Boston College Chronicle September 29, 2022

PUBLISHED BY THE BOSTON COLLEGE OFFICE OF UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS

Employee Development Program Brings Ignatian Focus to Leadership Skills

BY SEAN SMITH CHRONICLE EDITOR

A new Boston College professional development program aims to cultivate leadership skills informed by Ignatian values and practices among employees in both the University’s academic and non-academic sectors.

Launched in January, the Ignatian Leadership Development Program (ILDP) is a 12-month, cohort-based, four-module program that comprises elements such as individual and group retreats, reflection, leadership coaching, and self-assessment.

The first cohort of 16 will complete the program in December, and a second group will begin in January.

According to program organizers, ILDP participants emerge with a deeper understanding of BC’s Jesuit, Catholic heritage

and leadership rooted in the Ignatian leadership tradition, a better perception of themselves as leaders, and the motivation to align leadership practice with “the greater good.” They also develop the ability to adapt leadership best practices in a Jesuit, Catholic context, integrate reflection and discernment practices in their work, and assess the effectiveness of leadership behaviors and results.

The ILDP is an outgrowth of the University’s Strategic Plan, which calls for an enhanced commitment to formation of faculty and staff. Whereas the Ignatian Colleagues Program—a national initiative of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities—offers a similar orientation for BC’s senior administrative and academic leaders, the ILDP focuses on the next tier of leadership, including associate vice

SEPTEMBER 29, 2022 VOL. 30 NO. 3

Pause and Pray

PHOTO BY CAITLIN CUNNINGHAM

Undergraduates gathered at Burns Library Lawn earlier this month for “Pause and Pray,” a weekly outdoor retreat sponsored by Campus Ministry for students “to exhale, to reflect, and to be spiritually renewed through the end of the semester.” Leading the session were, at left, Anthony Lewis ’23 and Campus Minister for Retreats Kelly Hughes.

Continued on page 5

Building a ‘Robust Culture of Care’ Kelly leads reestablished and revamped Dean of Students office

BY SEAN SMITH CHRONICLE EDITOR

When Boston College Associate Vice President and Dean of Students Corey Kelly and her Student Affairs colleagues hold their weekly meetings, the discussion typically ranges from big-picture, programoriented issues to more everyday topics.

Like, for example, motorized scooters.

“You see lots of students using them around campus nowadays—they’re everywhere,” noted Kelly.

Not that motorized scooters are regarded as an existential threat to the University community, she explained, although safety concerns are certainly a consideration: “Anything that becomes popular in college student culture—new technology, new apps, new recreational activities—is of interest to us. These have an effect on students’ day-to-day life, and thus become part of their Boston College experience. It’s just a good idea for us to be aware of such trends and to share our impressions and observations about them.”

AVP and Dean of Students Corey Kelly photo by caitlin cunningham

It is this holistic view of student life that informs the work of Kelly and her colleagues, and which has been emphasized in a recent reorganization of the Student Affairs division by Vice President for Student Affairs Shawna Cooper Whitehead.

The initiative involved reestablishing the dean of students position and consolidating four Student Affairs offices or functions

in that administrative area: Student Support, Disabilities, Student Conduct, and Off-Campus Life. Kelly, who has served in several capacities at BC since 2011—most recently as associate dean of students and director of student conduct—was appointed to her new position in June. Tom Mogan, the former associate VP for student engagement and formation—and who had previously held the title of dean of students until it was discontinued in 2019—is now an interim associate dean of the Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences.

Among other objectives, this reorganization aims to emphasize the multifaceted role of the Dean of Students office (DOS) beyond its disciplinary function, according to Kelly.

“We want to be able to address challenges, concerns, and campus or student

INSIDE 3 Fitzgerald Professor

George Mohler is appointed to new endowed chair in data science.

6 Mediator

CSOM’s David Twomey (below) played a role in helping avert a national railway strike.

8 Positive Outcomes

BCSSW study praises federal job training program for older adults.

Continued on page 5

QUOTE

The uncomfortable truth is that historically, large-scale conflicts such as the Ukraine war lead to inflation that doesn’t quickly disappear.

–boston college economist brian bethune, page 7

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September 29, 2022

Around Campus

It’s On: Family Weekend Starts Friday Parents and families of Boston College undergraduates will be welcomed to campus starting tomorrow for the annual Family Weekend, when they will have the opportunity to hear from University leaders, enjoy a concert from the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra and special guests, and watch a football game in Alumni Stadium.

Family Weekend will officially begin Friday with “open house” sessions on academic affairs and student life. A panel discussion on student life will be held in Robsham Theater at 3 p.m. with Associate Vice President and Dean of Students Corey Kelly, Associate Vice President for Student Health and Wellness Melinda Stoops, and Associate Vice President of Career Services Joseph DuPont, moderated by Vice President for Student Affairs Shawna Cooper

Whitehead. Following the panel, at 4 p.m., University President William P. Leahy, S.J., will deliver an address on the University’s past, present, and future.

That evening, the annual Pops on the Heights concert—once again, a sold-out event—will take place at Conte Forum, featuring appearances by composer-pianistsinger Jon Batiste, the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra conducted by Keith Lockhart, and BC student performers.

On Saturday, the BC-Louisville football game will kick off at noon. The weekend’s events will conclude on Sunday with a family liturgy at 10 a.m. in Conte Forum, followed by a continental breakfast.

For more on Family Weekend, see bc.edu/familyweekend.

—Christine Balquist

Snapshot

photos by lee pellegrini

Taste of Off Campus

Rent the Runway co-founder Jenny Fleiss

CWBC to Welcome Entrepreneur Volition Capital Venture Partner Jenny Fleiss, a celebrated entrepreneur who cofounded Rent the Runway, will speak at the Council for Women of Boston College (CWBC) Colloquium on October 12 at 6 p.m. in the Murray Function Room at Yawkey Athletics Center.

