Boston College Chronicle September 25, 2025

PUBLISHED BY THE BOSTON COLLEGE OFFICE OF UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS

SEPTEMBER 25, 2025 VOL. 33 NO. 3

Larger.

More Diverse.

Younger.

How the Boston College faculty has changed in the past two decades

BY SEAN SMITH CHRONICLE EDITOR

Tatiyana Orrego ’29 is flanked by her father Alex and grandmother Claudia, both of whom are longtime Boston College Dining Services employees. In the photo is Tatiyana’s greatgrandmother Yolanda, who also worked for BCDS until her retirement in 2023. photo by caitlin cunningham

A Heights Family Affair Three generations of Orregos have worked at BC. Now, a fourth generation is here—as a student.

BY ELLEN SEAWARD SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

Boston College first-year student Tatiyana Orrego didn’t have to look far for a familiar face when she moved onto campus: Her father, Alex, and her grandmother, Claudia, both work in the University’s Dining Services.

Tatiyana recalls coming to campus often as a kid to visit her family at work. In addition to Alex, who has worked here for 15 years, and Claudia, a 24-year employee, her great-grandmother Yolanda also worked in BC Dining Services until 2023. As Tati-

INSIDE 2 Around Campus

Messina to launch student magazine; Pops on the Heights Friday.

3 Chandler Pond

University lends a hand in local conservation effort.

8 BC Arts

Robsham fall season; Monan Professor of Theatre Arts arrives; Gaelic Roots series.

yana grew up, campus became a familiar place where she could see herself.

“I just loved the school spirit,” said Tatiyana. “I would go to BC games in high school and wanted to be part of the student section. I also heard about BC’s partnership with my elementary school, Saint Columbkille, and thought I could get involved with that.”

“Having gone to a Catholic elementary school and a Catholic high school, I also liked that I could continue going to Mass at BC. My grandmother, who is friends with some of the priests here, definitely influenced my choice to go to a Jesuit college,” added Orrego with a smile.

But beyond the academic and social fit on campus, Tatiyana also marked BC as a top choice because she would be able to stay close to her family, including her sisters, the youngest of whom is only two years old. When she was accepted, her father threw her a Boston College-themed party.

“My dad and grandmother were really excited for me,” said Tatiyana. “My dad immediately told everyone he works with.

As a first-generation student, getting into BC was a big deal. When I got in, it felt validating, for myself and my family.”

For Alex, Tatiyana’s BC acceptance was a meaningful moment.

“As a first-generation college student, Tatiyana being here represents so much

Continued on page 7

The first quarter of the 21st century has seen significant changes in the Boston College faculty: It’s become larger, more diverse, and younger.

Statistics presented by Winston Provost and Dean of Faculties David Quigley at last month’s University Convocation clearly show these trends: •The overall number of BC faculty was 679 in 2005, climbed to 805 in 2015, and this year stands at 936.

•The median age of the BC faculty— meaning half are younger and half are older—was 52 in 2005 and 53 in 2015, but has now dropped to 50.

•In 2005, 38 percent of the faculty was female. By 2015, it was 41 percent and is now 45 percent.

•The faculty was 14 percent AHANA in 2005, 17 percent by 2015; as of the 20252026 academic year, over a quarter of the faculty are AHANA. Institutional mission, University and departmental priorities, and emerging trends in teaching and scholarship are major considerations in recruiting new faculty from year to year, according to BC senior administrators. At the same time, the University takes a broader, holistic view when considering the size and make-up of the faculty, and how it will enable BC to live out its calling to be a particular kind of

Continued on page 6

Inside the Butterfly Nebula

esa/webb, nasa & csa, k. noll, j.k. astner, m. zamani (esa/webb)

A BC researcher and an international team reveal a deeper portrait of one of the most complex nebulae

BY ED HAYWARD STAFF WRITER

Stunning images from the James Webb Telescope show a dying nebula 3,400 light years away from Earth and reveal an astronomical cauldron roiling with ash, dust, and gasses, according to a new report by Senior Research Scientist Kathleen Krae-

mer of the Boston College Institute for Scientific Research and an international team of scientists.

The findings, published this month in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, unveil many new discoveries and a deeper portrait of the nebula, the star at its center—previously obscured by a dusty

Continued on page 5

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Chronicle

September 25, 2025

Around Campus Messina to Launch Student Literary/Art Magazine Messina College—Boston College’s twoyear associate’s degree residential program— will introduce its first student-led publication, Genesis, next semester.

Genesis aims to amplify the voices of first-generation students, not just at Messina but across BC, according to its co-founders, Messina College Professor of the Practice Kat Gonso and Associate Professor of the Practice Amy Alvarez, who were first-gen students themselves. All first-gen students within the BC community will be invited to contribute, they said.

The debut of the literary and art magazine, which is supported by BC’s Institute for the Liberal Arts and the Provost’s Office, will also coincide with the graduation of the first cohort of Messina students. “​​Sometimes, as a first-generation student, it can feel like you’re not seen or heard,” said Gonso, who co-founded a similar publication, First and Foremost, when she was on the faculty at Northeastern University. “Building a platform for those who want to share their beautiful, rich, and important stories feels very meaningful to me.”

The magazine, titled Genesis to signify “generational newness” and “moving forward,” say the co-founders, has at least a

Pops on the Heights Time Again Friday The annual Pops on the Heights: The Barbara and Jim Cleary Scholarship Gala, featuring the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra with conductor Keith Lockhart, will be held as part of Family Weekend tomorrow at 8 p.m. in Conte Forum.

A cherished Boston College tradition, Pops on the Heights has raised nearly $160 million for financial aid, resulting in more than 3,700 scholarship funds and allowing thousands of students to pursue their dream of a BC education, according to the Office of University Advancement.

