Together in Community
The
Clough School of Theology and Ministry’s new Formation House for students is centered on Ignatian spirituality and preparation for ministry
BY KATHLEEN SULLIVAN STAFF WRITER
A small group of graduate students has had the opportunity to live together in a lay formation community guided by the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius of Loyola—a new initiative launched this academic year by the Clough School of Theology and Ministry.
The CSTM Formation House, which opened last August, fosters communal living, prayer, and conversation and is designed for lay students who have a sincere desire to deepen their discipleship of Jesus and intend to serve the Catholic Church in ministry after graduation.
“One of the things we are seeking to develop in the student residents is a life of prayer based on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius,” said Clough School Dean Michael McCarthy, S.J. “And the second thing we are developing is an identity as a minister for the Catholic Church, the people of God.”
“We want the residents of the formation house to be fully immersed in the Ignatian tradition,” added CSTM Associate Dean for Student Affairs and Career Services Jacqueline Regan. “We hope that from this experience of a lay formation community that the students come away with habits of
mind and heart that will sustain them in the future.”
The CSTM Formation House is located on Foster Street, adjacent to BC’s Brighton Campus. “It’s a beautiful house and we are very grateful to be in there,” said Fr. McCarthy, who expressed gratitude to University President William P. Leahy, S.J., for the support he has given the initiative.
The house was created in response to conversations Fr. McCarthy had with CSTM students when he began his deanship. According to Fr. McCarthy and Regan, students expressed an interest in an intentional formation community similar to ones experienced by Jesuits and religious orders where spiritual formation and prayer would be central to daily lives and where there would be real community support.
The CSTM Formation House is intended for full-time master’s students, particularly those in the Master of Divinity and Master of Art in Theology and Ministry programs, both of which have a spiritual formation requirement. It is expected that students will reside in the house for one or two years.
“My hope was to have a community where members of the community would help form each other and where there would be a relationship with the CSTM in
The Gospel Truth?
BC researcher finds most Christian leaders don’t share their actual beliefs concerning climate change with congregants
BY ED HAYWARD STAFF WRITER
From Catholics to Evangelicals, an overwhelming majority of Christian leaders in the United States think humans are responsible for climate change, but most do not share that belief with their congregants, according to a new study by Assistant Professor of Psychology Gregg Sparkman.
A survey of 1,600 U.S. religious leaders found that nearly 90 percent of Christian leaders believe in anthropogenic climate change to some degree. This includes 60 percent who believe humans play a major role and an additional 30 percent who believe that the human role is a more minor one, according to the report.
Yet roughly half the religious leaders have never discussed it with their congregations, and only a quarter have mentioned it more than once or twice, the researchers found.
The findings hold implications for how Christians might help address climate change, knowing their beliefs about the climate crisis align with their church’s values, according to Sparkman, senior author of the study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
“Because of leadership’s silence on the matter, rank-and-file Christians think most of their leaders do not believe, and feel hesitant to even discuss climate change with their fellow churchgoers,” said Spark-
Finance, Econ, and Bio Are Tops Again Among Undergrads
BY SEAN SMITH CHRONICLE EDITOR
Finance, economics, and biology remain the three most popular majors for Boston College undergraduates, just as they have for the past decade, according to statistics compiled by the University’s Office of Institutional Research and Planning (IR&P).
Finance, with 1,525 majors, is the top field of study at BC for the third year in a row, having supplanted economics (1,340),
man, who completed the study with Stylianos Syropoulos, a postdoctoral researcher at BC who is now an assistant professor at Arizona State University.
“But if you inform Christians that there’s actually a strong consensus among their religious leaders on the issue, they infer belief in climate change is more common in their church generally, feel taking climate action is consistent with their church’s values, and feel voting for a political candidate who fails to take climate
3 Mourning Francis BC experts discuss pope’s legacy.
4 “The Genius of St. Ignatius” C21 event focuses on Jesuit, Catholic education.
6 Digital Hygiene
BC Law’s Simana on the lessons of 23andMe’s bankruptcy.
The annual Boston College Arts Festival kicks off today with a full slate of events that will run through Saturday. Details available at bc.edu/artsfestival.
Formation House residents gather for a community meal every Tuesday evening.
photo by lee pellegrini
Asst. Prof. Gregg Sparkman (Psychology)
photo by lee pellegrini
Around Campus
New Undergraduate Government of BC Leadership All Ready for Transition
Boston College undergraduates recently selected juniors Cameron (Cami) Kulbieda and Reagan Marino as the Undergraduate Government of Boston College president and vice president, respectively, for the 2025-2026 academic year. They will begin their terms later this semester, succeeding current president Meghan Heckelman ’25 and vice president Katie Garrigan ’25.
Kulbieda, a double major in elementary education and applied psychology and human development (APHD), has held UGBC positions as Academic Affairs Committee chair, senator, senate parliamentarian, and senate secretary. Marino, a political science major and International Studies minor, is a current UGBC senator whose area of focus is intersectionality.
In their new roles, said Kulbieda and Marino in a joint statement, they look forward to being a source of support, inspiration, and encouragement for their leadership team to facilitate tangible outcomes that improve the Boston College experience for all students.
“We believe no single issue outweighs another, and every Eagle’s authentic concern deserves equal attention and consideration. However, truly addressing these concerns requires strong outreach. That’s why, from Day One, we are committed to expanding our reach to students and ensuring every student’s voice is heard.”
The pair outlined three avenues to achieve this. One is to increase the number of general coordinators in UGBC’s Communications Division to five, which they
said will “allow for more content creation and productivity on our social media platforms so that we may engage more effectively with the student body.”
They also plan to boost awareness of and attendance at the UGBC Senate’s Public Comment session, where any student can express a grievance or propose an idea.
To do this, Kulbieda and Marino said they are considering a new meeting space with more accessible seating, and committing the Senate president to follow up with every attendee of Public Comment “to ensure that no need goes unaddressed.”
In addition, the president- and vice
president-elect, along with their leadership team, will seek to foster more collaborations between UGBC and other student organizations.