An entrepreneur and intrapreneur, Fleiss founded two scaled digitally native businesses from scratch, Rent the Runway and Jetblack. Jetblack was the first portfolio company within Walmart’s technology incubator, disrupting traditional ecommerce with a personal shopping service over text message and voice. Fleiss co-founded Rent the Runway, a business that has transformed the retail industry by making designer clothing rentals a convenient and accessible luxury experience for millions of women.

During her time at Rent the Runway, Fleiss served as president, head of logistics, and head of business development. She remains a Rent the Runway board member and adviser, and is co-founder of the RTR Foundation. Fleiss also is a board member of Shutterfly and Party City, and serves as

The offices of Residential Life and Off-Campus Student Living, in conjunction with the offices of Governmental and Community Affairs and the Dean of Students, recently organized a “Taste of Off Campus” event on Brighton Campus, hosting dozens of local restaurants and eateries for students to browse and enjoy.

ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT FOR UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS

Jack Dunn

SENIOR DIRECTOR FOR UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS

Patricia Delaney EDITOR

Sean Smith

CONTRIBUTING STAFF

Christine Balquist Phil Gloudemans Ed Hayward Rosanne Pellegrini Kathleen Sullivan

Chronicle

PHOTOGRAPHERS

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

Caitlin Cunningham Lee Pellegrini

an adviser to and investor in various businesses, many with female founders.

Fleiss has been recognized by Inc. magazine’s “30 Under 30”; Fortune magazine’s “40 Under 40” and “Most Powerful Women Entrepreneurs”; and Fast Company’s “Most Influential Women in Technology.”

After graduating cum laude from Yale University, she earned an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.

The CWBC Colloquium is a free event.

Seating is available on a first-come, firstserved basis. Doors open at 5 p.m.

Established in 2002, the Council for Women of Boston College is dedicated to furthering the roles of women as leaders and active participants in the University and seeks to help shape the University’s future and to support its mission through the engagement of the women of Boston College. The CWBC Colloquium, launched in 2015, hosts exceptional thought leaders to consider contemporary issues through the lens of women’s leadership. The colloquium is made possible by the CWBC and the Institute for the Liberal Arts.

—Kathleen Sullivan

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.

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September 29, 2022

Mohler Is Named First Fitzgerald Professor

BY PHIL GLOUDEMANS STAFF WRITER

George Mohler, a former professor of computer and information science at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) who directed its Institute for Mathematical Modeling and Computational Science, has been named the inaugural Daniel J. Fitzgerald Professor in data science, announced Associate Professor Sergio A. Alvarez, chair of Boston College’s Department of Computer Science.

His areas of expertise include forecasting, statistics, machine learning, and applications to criminal justice and infectious diseases. He builds algorithms and software tools to study patterns in social systems, estimate the probability of societally harmful events, and help smart and connected communities allocate resources in response.

Mohler, who earned a doctorate and master’s degree in mathematics from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and a bachelor’s degree from Indiana University Bloomington, taught at IUPUI for five years. He also served as an assistant professor at Santa Clara University for six years and an assistant adjunct professor at UCLA for two years.

While at IUPUI and Santa Clara, Mohler also held several industry positions, including director of data science at Metromile Insurance Company, and was

George Mohler, the inaugural Daniel J. Fitzgerald Professor in data science. photo by lee pellegrini

a co-founder and member of the board of directors at Geolitica. His research on data science and criminology has been featured in The New York Times, The Economist, Time, Popular Science, Data Science Weekly, and international news outlets.

According to Mohler, his current

research focuses on statistical and deeplearning approaches to solving problems in spatial, urban, and network data science.

Several current projects include modeling and causal inference for overdose and social harm event data, fairness and interpretability in criminal justice forecasting, and modeling viral processes and link formation on social networks.

“We are very pleased to welcome George Mohler to the department,” said Alvarez. “His work adds considerable breadth to an area of research strength— namely artificial intelligence and machine learning—and their application in the sciences. We also very much look forward to working with him on the development of new academic programs in data science.”

Gregory Kalscheur, S.J., dean of the Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences, echoed the chair’s greeting.

“I’m delighted that George has joined us as the inaugural Daniel J. Fitzgerald Professor. He is a recognized leader in the applied data science field, and his excellence as a scholar and a teacher serves the common good by helping to solve complex real-world problems in a range of areas, including public health and criminology.

George has a strong understanding of what is distinctive about Boston College and a Jesuit education, and I look forward to working with him as he leads our efforts to launch an undergraduate data science aca-

demic program, animated by the vision of the Schiller Institute for Integrated Science and Society and the University’s mission.”

Mohler, who serves as an associate editor of the International Journal of Forecasting, a quarterly, peer-reviewed scientific periodical, said, “I’m excited to join Boston College as the Daniel J. Fitzgerald Professor and to help shape what data science looks like on campus. Boston College is uniquely positioned to educate the next generation of data science leaders, who will use computer science, mathematics, and big data to help solve pressing world problems.”

The donor for the Daniel J. Fitzgerald Professorship, who prefers to remain anonymous, offered a comment on Mohler’s appointment: “We are excited to honor Daniel Fitzgerald ’69 with this endowed chair. After graduating from Boston College, Dan continued onto a very successful 31-year career at Mass Mutual Life Insurance Company, where he earned his actuarial degree and ultimately served as chief financial officer.

“Throughout his career, Dan recognized the power that data science can bring to not only business but to finding new solutions to problems facing the world. Congratulations to Professor Mohler on the honor of being named the first Daniel J. Fitzgerald Professor.”

CSON Earns ‘Center of Excellence’ Designation

BY KATHLEEN SULLIVAN STAFF WRITER

The William F. Connell School of Nursing has been named a Center of Excellence in Nursing Education by the National League for Nursing (NLN). The Connell School was recognized in the area of “Creating Environments that Promote the Pedagogical Expertise of Faculty.”

The NLN is the premier organization for nurse faculty and leaders in nursing education, with 45,000 individual and 1,100 institutional members.