The featured artist for the sold-out show is the award-winning country music duo Dan + Shay (Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney), known for their hit songs “Tequila,” “Speechless,” “Glad You Exist,” and “10,000 Hours” (with Justin Bieber), among others. Dan + Shay has won three Grammys, two Country Music Association Awards, four Academy of Country Music Awards, two People’s Choice Country Awards, a Billboard Music Award, and an American Music Award. Their video for “Save Me the ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT FOR UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS

Jack Dunn

SENIOR DIRECTOR FOR UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS

Patricia Delaney EDITOR

Sean Smith

dozen students who have committed to be contributors. Some 60 additional students from both the Chestnut Hill and Brookline campuses also have expressed interest in submitting work to the magazine.

“Kat and I felt this opportunity was really important for first-gen college students,” said Alvarez. “Their voices are unique, and they have unique stories to tell. There’s such incredible energy around these students.

They’re so driven and enthusiastic, and it’s really exciting seeing them work together to formulate what this will be.”

Gonso and Alvarez said there is also a strong desire to create a culture of writing and art at Messina, where the four degree majors are rooted in education, business, health, and STEM fields. Gonso, a fiction writer, and Alvarez, a poet, noted how impressed they are with the variety of skills many of the students have given their fields of study.

“As an English professor, I’m interested in the writing and the collaboration, but then some students will remind me, ‘Oh, we need this on the website, and we need this kind of marketing, and we should do this on social media,’ and my mind is just blown by how much they know,” said Gonso. “We don’t Trouble” received the 2024 CMT Music Award for Duo/Group Video of the Year. In 2024, they appeared as coaches on the NBC show “The Voice.”

Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences junior Elena Skirgaudas—a member of the University Chorale, Liederabend, and Musical Theater Cabaret—will be the featured student performer at the event.

Also sharing the stage with the Boston Pops will be the University Chorale and the “Screaming Eagles” Marching Band.

Since 1995, Lockhart, who holds the Julian and Eunice Cohen Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra Conductor chair, has led the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra in more than 2,000 performances across more than 150 United States cities and on international tours to Japan and Korea.

Serving as co-chairs for this year’s scholarship gala are Cyndy and John F. Fish P’13, ’18, ’23; Rachel ’93 and Travis Rhodes ’93, P’27, ’29; and Kim Gassett-Schiller and Phil Schiller ’82, P’24. Founded in 1993 by the late Barbara and James F. Cleary ’50, H’93, Pops on the Heights has become the University’s largest annual fundraiser. The Clearys’ children—Kara ’84, M.A.’91; Kristin ’89, J.D.’93; and Jim Jr.—continue their parents’

CONTRIBUTING STAFF

Messina College faculty members Kat Gonso (left) and Amy Alvarez, co-founders of Genesis. photos by caitlin cunningham

just have students interested in creative writing; we also have students who want to do marketing, photography, social media, web design, and graphic design.”

Joining Gonso and Alvarez as advisors to the magazine are Lynne Anderson, who is director of the Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences Program for Multilingual Learners, and Assistant Professor of the Practice Krithika Vachali of the English Department.

During the magazine’s first year of operations, much of their support will be dedicated to the board of student editors, providing answers to questions such as how to come up with an issue theme and consider common-

photo by damian hickey

legacy as Pops benefactors.

“Year after year, Pops on the Heights delivers spectacular music and joyful celebration for Boston College families,” said Senior Vice President for University Advancement Andrew Davidson. “Most importantly, the scholarship funds it raises deliver opportunities to so many deserving Eagles. It’s truly a

Phil Gloudemans Ed Hayward Audrey Loyack Rosanne Pellegrini Kathleen Sullivan

Chronicle

PHOTOGRAPHERS

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

Caitlin Cunningham Lee Pellegrini

alities between stories.

Gonso and Alvarez said they look forward to Genesis becoming a part of BC’s community of publications, the evolution of student leadership for the magazine, and the involvement of students from the Chestnut Hill and Brookline campuses in creating a publication.

This semester, Genesis faculty advisors and student contributors will issue a “call for writing,” inviting BC first-generation students to submit their work for the first issue, which is scheduled to come out next April.

For more information on Genesis, email kat. gonso@bc.edu or amy.alvarez@bc.edu.

—Audrey Loyack

special night.”

Pre-show performances will begin at 6:45 p.m. with appearances from campus groups The Acoustics, Bostonians, Common Tones, Dynamics, Heightsmen, and Sharps, as well as student performers Veronica Wells ’26 and William Bollbach ’27.

—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.

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POSTMASTER: send address changes to The Boston College Chronicle, Office of University Communications, 3 Lake Street, Brighton, MA 02135.

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Send requests to chronicle@bc.edu.

3

Chronicle

September 25, 2025

BC Plays Key Role in Restoration of Local Pond

BY PHIL GLOUDEMANS STAFF WRITER

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu joined Interim Boston Parks Commissioner Cathy Baker-Eclipse, Boston College Vice President for Governmental and Community Affairs Thomas J. Keady, elected officials, and area residents at Brighton’s Chandler Pond on September 2 to celebrate the completion of the first phase of a $990,600 restoration project near BC’s Brighton Campus, made possible in part by the University’s Neighborhood Improvement Fund.

Bordered by Lake Shore Road, Lake Street, and Kenrick Street, the nearly 19acre park and water body—the last remaining pond of nearly 20 which once dotted Allston-Brighton—consists of pathways, lawn, and wetland areas which serve as a popular spot for walking, birdwatching, and relaxation.

“This celebration not only marks an investment in the pond’s restoration, but an investment in Boston’s community,” said Wu. “I’m proud to work with Boston Parks and Recreation to restore this treasured space for Brighton neighbors and all community members who can enjoy the wildlife, beauty, and recreation at Chandler Pond.”

The event observed the completion of the initial phase of shoreline stabilization and restoration planting—a major milestone in the City of Boston’s Chandler Pond Master Plan—to rebuild its shoreline,

Governmental and Community Affairs Vice President Thomas Keady speaking at Chandler Pond earlier this month. photo by mike mejia

improve ecological health, remove invasive species, and add native plantings.