The pair began their careers in student government influenced by the same fundamental beliefs in advocacy, policy, and community outreach.
Kulbieda, who joined UGBC as a firstyear student with the aspiration to make a positive impact on the BC community and be a part of the changes that happen on campus, is bringing a newfound perspective into her senior year at BC.
“Through my two years in the Senate, I
discovered new means of service, advocacy and policy, which led me to select policy, advocacy, and community change as my APHD minor. I am considering a career in educational policy work, something I never would have explored, and a passion I never would’ve recognized if not for UGBC,” said Kulbieda.
“I feel extremely humbled that the undergraduate community of BC has entrusted Reagan and I to serve them in these roles. Amidst a challenging campaigning season, my primary takeaway was an increasingly strengthened love for Boston College. I cannot express enough how much I appreciate all that this community has given me in my three years here, and am committed to make the strongest impact I can with the time I have left.”
Marino found his calling for service work and advocacy as a residential assistant at BC’s two-year residential college division, Messina College. Through one-onone conversations there and in UGBC, Marino developed an understanding of the diverse challenges students face and how the work of UGBC can help fulfill their needs.
“This perspective has strengthened my commitment to ensuring student voices shape the policies that affect them. When Cami presented the opportunity to be her running mate, emphasizing a shared commitment to advocating for the authentic student experience, I knew it was the perfect next step,” said Marino.
—Audrey Loyack
Lynch School, Engineering Co-Organizing Showcase for Young STEM Enthusiasts
The Lynch School of Education and Human Development and Engineering Department are teaming up to present the inaugural NextGen STEMFest, a daylong, youth-planned celebration and demonstration to showcase local student innovation, creativity, and inventiveness in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), on May 10 at the Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation in Waltham, Mass.
The event coincides with the 75th anniversary of the National Science Foundation (NSF), which has funded STEM learning experiences at BC and other universities and youth organizations throughout the United States to develop, support, and elevate the next generation of innovators, particularly those from under-
ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT FOR UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS
Jack Dunn
SENIOR DIRECTOR FOR UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS
Patricia Delaney
EDITOR Sean Smith
represented communities.
Throughout the day, more than 35 high school youth from the Charles River Collaboratory—Massachusetts’ only youthled innovation space, located within the Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation—will lead interactive, handson workshops on 3D printing, laser cutting, resin art, automated farming robots, and screen printing that demonstrate the students’ knowledge and execution of their STEM proficiency.
In addition, 35 exhibitors will demonstrate their innovative products and services, exposing students and visitors to the variety of STEM-related opportunities and careers. Among the participants will be robotics firm Boston Dynamics, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Spark Photonics, research
CONTRIBUTING STAFF Phil Gloudemans Ed Hayward
Audrey Loyack
Rosanne Pellegrini Kathleen Sullivan
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Caitlin Cunningham Lee Pellegrini
and development labs such as MIT’s Advanced Functional Fabrics of America, and GBH’s Center for STEM Education.
Scientists and engineers from many of the companies, organizations, and universities will also share how they became interested in STEM, their respective career paths, and the nature of the work—such as regenerative medicine and new biotechnologies—in which they’re presently engaged.
Attendees at the NextGen STEMFest can also explore the Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation for free. More details are available at nextgenstemfest.org.
“The festival’s name reflects the desire of existing youth leaders to inspire and motivate younger youth to discover and
engage with science, technology, engineering, and math,” said G. Michael Barnett, professor of science education and technology at the Lynch School. “We connect students with the knowledge, competencies, and mentorship that not only reaffirm that they have the capacity for STEM, but it reinforces that they are welcome, they belong, and they can excel in these fields, while preparing them to be leaders in tomorrow’s workforce.”
The NextGen STEMFest is funded through the NSF Innovative Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers (ITEST) program. For more about the Charles River Collaboratory, see charlesrivercollab.org.
—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.
UGBC President-elect Cameron (Cami) Kulbieda, left, and Vice President-elect Reagan Marino photo by caitlin cunningham
Remembering Pope Francis
Excerpts from comments by the Boston College community on the death of Pope Francis (see more at bit.ly/BC-Pope-Francis-legacy)
Like those throughout the world, the Boston College community mourns the death of Pope Francis. He provided such a powerful example of care for those in the shadows of life and he had a wonderful pastoral heart. May he rest in peace.
University President William P. Leahy, S.J.
If there was one consistent theme of Francis’ papacy, it was the centrality of discipleship. Christians are called to go forth into the world from their own comfort zones to what Francis calls “peripheries” that need the light of the Gospel. His understanding of Church too reflects this sense of mission to go forth into the world with a desire to show God’s own mercy.
Clough School of Theology and Ministry Dean Michael McCarthy, S.J.
Pope Francis cashed the check that the Second Vatican Council made out to the Church. That is, the Council called for a Church committed to compassion, community, and a more democratic vision of governance. Francis did this brilliantly by
Historian to Speak at April 30 MCAS Dean’s Colloquium
Assistant Professor of History María de los Ángeles Picone will discuss her recently published book, Landscaping Patagonia: Spatial History and Nation-Making in Chile and Argentina, at the Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences Dean’s Colloquium on April 30 at 4:30 p.m. in Gasson 100. The event is free and open to the public.
Picone, who joined the Boston College faculty in 2019, is a historian of modern Latin America specializing in the “Cono Sur (Southern Cone)”—the southernmost region of South America—who describes her research interest as “the intersection of nature and nation-making in border regions,” particularly regarding questions “on how people experienced a shared sense of community through their spatial practices.”
Between the 1890s and 1940s, according to Picone, explorers, migrants, authorities, and visitors created shared versions of nationhood through regional, often cross-border, interpretations and transformations of the natural environment. Her study shows how different actors sought to make Patagonia their own “by transforming a collection of geographical sites into a landscape that evoked a shared past and a common future.”
