Holy Cross President's Report - 2013

THE PRESIDENT’S REPORT 2012 _____ 2013

FACULTY EXCELLENCE: A COMMUNITY OF SCHOLARS

“THE FACULTY AT HOLY CROSS ARE DRIVEN

BY AN INEXTINGUISHABLE SENSE OF WONDER AND AN INHERENT DESIRE TO INSTILL IN THEIR STUDENTS AN INTELLECTUAL PASSION THAT WILL FOREVER BROADEN THEIR LIVES AND STIMULATE THEIR IMAGINATIONS.”

b y R E V. P H I L I P L . B O R O U G H S , S . J . dan vaillancourt

Fall 2 0 1 3

21

so writes st. ignatius o f l oyo l a in his Spiritual

dan vaillancourt

22

holy cross m aga zi n e

Exercises. As I walk the lanes of the campus, I see Mount St. James, its buildings, its beautiful grounds and its 170 years of dedicated teaching and learning as an extraordinary gift. It is the gift of a vibrant and flourishing community, gathered in a sacred and shared mission. At the core of this community are the faculty-scholars who orient us each day to the heart of that mission.

To come of age in our contemporary world is to exist with relentless global change, technological revolution and a deluge of media that continually changes one’s perception of reality. It is a world of beauty and excitement, but also a world of violence, war and oppression. It is a world where critical analytical skills, the habit of thoughtful reflection, a compassionate heart and the courage to act are essential for effective global citizenship.

At Holy Cross our professors understand this. More importantly, they understand exactly why this unique community on the Hill matters in today’s world. They respect the precious nature of the developing minds with which they have been entrusted. Our College is blessed with educators who see their work as a vocation or calling. It is a calling to think, to connect, to edify and to lead. Over the past 19 months, I have witnessed this community of educators engaged in this work through meetings with individual departments and department chairs and in observing the faculty in various settings as they interact with students. In reading sabbatical reports, attending lectures and panels, and celebrating professional milestones and achievements, I see their excitement, observe them dealing with probing questions and note their concern when a student is struggling. I am privileged to work with committed academics who are, in the Ignatian tradition, “women and men for and with others” who directly and indirectly help our students “find God in all things.”

To live out one’s love of learning is to live in a place of continual intellectual

curiosity and renewal. Whatever their fields of inquiry, our faculty are lifelong learners who witness to the fact that scholarship informs teaching, just as teaching can influence the trajectory of scholarship. In their research, our faculty demonstrate to our students the value and thrill of discovering the depth of our own interiorities by exploring the breadth of our world through the study of particular disciplines and questions.

Further, when faculty engage each other across disciplines, they stimulate our students’ imaginations, helping them see the world differently and guiding them toward greater depth and coherence.

Their work as educators is vital because at its heart it leads to the transformation of our world through the transformation of each student.

Further, in an overly individualized world, the various intellectual and activist communities at Holy Cross help our students to see the liberating power of committed groups striving for the common good. Through communitybased learning, immersion trips, study abroad and international travel, faculty help our students discern their own vocations within a global context.

In any profession or lifestyle, managing one’s priorities while responding to the multiple needs and expectations of others is a daunting task. For faculty, the critical relationship between research and teaching typically leads to their own unique expression of being “contemplatives in action.” The quiet and reflection necessary for careful research and the creation of knowledge, the discipline and commitment needed to produce articulate and inviting texts and performances, and the ability to communicate this knowledge in ways that excite emergent scholars is a mission that necessitates ongoing discernment. Their lives become even more challenging when combined with the work of advising and mentoring students, participating in faculty committees and professional associations, supporting campus cocurriculars and projects as well as sustaining the ever-present realities of family and civic life.

Nonetheless, in the midst of these competing demands, faculty cherish the opportunity to conduct research because it engages their minds and hearts, rekindling the excitement and satisfaction that first called them to the scholarly life. Bringing that research into the classroom conveys to our students the value, importance and scope of one’s field of study in a particularly dynamic fashion.

Sharing one’s discoveries, insights and breakthroughs with undergraduates brings distinctive and lasting rewards of its own—not the least of which is introducing the next generation of academics to the joys of research, scholarship and lifelong learning. Our professors demonstrate to our students that there are multiple ways to seek answers and that we must always be willing to refine our answers as ongoing intellectual discourse and engagement lead us to new understanding and new questions.

Whether shining a light on the complexities of quantum physics, or unpacking the multiple meanings of a medieval text, or conducting a dress rehearsal, the faculty at Holy Cross are driven by an inextinguishable sense of wonder and an inherent desire to instill in students an intellectual passion that will forever broaden their lives and stimulate their imaginations. As president of the College of the Holy Cross, it is a gift to work with such dynamic and dedicated colleagues who push the boundaries of knowledge and learning with enormous creativity and generosity.

In the limited space of the 2013 President’s Report, it would be impossible to include each outstanding teacher, every inspiring study and the hundreds of exciting stories to be told about exploration and discovery at Holy Cross. Instead, we must try to capture the brilliance and devotion of our distinguished faculty through examples that reflect the greater whole.

Overall faculty excellence is evident in the generous support our professors receive from prestigious private and government corporations and foundations—funding essential

to developing and maintaining our outstanding academic program. Holy Cross research is currently sponsored by more than $2 million in grants from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the Fulbright Program, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the George I. Alden Trust, the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation and other benefactors in the public and private sector—including our very loyal and generous alumni, parents and friends.

The sciences are well funded at Holy Cross, including recent substantial grants for the groundbreaking work of Richard Schmidt (psychology) on children with autism through the National Institutes of Health and Kenneth Mills (chemistry) for his research on protein splicing from the National Science Foundation. Holy Cross faculty have long been singled

“OUR COLLEGE IS BLESSED WITH EDUCATORS WHO SEE THEIR WORK AS A VOCATION OR CALLING. IT IS A CALLING TO THINK, TO CONNECT, TO EDIFY AND TO LEAD.” out for exceptional scholarship and creative ability in the arts, including five prestigious Guggenheim awards over the last 15 years recognizing Osvaldo Golijov (music), Todd Lewis (religious studies), Leila Philip (English), Sarah Stanbury (English) and Robert ParkeHarrison (formerly visual arts).

In another expression of excellence, Holy Cross honors outstanding accomplishments by its professors at the annual Celebration of Faculty Scholarship. Averaging the last five years of these celebrations, Holy Cross faculty have been honored for producing 20 books, 140 journal articles, 48 peer reviews and 20 exhibits, productions and performances each year.

While such statistics attest to faculty distinction, the following profiles offer a personal look at the brilliance and quality of our community of scholars on Mount St. James. ■ Fall 2 0 1 3

23

PRO F ESSOR

DAVID DAMIANO

The Computational Collaborator

DEP A RT M E N T O F M A THE M ATI C S A ND C OM PUTE R S CIENCE FACULTY MEMBER SINCE 1984 BS Mathematics, Dartmouth College • PhD Mathematics, Brown University dan vaillancourt

and data—sets David Damiano apart as a teacher and a researcher. Over the past year, he and his students have begun a new study of pre-clinical images of cancers.

Damiano and a student researcher are analyzing high-quality images of their test subjects—mice with tumors—provided

by Holy Cross alumnus and mathematics major Jack Hoppin ’98, who took a seminar with Damiano in his junior year on the Hill.

After earning a Ph.D. at the University of Arizona in applied mathematics, Hoppin went on to co-found inviCRO, LLC, which provides the growing field of molecular imaging with information processing and data analysis. Now, 15 years after his Holy Cross graduation, he is helping Damiano and his current students to be actively involved in work that offers new knowledge to the medical community while providing important research experiences and career opportunities to students.

The benefits of this Holy Cross network are many. Deirdre Scully ’11 and Jaime Tierney ’12 have been hired by inviCRO, while other students have gone on to careers in medicine and related fields.

Last summer, Melissa McGuirl ’15 (left) began working with these mouse images.

Using computational topology (one of Damiano’s areas of expertise) in blind tests, Damiano and McGuirl search for changes in tumors, comparing mice receiving medical treatment with those given a placebo.

“One advantage of the scans is that the mouse needn’t be sacrificed,” says Damiano, who earned the 2012 Distinguished Teaching Award for demonstrated commitment to making ideas come alive for students. “It can be studied over time because there is no need to cut it open to distinguish between the treatment group and the control group. This work is helping to determine the efficacy of drugs to treat these tumors.”

Opportunities such as this are exciting and challenging for veteran and fledgling researchers alike.