These improvements also lay the groundwork for long-term water quality monitoring, ensuring the pond’s health and resilience for years to come, according to the Friends of Chandler Pond, a non-profit neighborhood group dedicated to preserving the area.

“Boston College is pleased to support the Phase 1 shoreline restoration and ac-

University Rises to 36th in the Latest US News & World Report Survey

BY JACK DUNN ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT FOR UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS

Boston College placed 36th in U.S. News & World Report’s 2026 survey of national universities, a one-point improvement over last year’s ranking.

BC also performed well in several specialty rankings, including “First Year Experience” (fifth), “Commitment to Undergraduate Teaching” (sixth), “Service Learning” (10th), “Best Learning Communities” (15th), “Best Study Abroad Program” (17th), “Most Innovative Schools” (31st), and “Best Undergraduate Research and Creative Projects” (32nd).

In addition, the University was ranked 54th in the “Best Value” listing, reflecting its commitment to meeting the full demonstrated need of all domestic undergraduate students.

While improving in the overall national university ranking for the second straight year, BC and other private universities continue to be negatively affected by the 2019 change in U.S. News’ methodology that rewards public universities with a high volume of Pell Grant-eligible students.

Prior to the change, BC’s average ranking between 2011 and 2018 was 31st.

Among BC undergraduate schools

and colleges ranked this year, the Connell School of Nursing placed 13th out of 686 nursing schools in the “Best Undergraduate Nursing Programs” survey.

The Carroll School of Management was ranked 32nd out of 533 schools in the “Best Undergraduate Business Programs,” and placed sixth overall in Finance, eighth in Accounting, 10th in both Analytics and Marketing, and 11th in both Entrepreneurship and Management.

Among Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences academic programs, BC was ranked 34th in the “Best Undergraduate Economics” survey, 43rd in “Best Undergraduate Psychology,” and 98th in “Best Undergraduate Computer Science.”

Overall, Princeton University ranked first among national universities again this year, followed by Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard, Stanford, and Yale.

Among Massachusetts national universities, BC and Tufts University were tied for third place at 36th behind MIT and Harvard, and ahead of Boston University (42nd), Northeastern University (46th), University of Massachusetts-Amherst (64th), and Brandeis University (69th).

The U.S. News rankings of all colleges and universities can be accessed at www. usnews.com.

cessibility improvements to Chandler Pond, a well-used and loved neighborhood gem, through a $250,000 grant from the University’s Neighborhood Improvement Fund,” said Keady.

BC established the NIF in 2015 to support local projects on public property for which sources of financing may be unavailable or inadequate, including grants to public or private non-profit organizations to implement improvements to parks and open spaces, neighborhood beautification, paths and roadways, public safety projects, and public art.

The design and development of improvements were driven by the Chandler Pond Master Plan as well as community feedback collected during a public meeting held in spring 2023.

“Chandler Pond is one of Brighton’s most treasured spaces and we’re thrilled to celebrate this key step in protecting its ecology and ensuring long-term accessibility,” said Baker-Eclipse. “We’re grateful to the Friends of Chandler Pond, Boston College, our state and federal partners, and the Community Preservation Act for making these improvements possible for all who enjoy this special place.”

“We are deeply grateful to the Boston College Neighborhood Improvement Fund for helping bring the Chandler Pond shoreline restoration to life,” added Candice Dowling, president of the Friends of Chandler Pond. “Thanks to the generosity of the NIF, the Friends of Chandler Pond and the Boston Parks Department, we

Snapshot

were able to begin a project to restore and protect a space that has long been a source of beauty, learning, and connection in Boston and to our community. Because of significant delays and cost overruns due to COVID, this project might not have happened without their support.”

The pond, which was excavated in 1855

by William C. Strong for winter ice-making, is named for Malcolm Chandler, also an ice merchant, who purchased it from Strong in 1858. The City of Boston acquired the pond and its surrounding acreage from various owners in the late 1930s.

“I’m proud that at the state level, we have been able to secure funding for this important project,” said Massachusetts House Majority Leader Michael J. Moran (D-Suffolk). “Improving the ecological health and increased visitor access to Chandler Pond is something the Friends of the Pond have been working on for decades.

Phase 1 of this project is the first step in maintaining Allston-Brighton’s last surviving pond.”

Noted State Representative Kevin D. Honan (D-Suffolk): “Chandler Pond serves as a vital green space for the Brighton community and is one of our most cherished natural resources. The partnership and Phase 1 of the shoreline restoration commitment between the Friends of Chandler Pond, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the City of Boston, and Boston College ensures the pond remains a thriving habitat and gathering place for generations to come.”

photo by caitlin cunningham

Clough Colloquium

Former United States Ambassador to China R. Nicholas Burns ‘78, H’02 spoke at the Winston Center for Leadership and Ethics Clough Colloquium on Tuesday afternoon.

4

Chronicle

September 25, 2025

A Mainstay of BC International Ed Takes Her Leave “I got into this field be-

BY ELLEN SEAWARD SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

When Adrienne Nussbaum started working at Boston College as an international student advisor, she remembers Kevin Duffy, then the vice president of student affairs, asking if she could make a two-year commitment.

That was 38 years ago. In the time since, Nussbaum has helped thousands of international students call Boston College home and has overseen BC’s transformation into a premier destination for international students, most recently in her role as associate dean and director of the Office of International Students and Scholars. Now transitioning into retirement, Nussbaum sees her career at BC as the job she had imagined for herself growing up—or might have imagined, if she had known about the field of international higher education.

Studying languages throughout high school, Nussbaum always planned on studying abroad in Paris in college. And as a French and psychology double major at Tufts University, she did.

“I loved my study-abroad program,” said Nussbaum. “When I graduated college, I really thought I was going to run a study-abroad program. It never occurred to me that there were international students coming to the United States.”