Picone teaches courses on Modern Latin America, Spatial History, Environmental History, Sports History, and Borderlands. Last fall, she became co-director of the Graduate Certificate in Digital Humanities, and is an affiliated faculty member in the Environmental Studies Program and the Clough Center for the Study of Consti-
calling for synods that included women and lay people, as well as bishops and priests. His vision of a synodal Church, in which important decisions about Church presence and policy would be shaped by open conversation (and even debate), was based on a clear understanding of how the early Church in the first two or three centuries actually worked, and is well grounded in Catholic theology and history. Likewise, his call for a Church committed to caring for those “on the margins” is based on a deep commitment to the vision of Vatican II and to core Jesuit values, among the chief of which is being men and women for others. I would say that it is the most important pontificate since Pope John XXIII.
Professor of Theology Mark Massa, S.J.,
tutional Democracy.
Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences
Dean Gregory Kalscheur, S.J., said that he and MCAS Senior Associate Dean Brian Gareau felt Picone was a “timely choice” as colloquium speaker.
“This event provides us with an opportunity to consider complex questions of national identity,. María de los Ángeles Picone’s work highlights how national boundaries and identities are not solely imposed by political centers but are shaped, challenged, and reimagined by a diverse range of actors on the ground.
“While focusing on Argentina and Chile, her book will also resonate with a United States audience, where debates over national identity, borderlands, migration, and the meaning of territory continue to have a significant presence in contemporary political and cultural life.”
—University Communications
director of the Boisi Center for Religion and American Public Life
From his initial stated desire for “a Church which is poor and for the poor” to his recent letter to the U.S. bishops on mass deportations, Pope Francis’ papacy was marked by a prophetic commitment to those most marginalized. The world witnessed countless examples of the pontiff’s commitment to the poor in word and deed; his first trip outside of Rome to the island of Lampedusa well reflected themes repeated throughout his papacy—he planned it after being visited by the suffering of migrants dying at sea like a “thorn in the heart” and prophetically indicted the apathy not just of the “world” but of the “Church” as well, repenting himself. His focus there on the globalization of indifference, the structural nature of sin, and affective dimensions of conversion persisted across various dimensions of his pastoral and teaching ministries.
Joseph Chair in Theology Kristin Heyer, co-editor of The Moral Vision of Pope Francis: Expanding the US Reception of the First Jesuit Pope
Some of Pope Francis’s encyclicals made a major impact, especially Laudato Si’, which calls for renewed emphasis on human dignity, special care for the poor, and care for the natural environment.
In particular, there is the part about caring for the poor: He said they require dignity, not pity or hand-outs—they need jobs, they need the dignity of work. In the context of modern income inequality, that’s a compelling message, and it’s built on traditional Catholic social teaching. But while his encyclicals were measured and striking, Francis’s off-the-cuff
remarks and statements could be problematic. His famous “Who am I to judge?” response to questions about gay priests and the Catholic Church and homosexuality may have been widely hailed, but not universally, and this led to severe difficulties within the Church hierarchy.
Professor of History Oliver Rafferty, S.J., researcher/writer in Church history
Pope Francis’s papacy was a game changer. On the doors of St. Peter’s is a bronze scene of Pope John XXIII sticking his hands through prison bars grasping the hands of prisoners with the words, “You couldn’t come to see me, so I came to see you.” Pope Francis effectively made that scene a catalyst for his own papal agenda. He met everyone everywhere.
I met Pope Francis three times. The first time was a near hour that he met with me and six other theological ethicists, the leadership of our network, Catholic Ethics in the World Church. What was striking was the number of times that he knew about a matter that we referred to; he would add, “you see, I know what’s going on.”
His vigilance about global matters was remarkable, becoming not just the pope for Catholics but for the world. It will be hard for anyone to follow in his shoes.
His legacy in the world will be notable. His encyclical Laudato Si’ will continue to be appropriated by major communities, from nation states to international organizations to universities.
His legacy in the church will be his promotion of the synodal method of broadbased consultation and leadership
Canisius Professor and Vice Provost for Global Engagement James Keenan, S.J., director of the Jesuit Institute
Popular Majors and Minors
Continued from page 1
which had been ranked first from 20122022. Biology (840) has been the third most-enrolled major since 2014.
Rounding out the top 10 popular majors are political science (702), psychology (533), computer science (533), communication (519), nursing (418), neuroscience (406), and applied psychology and human development (392).
These and other data for the University’s undergraduate day students and graduate students were assembled during the fall 2024 semester by IR&P as part of its yearly compendium of facts and figures for administrators, faculty, staff, and students. Current and past editions of the Boston College Fact Book are accessible at bc.edu/factbook.
[Data for economics and computer science majors reflect enrollments in both the Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences and Carroll School of Management; as of 2023, the computer science major reflects enrollments in MCAS only.]
Among the most notable trends is the continued rise in popularity of computer science. Where in 2009 there were 68 computer science majors at BC, by 2018—the first year that comp-sci cracked the top 10—that number had increased by 518 percent to 420. Since 2014, computer science has experienced a 141 percent increase in
enrollment, currently one of the largest such gains among disciplines with at least 10 students enrolled in a major.
Other disciplines experiencing impressive rises in enrollment during the past decade include business analytics (325 percent), Environmental Studies (277), studio art (76), and finance (50).
The University’s human-centered engineering program, which will graduate its first cohort next month, has grown from 29 to 174 majors. Other recently established majors include applied physics (from three in 2022 to the current 26) and global public health, which began in 2023-2024 with 22 and now totals 37.
Finance also once again topped the list of most popular undergraduate minors with 654 students enrolled, the seventh year in a row it has done so. Others were marketing (297), general business (225), Management and Leadership (217), Managing for Social Impact (182), philosophy (154), history (135), English (121), applied psychology and human development (118), and global public health (103).
Among the newest minors are general business, up from 83 enrollees from last year’s debut; data science, also in its second year, with 40 students enrolled; and dance, with 23 in its third year.
María de los Ángeles Picone
photo by peter julian
photo by ricardo stucket/pr
C21 Event Offers Views on Jesuit, Catholic Education
BY KATHLEEN SULLIVAN STAFF WRITER
Speaking at a recent campus forum on Jesuit and Catholic education, University President William P. Leahy, S.J., extolled the far-reaching vision of Jesuit founder Saint Ignatius of Loyola that continues to guide Boston College.