“It’s different from a typical math class,” Damiano says. “You are in a situation where you don’t know the answer. We’re in a discovery mode—and when it comes to learning, the more we can be in discovery mode, the better.” ■

d a n v a illa n cour t

f i n d i n g a n d d e v e lo p i n g r e l a t i o n s h i p s —among people

ASSI STANT PRO FESSO R

ANDRÉ ISAACS ’05 The Career Crusader DE PA R TM E NT OF C HE M I STRY FACULTY MEMBER SINCE 2012 BA Chemistry, College of the Holy Cross • PhD Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania h o ly c r o s s i s a c o m m u n i t y of scholars. Close-knit connections

are especially reflected in Crusaders who come to the Hill as stellar students and return as distinguished faculty. Holy Cross faculty alumni include Melissa Boyle ’00 (economics), Thomas Cecil ’68 (mathematics and computer science), Daniel DiCenso ’98 (music), Joshua Farrell ’94 (chemistry), Ericka Fisher ’96 (education), Lisa Fluet ’96 (English), Timothy Joseph ’98 (classics), Steven Levandosky ’92 (mathematics and computer science), Edward O’Donnell ’86 (history) and Mary Roche ’90 (religious studies).

That list also includes André Isaacs ’05. Arriving from Jamaica, he quickly found a home—and a passion—in a Holy Cross chemistry lab. He returned to the College last year to launch his own lab.

Isaacs specializes in synthetic organic chemistry and research related to the treatment of cancer, among other goals. He feels a special affinity for his Holy Cross students, who are not far behind him in their academic trajectory.

“For me, that’s a very powerful place to be, walking these grounds and remembering what it was like to be that student,” he says. “It puts me in a perfect place to understand the preparation they need to pursue their careers.”

Today, Isaacs has an office next door to his former adviser, Kevin Quinn, whom he credits as mentor and friend. Another of his former professors, Ron Jarret, was the first to encourage him to pursue organic chemistry.

Jarret has since welcomed him warmly back to the fold. “With the support and network I built here, I couldn’t imagine going anywhere else,” Isaacs says. “As a student, these people were with me, all along the way, and they continue to support me now.” Meanwhile, Isaacs pays it forward with the next generation of Crusaders. ■ Fall 2 0 1 3

25

ASS I ST AN T P R OF E SSOR

REV. JOHN GAVIN, S.J. The Jesuit Scholar

D EPA RT M E N T O F R E L I G I O US STUD I E S

FACULTY MEMBER SINCE 2011

BA Russian, Boston College • MA Philosophy, Fordham University • MDiv Theology, Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley • Doctorate in Sacred Theology (STD), Patristic Institute Augustinianum, Rome

a t h r e e - y e a r m e m b e r of the faculty, Rev. John Gavin,

S.J., is thrilled with the support new faculty receive at Holy Cross, including special workshops, get-togethers and mentoring.

“From the start, you are being formed into an excellent teacher,” he says.

This year he takes a further step toward excellence through a junior research leave, an opportunity offered to tenure-track faculty to focus on professional research at full salary. Leaves are typically granted to assistant professors in the fall or spring semester of their third year of teaching. In the past five years, Holy Cross has underwritten 47 semester-long junior leaves.

With his focus on late ancient and early medieval Christianity, Fr. Gavin plans to write extensively during his time away from the classroom. Supported by both Holy Cross and the Jesuit Community, he will be able to undertake a yearlong leave,

during which he will write a book on John Scottus Eriugena, an important intellectual and mystic during the later years of the Carolingian Renaissance in the 9th century.

“Eriugena means ‘born in Ireland’ in Greek,” Fr. Gavin explains. “Scottus means ‘Irishman’ in Latin. Thus, his name is ‘John the Irishman.’ ” John the Irishman is one of the few among the Western European scholars of his time to have had the ability to read Greek. That remarkable skill allowed him access to the Greek Christian theological tradition, which was almost entirely unknown in the West. He produced Latin translations of several works that otherwise would have been inaccessible to his contemporaries.

As part of this junior leave, Fr. Gavin will present some of his research findings at a conference in Denmark next August.

HOW THE COLLEGE SUPPORTS ITS FACULTY t h e c o l l e g e ’ s c o m m i t m e n t to supporting

patrick o’connor

He will also produce a second book on early Christian commentary on the Lord’s Prayer, for which he has already produced a conference paper.

“My peers at other institutions say, ‘You’ve got a what?’ when I tell them I will have a yearlong leave,” he says. “The junior leave really emphasizes the commitment to scholarly excellence found at Holy Cross.”

Fr. Gavin admits he will miss the Holy Cross community, his classes and his work with campus ministry. The time away, however, will enrich his entire career as well as his students and colleagues.

“I couldn’t do all these things with depth and attention otherwise, and some projects wouldn’t see completion for years,” he says. “But with a junior leave, it’s really possible to accomplish some remarkable things.” ■

faculty in their careers is demonstrated in many ways.

Holy Cross makes available to new tenure-track faculty start-up funds to help them begin their careers. New faculty in the sciences receive, on average, $75,000 in lab equipment and supplies to help establish their research program. In the humanities and social sciences, new faculty have access to a $2,000 faculty development account that can be used for a variety of purposes including research travel and supplies, membership fees in professional societies, and books and subscriptions.

Faculty can also benefit from competitive internal grants and awards, summer fellowships and support for participation at conferences. In 2011–12, Holy Cross awarded nearly $150,000 in internal grants, awards and summer faculty fellowships and supported more than $240,000 of conference travel expenses. Over the past five years, the College has provided five full-year and 19 semester-long faculty fellowships, which are highly competitive research awards.

In addition to the junior research leaves that professors like Fr. Gavin enjoy (see story, left), traditional sabbatical leaves provide generous time and support for scholarly pursuits after six years of service. A sabbatical can be taken for one semester at full pay or for a year at 80 percent—although, depending on outside grant support, it can be as much as 100 percent. In the past five years, 96 full-year and 28 semester-long sabbaticals have been taken by professors at Holy Cross.

Such generous support benefits teachers, students and the world of knowledge. “It feeds the quality of teaching, and an interest and enthusiasm for our fields sets students on fire, too,” Fr. Gavin says. “Interaction in the classroom, in turn, inspires ideas for how I read and approach texts.

Holy Cross really is a leader in the way it fosters teaching and scholarship.” ■ Fall 2 0 1 3

27

pat r ick o’con n or

“

THE REV. JOHN E. BROOKS, S.J. CHAIR IN THE HUMANITIES

LYNN KREMER The Global Artist

DE P A RT M E NT O F TH E A TR E FACULTY MEMBER SINCE 1983 BA German, University of Minnesota • BFA Theatre, University of Minnesota • MFA Theatre/Acting, Brandeis University

p l a y w r i g h t a n d d i r e c t o r Lynn Kremer has not

only been invited to present her work in a highly acclaimed international arts festival, but also to bring along a troupe of Holy Cross collaborators on her Indonesian adventure.

Kremer’s multimedia dance drama, “Shackled Spirits,” staged at last summer’s 35th annual Bali Arts Festival, was a “tour de force” and “best performance of the year,” according to The Jakarta Post.

The show impressed critics and audiences alike, inspiring rapt attention where the cultural norm includes chatting, whispering and commentary during public events. Thirteen current or former Holy Cross students and two middle school students took part in this Southeast Asian premiere performed with professional Balinese dancer-actors and musicians and a traditional gamelan orchestra. Kremer’s play, created with Balinese collaborators Made Wianta, I Made Bandem and Ni Luh Suasthi Bandem, debuted on the Holy Cross campus in 2012. “ ‘Shackled Spirits’ addresses the topic of mental illness,” Kremer explains. “The central character was inspired by writer Pramoedya Ananta Toer and others jailed in Indonesia for their political beliefs.” Her protagonist, held captive in a mental health facility, recreates memories, fantasies and dreams that are brought to life on stage.

Four years ago, another original Kremer musical drama, “Mimpi,” premiered at the 2009 Bali Arts Festival. For both 28

holy cross m aga zi n e

festivals, Holy Cross provided the only performance originating in the United States.

Kremer has seen her work performed around the world, including venues in New York City, Minneapolis, Boston, Fort Worth, Chicago, Washington, D.C., and Ireland. Her “Journeys Through Imaginary Landscapes” enjoyed two month-long residencies at the Smithsonian Institute and several performances at The Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, while “Crawl Space” and “The Separate Prison: A Jazz Opera” have been presented at the Boston Center for the Arts.