“The Connell School is proud to be designated as a Center of Excellence by the National League for Nursing,” said Connell School Dean and Professor Katherine E. Gregory. “This type of recognition is a testament to the experience, expertise, and dedication of our faculty to teach the next generation of nurses at the very highest level.”

The Connell School is one of only 16 nursing education programs nationwide— across the academic spectrum of higher education in nursing and leading teaching hospitals and clinical sites—to be awarded a Center of Excellence in Nursing Education designation by the NLN this year.

CSON and other Centers of Excellence (COE) will be formally recognized at the 2022 NLN Education Summit tomorrow.

First named a COE in 2018, the Connell School had to reapply for a continuing

COE designation after the initial four-year period. Lelia Holden Carroll Professor in Nursing Judith Vessey, who recently retired, organized the school’s application effort with assistance from many faculty volunteers.

In support of its application, CSON

as well as the addition to the school’s senior leadership team of an assistant dean devoted to student services, diversity, equity, and inclusion.

“Our report really shows the level of commitment of faculty to the many different initiatives the Connell School has.

“This type of recognition is a testament to the experience, expertise, and dedication of our faculty to teach the next generation of nurses at the very highest level.”

—Katherine Gregory

photo by lee pellegrini

submitted a report highlighting faculty-led programs, such as its global service trips and the Keys to Inclusive Leadership in Nursing program, which fosters students’ leadership potential, prepares them to provide care in a multicultural society, and nurtures their ability to create positive social change.

The report also noted CSON’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, faculty discussions on a book and podcast,

Different faculty are involved in different things that overall promote an excellence in nursing education,” said CSON Associate Professor Jane Flanagan, who contributed to the report.

“The depth of the offerings at the Connell School for both faculty and students is incredible,” she continued. “So much of the work we are doing not only enhances student learning, but enhances faculty formation as well.”

The NLN is focused on education, and COE recognition signals that nursing education is special at the Connell School, according to Flanagan. “We are an R1 university [the highest designation for research universities], but we also have a focus on teaching, student formation, and service that brings together a much larger picture.”

Flanagan added that when she talks with prospective faculty candidates, she often hears that the Connell School’s commitment to student learning, advising, and formation is appealing.

“Yes, our students pass the licensure exam, yes, our students get jobs, but BC nursing education is about so much more.

That shines through in this report.”

“NLN Centers of Excellence help raise the bar for all nursing programs by rolemodeling visionary leadership and environments of inclusive excellence that nurture the next generation of a strong and diverse nursing workforce to advance the health of the nation and the global community,” said NLN President and CEO Beverly Malone.

“It is no secret that it takes a village of scholars and visionary leaders to collaborate to co-create and sustain educational excellence,” said NLN Chair Kathleen Poindexter, interim associate dean of academic affairs at Michigan State University in Lansing. “Those individuals—faculty, deans, and administrators—deserve our deepest gratitude.”

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September 29, 2022

Development Law Reform Experts Join BC Law Faculty

BY PHIL GLOUDEMANS STAFF WRITER

Lisa T. Alexander and Thomas W. Mitchell, preeminent scholars in property and community development law reform, and co-founders and former directors of the Program in Real Estate and Community Development Law at Texas A&M University School of Law, have joined the Boston College Law School faculty.

Alexander, whose work focuses on the centrality of law in making housing markets both more efficient and more equitable, was named a professor of law. Mitchell is the second Robert F. Drinan, S.J., Professor, succeeding long-time BC Law faculty member George Brown. The chair was established in honor of Fr. Drinan, former BC Law dean and the first Catholic priest elected to Congress.

Amidst the United States’ longstanding national housing crisis, Alexander has conducted extensive research in legal and extra-legal rights to property, housing, and urban space. Most recently, she has examined how cities and states can use tinyhome villages to ameliorate homelessness and provide sustainable affordable housing.

Through this and other work, she provides insights to policymakers on how to reimagine housing options and property rights for today’s world.

“I am elated to join the Boston College Law School community,” said Alexander.

“Boston College’s Jesuit tradition of service to others resonates with my long-standing approach to scholarly inquiry, teaching, and public reform. BC Law’s location in Greater Boston—an intellectual center that’s facing daunting housing challenges— and the school’s particular commitment to merge theory and praxis to solve public problems, make it a perfect place for me to enhance my intellectual interests, teach and learn from engaged students, and ad-

BC Law Drinan Professor Thomas Mitchell and Professor Lisa Alexander photos by caitlin cunningham

vance justice in U.S. housing markets and beyond.”

Alexander received a bachelor’s degree from Wesleyan University and a juris doctorate from Columbia University School of Law. She was a professor at the University of Wisconsin Law School from 2006 to 2017. At Texas A&M, she held a joint appointment, serving as a professor in both the School of Law and in the Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning.

She was named a 2018 Texas A&M University Presidential Impact Fellow, the first person in the history of Texas A&M School of Law selected for the honor. Her most recent article on tiny houses appeared in the Harvard Law & Policy Review, and she has published in the Minnesota Law Review, William & Mary Business Law Review, and Fordham Urban Law Journal, among many other publications.

In 2020, Alexander and Mitchell were selected by the University of Pennsylvania

Law School’s Black Law Students Association to receive the Dr. Sadie Alexander Leadership Awards for their outstanding work in the study of property law, affordable housing, and legislative reform.

That same year, Mitchell was selected for a MacArthur Fellowship (commonly known as the “Genius Grant”) in recognition of his work “reforming long-standing legal doctrines that deprive Black and other disadvantaged American families of their property and real estate wealth.” In 2021, Mitchell received the Howard University Alumni Award for Distinguished Postgraduate Achievement; past recipients include former Supreme Court Associate Justice Thurgood Marshall, the court’s first African American justice, and Vice President Kamala Harris. Earlier this year, he was selected for the American Bar Association’s Jefferson Fordham Award for Advocacy, one of the ABA’s premier awards for attorneys with exceptional careers.