“The genius of St. Ignatius was to combine study of the humanities with character formation,” said Fr. Leahy at the April 9 event in Gasson 100, “Jesuit and Catholic Education: Perspectives on its History and Future,” sponsored by The Church in the 21st Century Center.
Jesuit education, Fr. Leahy said, is about trying “to shape the world, influence the world through students.”
The conversation on the history of the Jesuit educational model featured Fr. Leahy and Professor Cristiano Casalini, Endowed Chair in Jesuit Pedagogy and Educational History in the Lynch School of Education and Human Development and a research scholar with the Institute for Advanced Jesuit Studies at Boston College (IAJS). Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences Associate Dean of the Core Curriculum and Professor of the Practice Elizabeth H. Shlala served as moderator. C21 Center Director Karen Kiefer introduced the event.
Fr. Leahy, who has announced his intention to step down as University president in the summer of 2026, created The Church in the 21st Century initiative 23 years ago to examine issues relating to the sexual abuse scandal in the Catholic Church. In 2004, BC established The Church in the 21st Century Center as a permanent commitment to explore compelling questions facing the Catholic Church and serve as a catalyst and resource for the Church’s renewal.
According to Casalini and Fr. Leahy, St.
BC Scenes
Barry Family Professorship
riculum, residential life, volunteer service, and reflection.
During the conversation, Shlala spoke about formative education at Boston College and how faculty across campus embody it in a way they might not be asked to at other institutions.
Casalini shared an insight highlighted in the current issue of the Jesuit Educational Quarterly, a scholarly journal relaunched by the IAJS after a 55-year absence. He said the familiar Jesuit phrase cura personalis, translated as care for the whole person, had its roots in another Latin phrase: personalis alumnorum cura, which means “personal interest in the student.” This nuance adds another dimension to the Jesuit philosophy of education, extending it to include having instructors who care about students beyond the classroom and strive to offer guidance, counsel, and encouragement.
Ignatius and his early companions—who shared a faith and interest in intellectual life—developed a very powerful vision and mission around education. They opened the first Jesuit school in Messina, Sicily, in 1548, and more than 470 years later, Jesuit education is a worldwide enterprise.
Speaking about the rise of Jesuit higher education in the United States in the 19th century, Casalini said, “What marks the continuity of Jesuit thinking on education throughout the century is this strong belief in the transformative power of education, in the societal power of education.”
“Jesuits started schools because they saw it as a way of not only helping individuals develop their talents, but also to use those talents for the good of others. And so mission is just critical,” said Fr. Leahy, noting that vision shapes mission. “Mission should
in turn lead to decisions that reinforce the vision and mission.”
Fr. Leahy spoke about how essential it is for an institution to have a clear sense of mission: Without it, an institution can drift and decline. “Institutions that have a compelling sense of mission have a much higher likelihood of attracting students, faculty, staff, and supporters.”
Adapting the mission to changing times is also necessary for Jesuit institutions, he said, crediting St. Ignatius with the characteristic of adaptability: “If you are really going to be effective, I think you have to be able to evolve and read the signs of the times.” Where Boston College’s mission at its founding in 1863 was focused on Boston, he said, “Now, it’s the world.”
Fr. Leahy cited four critical aspects to BC’s approach to formative education: cur-
The event served as a complement to the current issue of C21 Resources magazine on “Liberal Arts Education: Its Value and Impact.” Shlala served as the issue’s guest editor and a contributor. Fr. Leahy, Casalini, Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences Dean Gregory Kalscheur, S.J., Messina College Dean Erick Berrelleza, S.J., and numerous BC faculty, staff, students, and alumni also had pieces published in the issue, which is available at bit.ly/c21-resources-summer2024.
“Jesuit education is very much about influencing, helping people be better, and I think it’s tremendous that we are explicit about that,” said Fr. Leahy. “We say we want to, through our students, change the world. We want our students to be better human beings…We inform, but we [also] want to form so as to transform.”
He closed by adding, “I do think the need for BC and for Jesuit education is greater now than it’s ever been.”
Lynch School of Education and Human Development Professor Katherine L. McNeill, a Bryk Faculty Fellow and a leading scholar in science education, has been named a NARST (National Association for Research in Science Teaching) Fellow. The program director for curriculum and instructor in the Lynch School Teaching, Curriculum, and Society Department, McNeill has been recognized for her innovative research and commitment to equity in K-12 classrooms. Among other accomplishments, she developed the Claim-EvidenceReasoning (CER) framework that has transformed how teachers and students engage in scientific argumentation, earning widespread adoption in classrooms and professional development. Her work, grounded in collaborative research-prac-
tice partnerships, focuses on curriculum customization to support equitable student sensemaking and teacher agency. McNeill has secured major National Science Foundation grants and led initiatives like OpenSciEd, which scaled high-quality instructional materials across schools. In addition, McNeill has mentored numerous emerging scholars, many of whom now lead their own research in equity-centered science education, and contributed extensively through presentations, committee service, and as an associate editor for the Journal of Research in Science Teaching. Formed in 1928, NARST is a global organization of professionals committed to the improvement of science teaching and learning through research.
University President William P. Leahy, S.J., speaking at The Church in the 21st Century Center event
“Jesuit and Catholic Education: Perspectives on its History and Future.” Joining him were Lynch School Professor Cristiano Casalini and Morrissey College Associate Dean Elizabeth Shlala.
photo by caitlin cunningham
photos by scott eisen
Boston College hosted a celebration on April 10 of the Barry Family Professorship in Social Work, whose inaugural holder is Christopher Salas-Wright (above). Also speaking at the event, which took place in the Cadigan Alumni Center, was University Trustee Steven M. Barry ’85 (right), who along with his wife Tammy J. Barry ’85, M.Ed. ’87 made the gift establishing the chair.