Supported by numerous grants and awards from the National Endowment for the Arts, the New England Foundation for the Arts, the Massachusetts Cultural Commission, the Worcester Arts Lottery, the LEF Foundation, the Cambridge Multicultural Arts Center and Holy Cross, Kremer has collaborated with Holy Cross faculty, students and professional performers through the years. In 1992, with a grant from the Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence Fund (and using borrowed gamelan instruments and costumes), Holy Cross launched its Balinese Music, Theatre and Dance Program.

“The success of the trial year with our Fulbright Scholar, Pak Cerita, encouraged us to purchase a set of gamelan instruments and costumes and to begin teaching students on a regular basis with a second grant from the Henry Luce Foundation,” Kremer says. “The Luce Grant provided a full-time artist in residence and

pa t r ick o’con n or

FACULTY IN THE MEDIA h o ly c r o s s p r o f e s s o r s don’t just share their knowledge with

their students and their peers, they are also called upon by national and global media to comment as experts on a variety of important topics. In fact, the College recognizes faculty, staff and administrators who give their time and expertise to represent Holy Cross in the media each year at the annual Headliners celebration. Here are just a few examples of the Holy Cross faculty who have been tapped for media duty in recent months:

patrick o’connor

an annual program budget.” In its Luce grant proposal, the College agreed to establish a permanent rotating faculty position in Balinese music, theatre and dance. The outstanding results are evident in required year-end reports to the Foundation, which highlight a multitude of activities, such as Holy Cross’ first-ever international conference dedicated to Balinese performing arts.

Locally, Kremer’s Balinese arts program benefits area elementary, middle and high schools through a series of lectures and demonstrations.

She enjoys partnering with community groups as well as her protégés at Holy Cross, each of whom brings unique gifts and talents to her productions.

Using imagination, expertise and the magic of Bali, Kremer shares her love of drama, dance and music with an international audience while deeply enriching the performing arts at Holy Cross.

“Clearly the success of the Balinese music, theatre and dance program reaches beyond the campus,” Kremer says. “Students are enriched by classes and performances—and Holy Cross has gained international stature for a unique and successful program led by top artists.” ■

“Test scores are insidiously taking hold in policy discourse and among the public as a perfectly acceptable measure of quality. They aren’t. And, as such, it is our job not only to resist narrow and simplistic measures of educational quality, but to demand access to the data we really need—information that allows us to make thoughtful decisions about our schools.” —Assistant Professor of education j a c k s c h n e i d e r (above) writing in The Washington Post about why two reform movements in education—choice and accountability—have fallen short “I see it, as do many of my colleagues, as a bit of a no-brainer. When we are so concerned about education in the United States and around the world, why would we not pay attention to this? It’s just always been illogical.” — Teen sleep researcher and psychology Professor a m y w o l f s o n , on the benefits of later high school start times in an article in The Salt Lake (City) Tribune “The question is whether in one sense we can develop a free market that respects human dignity and human rights. I think what [Pope] Francis is forcing us to do is ask tough questions about what we need or think we need, especially when people are living in slums and going hungry.”

—Associate Professor of religious studies m a t h e w s c h m a l z on CNBC’s “The Kudlow Report,” discussing the pope’s view on free market and capitalist systems “We look at things like gross domestic product for the city, employment for the city, taxes collected during the month—any sort of data we can get our hands on and time and time again we just don’t see these big bumps that are being claimed. Basically, you’ve replaced your normal visitors with sports fans. If you don’t count out that crowding-out effect, then you’re going to get a good estimate of the gross impact of an event.”

—Economics Professor v i c t o r m a t h e s o n on WABE, Atlanta’s NPR station, explaining why estimates of the local impact of major sporting events like the Final Four are usually exaggerated ■ Fall 2 0 1 3

29

ASSO CI AT E P R OF E SSOR

MARY EBBOTT The Epic Explorer

CH A IR O F T H E CL A SS I CS DE PAR TM E NT FACULTY MEMBER SINCE 2001 AB Classical Languages, Bryn Mawr College • MA Classical Philology, Harvard University • PhD Classical Philology, Harvard University

dan vaillancourt

m a r y e b b o t t has made a name for

herself—and Holy Cross—by uncovering new understandings and interpretations of some of the world’s oldest stories. By studying the earliest existing version of the ancient Greek epic poem, Homer’s Iliad, she provides fresh insights that enrich scholars around the globe.

Her roots in the project are broad and deep. She is the co-editor of the Homer Multitext project, supported by the Center for Hellenic Studies at Harvard University, and she serves as executive editor at the Center for Hellenic Studies in Washington, D.C. She and collaborator Casey Dué of the University of Houston have been awarded a three-year grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities to create a digital edition of the oldest complete existing manuscript of the Iliad, known as the Venetus A. Their goal is to publish its digital edition by 2016, working with a text that preserves centuries of scholarship.

“This 10th-century CE Byzantine manuscript that now resides in the Biblioteca Marciana in Venice is a deluxe scholarly manuscript of the epic, which includes copious marginal commentaries called scholia,” she explains. Scholia record commentary from three important scholars and critics of the Homeric epics, all of whom were heads of the famed Library of Alexandria in the third and second centuries BCE. “This manuscript is of the utmost importance for the study of the Iliad, and our digital edition will be the first to include all of its contents,” Ebbott notes.

Ebbott works continuously on a number of fronts: collaborating with Dué on a related article accepted for publication in a collection of essays on pioneering scholars who demonstrated the oral, traditional nature of Homer’s work; writing a chapter, “Homeric Song in Performance,” for a reference work on Homer expected to be published by Cambridge University Press in 2015; and planning a talk, “Rethinking the Role of Editors in the Homer Multitext,” for a panel on textual criticism and digital humanities at the Society for Biblical Literature in November.

While delving into this research, Ebbott and her classics colleagues guide budding scholars all along the way.

Over the past two years, four Holy Cross

classics majors have been selected for the prestigious and highly competitive Posters on the Hill event, hosted by the Council for Undergraduate Research, a national organization of 565 colleges and universities that focuses on undergraduate research opportunities.

Last summer, Ebbott and Holy Cross Associate Professor of classics D. Neel Smith mentored seven Holy Cross students working on the Homer Multitext. One team of student researchers, Debbie Sokolowski ’14, Nik Churik ’15 and Brian Clark ’15, became fellows in the Holy Cross 2013 Mellon Summer Research Program, working on a digital edition of Book 9 of the Iliad. Stephanie Lindeborg ’13 and Neil Curran ’14, both Mellon Summer Research veterans, worked as paid researchers by Harvard University’s Center for Hellenic Studies (CHS), updating the digital edition of Iliad Book 4. Chris Ryan ’16 and Alex Simrell ’16 took part in a two-week CHS workshop, learning the editing process and producing the digital edition of Iliad Book 10.

Partnering with students and peers in these explorations of ancient heroes is deeply gratifying to Ebbott.

“Collaboration is the norm in both the natural sciences and the social sciences, but it can still seem elusive in the humanities,” she says. “The Homer Multitext gives me the opportunity not only to collaborate with other researchers, both in classics and in other fields, but also with our students, who are making independent discoveries and contributions to the project. The sense that we are bringing new ideas and methods to our field, not just new tools, is also very satisfying.”

She believes the sense of discovery and excitement is endemic to Holy Cross classrooms, across the disciplines.

“The Greek word ἀρετή (aretē) is sometimes translated simply as excellence or virtue, but it really means the effort of striving for excellence,” she says.

“Excellence can never be static—you don’t achieve it at some point and then you are done. So the many faculty at Holy Cross who are constantly striving for excellence, by working toward breakthroughs in their research and by always searching for better ways to teach their disciplines—that is what constitutes faculty excellence to me.” ■ Fall 2 0 1 3

31

laffey

mills

isser

HOLY CROSS IS THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS each year, the college

recognizes faculty excellence with three honors: two Mary Louise Marfuggi Faculty Awards and the Holy Cross Distinguished Teaching Award.

Alice Laffey, associate professor of religious studies, received this year’s Marfuggi Faculty Award for Academic Advisement, which honors faculty who have demonstrated effective academic advisement and mentorship of students that was extraordinary in quality and sustained at least three years. Laffey has been a member of the faculty since 1981.

Kenneth Mills, associate professor and chair of the chemistry department, who has taught at Holy Cross since 2001, received this year’s Marfuggi Faculty Award for Outstanding Scholarship, which is given to a faculty member with an exemplary record of scholarship and distinguished achievement in the creation of an original work in the arts and sciences.