Mitchell’s areas of expertise include

property and land use law, estate planning, minority property ownership, legal reform, and race and inequality. At BC Law, in addition to teaching and research, Mitchell will serve as director of a new program, the Initiative on Land and Housing Rights.

He is a prolific author with two books and dozens of articles, book chapters, essays, and policy briefs to his credit. His presentations at various conferences and symposia number more than 100, and he frequently appears in the news media with more than 100 interviews in just the past few years, including many with nationally prominent media outlets.

“I am thrilled and truly honored to be joining Boston College Law School and Boston College more generally,” said Mitchell. “BC Law is a dynamic law school, and one with an outstanding faculty, a vibrant scholarly community, a robust commitment to experiential learning, numerous outstanding specialty programs, wonderful students, and great staff members. As an engaged scholar and legal reformer who seeks to tackle injustices in property law, BC Law will be a great home for me given the school’s deep social justice commitments and the many ways it plays a positive role in the wider world—both in Massachusetts and beyond.”

Mitchell received a bachelor’s degree from Amherst College, a juris doctorate from Howard University, and a master of laws degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School, where he later served on the faculty from 2000-2017.

“Lisa Alexander and Thomas Mitchell bring a wealth of knowledge that will enlighten our students and widen our scholarly pursuits,” said Diane M. Ring, interim dean of the Boston College Law School and the Dr. Thomas F. Carney Distinguished Scholar. “They will enhance the expertise for which our already strong faculty is well known.”

Jones to Take Reins as University Registrar Oct. 1

BY JACK DUNN ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT FOR UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS

Bryan Jones, the director of summer session and academic services in the Woods College of Advancing Studies, has been named University Registrar, effective October 1. He will succeed Mary French, who is retiring from BC after 28 years of dedicated service.

Prior to joining the Woods College, Jones served as registrar at Roxbury Community College and as associate registrar at Harvard University. He also worked in enrollment and academic services at the University of Miami, where he earned a bachelor’s and a master’s degree.

In announcing the appointment, Vice Provost for Enrollment Management John Mahoney said Jones possessed the skills and experience needed to assume the leadership of the Registrar’s Office at an important time in the University’s history.

“Bryan gained rich experience in the registrar and enrollment analytics offices at a diverse array of institutions that include the University of Miami, Harvard University, and Roxbury Community College,” said Mahoney.

“Bryan has been active in the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admission Officers, which connects him to key issues and challenges facing the profession. Having worked in the Woods College of Advancing Studies since 2021, he also has an excellent connection to BC, which he looks to build upon in his new role.”

Jones said he was excited to begin his new role as University Registrar, and to take on the major challenges such as the implementation of Eagle Apps.

“I am very excited and honored to be named the new University Registrar at Boston College,” said Jones. “Mary French and her team have done an exceptional job, and I look forward to continuing that

Bryan Jones photo by caitlin cunningham

momentum.”

Mahoney also offered praise for French, who will be stepping down as registrar at the end of the month.

“I hired Mary 28 years ago to work in Undergraduate Admission where she advanced to lead the Office of Transfer Admission,” said Mahoney. “Along with Jennifer Mack and the Student Services

Information Systems team, Mary and her colleagues have steered Boston College through the Eagle Apps Enrollment implementation over the past four years. Her intelligence, drive, and endless equanimity have been appreciated by faculty, administrators, and students. I am grateful for her professionalism and her friendship.”

Located in the Office of Student Services in Lyons Hall, the Registrar’s Office provides record-keeping services central to the University’s functioning, and wide-ranging support to students, parents, alumni, faculty, and administrators through registration, reporting, transcripts, classroom assessment, and classroom and test scheduling. The office also assists employers seeking degree verification and alumni who request copies of their transcripts.

“I welcome Bryan to Student Services and Enrollment Management,” said Mahoney. “We look forward to his leadership in this important University role.”

ILDP Continued from page 1

presidents and provosts, executive directors, associate deans, directors, and department chairs. And while BC’s Management Development Perspectives program provides exposure to the distinctive qualities of a Jesuit, Catholic university and preliminary opportunities for reflection, the ILDP offers far more depth.

According to Vice President for Human Resources David Trainor, “ILDP is an extension of BC’s formative education experience to faculty and staff leaders. It is our hope that it will deepen the understanding of our heritage and tradition while enhancing the leadership capacity of our colleagues who participate in the program.”

Through ILDP, organizers say, Boston College will develop a “next generation” of leaders, all with demonstrated potential to make a greater impact on the University, that is fully conversant in the Ignatian vision and well positioned to share it among colleagues in their respective departments and offices. BC contracted external consultants to help devise the program curriculum, and an internal cross-functional design group— including representatives from Human Resources and other administrative and academic units, as well as members of the BC Jesuit Community.

Members of each ILDP cohort are nominated by senior administrators in their respective divisions; candidates must have a minimum of two years of service to the University. There is a substantial time commitment: once-a-month full-day sessions from January to June as well as September, October, and December, and a two- and four-day retreat.

Participants are each assigned to a leadership coach external to the University who helps them focus on their unique strengths and areas of challenge as part of their learning and development in ILDP; the coaching process helps participants seek, receive,

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(L-R) Elizabeth Emery, Rafael Luna, and Melinda Stoops are part of the first Ignatian Leadership Development Program cohort. photo by caitlin cunningham

and interpret 360-degree feedback (through which employees receive confidential, anonymous evaluations from the people who work with them).

Associate Vice President for Student Health and Wellness Melinda Stoops felt ILDP would give her a better sense of her professional strengths and help expand her leadership skills in the context of her work in higher education and student affairs in particular. Having considered the Ignatian and spiritual dimensions of her work at a “fairly superficial” level up until then, she looked forward to exploring these in greater depth.

“I really love the cohort model and found my relationships with my ILDP colleagues to be a great resource for exploring the program material. In addition, I’ve established relationships with a group of people from across campus which has provided me with a greater understanding of different departments, as well as an expanded professional support network.”

Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences Associate Dean Rafael Luna found some of the case studies used in ILDP were familiar from his days as an M.B.A. student, but in this setting “had you view them through an Ignatian lens.” The program provided him with “a toolkit” useful for discussions with his colleagues on how to fulfill their academic and formative mission, he said.

“The intentionality of reflection was incredibly helpful. Just slowing things down to listen to the still, small voice helped me to check in with myself, but I also was able to learn about turning reflection into action, which is at the heart of Ignatian leadership,” said Luna, who added that the insights he derived even helped him in talking with his daughter about the progress of her college career.

BC Dining Services Director Elizabeth Emery also felt empowered through the use of reflection in her daily routine. “I would think about what went well, whether it was

the interactions I had with my team or an experience at home, and I would celebrate those three or four positives instead of dwelling so much on what had been difficult that day—it just really reframes everything. That’s what I try to convey in working with my senior team: You still have to manage the negative, but when you focus on the positivity, you might find it leads you to a solution.

It improves your confidence and your approach.”

“Essentially, we are doing for our employees what we do for our students,” said Office of Employee Development Director Bernard O’Kane. “Ignatian principles are at the core of all undergraduates’ Boston College experience, and the University believes they should animate the work we do here every day, whether it’s in a classroom, an office, or a dining hall.”

O’Kane, along with program facilitators Stefane Cahill Farella and Aislynn Rodeghiero from the Office of Employee Development, say the ILDP reflects a belief that learning the concepts of leadership is not enough: Successful leaders must be versed in and demonstrate a style that enhances their organization’s culture. At BC, they note, that culture is grounded in the Ignatian vision.

“Ignatian values, like integrity, respect, and honesty, are universal values, and you don’t have to be Catholic to embrace them,” said Farella. “But at BC, we believe it is important for everyone—student or employee—to have an understanding of the faith and tradition on which this University is built, and what animates us as an institution.”

Added Rodeghiero, “The Ignatian Leadership Development Program is about creating a community of practice across BC, to normalize the experience of using Ignatian principles and praxes in our work. It’s a means to encourage communication among ourselves, so that we can share our experiences—positive or negative—in a common framework.”

More detailed information about the Ignatian Leadership Development program will be forthcoming on the Human Resources/Employee Development website [bc.edu/hr].

Kelly Moves Into Restored Dean of Students Role Continued from page 1

incidents as comprehensively and effectively as possible. More than that, though, we want to be in tune with the BC student experience, and to be proactive in building a community and a robust culture of care that reflects the University’s educational and formational values.”

These shared, bedrock values include being accountable for one’s decisions, Kelly said, and part of her office’s charge is to help students make appropriate choices— and to take ownership of their actions if they don’t.

“Student conduct is an area where we can offer support, not simply issue conduct sanctions,” she explained. “A student struggling with University rules and guidelines is often indicative of a larger issue, and DOS will work with our partners across BC to find answers and provide resources.”

For Kelly and her colleagues, that means engaging with Residential Life personnel, for example, and faculty as well as staff who are in contact with students on

a regular basis. “We’re doing a lot more to educate faculty and staff on striking a balance: being respectful of students’ privacy while also passing along concerns they may have—perhaps something in a student’s paper that may raise an alarm, or other behaviors they’ve observed that are disquieting.”

It’s vital for DOS to be a visible, and helpful, presence to students, she said, especially those living off campus. Toward that end, DOS staff, along with members of the BC Police Department and the Office of Governmental and Community Affairs, recently visited off-campus student apartments bearing food and an invitation to chat informally.

“We talked about BC’s expectations for all its undergraduates—and that these expectations don’t stop where the campus ends. But most of all, we wanted to engage with these students, to be authentic, and to give them a sense of the resources and support we provide.”

The office also held a mandatory meeting for off-campus students that focused on accountability and communication within the household.

“For most of these students, it’s the first time living independently in a house or apartment,” said Kelly. “This is an exciting experience, of course, so we offer guidance on how to make it rewarding and safe. We talk about the need to be clear about what is and isn’t acceptable, to check in with one another, and to set limits—you should always know who is supposed to be in the house.

“The message we really want them to take away is they are not out there alone: We have a staff in DOS that is specifically dedicated to helping and supporting students living off campus.”

“Corey Kelly has exhibited tremendous leadership in supporting student responsibility and community standards,” said Cooper Whitehead. “As a senior leader in Student Affairs, Dr. Kelly brings a wealth

of knowledge that contributes to the development of our students and to the BC community.”

Administrative leadership in the student affairs field was not the career path Kelly envisioned for herself: She earned an M.S.W. from the BC School of Social Work and held positions in medical social work even as she worked at BC Student Affairs. Yet she sees parallels between the two.

“As a social worker in a medical setting, you’re the middle point between the patient, the family, and the doctor, and you have to have lines of communication with all of them,” explained Kelly, who also holds a Ph.D. in higher education from BC, as well as a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Boston University. “In this setting, we’re the middle point for the students, the University, and wider community. So we can’t be insular, we have to involve lots of other people in our operations and activities.”

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September 29, 2022

CSOM’s Twomey Once Again Answers President’s Call

BY PHIL GLOUDEMANS STAFF WRITER

On September 15, the Biden administration secured a tentative deal to avert a railway strike that would have wreaked havoc on the United States economy. The agreement between major U.S. railroads and unions representing 115,000 workers was reached after 20 hours of talks brokered by Labor Secretary—and Boston College alumnus—Marty Walsh, and the members of a presidential emergency board (PEB) tasked with resolving the dispute.

One of the three members named to the PEB by President Biden was Carroll School of Management Professor of Business Law and Society David P. Twomey, marking his 10th presidential appointment that began with President Ronald Reagan.