Nota Bene
Grounded in a Different Perspective
Faculty member’s stint in Navy and as a fighter pilot gives him unique outlook on issues about economics and security
BY PHIL GLOUDEMANS STAFF WRITER
Assistant Professor of the Practice in Economics Peter Devine’s life has involved a lot of time spent in the water and in the air—and it helped put him on solid ground for a career in academia that brought him to the Boston College faculty last year.
A San Diego native with a passion for the ocean, Devine capitalized on a United States Navy ROTC scholarship to the University of Notre Dame to earn a commission as an aviator, and later flew a F/A18 Hornet fighter aircraft while deployed overseas at Western Pacific-based Carrier Air Group FIVE.
“Growing up in Southern California and living near the beach, I had a charmed upbringing,” said Devine. “I spent my childhood in the ocean—swimming, sailing, and surfing. My friends and I quickly learned that as dilemmas or crises arose, your parents weren’t always there to save you, so you had to be responsible for yourself and the people around you.”
Devine credits the lessons of sea survival as a significant contributor to the development of his emotional maturity, and moreover, the confidence to shun panic when faced with potentially catastrophic circumstances.
“In training, your simulated helicopter—the helo-dunker—crashes into a pool, flips upside down, and you’ve got to escape,” he said. “It’s a lot, but I felt in my element.”
Devine’s military service provided a basis for his academic interest. In graduate studies at Duke University—where he earned a master’s degree before his Navy commission—he focused on applying geoeconomic coalitions involving flows of trade, finances, capacity, and high-innovation start-up industries to expose blind spots in defense and economic policies. He has utilized this expertise in, among other
“Although I had some last-minute doubts before committing to ROTC, my dad convinced me not to give up on a dream and at least try it for a year. That made all the difference.”
—Peter Devine
In February, Devine and four former Duke colleagues issued a report, “Rebuilding Ukraine,” on behalf of the Council on Foreign Relations and its Special Initiative on Securing Ukraine’s Future, and the Wachenheim Program on Peace. They contend that a successful recovery and the country’s long-term stability depend on actions that will alter the trajectory of Ukraine’s population, attract private investment to ease the burden on public finances, and provide long-term economic stability.
“Without those,” according to Devine and his co-authors, “Ukraine’s economy will stagnate and be significantly more vulnerable to Russian expansionism in the future.”
At BC, he’s taught Principles of Economics, but his passion for exposing blind spots in security and monetary policies will be on full display this fall when he’ll teach an upper-level course titled Economics and Defense, which will explore the fiscal foundation of national defense through the lens of industrial organization and technologydriven growth models.
areas, analyzing the present and future economic outlook for embattled Ukraine.
“Many kids, particularly kids who grow up near air bases, want to be fighter pilots, and I did, too,” said Devine. “Although I had some last-minute doubts before committing to ROTC, my dad convinced me not to give up on a dream and at least try it for a year. That made all the difference.”
While on active duty, he served as the speechwriter for the U.S. Naval Academy’s Superintendent, taught logic, economics and econometrics, moonlighted as an economist at the World Bank, and completed a doctorate at George Washington University.
After leaving the Navy, he returned to teaching at Duke, which had partnered with Ukraine’s Kyiv School of Economics. Devine lectured on econometric methods to “now-cast”—conduct short-term forecasts—regarding the Ukrainian and Russian economies during the Russian in-
vasion to help train researchers and funnel economic information to Ukraine’s central bank.
He then undertook an international affairs fellowship at the Council on Foreign Relations. During the Biden administration, Devine served as a fellow at the National Economic Council, the principal forum used by American presidents for the consideration of domestic and international economic policy matters.
Devine chose to come to BC because he believed it was the best community for him and his wife and young son. It was a return to the ocean, albeit on the opposite coast of his childhood.
“While in the Navy, I couldn’t control where I lived,” said Devine. “Now I had a choice, and it was time to prioritize family life, and to re-engage with the holistic approach of the Catholic educational environment that had such a formative impact on me as an undergraduate.”
“The current analysis of the interaction between economics and defense lacks a theoretical basis and a cause-and-effect structure, which misses or ignores the general equilibrium,” explained Devine, whose approach was influenced by his White House stint.
“I’m delighted that Peter will offer a new elective course this coming fall that builds on his expertise in national security,” said Professor Robert Murphy, chair of the Economics Department. “Our students will learn how tools of economic analysis can shed light on defense-related decisions in a rapidly evolving global landscape.”
While Devine’s thoughts may be focused on Ukraine’s economy or his upcoming class, the former aviator is happily grounded.
“I love being a part of BC—being a part of the community, seeing my students and their families at hockey games and Mass— and watching my son ride his toddler bike around campus like he owns the place. He’s fast; you need to wear shin guards.”
ITS Unveils New AI Website, Will Hold May 14 Forum
Boston College Information Technology Services and campus partners are making significant strides to foster discussions about generative artificial intelligence (AI), including its capabilities and safe practices in academia.
Last month, ITS launched a new website [www.bc.edu/genai] that aims to explore generative AI through the lens of Jesuit education, being attentive to the wide-reaching possibilities while also reflecting on the societal challenges of this transformative technology.
Generative AI, as defined by the new website, is a type of artificial intelligence that can create new content, whether writ-
ing a story, composing music, or generating images. Gen AI tools create new content based on users’ questions or requests, using a “prompt.” Features of the new site, designed by BC’s Office of University Communications, includes data-protected AI tools licensed by BC for students, faculty, and staff; training and introduction courses available via Canvas; guidelines to support the community’s safety; and prompting tips and general research on the future of AI.
To further explore AI’s capabilities in academia, Information Technology Services and the Office of the Provost will host a faculty and staff conference, “BC Talks
AI: Innovate with Integrity,” on May 14 in Gasson Hall. The conference will feature lessons on general applications, AI in research, and teaching, and learning workshops.
“This new website is the result of a collaborative partnership with faculty, students, and staff, with the goal of creating a shared space that promotes both learning and the responsible exploration of AI,” said Associate Vice President of IT Systems and Services Scott Cann, a parttime Woods College of Advancing Studies faculty member.
