding Syria in Lebanon.” The fellowships are administered by ICS.
Fr. Keenan Latest BC Winner of Catholic Theological Society of America Honor Canisius Professor of Theology James F. Keenan, S.J., an internationally renowned moral theologian, was presented with the John Courtney Murray Award by the Catholic Theological Society of America in recognition of a lifetime of distinguished theological achievement. The award— named for an influential American Jesuit theologian and Boston College alumnus—is the highest honor bestowed by the CTSA, the principal association of Catholic theologians in North America and the largest professional society of theologians in the world. “I never imagined this, and I am very grateful,” said Fr. Keenan when he received the award at the CTSA convention in Pittsburgh earlier this summer. Previous Boston College winners of the John Courtney Murray Award, presented
annually since 1972, are Monan Professor of Theology Lisa Sowle Cahill (2008), Professor Emeritus M. Shawn Copeland (2018), and retired Professor Francis A. Sullivan, S.J. (1994). Fr. Keenan, director of the University’s Jesuit Institute and co-director of the Gabelli Presidential Scholars Program, is a highly regarded teacher and mentor of students ranging from undergraduates to doctoral candidates. He received the 2018 Phi Beta Kappa Teaching Award, presented annually by BC students in the national honor society. In 2002, Fr. Keenan founded Catholic Theological Ethics in the World Church, a global network of theological ethicists and practitioners that has transformed the field by bringing together thousands of Catholic theological ethicists from more than
70 countries to learn from one another and speak out on pressing issues, such as climate change and migrants and refugees. Fr. Keenan served as chair of the organization from its founding until he stepped down last year. Under his leadership, the CTEWC convened several conferences around the world, published a book series, and launched a scholarship program to support the next generation of ethicists. In its award citation, the CTSA called Fr. Keenan “a giant in advancing a global agenda for theological inquiry” and singled out his founding and shepherding of CTEWC as a crowning achievement in his stellar career. –Kathleen Sullivan Read more at bit.ly/keenan-murray-award
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OBITUARIES
Burns Librarian Christian DuPont welcomed participants in the International Symposium on Jesuit Studies to Burns Library. The event, held June 11-13, was organized by Boston College’s Institute for Advanced Jesuit Studies. photos by lee pellegrini
Symposium Explores Role of Jesuit Sources in Shaping History More than 70 scholars from around the world gathered at Boston College from June 11-13 for the fifth annual International Symposium on Jesuit Studies, titled “Engaging Sources: The Tradition and Future of Collecting History in the Society of Jesus,” organized by the Institute for Advanced Jesuit Studies. The event featured presentations by researchers, librarians, and archivists from five continents, all with a common interest in understanding how Jesuit sources have shaped history, and a desire to better preserve and disseminate those materials in the future. It also marked the formal launch of the Jesuit Online Bibliography, a collaborative, open-access database founded by three institutions represented at the symposium: the IAJS, the Archivum Romanum Societatis Iesu, and the Jesuitica project at KU Leuven. Among the symposium’s 14 panels and five plenary sessions, one focused on fascinating historical discoveries: how archeological work assists in recovering the shared past of Jesuit missionaries and indigenous people in Peru; what a never-published manuscript from 1701 reveals about Jesuit missions in the Mariana Islands; and the recent discovery, in a local church, of documents hidden in advance of the Jesuits’ expulsion from Portugal in the 1750s. Other panels addressed topics such as the Jesuits’ personal motivations expressed in their private petitions, and how house diaries, bureaucratic correspondence, and other seemingly ordinary Jesuit sources reveal much about the Jesuit experience and the wider circulation of knowledge. Multiple presentations addressed the collection and preservation of Jesuit sources in conjunction with new technology. “We are delighted to assist the scholarly community in encountering one another and sharing their work,” said IAJS Director Casey Beaumier, S.J., vice president and University secretary. “We care deeply about archives, so an archival theme was intriguing from the very beginning. We anticipated that it would spark conversations and
curiosity about the variety of sources that scholars in the field of Jesuit Studies have encountered.” “Events such as these too often become occasions for scholars to present their research and leave,” said Seth Meehan, the institute’s associate director. “With this symposium, though, I got the impression that people learned more than they presented and that people left energized by what they had learned, by the connections they had made, and by the possibilities they saw in the future of Jesuit Studies. Researchers and archivists alike learned a lot more about the exciting potential for future collaboration between these two groups of professionals who are usually kept apart.” Selected papers from this year’s event, after being revised and peer-reviewed, will be published by Jesuit Sources, both in print and online in open access available through the Portal to Jesuit Studies. The full program for the 2019 symposium and the call for papers for the 2020 event, “Engaging the World,”—which will take place June 17-19 in Lisbon—are available at bc.edu/iajs. –Institute for Advanced Jesuit Studies
•Brendan Rockett ’21 died in Fall River, Mass., on June 19. A political science major, Mr. Rockett was a member of the Living and Learning Community on the Newton Campus during his freshman year, and was active in sports radio at WZBC. This past year, he lived with several of his classmates and friends in Walsh Hall. A resident of Fall River, he had attended Durfee High School prior to coming to BC. •Severyn T. Bruyn, a longtime member of the Sociology Department, died on May 26 at the age of 91. Credited with founding the participatory observation approach to sociological research, Dr. Bruyn authored 10 books and inspired the innovative Leadership for Change program at Boston College. A researcher and teacher in the fields of social economy and cultural studies, Dr. Bruyn began teaching at BC in 1966 and retired in 2001. His book A Future for the American Economy won a top prize in the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities 1991 Alpha Sigma Nu Book Award Competition. •Mary D. Griffin, who served as dean of the School of Education from 1979-87, died on May 23 at the age of 95. Dr. Griffin joined Boston College in 1965 as an assistant professor of education and became associate dean for graduate studies in education in 1970; she was appointed acting dean of the School of Education in 1978. Among her accomplishments was creating and co-directing the Teacher Corps Program for Boston and Lowell, and initiating and leading the Prospective Teacher Fellowship Program to prepare teachers for inner-city schools. After stepping down as dean, Dr. Griffin returned to the SOE faculty as an associate professor and retired at the end of the 1993-94 academic year.