But as she applied for jobs—basically anything with the word “international” in the description—Nussbaum found a job in the International Office at Harvard University and discovered the growing field of international higher education. While working at Harvard, Nussbaum also earned her master’s degree in intercultural relations and international higher education from Lesley University. After graduating, she was recruited to BC for the international

cause I love working with international students,” says Adrienne Nussbaum.

“They’re the number one part of my work that brought me joy, and now I’ve met people from all over the world who I’m still in touch with.” photo by caitlin cunningham

advisor position, and the two-year commitment became a career-long home.

Along the way, a lot changed.

Today, the Office of International Students and Scholars serves more than 2,600 students and scholars with staff and peer advising, intercultural programming, academic support, and more. When Nussbaum started, the office served closer to 300 students and scholars.

“It was just me and a part-time assistant working on the ground level of McElroy Commons as part of Student Affairs, in the Office of the Dean for Student Development,” recalled Nussbaum.

Still, she stayed.

“I was able to grow in my position, and I also found such a community here of good-hearted, good-valued, nice people.

Men and women for others really resonated.”

Among Nussbaum’s early goals was increasing global engagement on campus.

Although it wasn’t strictly part of her job description, as she pointed out, no one else was doing it. So she brought International

Education Week (IEW), a federal initiative to celebrate international education, to BC. Now, IEW has grown so popular at BC that it’s become multiple weeks of celebration and programming, including foreign films, international cuisine pop-ups, speakers, and other activities, noted Nussbaum.

“IEW has grown and flourished. We can’t do it in one week anymore because we usually have around 40 programs, open to the whole University.”

And global engagement? It has its own office now, headed by Vice Provost for Global Engagement James F. Keenan, S.J. “This was my dream for years,” said Nussbaum. “The offices of Global Engagement, International Students and Scholars, and Global Education finally share one house and can centralize events and support for the international and campus community. I’m so happy I got to see that happen.”

Nussbaum has been a model of wisdom and hospitality, particularly in welcoming the thousands of students, administrators, faculty, and staff who came to BC from

overseas, said Fr. Keenan.

“She became a stable resource for those who needed to make the right decisions about their visa applications and renewals.

Above all, by her insight, kindness, and enduring sense of humor, she was for them the first American professional they met as they settled into life here and the one they most remembered when they returned home.”

“Adrienne’s dedication to Boston College’s international community was unmatched,” said Executive Director for Global Engagement Bryan Fleming. “Having worked with her for decades in a variety of ways, I saw firsthand the expertise and passion she poured into her work.

While we’re sad to see her go, we’re also incredibly excited for her next chapter.”

As she considers what comes next, traveling is a given for Nussbaum, with a trip already planned for the spring. After 38 years working with international students, she can go to nearly any country and meet someone she knows.

“I got into this field because I love working with international students. It just makes me really happy. They’re the number one part of my work that brought me joy, and now I’ve met people from all over the world who I’m still in touch with.”

It’s because of that joy that Nussbaum has decided to continue teaching two firstyear topic seminars dedicated to helping international students adjust to BC. “You don’t just leave a place after 38 years,” Nussbaum said. “I’m going to continue doing the things that bring me joy, like teaching. And I’m going to miss the camaraderie and community at Boston College, but I’m excited to continue in friend mode.”

Ellen Seaward is a senior digital content writer in the Office of University Communications

Potter New Head of Office of International Students and Scholars Kayla Potter, who for nearly a decade has helped administer programs and resources for international students and scholars at Boston College, has been named as director of the University’s Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS).

She succeeds Adrienne Nussbaum, who recently retired as OISS associate dean and director after 38 years at BC [see separate story].

For the past three years, Potter has worked as senior international student and scholar advisor at OISS, serving a population of some 2,600 undergraduates, graduate students, faculty members, and other scholars from abroad who are at BC for study and research. She has provided advisement on relevant immigration regulations and procedures, conducted immigration “check-ins” for exchange program visitors, and kept up to date on guidance from various governmental authorities—including United States Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and Department of State, among others—and communicated rel-

evant changes to campus partners.

Potter also has provided administrative and programmatic support for OISS initiatives such as the International Student Orientation, International Assistant Program, Conversation Partners Program, and Thanksgiving Host Program, which pairs international students and scholars with BC employees.

“Each year, Boston College is home to fabulous students and scholars from all over the world, and I’m excited to be part of the process involved in welcoming them, and helping facilitate their academic and professional goals,” said Potter. “As the University has continued to invest more in global engagement, the OISS has played a crucial role in ensuring BC fulfills its objective to be an international university.

My colleagues and I welcome that opportunity.”

At a time of uncertainty and anxiety in American international education, Potter said the University community has been supportive of OISS and the students and scholars it serves.

Kayla Potter photo by caitlin cunningham

“We’ve heard from faculty, staff, and students, and it’s heartening to know that BC recognizes the importance of our mission,” she said. “We continue to work with many different departments, offices, and organizations in the University, including Student Affairs, the Provost and Dean of Faculties, Undergraduate and Graduate Admission of-

fices, and the Undergraduate Government of BC, among others, to make sure BC is supporting our international students and scholars in the best way possible.”

A useful source of news, updates, and other information for the University community, she added, is the Global Engagement Gateway, which is accessible via the Global Engagement website at bc.edu/ global.

Potter joined OISS in April 2016 as a temporary administrative assistant, later serving as international advising assistant and international student advisor. In addition, she has worked as an academic advisor for firstyear international students in the Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences, staff co-leader for the Arrupe International Immersion Program in Mexico, and teaching assistant in a Cross Currents Seminar.

Potter earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology and International Studies from Wittenberg University in Ohio and a master’s degree in international higher education and intercultural relations from Lesley University.

—Sean Smith

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Chronicle

September 25, 2025

BC Researcher Relishes Chance to Study Nebula Continued from page 1

halo—and flowing strands of burning gasses.