A labor arbitrator since 1974, Twomey has been selected by employers and unions to arbitrate over 2,000 labor-management disputes in both the private and public sectors throughout the U.S. According to Twomey, under the Railway Labor Act of 1926, the president has the power to issue an executive order to create the PEB to investigate and file a report with recommendations for a fair and equitable resolution of disputes encoun-

Prof. David Twomey (CSOM) was appointed by President Biden to serve on a board mediating a national railway labor dispute—the 10th time he’d been selected as an arbitrator. photo by justin knight

tered in reaching new collective bargaining agreements.

“Our board held hearings in Washington, D.C., over the course of a week, during which union and management leaders and their expert witnesses presented their positions on multiple issues, including

wages, health and welfare, work rules, and work-life balance,” said Twomey, a member of the National Academy of Arbitrators, the American Arbitration Association, and the Academy of Legal Studies in Business. “In reaching tentative agreements, the 12 rail unions and the nation’s railroads

largely followed the PEB’s recommendations, with the parties themselves working out several matters in the final hours of bargaining before the strike deadline.”

The talks between major freight railroads and the unions representing their workers had dragged on for more than two years; a rail shutdown could have frozen approximately 30 percent of U.S. cargo shipments, stoked inflation, cost the American economy as much as $2 billion per day, and unleashed a cascade of transport woes affecting energy, agriculture, manufacturing, health care, and retail sectors.

The tentative resolution was characterized by the president as a “big win for America” that averts “significant damage.”

Workers, angered by tough working conditions, agreed not to strike while votes are tallied over the next several weeks.

If the unions accept the proposed deal, which includes an immediate 14.1-percent wage rise, workers with frozen pay would win double-digit increases, and could seek certain types of medical care without fear of penalty.

Twomey, who received a juris doctorate from BC Law School, joined the BC faculty in 1968 and has served as a professor since 1978. He is the author of some 35 editions of widely used textbooks on labor, employment, and business law topics.

Symposium Will Explore Impact of Structural Racism

BY ROSANNE PELLEGRINI STAFF WRITER

Leading scholars and activists from across the country will convene at Boston College October 6 and 7 to participate in a symposium on structural racism in the United States, presented by the Center for Human Rights and International Justice (CHRIJ).

The aim of the symposium, which will be held in Gasson 100, is to explore the nature, history, legal, and institutional/ societal instantiations of structural racism at three particular sites in the U.S., according to organizers: struggles for selfdetermination, claims for reparations, and im/migrants’ rights claims.

“We’ve invited scholars and activists whose work is grounded in the lived experiences of individuals and communities directly affected by these issues and who are well-known and respected in their fields of study, advocacy, and activism,” according to CHRIJ Co-director and BC Law School Professor Daniel Kanstroom, the Thomas F. Carney Distinguished Scholar.

“Structural Racism in the United States: Engaging the Interstices of Migration, Indigenous Peoples’ Rights, and the Legacies of Settler Colonialism” begins with a keynote address by Natsu Taylor Saito, Regents’ Professor Emerita at Georgia State University’s College of Law. She will frame the symposium with a l​ecture on “Settler Colonialism, Race, and the Law: Why Structural Racism Persists.” The presentation, part of the Lowell Humanities

Series, will be held at 7 p.m. on October 6.

[More on the lecture at rb.gy/ngb2tu] “The CHRIJ was founded to educate interdisciplinary scholar-activists who seek to redress gross violations of human rights and to accompany grassroots organizers and social movements who draw on local knowledge systems and partner with scholar advocates towards transformative change,” said CHRIJ Co-director and BC

moderated by Nell Jessup Newton, Wake Forest University Law School professor and interim dean; “Structural Racism and Redress,” moderated by BC Professor of Sociology Zine Magubane; and “Migration, Rights and Reclamations,” moderated by Lynch School Assistant Professor Raquel Muñiz, who also has an appointment as an assistant professor at BC Law. A concluding panel, in which Saito will participate,

Concerns have compelled the Center for Human Rights and International Justice “to seek new and renewed strategies and to work collaboratively to undo structural injustices,” says CHRIJ Co-director Brinton Lykes. “This is especially true as we work with—and take leadership from—migrants, Indigenous peoples, and African Americans who demand redress for colonialism and enslavement and its multiple legacies.”

Lynch School of Education and Human Development Professor Brinton Lykes.

“Ongoing and increasing threats to these commitments compel us to seek new and renewed strategies and to work collaboratively to undo structural injustices. This is especially true as we work with—and take leadership from—migrants, Indigenous peoples, and African Americans who demand redress for colonialism and enslavement and its multiple legacies.”

On October 7, BC faculty members and other prominent speakers will participate in three topical panel presentations: “Settler Colonialism, ‘Race’ and Indigenous Survivance and Resistance,”

will be co-chaired and moderated by Kanstroom and Lykes.

CHRIJ worked with University colleagues on the symposium, noted Kanstroom and Lykes, expressing appreciation to the African and African Diaspora Studies Program as well as to faculty in the Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences, Lynch School, and BC Law who are collaborating with the CHRIJ: “All departments, centers, and institutes throughout the University have been invited to share the program with faculty, students, and staff. We have also shared the invitation throughout greater Boston and beyond U.S. borders.”

The goal is to draw attendees who in-

clude “not only specialists within these fields but also those who seek to learn how these issues affect our daily lives. The panels have been organized to facilitate collaborative discussions among speakers as well as with audience members. The final panel includes experts who work in interdisciplinary contexts and who will comment within and across the other three panels.

In the words of Latina feminist scholar activist Gloria Anzaldúa, we seek to build bridges towards nos-otras [we] through centering the praxis and the leadership of those whose voices are all too often missing and/or marginalized.”

Panel participants include acclaimed legal scholar Aziz Rana, Cornell University’s Richard and Lois Cole Professor of Law, who will join the BC faculty as the Provost’s Distinguished Fellow in 2023-2024, and then as the J. Donald Monan, S.J., Chair in Law and Government in 2024; and BC Law School Drinan Professor Thomas Mitchell [see page 4], a national expert on property issues facing disadvantaged families and communities.