Nota Bene In recognition of a quarter-century of artistic excellence, Associate Professor of the Practice of Theatre Luke Jorgensen will receive the American Alliance for Theatre and Education’s prestigious Orlin Corey Award, which honors artistic achievement or contribution to theater for young audiences. Jorgensen’s scholarship centers on theater education, actor training, the development of new plays and the work of Augustus Boal and the Theatre of the Oppressed. The artistic director of Tufts University’s Children’s Theatre, Jorgensen has acted professionally on the stage, as well as in television and film. “It is a wonderful honor to have been chosen for this award,” said Jorgensen, the Theatre Department assistant chair. “It has been my pleasure to make theater at Boston College and in this community for 25 years now. To have been nominated by my friends, former students, and a nationally known playwright [Brian Guehring], makes it even more
–Rosanne Pellegrini
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: Research Associate, Academic Affairs/Provost Director, Continuing Education, School of Theology and Ministry, Academic Affairs/Provost Vice President for Development, President’s Office Senior Integrated Security System Technician, Dining and Catering/Auxiliary/ Public Safety
One session featured a presentation of Jesuitica from the Burns Library collections.
special. Here is to another 25 years!” The many productions Jorgensen has directed at the Robsham Theater Arts Center include “The Servant of Two Masters,” “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” “Picasso at the Lapin Agile,” “Metamorphoses” (winner of a Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival Ensemble Award), and his original play “Codemonkey,” which was a chosen as a semi-finalist by NY Musical Theatre New Works. He also collaborates with the First Year Experience Program and serves as faculty advisor to the student groups My Mother’s Fleabag and Hello Shovelhead! His BC courses include Acting I: Fundamentals of Performance, Creative Dramatics, Introduction to Theatre, Performing Politics, and Theatre for Youth. Jorgensen will be presented with the award in August at the AATE’s annual conference in New York City.
dential Life Executive Director, Advancement Engagement & Communications, University Advancement Windows Systems Administrator, Information Technology Assistant Manager, Dining Services, Dining and Catering/Auxiliary/Public Safety Leadership Effectiveness Director, Academic Affairs/Provost Marketing & Communications Manager, Athletics Grant and Contract Post Award Administrator, Academic Affairs/Provost
Assistant Director, Assignments & Occupancy, Student Affairs/Residential Life
Research Analyst, University Advancement
Development Assistant, University Advancement
Teacher, Extended Day/Float, Human Resources
Campus School Teacher Assistant, Academic Affairs/Provost
Marketing Campaign Manager, University Advancement
Staff Psychiatrist, Student Affairs/Resi-
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Summer 2019
‘Glorious’ Partnerships
Alumni working to alleviate poverty, disease, famine, and illiteracy across the globe draw support from the Boston College Irish Famine Memorial Fund BY KATHLEEN SULLIVAN STAFF WRITER
Kevin Burg ’18 spent his first year after graduation aiding in the construction of a nursery school classroom at United Hearts Children’s Center in Ghana and assisting the growth of a sustainable agriculture project that supports the school’s operational budget. Jackson Pellegrini, who graduated in 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in sociology, helped St. Timothy’s School in Tanzania with a clean water project and the construction of a multipurpose hall. Both BC graduates were participants in the Global Advocate Program (GAP), an initiative supported by the Boston College Irish Famine Memorial Fund and connected to two non-profits with ties to Boston College alumnae. GAP is a nine-month immersive professional development fellowship that trains individuals to make significant contributions to community projects in developing countries. Participants complete a curriculum focused on project management, marketing, leadership, sustainability, and other skills. Each fellow commits to raising $20,000 towards his or her project and spends three to four months at the project site, working along with community leaders. When they return, they submit a final report on their project and serve as mentors for the next cohort of global advocates. “The step from BC to the Global Advocate Program has been one of the most natural and exciting transitions of my life,” said Burg, who majored in international studies and minored in political science and Faith, Peace and Justice. At BC, he volunteered for the Appalachia spring break service program, studied abroad in Ecuador, and participated in the Arrupe service-immersion trip. “Although it is secular by definition, I personally find the Global Advocate Program to be