“The upcoming conference is an extension of this effort, designed to foster
dialogue about AI at BC. It will include talks and workshops that will cover AI’s applications in research, teaching, learning, and various other disciplines. I am incredibly grateful to be a part of this important effort and to work alongside faculty, students, and staff in advancing this conversation.”
Full details on the conference will be posted later this month. To submit a proposal or register for the conference, go to the Generative AI@BC site [www.bc.edu/genai].
—Audrey Loyack
photo by caitlin cunningham
BC Expert Offers Lessons to Learn from 23andMe
BY PHIL GLOUDEMANS STAFF WRITER
The bankruptcy of direct-to-consumer genetic testing firm 23andMe—named as “Invention of the Year” in 2008 by Time magazine—is a cautionary tale, says Boston College Law Assistant Professor Shelly Simana: not only for business-related reasons, but in its implications for consumers’ private information.
The publicly traded retail DNA analysis service, valued as high as $5.8 billion, filed for Chapter 11 on March 23, spurring consumer advocates to implore the company’s 15 million customers to delete their personal data and prevent access by a prospective or the eventual buyer.
23andMe’s saliva-based testing not only can aid in tracing one’s ancestry but also uncover genetic predispositions ranging from diabetes to some cancers. But while this information can assist customers with their health-related decisions, noted Simana, it also raises significant privacy concerns, particularly as the company confronts a potential sale.
“When customers initially registered for 23andMe, they consented to terms that allowed the company to use their data for research and development and to share de-identified, aggregate information with third parties,” explained Simana, who studies the ethical and legal issues in genetics, reproduction, and biotechnology. “Deleting your account doesn’t retroactively undo those uses. Once data have been incorporated into research or shared externally, there’s no meaningful way to retrieve or erase it. Moreover, 23andMe’s policies make clear that in the event of a bankruptcy or asset sale, user data may still be transferred.”
23andMe—whose name is derived from the 23 chromosome pairs, one set from each parent—has assured customers that data privacy will be a priority, but skeptics point to other legal measures, such as a
court-appointed, independent consumer privacy ombudsman (CPO) as a means to achieve additional accountability.
“Appointing a CPO would be a valuable step,” said Simana. “A CPO can provide independent oversight of any data-related transactions, ensuring they align with 23andMe’s stated privacy commitments and broader legal obligations. This role becomes especially important given that 23andMe’s privacy policy allows for unilateral changes at any time—leaving consumers vulnerable in the absence of additional safeguards.
“That said, it’s important to acknowledge the potential tension: Meaningful privacy oversight might require limiting how certain data can be transferred or used, which could conflict with the company’s financial goals. Still, from a consumer protection standpoint, the added accountability is well worth it.”
Simana noted that in the absence of a CPO, customers aren’t powerless—they can still make their privacy concerns heard through public advocacy.
“Joining forces with consumer rights organizations can amplify their voices. Customers can also submit complaints or concerns directly to regulators like the Federal Trade Commission or state attorneys general, who may intervene or provide oversight.”
Although 23andMe is free to take the highest bid when its assets are up for sale, it’s unclear whether the top buyer would be required to possess or prove that it has the necessary privacy protection capabilities and cybersecurity sophistication to guard the genetic information. This would likely pose a serious conflict in the selling process, pitting privacy laws that require due diligence when sharing personal information with a third party versus a tendering proceeding and selection that do not, said Simana.
“The bidding process can create a conflict between financial recovery and data protection. Bankruptcy law prioritizes maximizing value for creditors, which often means selling assets—including personal data—to the highest bidder. While 23an-
“Good digital hygiene isn’t a one-time fix,” says Asst. Prof. Shelly Simana (Law). “It requires ongoing attention.”
dMe claims that any buyer will be required to honor its existing privacy policies, those policies are subject to change, and a new owner may revise them post-sale. That creates a significant risk: Users’ data could end up under a very different, potentially weaker, privacy regime than the one they originally agreed to.”
Customers who have privacy concerns should consider deleting their data, said Simana, but expunging your 23andMe account doesn’t necessarily erase everything. Information that has already been de-identified and aggregated may still be retained, and some data may be held for legal or regulatory compliance.
“That’s why it’s not enough to delete your digital records; you should also ask for any remaining biological samples to be destroyed. Taking that extra step can help limit future use or unintended access to your genetic material.”
High-quality digital hygiene begins with regularly reviewing your data permissions and deleting any information you no longer want stored, said Simana.
“Don’t just rely on in-app settings: Ask companies to confirm both the deletion of your digital files and the destruction of any biological samples, if applicable. Stay alert to privacy policy changes, especially after mergers or acquisitions, when terms may quietly shift. Avoid uploading your genetic data to third-party platforms, which often lack the same privacy safeguards as the original testing company, and if you’re uncomfortable with research or data-sharing practices, revisit your consent settings and opt out where possible. Good digital hygiene isn’t a one-time fix; it requires ongoing attention.”
“Nine out of 10 Christian leaders already believe we can do something about climate change,” says Sparkman. “If this truth gets out and they break their silence, it will help Christian Americans come to faith on this dire issue.”
Christian Leaders’ Honesty on Climate Could Be Game Changer
action is inconsistent with their church’s values,” added Sparkman, who directs the Social Influence and Social Change Lab [sisclab.bc.edu] at Boston College.
Equipped with the results of the leadership survey, the team then surveyed a sample of nearly 1,000 American Christians representative of major denominations. Respondents estimated that roughly half of their leaders did not believe humans are responsible for climate change, when in fact only about 10 percent of Christian leaders denied humans drive climate change. Conversely, having a religious leader who talks about climate change predicts greater willingness to discuss it with fellow churchgoers and attend climate events, the researchers found.
The researchers surveyed another group
of nearly 1,000 American Christians and shared with half of them the result indicating that 90 percent of Christian leaders believe in man-made climate change. Awareness of that fact reduced congregants’ misperception of religious leaders, increased their perception that other church members believe in and are open to discussing climate change, and led Christians to believe that taking climate action is consistent with their church’s values while voting for politicians that won’t take climate action is not.
Christianity is the prevalent religion in the United States, practiced by 224 million people or 67 percent of the population, according to a Gallup survey from 2023. The majority of Christian Americans are Protestant Christians.