Data examined by Kraemer and other researchers led by Mikako Matsuura, of the University of Cardiff, come from images and electromagnetic wave measurements produced by the $10 billion James Webb Space Telescope, which was focused on what is known as Butterfly Nebula, NGC 6302.

“Since this was a new instrument, we had no idea how much detail we would be getting from this data,” said Kraemer, an astrophysicist who specializes in dying stars. “It’s spectacular. We are drinking from a fire hose here. We will be talking to the modelers and the people in the lab, because we are seeing features we have not seen before. That’s part of the fun—finding things you did not expect and don’t yet know what they are.”

With funding from NASA, Kraemer has been working on the project for nearly four years and has spent the past 18 months parsing the data and images returned by the telescope, which was launched into space in 2021. Her specialization of infrared astronomy uses data from infrared radiation to examine the physical properties of extraterrestrial sources such as the nebula—in this case dust and gas shed by the dying star.

The Butterfly Nebula is located approximately 3,400 light-years away from Earth in the constellation Scorpius. For perspective, the sun is a mere eight light-minutes away from the Earth. The nebula has been studied extensively and previously imaged by the Hubble Space Telescope, the pioneering predecessor to Webb.

According to the European Space Agency, a central Webb partner, the new images

A view of the planetary nebula called NGC 6302 or the Butterfly Nebula. “We wanted to know what was going on in the core of the nebula,” says Boston College Senior Research Scientist Kathleen Kraemer. “Data from the Hubble telescope showed the center of the nebula was blocked by clouds of dust. Now we know more about what is going on in the core and causing the larger structures.”

esa/webb, nasa & csa, k. noll, j.k. astner, m. zamani (esa/webb)

“zoom in on the center of the Butterfly Nebula and its dusty torus, providing an unprecedented view of its complex structure.” The research team supplemented the Webb observations with data from the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), a powerful network of radio dishes.

“Our task is to interpret the data and determine what these different structures we see mean,” said Kraemer. “We’re interpreting the different materials the star is ejecting. Some colors trace material that is kind of like soot. Other colors trace where a lot of silicon dust is flowing. Other colors are hot gases. All of that is being ejected back into space and will ultimately be recycled into new stars and planets some day.”

Kraemer’s interest in astronomy was piqued as a child by spending evenings with her father looking at the stars in the backyard of their home near an Air Force

base in Southern California. That led her to Caltech as an undergraduate, and a doctorate at Boston University. As a scientist, she finds dying stars the most interesting.

“There are people who like middle-aged stars, but I think the dying ones are much more interesting,” she said. “This is where they are ejecting their materials back into space where they end up in new stars and planets.”

The carbon thrown off across millennia not only replenishes the galaxy but ends up in each one of us, she noted.

“The carbon in us was mostly produced by nebulas,” she said.

Among the key findings is the source of the cast-off soot and dust, which in the case of the Butterfly Nebula creates a torus, or a donut-shaped feature of dust and gas that surrounds the center of the star, Kraemer said.

“We wanted to know what was going

BC Scenes

In Full Swing

With the first month of the 2025-2026 academic year almost over, the Boston College campus is once again a busy place— outside as well as inside. University events in September have included (clockwise from left) the Hispanic Latinx Heritage Month opening ceremony; WellFest; the Stokes Set, featuring a performance by Fitz and the Tantrums; and the Clough School of Theology and Ministry Harrington Lecture, given by Jean Luc Enyegue, S.J., S.T.L.’13.

photos by seho lee ’27 and frank curran

on in the core of the nebula,” said Kraemer. “Data from the Hubble telescope showed the center of the nebula was blocked by clouds of dust. Now we know more about what is going on in the core and causing the larger structures.”

As the star dies, she said, “light is being shot out in directions perpendicular to the torus and that makes the butterfly shape.”

In this cauldron of soot, sand, and gas, the images are informing what is known about the chemistry at play, the radiation at the core of the nebula, the molecules that can be formed and the temperatures they reach, Kraemer said.

Kraemer is already looking forward to the next phases of the project exploring additional data from the Webb telescope and seeing what more they reveal.

She added, “We are excited to keep digging into the data.”

6

Chronicle

September 25, 2025

Statistics Point to Favorable Trends in Faculty Growth Continued from page 1

great university, one animated by the Jesuit and Catholic dimensions of its mission.

“As I begin my 12th year in Waul House, I come to see the work of faculty renewal, across all nine schools and colleges, as central to the work that the deans and I are called to do,” said Quigley. “We have worked hard to recruit and retain a remarkable cohort of teachers and scholars.

The successes of the past two decades gives me hope that Boston College will retain its distinctive ethos and culture across the next generation and beyond.”

The overall growth of the faculty during the past 20 years—nearly 38 percent— stems in part from the success of the University’s capital campaigns, such as “Ever to Excel” (1997-2003) and “Light the World” (2008-2013), which have provided resources making it possible for BC to add more teaching positions, notably including a considerable expansion of the number of endowed chairs. Besides contributing to a highly favorable student-to-faculty ratio— approximately 10-1—that increase also reflects BC’s movement into new areas of teaching and research.

This doesn’t happen in one fell swoop, however, but on a year-by-year basis, note senior administrators.

The process for hiring new faculty begins a full 18 months before new hires will ultimately arrive in a Boston College classroom. Departments and schools submit proposals to the Provost’s Office, where all submissions are assessed against institutional priorities, shifting enrollment patterns,

“We present ourselves to junior faculty as a community that will provide support and mentoring that will help them realize their potential as teachers and researchers,” says Vice Provost for Faculties Billy Soo. photo by lee pellegrini

and the University’s Strategic Plan. Hiring authorizations that are made typically combine long- and short-term factors with regard to financial resources, available space, and other constraints.

“In March, we start telling the deans for BC’s schools, ‘Here are the slots that you can fill,’” said Vice Provost for Faculties Billy Soo. “By then, we’ve had discussions—some of which have been over the course of a few years—about what we’re trying to accomplish programmatically, so there are some clear objectives in our re-

cruitment and hiring.”