Edward Isser, professor and chair of the theatre department and a member of the faculty since 1995, received the 2013 Distinguished Teaching Award.

With more than six decades of Holy Cross teaching experience under their belts, these professors shared the reasons that Mount St. James has been the best match for them in their careers.

32

holy cross m aga zi n e

“Holy Cross has the right combination of the elements I value in higher education.

It has intelligent, accomplished and committed faculty; it has bright, curious and hard-working students; it has a strong commitment to the liberal arts; it has a philosophy that values educating the whole person—mind and body and spirit— and a mission that educates students to want to, and to be able to, make a difference in the world. When I travel to professional meetings and my colleagues from other schools and I discuss the strengths and weaknesses of our respective institutions, I am always happy to come home.” — a l i c e l a f f e y “Holy Cross is a wonderful place to combine modern research with teaching.

Our talented undergraduate students are the future of STEM (science, technology, engineering, math), and Holy Cross chemistry consistently places in the top five of liberal arts colleges that produce future Ph.D.s in chemistry. I enjoy being part of that developmental process, providing my students with many of the experiences and expectations of graduate students in a nurturing environment, including top-notch facilities in the Integrated Science Complex and the opportunity to present at national meetings and publish as my co-authors in top peer-reviewed journals. At the

same time, I enjoy the classroom and teaching lab, including my intermediate biochemistry class, my introductory chemistry classes with our integrated, guided inquiry/lab-based curriculum, and my Montserrat seminars on drugs and bioethics. Holy Cross is the best of both worlds.” — k e n n e t h m i l l s “It is an exciting time to be teaching in the performing arts at Holy Cross and to be part of what promises to be a major transformation in the life of the College. The magnificent $25 million gift from Neil Prior ’56 to create a performing arts center; the Brooks Concert Hall renovation; and a major grant from the Mellon Foundation to support arts programming illustrate the dynamics of the situation. The theatre department is always a wonderful beehive of activity and energy. This summer was pretty typical: We sent half of our majors off to Bali to perform at an international arts festival and the other half spent a month in London studying British theatre.

Education is always a collaborative process between teachers and students, but nothing demands more collaboration than the production of theatre—we prize these opportunities to work with students outside the limits imposed by the classroom and academic calendar.”

— e dw a r d i ss e r ■ photos by matthew atanian

P RO F ESSOR

DANIEL BITRAN The Brain Researcher DE P A RT M EN T O F P SY C H O LOGY FACULTY MEMBER SINCE 1992 BA Psychology, Queens College, City University New York • PhD Experimental Psychology, State University of New York at Buffalo patrick o’connor

among his many responsibilities,

neuroscientist Daniel Bitran coordinates the nine-week Holy Cross Summer Science Research Program. These sought-after opportunities are supported by private donors and profit and notfor-profit organizations, including the Beckman Scholars program, the Clare Booth Luce Scholarships for women in the physical sciences and other faculty-secured grants.

“Summer is the time to focus on my research program,” says Bitran, who studies psychiatric disorders. “There are fewer competing demands on my time in contrast to the academic year.”

Bitran is interested in understanding how various psychiatric disorders, including anxiety, depression and schizophrenia, are represented in altered brain function. He has published nearly 40 papers on the effects of gonadal steroids, or sex hormones, on brain function and behavior.

His most current research project involves experiments aimed at understanding how antipsychotic drugs exert their beneficial clinical effects. Although all of Bitran’s work involves rodent models of psychiatric disorders, his research has broad implications for furthering the understanding of how pharmaceutical agents work to alleviate psychiatric symptoms of mental disorders and, in so doing, shedding light on the biological basis of mental disorders.

Each summer a number of students in the Holy Cross research program expand upon this important work. “The undergraduate research students are the engine that drives the research in my lab throughout the years,” he says.

This year 69 students worked on a variety of research projects under the supervision of 30 faculty mentors from the departments of mathematics and computer science, physics, chemistry, biology

and psychology.

Simultaneously, Holy Cross sponsored the Mellon Summer Research Program. Funded by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, along with the generosity of other donors, it provides opportunities for students in the humanities and social sciences to collaborate with faculty on research projects, including classics professor Mary Ebbott’s Homer Multitext project (see story, Page 31), as well as sociology/anthropology instructor Daina Harvey’s work on documenting Worcester’s urban forest and philosophy Assistant Professor Kendy Hess’ research on corporate ethical responsibility.

Mellon Summer research director and political science Professor Daniel Klinghard reports that 32 students took part in these social science, humanities and arts projects. In addition, five economics and accounting students served as 2013 summer research assistants in an economics department program directed

by Assistant Professor Bryan Engelhardt.

On Sept. 6, the 20th Annual Undergraduate Summer Research Symposium brought together all of these projects, presenting a wealth of newly discovered innovation and knowledge. These projects also inspire new passions and potential careers among student researchers. Happily, these extraordinary opportunities increase year after year at Holy Cross.

“The growth of the summer research program at Holy Cross has been remarkable,” notes Bitran. “When I first joined the College in 1992, only a dozen or so students were able to conduct research during the summer. The potential for synergy between these programs promises to transform the way students and faculty in any academic discipline approach a scholarly interest and has the potential to promote cross-disciplinary questions of interest.” ■ Fall 2 0 1 3

33

d an v a illa n cour t

STEPHEN J. PRI O R PRO FESSO R O F HUMANITIES

MAURICE GÉRACHT

The International Pr ASSOCIATE P R O F E SSOR

ERICKA FISHER ’96 The Justice Seeker

DE P A RT ME N T O F E D U CA T I ON FACULTY MEMBER SINCE 2003 BA Sociology, College of the Holy Cross • MEd School Counseling, University of Massachusetts at Amherst • EdD Social Justice Education, University of Massachusetts at Amherst e r i c k a f i s h e r ’9 6, a native of Worcester, returned to Holy

Cross after studying counseling and social justice at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Drawn by Holy Cross’ mission for social justice, Fisher returned to express her desire to help Worcester schoolchildren, offering guidance counseling, career assessment, mentorship and tutoring with the help of current Holy Cross undergraduates.

“I came back to Holy Cross because I could do what I was called to do,” she says. “I consider teaching a calling just like the call to ministry. Social justice runs deep in my soul. I get to do everything I love—working with children and helping the community by working in the schools. Then I get to come back to campus and teach future teachers. It’s the full package here.”

Her scholarly research focuses on social and education issues, particularly multicultural education. In the great tradition of the College, she provides an inspirational spark to students, colleagues and community, successfully building bridges to create positive change. She serves as a strong advocate for the lives she touches, a viewpoint considered controversial by more traditional researchers.

“We have a duty to help our fellow people,” Fisher insists.

“Everything I do will be controversial because I’m fighting for children. I’m blessed with this position. I’m still the girl who grew up less than two miles from Holy Cross. That’s why I came back to Holy Cross to fight for and with Worcester’s children.” ■ 34

holy cross m aga zi n e

D E PA R TM E NT OF E N G LISH FACULTY MEMBER SINCE 1966 BA English Honors, City College of New York • MA English, University of Wisconsin • PhD English/ American literature, French literature minor, University of Wisconsin

h o ly c r o s s f a c u lt y bring deep devotion—and often

p atrick o’co nnor

rofessor

international acclaim—to their educational mission on the Hill.

This summer, for example, Maurice Géracht drew scholars and researchers from around the world to campus for the 2013 International Word and Image conference, “Re-Readings and ReViewings of Sacred/Archetypal Narratives in Literature and the Arts.”

In a related role, Géracht edits the publication Interfaces, a bilingual French-English illustrated journal about language and image that mirrors the goals of his conference. The publication has been recognized by the Council of Editors of Learned Journals with its 2011 Parnassus Award for Significant Editorial Achievement.

“The journal and the conference focus on the dividing line—the interface—between language and image, two means of expression different and yet inseparable,” Géracht explains. “The interface is further complicated when the image moves and speaks, such as in the cinema, videos or theatre. The interface between language and the static image still remains, its power enhanced by modern technology.”

Since 1999, Holy Cross has alternated hosting the prestigious Word and Image conference with France’s Université Paris Diderot and Université de Bourgogne. This year’s three plenary speakers, University Professor of English Paul Mariani of Boston College; Director of the Mead Art Museum Elizabeth E. Barker of Amherst College; and Liliane Louvel, Professeur émerite, U.F.R. Lettres Langues, of the Université de Poitiers, each addressed the issue of understanding the Resurrection, a common thread throughout the conference. Michael Phillips, scholar, print maker and fellow at the Center for Eighteenth Century Studies at the University of York, also mounted a special William Blake exhibit at the Cantor Art Gallery.

