PUBLISHED BY THE BOSTON COLLEGE OFFICE OF UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS
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Founding Dean Named
First Year Convocation
Fall Shows
Erick Berrelleza, S.J., will head Messina College, part of BC’s Pine Manor Institute.
Alumna author Liz Hauck will be keynote speaker at the Sept. 8 event.
Exhibitions on photojournalist Arnie Jarmak and alternative comics open McMullen Museum of Art’s fall season.
PUBLISHED BY THE BOSTON COLLEGE OFFICE OF UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS
SEPTEMBER 1, 2022 VOL. 30 NO. 1
University Convocation
Good Start
Positive Signs Amid Many Challenges
BC inaugurates summer enrichment program for Boston-area youth BY PHIL GLOUDEMANS STAFF WRITER
BY SEAN SMITH CHRONICLE EDITOR
The Academy, a cost-free, summer residential enrichment program for Greater Boston-area middle and high school students—and one of four components of Boston College’s Pine Manor Institute for Student Success (PMI) initiative—held its inaugural weeklong session July 31-August 7. Forty-three middle school students from 13 partner schools participated, according to Joy Moore, vice president and executive director of the institute. The Academy students, who stayed in Williams Hall on Upper Campus, began their typical day at 7:30 a.m. with breakfast, followed by an assembly. Morning classes rotated between STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), language arts, and enrichment; evenings included small-group reflection, journaling, and quiet time be-
Speaking at yesterday’s annual University Convocation, Boston College President William P. Leahy, S.J., pointed to BC’s “distinctive heritage and mission” as a valuable asset in confronting major crises and controversies of our times—especially as a means to rise above political and social divisions and reaffirm “our commitment to democracy, civility, and the rule of law. “Each age has its challenges, and given its religious and intellectual heritage, I believe Boston College has a special obligation and opportunity to model how to engage and help resolve troubling issues through careful listening, honest and respectful dialogue, and commitment to truth and the common good,” he said. “Such attitudes and actions reflect our democratic roots, belief in human dignity, and the value of each person.” Along with offering big-picture perspectives on Boston College’s academic and formational roles, Fr. Leahy reviewed the University’s progress on several fronts, including fundraising over the past year, and hailed important recent developments in international engagement that signify BC’s strengthened global profile. Provost and Dean of Faculties David Quigley and Executive Vice President Michael Lochhead also spoke at Convocation, which was held in Robsham Theater. The past several months have seen significant changes in the University’s senior leadership, Fr. Leahy said: Michael McCar-
Students tackled a math problem at the inaugural Summer Enrichment Program, the Academy, part of Boston College’s Pine Manor Institute for Student Success initiative. photo by lee pellegrini
fore lights out at 10 p.m. “The inaugural PMI Summer Enrichment Program received high marks from the students who participated,” said Moore. “We sought to create a balance of strong academic work along with lessons focused around three core values: confidence, tenacity, and courage. Students also enjoyed swimming and playing basketball
in the Connell Recreation Center with a few student-athletes, who took the time to be with our students. Plus, meal times were always a happy time, thanks to the BC Dining team.” Gabriella Potter, an incoming eighthgrader at Lawrence Catholic Academy, thought that the PMI Academy was “a
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‘Diverse, Accomplished’ Cohort of New Faculty Boston College is welcoming 63 fulltime faculty members this academic year, one of the largest such cohorts in recent memory, according to University administrators—and one that also reflects key objectives in BC’s efforts to recruit outstanding scholars. “This year’s new faculty cohort is not only among the biggest but also the most diverse and accomplished,” said Vice Provost for Faculties Billy Soo. “These remarkable additions to our faculty during one of the most competitive labor markets in memory is a testament to the attractiveness of Boston College and the efforts of our deans and faculty in bringing them to campus.”
Almost half of BC’s new hires are faculty of color, including 13 Black faculty, both all-time highs, noted Soo. Eleven of the new faculty members are Asian and six are Hispanic. Six of the new faculty are filling endowed chairs—important benchmarks of academic excellence in and of themselves, Soo pointed out; half are women and half are faculty of color. Yet another key development cited by Soo is the arrival of two faculty members at the Schiller Institute for Integrated Science and Society, a multi-disciplinary, collaborative research center addressing critical societal issues in the areas of energy, health, and the environment, and the
centerpiece of BC’s new state-of-the-art science facility at 245 Beacon Street. “We are delighted to welcome our 63 new faculty members to the University community, and the expertise and experience they bring with them,” said Soo. “They will play an enormous role in helping BC fulfill its academic and formational mission.” —University Communications
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QUOTE Her emphasis on learning as a whole person process, one that involves the development of ethical dispositions as well as technical knowledge, fits wonderfully with the BC and Lynch School mission. – lsoehd dean stanton wortham on augustus long prof. marina bers, page 5