Prior research has examined the effects
of informing people that there is consensus among scientists about climate change. But until now, it wasn’t clear whether there was a strong consensus among religious leaders, even though this group is very influential for many Americans, particularly those who may be skeptical of climate science, said Syropoulos.
Sparkman said there was an expectation that a large percentage of Christian leaders accepted that climate change exists and is driven by human activity, but learning that nine out of 10 leaders accepted the scientific consensus was surprising.
“We thought most religious leaders would believe,” said Sparkman. “But we didn’t expect just how high it would be.”
Syropoulos and Sparkman agree that an important next step is to engage in greater
research efforts highlighting that concern for climate change is high in religious groups in the U.S., with an emphasis on refining and disseminating such consensus beliefs to churchgoers across the country.
“We find that informing Christians that the majority of their religious leaders believe in man-made climate change leads them to realize that climate action is in line with their morals, and voting for politicians who deny climate change may be at odds with their faith,” Sparkman said. “Every year we see more droughts, fires, floods, and famines. Nine out of 10 Christian leaders already believe we can do something about climate change. And if this truth gets out and they break their silence, it will help Christian Americans come to faith on this dire issue.”
photo by caitlin cunningham
Warsh Leaving BCSSW But Predicts ‘I’ll Be Busy’
Over the past 30 years, the field of social work has evolved to place a greater emphasis on hard science.
So says Robin Warsh, who’s witnessed the transformation of the helping profession as a stalwart at the Boston College School of Social Work since 1994.
“I think that the field is taken more seriously as clinically sound and social workers are seen as true experts in providing mental health care,” said Warsh, a professor of clinical practice who plans to retire at the end of May. “We’ve really brought hard science into a field that was softer on that compared to when I was first trained.”
Warsh has brought an evidence-based approach to teaching since joining the faculty as an assistant professor, blending scholarship and case studies with roleplaying activities to enhance learning for students working with clients.
For years, she’s fine-tuned the syllabi for Basic Skills in Clinical Social Work, Psychosocial Pathology, and Clinical Practice with Adults, replacing old and outdated materials with new podcasts, YouTube videos, and peer-reviewed publications that “honor humanity in all its forms,” she says.
“My students today are conversant in the neurobiology of trauma and know how to work with the brain, the body, and emotions to bring healing,” said Warsh, who has regularly mentored part-time faculty who teach the three courses that she’s worked to coordinate. “Students are conversant in neurodivergence, autism spectrum disorder, and understanding the numerous ways human brains work that go beyond pathology.”
Her teaching style blends structured lectures with group discussions, with an emphasis on connecting practical learning in the field to theoretical learning in the classroom.
Warsh often shares case studies from her private practice focused on helping individual adults and couples navigate divorce,
Snapshot
Celebrating the Earth
childhood trauma, and attachment disorders, a strategy that allows students to see how the concepts they learn in class can be applied in clinical settings.
“My style truly combines strong didactic teaching with the opportunity for students to chew on the material,” said Warsh, who has a taken trauma-informed approach to her practice since she opened it in 1995, helping clients understand their childhood experiences so they can lead happier, healthier lives as adults. “I’m either demonstrating work with a client or they are talking with each other about their work with clients.”
She also designed Internal Family Systems Therapy: A Contemporary Approach for Working with Individuals, Couples, Families, and Groups, a course she describes as her crowning achievement at BC. The class provides students with a nonpathologizing approach to identifying and unburdening the faulty beliefs people carry from childhood trauma and replacing them with self-led resources, such as courage, compassion, and curiosity.
“A decade ago, the course was pretty avant-garde,” says Warsh. “But I had the
faith and trust of the administration that if I was suggesting it, it was going to be done well.”
Today, Internal Family Systems Therapy is one of the most popular courses at BCSSW, offered to students three times per year.
For the past 15 years, Warsh has chaired BCSSW’s Academic Standards Review Committee, where she’s played a key role in supporting struggling students and helping them get back on track.
Some students have returned to campus to thank her for her support, saying that what they’ve learned from the esteemed professor has stuck with them long after they submitted their final papers.
“I have had the pleasure of having students come up to me that I haven’t seen in the classroom for more than 10 years and tell me that what they learned in my classes is still with them to this day,” said Warsh. “I believe that I have been well trained, and to be able to share that with students who are smart, committed, dedicated, and ethical is a rare professional pleasure that gives me a lot of joy.”
Warsh advises current students to say “yes” to new opportunities, even if they’re not sure they can live up to the task.
“Growth happens when you do things you feel unqualified to do,” she said, quoting a well-known pastor named Andy Stanley. “Opportunity knocks,” she added, “but it pays to have the biggest door that you can find.”
Jobs
The following are among the recent positions posted by the Department of Human Resources. For more information on employment opportunities at Boston College, see www.bc.edu/jobs or scan the QR at right.
Associate Director of Financial Systems, Reporting and Planning
Resident Director
Assistant/Associate Director, Undergraduate Admission
Institutional Research Analyst (Sr.)
Assistant Director, Annual Giving Direct Marketing
Program Director and Assistant Program Director, AMDG
Public Safety Dispatcher
Content Development Specialist, Center for Centers
Temporary Office Pool
Director of Assessment and Accreditation, Lynch School of Education and Human Development
Senior Budget Financial Applications Analyst
Campus Security Officer
First Cook
Associate Director, Information Systems & User Experience
Although Warsh is retiring from BC, she’ll have plenty of opportunities to flex her social work muscles in the coming years. She plans to keep her private practice open for the foreseeable future. She’s also booked virtual business trips to Egypt, South Korea, Spain, and Israel, where she’ll give online lectures on Internal Family Systems therapy to psychotherapists in those countries.
“Working with couples is really my jam. So between my practice and my teaching of therapists, I’ll be busy.”
She predicts that the next generation of social workers will not only continue to embrace evidence-based approaches in their work with clients but also place a strong emphasis on the generosity of spirit, a hallmark that has long defined the helping profession.