For example, Soo noted, in recent years the University focused on building up the faculty for new programs and departments, such as Messina College, the Schiller Institute for Integrated Science and Society, and the Engineering Department.

“At the same time, every year there are faculty members who have retired or decided to retire,” he added, “so we need to address how those slots will be filled.”

BC faculty turnover is generally low, even when compared to many peer schools, noted Soo, which is by no means a drawback.

“You need experienced faculty. You want the historical overview and insight.

Inevitably, of course, a college or university must work to renew the faculty across schools and colleges.”

When schools and departments begin recruiting new faculty, they scrutinize candidates’ academic and professional credentials according to the specific characteristics of the field or discipline. While BC greatly values these qualifications, say senior ad-

ministrators, the University also seeks to build a faculty who draw on varying experiences and perspectives.

“Above all, we look for faculty with innovative, creative ideas and views related to their field of interest and expertise,” said Soo. “Our departments and schools like to be out looking in the job market as often as possible: They say, ‘We need to see what the new frontiers are. What new data are these new faculty using? What angles are they looking at?’

“That said, however, it’s vital for us to see how well a candidate understands our charge as a Jesuit, Catholic university, and what that entails in terms of a commitment to formative education.”

Soo adds that the cura personalis aspect of BC’s mission extends to its employees, faculty included. He points to the Center for Teaching Excellence and the Office of the Vice Provost for Research as vital resources for new faculty, along with the University Mission and Ministry division and its various programs and activities, from writing retreats to discussions on interdisciplinary work, and more informal events that encourage fellowship as well as collaboration.

“BC wants all new faculty members to flourish. We present ourselves to junior faculty as a community that will provide support and mentoring that will help them realize their potential as teachers and researchers. The University’s long-term success depends upon this work of ongoing faculty renewal.”

Physicist Receives Honor and $1M NSF Research Grant

BY ED HAYWARD STAFF WRITER

Boston College Assistant Professor of Physics Qiong Ma has been named a 2025 Moore Inventor Fellow and been awarded—along with Associate Professor of Physics Fazel Tafti—a $1million research grant by the National Science Foundation.

Ma, whose research focuses on the discovery of new materials and emergent quantum phenomena, is among only five creative scientists honored this year by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, marking the fulfillment of a 10-year initiative to support “50 inventors to shape the next 50 years.”

“I am thrilled to be selected as a Moore Inventor,” said Ma, who joined the BC faculty in the spring of 2021. “I have always seen myself not only as a materials physicist but also as a hardware inventor.

Receiving this award is both a recognition of that vision and a significant support for my group to pursue research at the interface of fundamental science and impactful applications.”

The Moore Foundation award will support the purchase of new scientific equipment, provide funding for postdocs and student researchers, and help establish new

collaborations, Ma said.

Ma’s invention of twistronic artificial synapses is connecting discoveries in advanced materials directly with neuroscience-inspired computing.

“I create new semiconductors using socalled twistronic methods,” said Ma. “These materials can mimic the way neurons and synapses operate in the human brain. By engineering them into intelligent transistors—what we call neuron transistors—we can assemble networks that function like the brain itself, following the principles of neuroscience to build brain-inspired computers.”

With the NSF award, Ma and Tafti – along with colleagues at MIT and the University of Sherbrooke—will study quantum diodic magnets (QuDiM)—materials with quantum dipoles that enable current rectification. NSF funding comes from its Designing Materials to Revolutionize and Engineer our Future program. A tandem award to colleagues at MIT brings total funding for the research initiative to $2 million.

The project aims to develop robust quantum diodic magnets for next-generation, low-power, high-frequency diode technologies. “Our approach integrates theory, computation, material synthesis, and experimental characterization (transport and optics)

Qiong Ma, left, and colleague Fazel Tafti were recipients of a National Science Foundation grant. photo by caitlin cunningham

to identify, fabricate, and test candidate systems,” said Ma. Everyday technologies like smartphones, wireless networks, and the Internet of Things depend on diodes—devices that let current flow more easily in one direction than the other—a process known as rectification,” said Tafti. “Conventional diode systems, however, face limits: They consume more power and become less efficient at

high frequencies, and require pristine materials to function well.”

Quantum diodic magnets are a relatively new class of materials that use quantum wavefunction properties to maintain high efficiency at high frequencies, she said.

These materials promise robust performance even in imperfect or fluctuating environments, making them ideal for future energyefficient technologies.

Tafti said this project is expected to establish quantum diodic magnets as a new platform for ultra-efficient, high-frequency diode technologies. Unlike conventional systems, QuDiM materials combine quantum-geometric effects with intrinsic resilience to impurities and thermal noise, enabling robust device performance without requiring ultra-clean fabrication.

“This significantly lowers barriers for real-world applications, paving the way for energy-efficient electronics and wireless devices central to the Internet of Things,” Ma said. “Beyond immediate technological impact, the project advances fundamental understanding of how quantum geometry can be harnessed in functional devices. By linking theory, computation, synthesis, and experiment, it also builds a scalable discovery pipeline that can accelerate the design of other quantum materials with transformative applications.”

7

Chronicle

September 25, 2025

O’Neill Professor Wins a Prestigious Book Award

BY PHIL GLOUDEMANS STAFF WRITER

The Crucible of Desegregation: The Uncertain Search for Educational Equality, by O’Neill Professor of American Politics R. Shep Melnick, won the Jeffrey R. Henig Award for Best Book on Educational Politics and Policy, bestowed by the American Political Science Association’s (APSA) section on Education Politics and Policy.

Melnick received the award, named for the Teachers College-Columbia University professor emeritus of political science and education, at APSA’s annual conference in Vancouver September 11-15.

It’s the second consecutive year that a Boston College political science faculty member captured the honor: Associate Professor Michael Hartney’s first book, How Policies Make Interest Groups: Governments, Unions, and American Education, was the 2024 winner.