Ignatian. The program embodies the ‘men and women for and with others’ principle on a global stage.” GAP was directed by 2009 Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences graduate Katie Carey Nivard. Nivard and Hannah Ames Beavers ’09 are co-founders of Glorious, a U.S. non-profit that aids community leaders in Tanzania, Guatemala, and Uganda who are directing sustainable programs focused on education and child welfare. Nivard says her family and her BC education were formative factors that led to her current work. Her younger brothers came into her family via adoption, which motivated her to help create a world where every child is provided with resources and opportunities. She cited the Cornerstone course Courage to Know and PULSE as important experiences during her years at the Heights. “PULSE is a model for the Global Advocate Program,” said Nivard. “Advocates read about the places they are going to, the
Katie Carey Nivard ’09 (far right), served as director of the Global Advocate Program, an initiative supported by the Boston College Irish Famine Memorial Fund and connected to two non-profits with ties to Boston College alumnae—including Glorious, of which Nivard is a cofounder. photo provided by katie carey nivard
history, before going to work in country. Then, after the experience, there is reflection.” GAP is administered through Mama Hope, a non-profit organization that directly supports community-led, sustainable projects in education, health, women’s empowerment, and agriculture in developing countries. Because of their similar missions, Glorious and Mama Hope created a jointventure partnership. The work being done by Nivard and Beavers through Glorious came to the attention of the Irish Famine Memorial Fund Committee, established in 2010 through a generous gift from the family of late University Trustee and benefactor Thomas Flatley, an Irish immigrant who came to America and became a successful businessman and philanthropist. The IFMF’s mission is to provide financial or material support to alumni and other individuals associated with Boston College who are working to alleviate poverty, disease, famine, and illiteracy across the globe. IFMF grants support housing, agricultural, and educational projects in countries such as Haiti, Nicaragua, and Uganda. It is currently funding more than 50 scholarships for international students pursuing graduate studies at BC—Jesuits, other priests, women religious, and lay Catholic school teachers who commit to returning to their native countries where they will use their education to help their communities. Since 2015, the IFMF has supported Glorious and the Global Advocate Program, helping to create a new generation
of social impact leaders. IFMF grants have enabled 34 individuals, including eight BC alumni, to participate in the program. These fellows have gone on to raise more than $673,000 for some 40 projects across the globe, nearly double the initial funding from the IFMF. “We help people learn the hard and soft skills needed to work in this sector,” said Nivard. Pellegrini, who minored in Managing
for Social Impact and the Public Good, says the project he undertook in Tanzania dovetailed perfectly with his passions for social justice, youth education, and environmental sustainability. He credits his studies at BC and experience on his Arrupe trip with helping him think critically about society’s most complex social structures. Eight other fellows in the recent cohort of GAP were supported by the IFMF, working in Uganda, Guatemala, and Ecuador on projects ranging from farm reforestation and women’s business programs to prenatal care and toilets for hospitals. The IFMF supported six other BC alumni who participated in earlier cohorts of GAP: Morgan Deluce ’15 (Flying Kites Academy, Kenya); Marisa Maneri ’16 (St. Timothy’s School, Tanzania); Tessa Peoples ’16 (eco-farm, Guatemala); Katie Remy ’11 (Queen Elizabeth Academy and Glorious School, Tanzania); Megan Sonier ’16 (sustainable agriculture, Kenya), and Nicole Sullivan ’13 (business accelerator, Tanzania). GAP has a lasting legacy, not only at the community sites, but among the fellows who learn skills that can help them to continue to make a social impact. Maneri, for example, is a development associate at KickStart International where she aids smallholder farmers across Sub-Saharan Africa with affordable irrigation technology. Sullivan is a senior manager at Grameen America, a non-profit that offers microloans, training, and support to women who live in poverty so they can build small businesses and better lives for their families. Read more about the Irish Famine Memorial Fund at http://bit.ly/IFMF-impact-2014. Read more about Glorious founders Katie Carey Nivard and Hannah Ames Beavers at http://bit.ly/glorious-orphans-founders.
University President William P. Leahy, S.J., welcomed administrators and beneficiaries of the Boston College Irish Famine Memorial Fund at a reception held in Botolph House earlier this year. photo by peter julian