The symposium, which is free and open to the public, is co-sponsored by African and African Diaspora Studies and supported by BC’s Institute for the Liberal Arts. Registration is encouraged for the daylong Friday program, which includes a continental breakfast and lunch. For information on speakers and presentation topics, and to register, go to the symposium webpage at tinyurl.com/StructuralRacismSymposium.

7

Chronicle

September 29, 2022

Q&A: Brian Bethune

The Economy: A Best Case, and a Worst Case

The economy is a collection of paradoxes. Inflation is high, but growth is low. The job market is hot, but wages aren’t keeping pace with rising prices. And despite inflation, consumers continue to spend more. What comes next? To try to get some economic clarity, Chronicle staff writer Phil Gloudemans spoke with Brian Bethune (right), a parttime professor of the practice in the Economics Department, and a professional financial economist and author with a broad range of experience in macroeconomic forecasting, applied economics, finance, and business-cycle analysis. He holds a doctorate in international economics from the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva, serves as a frequent commentator on the economy, and is one of the 75 economists regularly surveyed by The Wall Street Journal.

Peer into your crystal ball and forecast both the “best-case” and the “worstcase” economic scenarios for the next three to six months, particularly as we head into the holiday gift-buying season.

Bethune: After a robust recovery in the second half of 2020, which extended through 2021, the economy shifted gears to a mid-cycle slowdown in 2022. The stagnation was complicated by rapid inflation acceleration over the past year, which peaked in June, and prices overall were flat in July and August; I expect to see an outright decline in overall prices for September. With interest rates projected to increase through the end of 2022—perhaps by 1 to 1.25 percent—the economy will have considerable headwind, but the best case is that we will generally experience “slow motion” economic conditions through the first half of 2023. The yearly inflation measures will moderate significantly by June 2023, and at that time we should thankfully be out of the inflation “woods.”

The worst-case scenario is that the Ukraine war not only re-escalates but persists—causing energy and food price inflation to reaccelerate—and the Federal Reserve increases interest rates even higher in the first half of 2023. In this scenario the economy inevitably sinks into recession in the second half of 2023.

photo by caitlin cunningham

Inflation, given a nearly four-decade high, gets all the headlines, but what are the economic developments and factors that we’re overlooking that will significantly impact our daily lives going forward?

Bethune: The uncomfortable truth is that historically, large-scale conflicts such as the Ukraine war lead to inflation that doesn’t quickly disappear. Natural gas prices have jumped by approximately 75 percent, so higher utility costs are inevitable. The positive on the horizon is a major expansion of energy alternatives such as electric vehicles, wind, solar panels, and high-efficiency heat pumps. Additionally, significant investments in chip technology and production capacity will positively impact the supply chain, and end some of the rationing in product availability.

A recent Bloomberg report indicated that apartment and home rental costs are a key indicator as to where inflation is heading, suggesting that rent may be “topping out” but won’t be cooling any time soon. Is that a relevant and/or reliable predictor in your view?

Bethune: The cost of shelter has sharply escalated. The fundamental issue is limited supply, while demand has increased in major metro areas. Tight supply com-

Snapshot

Business Career Fair The Career Center sponsored a Business Career Fair on September 22 and 23, offering students a chance to meet and greet employers in such fields as consulting, finance, accounting, operations, management, real estate, consumer products/retail, insurance, human resources, and marketing—and to get a few pointers.

bined with low interest rates has fueled a housing-price bubble, which peaked in the summer of 2022. The population is more concentrated in urban zones, which puts significant pressure on rent, as well as demands on urban infrastructure. This is a global phenomenon, and requires more innovative thinking on urban sustainability.

Given the large gap that has emerged between price expectations and the reality playing out in certain markets, is it even worthwhile to pay attention to pricing forecasts?

Bethune: The pricing environment has become more complex than ever. The shortage of memory chips has led to rationing in the supply of new cars, leading to substantial, uneven, and unpredictable mark-ups over the manufacturer’s recommended sale price. This has also spilled over into the used-car market. Additionally, there has been a massive demand shift to more expensive electric vehicles and hybrids, which have variable tax offset incentives across many states. The surge in demand for air travel during 2022 went well beyond what airlines could reasonably ramp up in greater seat capacity.

Rationing occurred in this market as well, leading to substantial price premiums.

Pent-up demand during the two years of PHOTOS BY LEE PELLEGRINI

the pandemic, which is difficult to calibrate, has expanded, while supply has been constrained; then the Ukraine war added another dimension of market uncertainty for global supplies of natural gas, crude oil, auto components, and grain.

Analysts report that the 15 percent growth in last year’s holiday shopping was primarily the result of pandemicmotivated purchases of durable goods rather than services. This year, they predict, increased prices have reshaped how families budget for everyday items, resulting in shorter holiday gift lists. In your estimation is that an accurate prognosis?

Bethune: The acute cost pressures that we have seen in the past year have been concentrated on specific products and services such as new and used cars, airfares, rent, utilities, and groceries. Each of these pressures has very specific drivers that have been previously described. It’s a very unusual constellation of factors, but it does not, in my mind, translate into a persistent inflationary process. Despite all of these pressures, refinery production has been catching up, and fall 2022 gasoline prices—approximately $3.25 per gallon—fell to early 2022 levels. That significant budget relief will release some purchasing power for the holiday shopping season.

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.

Assistant Supervisor, Plumbing Operations HPC Systems Administrator Administrative & Program Assistant Assistant Director, Academic Advising Auxiliary Systems Support Specialist Reference & Collection Development Assistant Staff Nurse Director, Cleanroom Facility Senior Associate Director, Annual and Leadership Giving Administrative Assistant, Law School Assistant Director, Fiscal & Grant Administration Deputy Editor, Boston College Magazine Systems Librarian Development Assistant Auditor/Senior Auditor Assistant Director, Graduate Recruitment and Admissions Director, Academic Operations & Services Assistant Director, Student Affairs Report Writer

8

Chronicle

September 29, 2022

BC Research

BCSSW Study Lauds Senior Job Training Program

BY SEAN SMITH CHRONICLE EDITOR

A Boston College School of Social Work study finds that the United States’ only federal work-based job training program for older, low-income adults provides important physical and mental health benefits as well as financial support, and should be strengthened in several areas, including funding, training, and participant engagement.