Combining legal analysis with a focus on the interactions between federal judges and administrators, Melnick’s 2023 volume examines the evolution of federal school desegregation policy starting with the 1954 United States Supreme Court’s landmark decision, Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, through the termination of desegregation orders in the first decades of the 21st century.

“Few topics in American K-12 education are as contentious and consequential as school desegregation,” said Ursula Hackett, chair of the APSA’s Education Politics and Policy section, and a professor at the

R. Shep Melnick photo by christopher soldt

University of London. “Drawing on a wide array of sources—from judicial decisions to agency documents, legislative histories, and local case studies—Melnick brings unmatched clarity to one of the most complex education policy stories of the last century.”

Hackett noted that the book exemplifies a vital tradition in political science: historical and institutional analysis, careful weighing of competing arguments, and deep engagement with pressing policy disputes.

“In an era when our field increasingly

prizes quick answers and flashy methods, The Crucible of Desegregation reminds us of the enduring value of scholarship that is historically grounded, analytically balanced, and normatively important.”

Melnick said he was pleased and humbled by the honor.

“It’s unusual for members of the same department to win the best book award two years in a row, especially a small department such as ours,” he said.

Reviewers praised the book as impactful and balanced.

“Melnick’s even-handed approach to the school desegregation era offers insights into what went right and what went wrong on a very important set of policies,” wrote Richard D. Kahlenberg, a senior fellow at the Progressive Policy Institute and nonresident scholar at Georgetown’s McCourt School of Public Policy, in Education Next.

David L Kirp, a professor at the Goldman School of Public Policy at the University of California, Berkeley, characterized The Crucible of Desegregation as a “tour-deforce…meticulously researched, elegantly written, scrupulously fair-minded.”

According to Melnick, through Brown v. Board, the U.S.—having long emphasized education as the path to upward mobility—essentially designated school desegregation as the driver for racial equality, and over time it became the impetus for expanding the civil rights state.

“In the U.S., we have long been willing to tolerate income inequality if we think it’s based on an individual’s efforts or degree of success,” said Melnick in a No-

A New Beginning for a BC Family (L-R) Alex, Tatiyana ’29, and Claudia Orrego.

“It’s been wonderful to share the campus with her,” says Alex, “whether in passing moments during the day, getting coffee with her, or seeing her discover her own path here.” photo by caitlin cunningham

vember 2023 Boston College Chronicle interview. “In doing so, we’ve put enormous stress on our schools to level the playing field. We created elementary schools before European countries did, for example, and we’ve spent more on education than most other countries—but with worse results.”

One of the major obstacles facing school desegregation and other reforms, argues Melnick, is that education is a highly decentralized process that relies to a large extent on local control, and is difficult to change from the top down—especially when there are far-reaching social and economic factors that stretch well beyond the school grounds.

“If school desegregation did achieve some meaningful successes, at the same time it revealed more complicated issues to deal with in our education system than racial discrimination. For example, is it ‘discrimination’ if some kids begin school with a sound basis in reading because their parents read with them when they were little, whereas the parents of other kids couldn’t? Or if one family has the resources to hire private tutors for their kids, and another doesn’t?

“The fact is, there are severe inequalities present before kids even start school, so some will go in with advantages others lack, and desegregation by itself is not going to solve this.”

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 code below.

Construction Project Manager Supervisor, Athletic Fields Assistant Director, Academic Operations Senior Budget Financial Applications Analyst Manager, Research Computing Classroom Technology Specialist Public Safety Dispatcher Waitstaff Network Systems Engineer Assistant Director, Graduate Program Support Concert Manager

Continued from page 1

more than just continuing our family’s connection to BC. It’s an important milestone for her and for all of us,” said Alex.

Now into her first semester, Orrego is majoring in psychology, motivated by her family and Catholic social teaching to understand the person as a whole. As she explores clubs, community service opportunities, and campus jobs, she says that the Jesuit spirit and motto of “Men and Women for Others” is clear on campus.

“I like that a lot of clubs include community service and have a goal to help people. Everyone just wants to welcome

Teacher Assistant you.”

Among those eager to welcome her to campus are her father and grandmother.

She’s already met up with Alex, who works as a receiver on the Chestnut Hill Campus, for lunch and coffee, and he helped her find the best routes to get to her classes during the first week of the semester. Claudia works at Legal Grounds on Newton Campus, and while Tatiyana hasn’t made it there yet, she said that friends have made sure to say “Hi” when they see her grandmother.

“Seeing their familiar faces on campus

helps me feel like I belong and eased my transition to college,” said Orrego.

Alex and Claudia are enjoying every moment with Tatiyana as well.

“It’s been wonderful to share the campus with her, whether in passing moments during the day, getting coffee with her, or seeing her discover her own path here,” said Alex.

“For us, it feels like a continuation of tradition, but also something new and exciting as she makes BC her own. We’re incredibly proud of her and grateful that she’s part of this community.”

Director, University Health Services

8

Chronicle

September 25, 2025

BC Arts

New Robsham Season and Monan Prof. Arrive

Traditional Irish trio Lane to the Glen performs at 6:30 tonight in the Theology and Ministry Library on the Brighton Campus.

Gaelic Roots Series Fall Program Gets Underway This Evening Boston College’s Gaelic Roots series, which for more than two decades has brought acclaimed performers of Irish, Scottish, Cape Breton, and other traditional music to the Heights, begins its new season this evening at 6:30 p.m. with a concert by Irish trio Lane to the Glen in the Theology and Ministry Library on Brighton Campus. All other Gaelic Roots events will take place (also at 6:30 p.m.) in Connolly House, 300 Hammond Pond Parkway.