Bringing international scholars to Holy Cross is only half of the story, as Géracht has also brought Holy Cross to the world. For 18 years, he directed the Study Abroad Program, creating it from scratch to become one of the best in the country. When he stepped down in 2007, Holy Cross study abroad encompassed 26 programs in 19 countries. The office continues to expand, he says, including the addition of new short-term travel options.

With his remarkable 47-year history at the College, Géracht was the perfect choice to present the 2013 Richard Rodino Lecture on the Aims of the Liberal Arts, an annual talk that reaffirms the traditional Jesuit rigor, excellence and values of Holy Cross. He told his standing-room-only crowd his views on the critical qualities of that education: “We need to affirm and demonstrate that study of languages— classical, modern and our own—and mathematics and the social and natural sciences and the arts—are all not merely introductory ‘taste stations’ to disciplines they might later want to further explore, but are the Pleiades of experiences that will train their discernment— sharpen their critical thinking,” he said. “Students need to experience the connections between the natural sciences, and the humanities, and the fine arts, the connections they actually do have—and inherent in those connections, the essential fundamental human questions we always want considered.”

For generations now, Holy Cross students join scholars the world over in successfully launching new explorations, making critical connections and seeking answers to “essential, fundamental human questions” under the guidance of learned professor and international luminary Maurice Géracht. ■ Fall 2 0 1 3

35

HOLY CROSS HIGHLIGHTS OF THE YEAR ACADEMICS

IT’S EASY TO FORGET THE SHEER VOLUME OF EXCITING MILESTONES AND IMPORTANT EVENTS THAT HAPPEN IN JUST ONE YEAR ON THE HILL. HERE ARE THE HIGHLIGHTS OUR COMMUNITY EXPERIENCED IN THE LATEST FISCAL YEAR, FROM JUNE 2012 TO JULY 2013. ENJOY!

compiled by kim staley ’99

On May 24, the College celebrated its 167th Commencement, conferring degrees on 701 graduates before an audience of families, friends, Holy Cross faculty, administrators, staff and honored guests in the College’s Hart Center.

Holy Cross bestowed honorary degrees on SISTER JANET EISNER, S.N.D., president of Emmanuel College (Boston) and JACK D. REHM ’54, P88, 85, 81, philanthropist, influential media executive and former Trustee, who now serves on the College’s Advisory Board.

ANNE FADIMAN, acclaimed essayist, author and teacher also received an honorary degree and delivered this year’s Commencement address, and TRAVIS J. LACOUTER ’13, a political science and Catholic studies double major in the College Honors Program, gave the valedictory address.

Fourteen recent graduates were awarded prestigious Fulbright grants to study, teach or conduct research abroad—a record number in a single year for the College.

With 64 awards since 2004, Holy Cross is among the nation’s top producers of Fulbright scholars.

The College received the George I. Alden Trust’s Excellence in Career Related Undergraduate Education Award, which recognizes institutions that have best excelled in retaining, educating, graduating and placing students. Selected from among more than 100 private

36

holy cross m aga zi n e

colleges in the Northeast, Holy Cross will use the $500,000 award to help fund its Summer Research Program.

Holy Cross was awarded a $600,000, three-year Andrew W. Mellon Foundation grant, “Arts Transcending Borders at Holy Cross,” to support arts initiatives at the College.

In April, the College held its annual Academic Conference, a four-day event during which nearly 300 students presented the results of their independent research in the performing and visual arts, social sciences, humanities and physical sciences.

Holy Cross’ Teacher Education Program (TEP) announced it will offer a “Ninth Semester Option,” giving select TEP students—those who study abroad, start the program late or have scheduling conflicts—an additional semester to complete their student teaching requirement.

Nearly 120 students presented at the College’s 19th annual Undergraduate Summer Research Symposium, which featured posters of the cutting-edge research they conducted—both on and off campus—across a range of disciplines, including the sciences, humanities and social sciences and economics.

The annual Celebration of Faculty Scholarship recognized the College faculty for their more than 200 publications and for their numerous research grants, exhibitions, performances and

presentations.

ADMINISTRATION & STAFF On Sept. 14, 2012, the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, REV. PHILIP L. BOROUGHS, S.J., was installed as the College’s 32nd president (opposite).

Encompassing four days of events that included a reception for Worcester-area religious leaders, a faculty symposium, the celebration of Mass and the presidential installation, Fr. Boroughs’ inauguration affirmed the College’s proud Jesuit tradition and reflected the community’s enthusiastic support of its new leader.

at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh.

Worcester attorney VINCENT F. O’ROURKE JR. ’69, who has represented the College in various capacities since 1981 when he joined the local firm of Bowditch & Dewey, was named general counsel.

DEREK ZUCKERMAN joined the Office of Student Affairs as the associate dean for student life.

MICHELLE STERK BARRETT was named director of the Donelan Office of Community-Based Learning.

JANE CORR ’84 P13 joined the President’s Office as the special assistant to the president.

REV. JOHN E. BROOKS, S.J., ’49, who led Holy Cross through unprecedented growth and transition during his nearly quarter-century tenure as president, passed away on July 2, 2012 and was laid to rest at the Jesuit cemetery on campus.

MARGARET FREIJE, associate dean of the College, mathematics and computer science, was named interim vice president for academic affairs and dean of the College when TIMOTHY R. AUSTIN, who had held the post since 2006, left Holy Cross for a position

JUNE CARON, CHRISTINA FAIRBANKS, LINDA MACLELLAN, STEPHANIE OUTERSON and LINDA PAQUETTE received the 2012 Claire B. Burns Awards, presented to non-exempt employees who demonstrate, foster and promote the spirit of family at Holy Cross.

National Association of College and University Food Services.

GRETA KENNEY was hired as the coordinator of diversity leadership & education. Kenney, along with the Diversity Leadership Team led

by AMY WOLFSON, associate dean of the faculty and professor of psychology, helped launch the new diversity page on the College’s website.

ADMISSIONS Selected from 7,115 applicants, the Class of 2017 is composed of 725 students, with 51 percent male, 49 percent female and 24 percent AfricanAmerican, Latin American, Asian-American and Native American (ALANA) students, representing 37 states (plus Washington, D.C.) and five countries.

ALUMNI & FRIENDS The Holy Cross community of alumni, parents and friends set new standards for giving with a total of $26 million in gifts, and the Holy Cross Fund had a recordbreaking year, raising more than $9.3 million.

ROBERT H. HOLLEY JR., in physical plant/ environmental services, received the Rev. William J. O’Halloran, S.J., Award for non-exempt employees.

For the inauguration dinner created in honor of Fr. Boroughs, HOLY CROSS DINING received a Gold Prize in the Catering— Special Event category in the national Loyal E. Horton Dining Awards contest, which is sponsored by the

service company Atlantic Tele-Network, Inc., donated a record-setting $25 million to Holy Cross. His gift, the single largest commitment in the College’s history, will be used to enhance the arts with a new performance facility on campus.

CORNELIUS B. PRIOR JR. ’56, chair of the board of the telecommunications

RICHARD CONNOLLY JR. ’61, KARA DALLMAN ’87, PETER DECKERS, M.D., ’62, MARY CAHOON MCGINNITY ’77 and KATHERINE VOLK ’00 received the Sanctae Crucis Award, the highest nondegree recognition bestowed by the College.

Alumni giving reached 52.8 percent, the seventh year in a row that alumni participation was more than 50 percent, and four reunion classes—1953, 1963, 1973 and 1983—broke giving records.

More than 250 guests attended the Holy Cross Leadership Council of New York fundraising dinner, which honored EDWARD J. LUDWIG ’73, former chairman, president and CEO of Becton, Dickinson and Company. The event raised $300,025 for the Council’s Summer Internship Program.

The Holy Cross Alumni Fall 2 0 1 3

37

Association presented the In Hoc Signo Award, its highest honor, to CONSTANCE A. EAGAN ’81, BRIAN A. O’CONNELL ’71, DAVID J. MARTEL ’65, FRANCIS X. STANKARD ’53 and CYMETRA M. WILLIAMS ’03, in recognition of their service to alma mater.

In March, hundreds of alumni from 20 regional clubs across the United States participated in the third annual National Holy Cross Cares Day. It was one of the more than 200 alumni events that took place nationwide this year.