In this way, the future of social work looks similar to its evolution over the past 30 years, when Warsh was making her mark on the Heights.
“I think that we are going to continue to honor and include science without losing our hearts,” she said, “because that’s just as important when working with human beings who are suffering and in need of healing.”
—Jason Kornwitz is a senior writer and editor in the Boston College School of Social Work
Read the full story at https://bit.ly/bcsswrobin-warsh-to-retire
Associate Director of Research, Research Program on Children and Adversity
Director, Stewardship & Donor Engagement
Associate Director, Major Capital Projects
Director of Assessment and Accreditation
Production Manager, Theatre Department
Research Associate/Project Coordinator, Housing Opportunity and Mobility Experiment project
Associate Video Production Analyst, Football
Network Systems Engineer
Boston College students helped some young attendees with arts and crafts activities at the McMullen Museum of Art Earth Day event on April 12.
photo by caroline alden
BC School of Social Work Prof. Robin Warsh
photo by keri kelly
‘Our Strength Is Found in Our Connections With Others’
which we would have a regular formation program with them over the course of the year,” said Fr. McCarthy.
“That kind of spiritual formation is central to the life of discipleship and certainly for ministry,” added Regan.
For Grace Gasper, an M.Div. student in her first year at CSTM, the Formation House offered her a type of community life she was seeking. After graduating from the University of Notre Dame, Gasper spent a year in service at L’Arche in Chicago, a non-profit for adults with intellectual disabilities. She lived in a home alongside other volunteers and people with disabilities.
“I loved living in community,” said Gasper, a self-proclaimed extrovert. “There’s a liveliness to it. I love being with people and living in a busy home. One thing I wanted more of when I was at L’Arche was some formational, intentional community elements, which is what the CSTM Formation House offers.”
Fr. McCarthy said the Formation House is a program with a particular ministerial, religious, and educational intent that carries certain responsibilities and expectations for those selected to participate.
Student residents commit to daily prayer, to the shared Eucharist once a week, a weekly community dinner, a monthly Saturday conference on a topic of formation, faith sharing, and service to the CSTM or local community.
According to Regan, residents also commit to living according to the rule of common life, a framework that sets out the core values of discipleship, community, and mission. Essential aspects include trust, simplicity, sacrifice, reconciliation, and the integration of the service of faith and promotion of justice, as well as a commitment to joint care of the house and common meals.
“Community life is central to Christian life,” said Regan. “It’s a matter of letting go of your own needs, desires, and agenda for the good of the community.”
Gasper admits that community life is not for everyone. Living in community “has to be something that you’re passionate about and something you’re going to contribute to as much as you receive from.
Wednesday morning.
CSTM doctoral student Diane Oliveros is an in-residence coordinator who serves as the liaison between the students and CSTM. Regan also acknowledged the important role Maura Colleary, CSTM associate dean for finance and administration, has played in assisting with the operations of the formation house.
So far, Fr. McCarthy and other members of the Formation Team have been impressed with the response from the student residents.
“A regular element of our monthly Saturday session is a guided meditation, based on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius,” said Fr. McCarthy. “I’ve been struck by the students’ openness to learn how to pray and genuine desire to deepen their spiritual lives.”
CSTM representatives say that while other divinity schools or schools of theology may have graduate student housing or living communities, the CSTM Formation House is distinctive.
We are a community that is excited about being formed for ministry and a community that relies on one another. And that is something that makes us different from a group of people that just live together. We care for each other, we show up for each other.
“My roommate has been collecting quotes that people have said in the house, and one from me was ‘Why am I roughing it when there’s community?’
“We think a sign of being an adult is to be fully independent, but my work with people with disabilities has shown me that we are really interdependent beings and that our strength can be found in our connections with others.”
For Gasper and the other residents, that connection to others has been forged around the kitchen table, which she calls the “magical epicenter of our house.
“I value our formation and our formalized components; I don’t want to downplay that. But, there’s grace to be found in the unexpected, ordinary moments at the kitchen table where we end up having really wonderful, profound conversations.
I’m so grateful to have that space where we can encounter each other in the day to day. I think that’s valuable.”
The enormous task of getting the house and programming up and running has been the work of CSTM’s Formation Team, which includes Fr. McCarthy, Regan, Special Assistant to the Dean Gandaf Walle, S.J., Spiritual Formation Assistant Director Crista Mahoney, and Jesuit scholastic Andrew Cera, S.J.
“It’s been a lot of work, but a wonderful challenge,” said Regan, noting that the formation house is an extension of the work she and Mahoney already do in spiritual formation, offering retreats and immersive experiences, connecting students with spiritual directors, and conducting regular check-ins with students.
Cera, who is scheduled to be ordained a deacon in September, has expertise in Ignatian spirituality and the Spiritual Exercises. He visits the house monthly and guides the residents in prayer. He also led an Ignatian retreat for the residents at the start of the school year. Fr. Walle, a Jesuit from Cameroon, offers Mass at the house every
“The CSTM Formation House is specifically centered around Ignatian spirituality and preparation for ministry,” said Fr. McCarthy. “We are in the process of creating the model.”
The CSTM Formation Team sees a special interconnectedness for the study of theology and living in a faith community, he added.
“Spirituality is theology which is being lived. As a school of theology and ministry, to have a dedicated space where people committed to similar vocational goals can come together offers a really good context to study theology. Studying theology raises all kinds of questions: Who am I before God? How do I fit in this Church? How do I maintain my core sense of belonging both to God and the Church?
“There are all kinds of important questions that are a part of theology and return to inform our doing of theology. And the hope is that this lay formation community is one context where a small group of people can ask those questions together and support each other and give each other a sense of belonging, support, and challenge while studying theology and preparing for ministry.”
Clough School Dean Michael McCarthy, S.J., has high praise for the Formation House faith community: “To have a dedicated space where people committed to similar vocational goals can come together offers a really good context to study theology.”
photo by lee pellegrini
Members of the Boston College community enjoyed Monday’s 129th Boston Marathon, whether cheering on the runners or catching live music at BC’s Mile 21 event.
photos by seho lee ’27