Lane to the Glen comprises Oisín Mac Diarmada, a co-founder of popular traditionally rooted band Téada (a past Gaelic Roots performer) and a master of the distinctive Sligo fiddle style; Daithí Gormley, regarded as a generational talent on accordion who along with Mac Diarmada published The Fiddlers of Sligo Tunebook, regarded as a must-have among many traditional-minded musicians; and Samantha Harvey, a talented pianist who also excels as a dancer and accordionist, and has toured with Téada and in other collaborations.

Andy Irvine, one of the most important figures in the Irish folk music revival, will perform on October 2. Irvine has been a member of groundbreaking groups such as Sweeney’s Men, Planxty, and Patrick Street, and part of a duo with Paul Brady that produced what is regarded as a landmark album in modern Irish music.

His visits to Eastern Europe in the 1960s led him to explore that region’s musical traditions, and in the process made him a pioneer of world music. A skilled musician and gifted singer, he also developed a reputation as a skillful, eloquent writer of songs, many built around historical figures and events as well as social concerns, drawing comparisons with Woody Guthrie. He holds a Lifetime Achievement honor from the RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards.

On October 30, the series presents two gifted fiddlers representing different, but

hardly divergent, music traditions from their respective birthplaces. Kimberley Fraser is among the elite Cape Breton musicians of her generation, performing and teaching in many different parts of the world. An alumna of Berklee College of Music, Fraser has released two albums, “Behind the Bow” and “Falling on New Ground,” the latter of which won the East Coast Music Award for Roots/Traditional Album of the Year. Oisín McAuley was born in County Donegal, home to a revered fiddle tradition, and in addition to his long-time stint with the acclaimed band Danú has drawn praise for his solo efforts, notably his album “Far from the Hills of Donegal,” on which he demonstrates a command of other Irish fiddle styles. A member of the Berklee College faculty, McAuley and some of his Berklee colleagues were part of the project “Emerald Jazz,” televised on WGBH, which introduced jazz elements to traditional Irish music.

Concluding the fall schedule will be Celtic guitarist Tony McManus on November 13. The Scottish-born McManus, a self-taught finger-style player, renders the complex ornamentations of traditional music associated with fiddle and pipes, and the effect is spellbinding and often emotionally powerful. In addition to Scotland, Ireland, and Cape Breton, McManus has explored Celtic music traditions of Brittany, Asturia, Galicia, and Quebec. He has teamed with an array of celebrated performers like Andy Irvine, Dougie McLean, Phil Cunningham, Liam O’Flynn, Martin Simpson, Kevin Burke, Alison Brown, Natalie MacMaster, and the Nashville Chamber Orchestra. In recent years, he has teamed with Berlin guitarist/fiddler/vocalist Julia Toaspern, whose interests extend to baroque and jazz; they released a live album in 2019.

For more about Gaelic Roots, see events. bc.edu/group/gaelic_roots_series —Sean Smith

The Boston College Theatre Department and Robsham Theater Main Stage fall season begins next week with a production of Caryl Churchill’s “Top Girls,” touted as one of the best plays of the 20th century by, among others, Entertainment Weekly, The Daily Telegraph, The Independent, and The Guardian theater critic Michael Billington, who included it in his book The 101 Greatest Plays.

Directed by Associate Professor of the Practice Patricia Riggin, the play will run from October 2-5 on Robsham’s main stage.

Written by Churchill during the Margaret Thatcher era in England, “Top Girls” explores the choices modern women face in the workforce. Opening with a dinner party where each guest is a historical, fictional, or mythical woman who faced adversity and suffered bitterly to attain her goals—including Pope Joan, a Japanese courtesan turned Buddhist nun, and Dull

Donald Monan, S.J., Professor in Theatre Arts for the 2025-2026 academic year.

Established in 2007 by a generous gift to the University, the Monan Professorship— named for the former University president and chancellor—brings regionally and nationally renowned theatre artists to work and teach at Boston College on an annual basis.

Florestal is a four-time Elliot Norton Award-nominated director, educator, dramaturg, writer, and collaborator based in Boston. She is the associate artistic director of The Front Porch Arts Collective, a Black theater company committed to advancing racial equity in Boston through theater, and an assistant professor of theater at Boston Conservatory at Berklee College of Music. She also created and manages the Young Critics and Apprenticeship Program and is associate producer of “The Reading Series,” “Black Out Events,” and other productions.

Pascale Florestal, the Monan Professor in Theatre Arts for 2025-2026.

Gret, a subject of a Flemish renaissance painting—the play culminates in a blistering and timely dispute over the politics of the right vs. left. “Top Girls” questions whether it is possible for women in society to combine a successful career with a thriving family life.

Robsham main stage will be the venue from December 4-7 for one of the most beloved Christmas stories, Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.”

The production, directed by Associate Professor Courtney Elkin Mohler, will feature live music and dance, as well as the timeless tale of miserly and humorless Ebenezer Scrooge’s redemption and transformation—with the help of three spirits—on one Christmas Eve. For more on Theatre Department/Robsham main stage productions, including performance times and ticket prices, go to bc.edu/theatre. For tickets, see bc.edu/tickets or call ext.2-4002.

The Theatre Department recently welcomed Pascale Florestal as the Rev. J.

Her directing credits include “To the People Like Us” (Strand Theater), “No Child” (Gloucester Stage Company), “Is This America?” (White Snake Projects), “Our Town” and “Next to Normal” (Central Square Theater). As an assistant to the director, Florestal has worked with Kimberly Senior, Liesl Tommy, Billy Porter, Paul Daigneault, and M. Bevin O’Gara; as associate director, her collaborations have included Gil Rose (“X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X”) and Kimberly Senior (“Our Daughters, Like Pillars”). She served as associate director for the Broadway national tour of “Jagged Little Pill.”

In 2021, Florestal was named one of the WBUR ARTery 25 Artists of Color Transforming the Cultural Landscape in Boston.

In 2020, she won the inaugural Greg Ferrell Award for her excellence in teaching and supporting young people.

Read more about Florestal in her Theatre Department profile: https://bit.ly/PascaleFlorestal-Monan-Professor —University Communications