CASE (the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education) presented Holy Cross with a silver award in its District I Excellence contest. The College received the honor in the Annual Giving Programs category, for the “Holy Cross Fund 2012: I Love HC” campaign.

According to The Alumni Factor, Holy Cross is second among liberal arts schools and fifth overall in a new national ranking that examines how well colleges develop and shape their students, and what becomes of them after they graduate.

According to U.S. News and World Report, Holy Cross graduates are among the most loyal and satisfied in the country. The College ranks No. 9 in the nation for the number of alumni who make financial contributions to their alma maters.

ATHLETICS Women’s track and field team member STEPHANIE 38

Division I Academic Progress Rate Public Recognition Awards for posting multi-year APR scores in the top 10 percent of all squads in their respective sports.

OKPOEBO ’14 (above) took home Athlete of the Meet honors at the Patriot League outdoor championship in May, after winning both the 100-meter and 200-meter dash events.

The men’s baseball team swept a doubleheader at Army (2-0 and 11-9) to claim the first Patriot League regular season title in school history.

For the first time since 2006, Holy Cross men’s ice hockey received a national ranking

by USCHO (U.S. College Hockey Association). The team was ranked No. 20 after defeating Yale (54)—the eventual national champion—on Dec 30.

For the second year in a row, both the women’s basketball team and the women’s lacrosse team advanced to 2013 Patriot League championship games with impressive wins over the Colgate and American University squads, respectively.

The Crusader Athletics Fund celebrated a recordbreaking year with more than 2,500 donors giving a total of $987,000 in budgetenhancing support for all Crusader athletic programs.

Men’s golfer STEVEN ZYCHOWSKI ’13 qualified for the United States Amateur Championship for the second time in three years and finished at 162nd (tie) out of 310 golfers.

Holy Cross athletic teams posted an overall Graduation Success Rate of 98 percent—a tie for fifth place in the nation among Division I schools—and 20 teams achieved a perfect 100 percent graduation rate.

Eleven Holy Cross athletic teams received NCAA

holy cross m aga zi n e

ranked No. 20 in the nation

by U.S. Rowing—the first national ranking for the Crusaders since 2006.

CAMPUS The College completed a number of repair and renovation projects across campus, including improvements to the lighting and sound systems in St. Joseph Memorial Chapel, restoration of the Hart Center swimming pool and renovation of areas in the Hogan Campus Center.

Several campus residence halls were remodeled: Hanselman’s basement was renovated to create a seminar room to support the Monserrat program; the bridge and stairs leading to Alumni Hall were restored; and the windows in Ciampi Hall, the Jesuit residence, were replaced.

At Fenwick Hall, the Commencement Porch received a fresh coat of paint, and windows, once bricked over to prevent light from entering the Fenwick Theatre, were replaced with faux windows.

In May, baseball player JORDAN ENOS ’13 earned Patriot League Player of the Year and Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors, and his teammate JOHN COLELLA ’13 (above) was named the Patriot League Pitcher of the Year.

After placing third in the third-level final at the Eastern Sprints, the men’s rowing varsity eight was

Holy Cross is ranked No. 37 in a new list of the country’s “Most Connected Colleges,” according to U.S. News and World Report.

Due to the influx of wireless Internet traffic on the Hill, the College upgraded its IT system to support new highspeed network equipment.

Holy Cross implemented a single-stream recycling system, making it easier to recycle and increasing the amount recycled.

The College also began

composting all food waste from Kimball Dining Hall and improved its carbon reduction by 41 percent from its 2007 baseline level.

Holy Cross was recognized as one of the most environmentally responsible colleges in the United States and Canada, according to the Princeton Review, which included the College in its “Guide to 322 Green Colleges.”

With a gold and grand prize in the Loyal E. Horton Dining Awards contest, Holy Cross’ Science Café was recognized by the National Association of College and University Food Services as one of the best college dining spots in the country.

COMMUNITY

In April, FR. BOROUGHS took 12 students on a behind-the-scenes tour of the Worcester Art Museum.

It was the pilot for a larger program, in which he will visit Worcester’s cultural institutions with small groups of first-year students.

The student-led Working for Worcester project brought together more than 500 students and community members for a day of service. Organized

by JEFFREY REPPUCCI

’14, the volunteer effort resulted in $60,000 worth of improvements to 12 recreational sites across the city, including playgrounds, community gardens and basketball courts.

Through a new program, members of the Holy Cross community—faculty, staff, alumni and friends— provided more than 1,300 Worcester children with tickets, free of charge, to Holy Cross’ 2012 seasonopening football game against UNH under the lights at Fitton Field.

For 90 minutes each week, Holy Cross students tutored students from Worcester’s North and South high schools in a retrofitted school bus equipped with the latest technology. In this “mobile learning lab,” the students and tutors worked in pairs on an SAT prep curriculum and college readiness skills.

Sponsored by Holy Cross’ Cures for Kids, in conjunction with Sherry’s House, a Worcester-based organization providing support to children and families battling childhood cancer, the Holy Cross baseball team hosted its second annual Pediatric Cancer Awareness Day at Fitton Field.

In March, the College was named to the 2013 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for its strong institutional commitment to service and partnerships that produce measurable results for the community.

The Crusader men’s ice

t h e p r e s i de n t ’ s r e p or t 2011-2012

hockey team held its fourth annual “Pink the Rink” game in the Hart Center. With more than 2,000 people in attendance, the event raised more than $8,500 for PINK Revolution, a Worcesterbased breast cancer charity.

Through the College’s Donelan Office of Community-Based Learning, students in AMANDA LUYSTER’s Introduction to Visual Arts course collaborated with Worcester’s South High School to produce a virtual tour of selected pieces at the Worcester Art Museum for smartphones, tablets and computers.

Thanks to the partnership between the city of Worcester and Holy Cross, the 12,000-square-foot Worcester Common Oval skate rink was open to the public for Lunch Time Skating on Wednesdays and Thursdays during the month of December.

The Holy Cross women’s basketball program held its second “Get Fit with the Crusaders Day” in the Hart Center. Nearly 2,000 third- through eighth-grade students from Worcester’s public schools participated in the event, which focused on health, nutrition and physical fitness.

FACULTY

KENNETH MILLS, associate professor and chair of the chemistry department, received the Mary Louise Marfuggi Faculty Award for Outstanding Scholarship for his recent contributions to his field, including three collaborative articles and

research that has resulted in grants from the National Science Foundation.

ALICE LAFFEY, associate professor of religious studies, received the Mary Louise Marfuggi Faculty Award for Academic Advisement, in recognition of her role as teacher, adviser and mentor to countless Holy Cross students over the years.

EDWARD ISSER, professor and chair of the theatre department, received the College’s Distinguished Teaching Award, which is bestowed on a faculty member who has demonstrated commitment to making ideas come alive for students both in and out of the classroom.

SUSAN RODGERS, the W. Arthur Garrity Sr. Professor in Human Nature, Ethics and Society, traveled with three students to Bali and Malaysia to learn about ikat history and production and, with them, co-curated a Cantor Art Gallery exhibition, Transnational Ikat: An Asian Textile on the Move.

In recognition of their dedication to scholarship and classroom excellence, 13 Holy Cross professors received tenure: ANDREA Fall 2 0 1 3 2

39

BORGHINI, philosophy; JEFFREY C. DIXON, sociology and anthropology; DEBRA GETTELMAN, English; JUMI HAYAKI, psychology; CYNTHIA V. HOOPER, history; TIMOTHY A. JOSEPH, classics; DAVID KARMON, visual arts; SARA GRAN MITCHELL, biology; JENNIE GERMANN MOLZ, sociology and anthropology; STEPHANIE J. REENTS, English; THIBAUT SCHILT, modern languages and literatures; BIANCA R. SCULIMBRENE, chemistry; and SUSAN CRAWFORD SULLIVAN, sociology and anthropology.

Six faculty members were promoted to the rank of professor: VICTOR MATHESON, economics; SHAWN LISA MAURER, English; PAIGE REYNOLDS, English; CATHERINE ROBERTS, mathematics; DENISE SCHAEFFER, political science; and STEPHANIE YUHL, history.

OSVALDO GOLIJOV, Loyola Professor of Music and composer, held the prestigious Richard and Barbara Debs Composer’s Chair at Carnegie Hall in New York, where, in November and December, he 40

guided the citywide Voices from Latin America festival.