A research team led by BCSSW Assistant Professor Cal Halvorsen scrutinized the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP), established in 1965 through the Older Americans Act. SCSEP provides on-the-job training—similar in many respects to internships—each year through a network of state and national grantees and host agencies to nearly 70,000 people ages 55 years and older with incomes at or below 125 percent of the federal poverty level. Host agencies are either public or nonprofit organizations where participants often work in clerical, janitorial, and customer-facing roles while earning a minimum-wage stipend.

SCSEP’s impact on individual-level outcomes has rarely been studied independently, note Halvorsen and his co-authors, who held detailed discussions with a small group of program participants and front-line case managers (some were both participants and case managers, a common feature of SCSEP). The study has recently been published as an open-access article in the online journal Research on Aging.

Such findings, according to the researchers, can be useful at a time when the share of older workers in the U.S. labor force continues to increase—and is expected to be about 25 percent by 2030—even as concerns mount over their vulnerability in the job market: Unplanned retirements, such as through lay-offs or business closings, have accelerated among older adults since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

“There’s a solid body of evidence that having the option to work in later life is beneficial: It gives a person a sense of personal meaning, promotes social engagement while reducing social isolation—

BC Scenes

An International Welcome The Office of Global Engagement held a welcoming picnic on September 21 on the Hovey House lawn to celebrate Boston College’s international community. (Near right) Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences Associate Dean Candace Hetzner chatted with members of the Muslim Student Association. (Far right) Exchange student Trinidad Cadiz ’24, at right, visited the Office of Global Education table, where she met graduate student Yinan Xue, left, and Administrative and Fiscal Assistant Adriana Bauza.

which is linked to health and mental health outcomes,” said Halvorsen. “But the financial aspect is extremely important for low-income older workers. Those who are in the 50-61 age range might need a bridge to Social Security. For those 62 and older, Social Security represents as much as 90 percent of their income, which is simply not enough to live on.

“SCSEP plays a vital role in helping low-income older adults stay in or re-enter the job market, and this research indicates the full extent of its benefits.”

Past research has focused mainly on

and a similar number receive some form of public assistance.

Case managers explained that SCSEP participant goals and supports must be formulated with an eye toward the personal and professional difficulties older workers are experiencing when they go through the program: “It’s an emotional roller coaster,” said one respondent, who added, “Even their intake interview is nerve-wracking because this is often their first interview in years.”

Many participants are homeless or “couch surfing,” others are recovering from A BC School of Social Work research team led

by Assistant Professor Cal Halvorsen says the nation’s only federal work-based job training program for older, low-income adults provides important physical and mental health benefits as well as financial support.

photo by lee pellegrini

statistical aspects of the program—for example, that participants earned more income in their first year of post-SCSEP employment than the annual per-participant cost to the federal government for funding the program—whereas the BCSSW study sought to present a more holistic view of SCSEP’s impact on participants’ physical, mental, and financial well-being.

SCSEP serves many populations that are at a particular disadvantage in employment outcomes, the study reports. Almost 40 percent of its participants are over age 65, 17 percent over 70. About two-thirds are women, with 44 percent identifying as Black or African American and 12 percent reporting Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin. Sixty percent have a high school degree or less. Significant numbers have disabilities, low literacy skills, and live in rural areas. About three in five reported being homeless or at risk of homelessness,

major health shocks—such as cancer treatment—and are realizing “they are not as strong as they thought they were.” Some have experienced personal shocks, such as losing a child: “They are like walking zombies at this point and we are trying to help them find normalcy,” said a respondent.

Simply helping them “get out of bed every day and to do something that feels meaningful and to feel valued” is critical during their first months in the program.

The study’s “feedback loop” examples demonstrated how consistency on the part of both the participants and program features were critical to success: The SCSEP stipend increased participants’ sense of financial security and confidence, fueling their desire to stay with on-the-job training and continue receiving the stipend; as participation decreased, so did the stipend and feelings of financial security, lowering confidence and the desire to stay in the program.

Similarly, exposure to the work of program administrators and host agencies enabled participants to learn about and access nonSCSEP health-related supports, thereby increasing their health and ability to continue with on-the-job training and, in so doing, learn about social supports. Program placements served to decrease participants’ isolation and increase social engagement, building their confidence and inspiring further interaction at their placements.

Halvorsen and his co-authors developed a set of recommendations based on their discussions with SCSEP participants and staff on ways to strengthen the program, such as funding additional SCSEP slots, possibly using additional sources besides the federal government. Others include instituting pay-for-performance; increasing opportunities for social engagement and building relationships; reducing the “benefits cliff” some participants experience when they transition from SCSEP into unsubsidized jobs; required training and education for host agencies; and reconsidering benchmarks of success for the program, given the barriers facing SCSEP participants.

The study has been shared with SCSEP administrators as well as the Massachusetts Executive Office for Elder Affairs, among others, said Halvorsen, who described his newest project—supported with a grant from BC’s Schiller Institute for Integrated Science and Society—“to turn the report’s qualitative findings into quantitative, statistical results.” This project is an interdisciplinary initiative with Sociology and Connell School of Nursing faculty that involves surveying SCSEP participants in Massachusetts to get a granular view of whom the program serves and how their lives are affected by it.

“It’s helpful to program managers to be able to show the impact of SCSEP, so they can promote and build upon what’s been done so far.”

“How the Senior Community Service Employment Program Influences Participant Well-Being: A Participatory Research Approach with Program Recommendations” can be viewed at doi. org/10.1177/01640275221098613

photos by lee pellegrini