Professor TAT-SIONG BENNY LIEW, who comes to the College from the Pacific School of Religion where he was a faculty member and its interim academic vice president and dean, was appointed the new Class of 1956 Chair in New Testament Studies.

worldwide media turned to Holy Cross faculty for comment, including MATHEW SCHMALZ, associate professor of religious studies, and REV. THOMAS WORCESTER, S.J., professor of history, who offered their insights to FOX25 News Boston, The Washington Post and NECN, among others.

Theatre Professor LYNN KREMER was named the Rev. John E. Brooks, S.J. Chair in the Humanities for a three-year term.

Three faculty members received the Raymond J. Swords, S.J. Faculty Medal for 25 or more years of service to the College: PATRICIA KRAMER, psychology; CLAUDIA ROSS, modern languages and literatures; and SUSAN SCHMIDT, visual arts.

MEDIA In a Worcester Business Journal feature, FR. BOROUGHS discussed his first months as Holy Cross’ president and commented on the value of a liberal arts education as well as the College’s financial aid policies.

In a Sunday Worcester Telegram & Gazette article, Fr. Boroughs touched upon several topics, including the game-changing gift from CORNELIUS B. PRIOR JR. ’56 to construct and fund a performing arts facility at the College.

Following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI and the subsequent appointment of Pope Francis, the

holy cross m aga zi n e

of Education) with a 2013 Circle of Excellence Award in the Media Relations category for “The Holy Cross Fraternity” campaign. The campaign, which included a series of events on and off campus, broadcast interviews and feature stories, earned the bronze award, making Holy Cross one of only four institutions in the world—and one of just two in the United States— recognized in this category.

Holy Cross ranked 20th on Forbes’ list of “America’s Top Liberal Arts Colleges,” and it ranked 25th on Kiplinger’s Personal Finance’s “The Kiplinger 100: Best Value in Private Colleges” list.

ANDREW COOK ’15, who ran his first Boston Marathon in April and crossed the finish line just minutes before the bombs exploded, shared his experience with NECN/ Channel 3 and Worcester Magazine. He also wrote a Holy Cross blog post about the many runners and emergency responders who acted heroically that day.

Faculty members continued to share their expertise with the media. Economics Professor VICTOR MATHESON appeared in such outlets as Bloomberg Businessweek and CNN, and Assistant Professor of education JACK SCHNEIDER, appeared in outlets that included Phi Beta Kappa International and Inside Higher Ed. The College was honored

by CASE (the Council for Advancement and Support

According to the Princeton Review, Holy Cross is one of the 75 “Best Value” private colleges for 2013, and it is also one of the 377 “Best Colleges” for undergraduate education.

In addition to engaging in the political process through events on campus, faculty and students from a variety of disciplines offered their commentary on the 2012 elections to local and national media outlets, including The Huffington Post, New England Cable News, The Washington Post and the Worcester Telegram & Gazette, USA Today, the Associated Press and The Wall Street Journal.

With an overall success rate of 89.2 percent, Holy Cross has the seventh highest fouryear graduation rate among colleges and universities nationwide, according to U.S. News & World Report.

FAITH, SERVICE & JUSTICE For the second year in a row, the Chaplains’ Office sponsored a Worcester Immersion Program (“Woomersion”) in October.

Nine students—seven firstyear students and two senior leaders—visited houses of worship, participated in service opportunities and explored cultural organizations.

FR. BOROUGHS led hundreds of employees and students in the second annual Campus Wide Multifaith Prayer, celebrating the many faith traditions at Holy Cross and affirming the College’s commitment to the faith development of all its members.

Fourteen members of the Class of 2012 joined Teach for America, making Holy Cross a top contributor to the organization for the fourth year in a row. Over the past 21 years, more than 140 Holy Cross alumni have joined the corps.

Nineteen alumni answered the call to serve, working as Jesuit volunteers at locations that included schools, health clinics and parishes around the world.

During the College’s fall and

spring breaks, more than 40 students took part in the five-day Spiritual Exercises, during which they reflected silently on their lives and their relationship with God. A total of 290 students—one in 10 at the College—took part in the Spring Break Immersion Program, working in 25 locations across 12 states, including two Catholic parishes in Kentucky, a Hurricane Katrina relief organization in Louisiana and a soup kitchen in West Virginia.

In the wake of the Boston Marathon bombings, the Chaplains’ Office organized an Interfaith Prayer of Lament. The gathering brought together members of the Holy Cross community to voice their grief, offer prayers for the victims and lift up their desires for a more peaceful world.

In January, accompanied by REV. GREGORY LYNCH, S.J., assistant chaplain and director of service and social justice programs at the College, 16 students participated in an immersion program in Nicaragua.

Student Programs for Urban Development (SPUD) continued to be the largest student organization on campus, with hundreds of students volunteering weekly at more than 40 organizations throughout Worcester, including the Mustard Seed soup kitchen, Abby’s House Women’s Center and Big Brothers Big Sisters.

In April, more than 200 Holy Cross students, faculty,

t h e p r e s i de n t ’ s r e p or t 2011-2012

staff and alumni participated in the annual Worcester Holy Cross Cares Day, performing service-oriented activities including painting, raking and picking up trash at schools, churches and parks throughout Worcester.

SPEAKERS & EVENTS The College’s McFarland Center hosted several fishbowl-style campus discussions to explore the ethical implications of newsmaking events, including the Supreme Court’s deliberation of affirmative action policies as they relate to college admissions and measures to reduce gun violence following the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn.

The College’s 40th anniversary of coeducation celebration continued, featuring events that spanned all academic disciplines—from the arts to the sciences—and explored the impact Holy Cross alumnae have had in fields ranging from business to medicine to civic life.

Prior to the 2012 presidential election, the College hosted a talk by San Francisco Auxiliary Bishop Robert McElroy, titled “Catholicism, Citizenship and Conscience: What Does It Mean to be a Faith-filled Voter in Our Polarized Society?”

As part of the McFarland Center’s “Women’s Lives, Global Contexts” series, Dalia Mogahed, executive director and senior analyst at the Gallup Center for Muslim Studies, gave a lecture, titled “Women After

the Arab Spring Revolution: Rights and Religion.”

Georgetown Law Professor David Cole, Princeton University Near East Studies Scholar Gregory Johnson and UMass Dartmouth political science Professor Avery Plaw voiced differing views on the morality, legality and effectiveness of the U.S. policy on drone warfare during a panel discussion in March.

Before a capacity crowd in the Hogan Ballroom, MARK SHRIVER ’86 (above) shared stories from his memoir, A Good Man: Rediscovering My Father, Sargent Shriver. The elder Shriver was founder of the Peace Corps, Job Corps, Vista and Head Start, and an architect of the War on Poverty.

The Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Art Gallery presented the exhibition “Create,” which Fall 2 0 1 3 2

41

featured works by artists with profound developmental disabilities. Organized

by Independent Curators International, the two-part exhibit made the MetroWest Daily News’ list of the 10 most memorable art exhibits of the year.

In February, Holy Cross hosted award-winning journalist Cokie Roberts, who delivered a talk, “The 2012 Election & What it Bodes for the Next Four Years,” to a capacity crowd in the College’s Rehm Library.

ANNEMARIE WIESEN ’14 received the Fr. Hart Intramural Participant of the Year Award, presented by Holy Cross basketball great, TOGO PALAZZI ’54.

In January, more than 200 Holy Cross students, staff and alumni participated in the second annual Holy Cross Dance Marathon. Cochaired by CHRISTOPHER TOTA ’13 and LAUREN SPURR ’13, the all-night event raised $30,000 for the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation.

CNN journalist Soledad O’Brien, who has reported on some of the most important stories of our time—Hurricane Katrina, the earthquake in Haiti and the tsunami in Thailand—delivered the 47th annual Hanify-Howland Memorial Lecture, which brings to campus distinguished speakers who exemplify a spirit of public service.

STUDENTS In December, the College’s 12-member, all-female a

cappella group, The Delilahs, traveled to Washington, D.C., (above) to perform classic holiday songs as guests toured the White House.

At the Student Government Association Leadership Awards banquet, 42

With the help of Holy Cross dietician KATHY EGAN, PAIGE WESSON ’13 organized a two-hour lunchtime “takeover” of Kimball Dining Hall in honor of National Nutrition Month. Assisted

by Dining staff, students prepared nutritious and delicious meals for nearly 1,000 fellow Crusaders.

Two Holy Cross students were awarded highly competitive scholarships for graduate study: DAVID COTRONE ’13 was one of just 20 college students nationwide to receive a 2012 Beinecke Scholarship, and JEFFREY REPPUCCI ’14 was selected as a 2013 Harry S. Truman Scholar, one of only 62 juniors nationwide.

ANDREA DAVIS ’13

holy cross m aga zi n e

Leadership Conference at the College last July. More than 300 students from 26 Jesuit schools participated in the five-day event, which focused on the theme “Live the Mission.” and MALIK NEAL ’13 (above) were two of just 84 undergraduates chosen to attend the inaugural Mr. & Mrs. Robert A. McDonald Cadet Leadership Conference last October at the United States Military Academy at West Point.

ROOBVIA BERNADIN ’15, PATRICIA FERAUD ’15, MARK LEGARE ’14, MANNY MENDOZA ’14 and YULISSA NUNEZ ’14 attended a two-week global leadership summit focused on social justice at the University of the Free State in Bloemfontein, South Africa. The students were accompanied by MABLE MILLNER, associate dean of students for diversity and inclusion; JACQUELINE PETERSON, vice president for Student Affairs and dean of students; VIRGINIA COAKLEY, assistant chaplain; and MARY CONLEY, associate professor of history.

PAUL MISCI ’13 and ANTONIO WILLISBERRY ’13 (above) served as student co-chairs for the 2012 National Jesuit Student

MATTHEW FAY ’13, copresident of the College’s Campus Activities Board (CAB), was one of only five student leaders in the Northeast to receive a Ken M. Bedine Student Leader Award from the National Association for Campus Activities at its Northeast Regional Conference in November.

PATRICK O’NEIL ’13 (above) received the 2013 George B. Moran Award, the highest honor given by the College to a graduating senior, in recognition of exemplary scholarship and leadership.

For service to the College, fellow students and the Worcester community, 10 seniors received the Presidential Service Award: SUZANNE CRIFO, VIVIAN DALY, JEFFREY GODOWSKI, JEANIE JOHNSON, MICHAELA JOHNSON, PAUL MISCI, KEVIN MOLLOY, KIMBERLY MONACO, HALEY O’CONNOR and ANTONIO WILLISBERRY. ■

The following graphs are derived from the College’s financial statements and highlight key financial indicators. The chart on the following page details important trends in the College’s enrollment, resources and student outcomes over the past five years. As can be noted, 2013 was a solid year and the College returned an operating margin of $5.2 million, or approximately 3.2% of operating revenues. This represents the 43rd consecutive year in which operating revenues exceeded operating expenses.

See the audited financial statements at http:// www.holycross.edu/hcm/financial2013 F IG U RE 1 .

■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

FIG UR E 2.

USES OF FUNDS

($ millions) Fiscal 2013 (unaudited)

4.1x

SOURCES OF FUNDS

$80.9 NET TUITION AND FEES $28.9 RESIDENCE HALL & DINING FEES $22.5 ENDOWMENT INCOME $11.1 AUXILIARY ENTERPRISES $9.3 CONTRIBUTIONS $6.7 GIFTS, GRANTS, GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE $1.3 OTHER INCOME

■ ■

■

■

■

($ millions) Fiscal 2013 (unaudited)

$71.2 INSTRUCTION AND ACADEMIC SUPPORT $33.1 AUXILIARY ENTERPRISES $26.3 STUDENT SERVICES $24.1 INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT $0.8 RESEARCH

These are the College’s key sources of revenue.

These are the major spending areas for the College, by program type.

F I G U RE 3 .

FIG UR E 4 .

EXPENDABLE FINANCIAL RESOURCES TO DEBT (X) Fiscal 2009 through Fiscal 2013 (unaudited)

2.4x

Number of Times Coverage

F IG U RE 5 .

LONG-TERM INVESTMENT ASSET ALLOCATION as of June 30, 2013 (unaudited)

■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

47% GLOBAL EQUITIES 15% REAL ASSETS 13% NON-MARKETABLE ALTERNATIVES 12% MARKETABLE ALTERNATIVES 7% FIXED INCOME 6% CASH

These are the major components of the College’s investment portfolio at the end of Fiscal Year 2013.

3.3x 3.0x

2013

2013

3.3x

2.8x

2012

2012

2.8x

2.7x

2011

2011

2.9x

This information is often used to measure credit worthiness, and represents the extent that available financial resources exceed long-term debt.

2009 2010

2009 2010

2.2x

EXPENDABLE FINANCIAL RESOURCES TO OPERATIONS (X) Fiscal 2009 through Fiscal 2013 (unaudited)

3.2x Number of Times Coverage

A measure of operating security, this information represents the number of years the College could support its operating expenses without any incoming revenue.

FIG UR E 6.

COST OF EDUCATION/STUDENT Fiscal 2013 (unaudited)

■ ■

■ ■

$27,890 FUNDED FROM NET TUITION & FEES $7,738 ENDOWMENT $4,982 CONTRIBUTIONS, GIFTS AND GRANTS $1,583 OTHER REVENUES

The cost to provide a Holy Cross education is $42,193 per student. This graphic shows the revenue sources covering the cost of that education, measured on a per-student basis.

Fall 2 0 1 3

43

FIVE-YEAR TRENDS

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

STUDENT ENROLLMENT Freshmen admissions

Applications

7,227

6,652

6,911

7,353

7,228

Acceptances

2,441

2,426

2,451

2,435

2,424

Enrollment

738

747

727

751

763

Acceptance rate

Enrollment yield

Combined mean SAT

34% 36% 35% 33% 34% 30% 31% 30% 31% 31%

1270

1281

1279

1291

1302

Total enrollment

Full-time

2,866

Part-time

2,862

2,872

2,891

32 35 37 33 35 ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

Total enrollment

2,897

2,898

% Men % Women

44% 56%

Full-time equivalent students

2,877

2,932 45% 55%

2,909

2,899 46% 54%

2,874

2,905

2,926

47% 53%

49% 51%

2,883

2,902

STUDENT OUTCOMES Degrees awarded

678

716

696

692

704

Six-year graduation rate

94%

89%

93%

91%

93%

Freshmen retention rate

95%

96%

94%

95%

95%

ACADEMIC RESOURCES Full-time equivalent faculty

296

285

292

298

297

Faculty with Ph.D. or terminal degree

95%

96%

97%

97%

97%

Student-to-faculty ratio 10/1 11/1 11/1 11/1 10/1 Library volumes 620,627 626,726

632,171

634,508

637,559

Tuition

PER-STUDENT CHARGES Room and board Mandatory fees Total student charges

$36,710

$38,180

$39,330

$40,910

$42,800

10,260

10,620

10,940

11,270

11,730

532

542

562 578 600 ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ $47,502

$49,342

$50,832

$52,758

$55,130

FINANCIAL RESOURCES ($000)* Total tuition and fees, gross Scholarship aid to students

$107,301

$113,076

$114,473

$119,779

$126,605

$34,605

$36,116

$37,849

$41,257

$45,669

Debt outstanding

$173,605

$168,290

$162,560

$156,915

$151,059

Replacement value of plant

$569,344

$581,088

$583,638

$611,627

$619,247

Net assets:

Unrestricted

Temporarily restricted

Permanently restricted

$271,117

$290,871

$341,590

$325,292

$366,081

123,741

135,446

177,385

172,382

$192,524

145,269

149,452 153,292 158,163 $165,043 ________ ________ ________ ________ ________

Total net assets $540,127 $575,769

Endowment $500,378 $534,964

$672,267

$655,837

$723,648

$616,551

$598,032

$641,609

(includes life income funds)

44

holy cross m aga zi n e

*Fiscal year 2013 financial resources are unaudited

“BEING A PART OF THE HOLY CROSS COMMUNITY GIVES EACH OF US A CHANCE TO FEEL SUPPORTED, TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD AND TO CONNECT WITH OUR COLLEAGUES AND STUDENTS. HOLY CROSS IS AN EXCITING PLACE TO LIVE AND LEARN TOGETHER!” —PROFESSOR AND CHAIR OF MATHEMATICS & COMPUTER SCIENCE CATHERINE ROBERTS

dan vaillancourt

Catherine Roberts shows her enthusiasm for the new academic year as faculty prepare to process across the Hart Lawn for the 2013 Mass of Fall the 2 0 Holy 1 3 Spirit.

45

C O L L E G E O F T H E H O LY C R O S S ONE COLLEGE STREET WO R C E ST E R , M A S S A C H U S E T TS 0 1 6 1 0 - 2 3 9 5 W W W. H O LY C R O S S . E D U