2003 Archived News and Features
college and graduate school of arts and sciences
Professors Susan Shell and Christopher Kelly (Political Science) have been awarded Research Fellowships from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
During a recent interview with the Boston Globe Professor Alan Wolfe stated, “The next Democratic president should not only win, he should win in a way that puts the politics of division to rest.”
Professor Arthur Lewbel (Economics) has been selected a Fellow of the Econometric Society, a distinction achieved only by the most elite econometricians and theorists in the world.
In an interview with the Chronicle of Higher Education, historian Marilynn Johnson maintained, “The cycles of brutality and reform have existed for more than 150 years in NY City, with far-reaching consequences for today's notions of what constitutes proper and effective law enforcement.”
In his book, One Nation, After All, Professor Alan Wolfe (Political Science) stated, “The culture war was largely the work of intellectuals; most Americans were not deeply divided over moral issues.” During a recent interview with U.S. News Wolfe reiterated his findings.
Professor Shana Kelley (Chemistry) has received a National Science Foundation CAREER Award, a five-year grant of additional support for her research program.
Brett Huneycutt '03 (Economics) and Paul Taylor '04 (Physics and Classics) have become the first two Rhodes Scholars elected from Boston College. Huneycutt, currently a Fulbright Scholar in El Salvador, graduated first in his class. At Oxford he will pursue a M.Phil. in economics. Taylor, a BC senior and Goldwater Scholar, will pursue a doctorate in astrophysics at Oxford.
Adjunct Professor Charles Lord (Biology) was awarded a grant from The National Science Foundation for the Urban Ecology Field Study Program.
Professor Jeffery Howe (Fine Arts) ponders the motive behind Edvard Munch's famous painting “The Scream.” Was it the direct consequence of the volcanic explosion on the Indonesian island of Krakatoa or did another unimaginable event occur in Munch's life?
Assistant Professor Ekaterina Haskins (Communication) co-published “Memory, Visibility, and Public Space” in the November issue of Space and Culture.
Nancy Netzer, Professor and Director of the McMullen Museum of Art, has been appointed by Governor Mitt Romney to a three-year term on the Board of Directors of the Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities.
Thomas Kempa '04 has been awarded a Marshall Scholarship, the third from BC in four years to receive this distinguished grant. Kempa, son of Professor Krzysztof Kempa (Physics), will be attending Cambridge University in the United Kingdom next year.
The Department of Health and Human Services and The National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Mental Health bestowed CAREER awards to Professor Lisa Barrett.
Michael Naughton (Physics) has been appointed a Fellow of the American Physical Society (APS), in recognition for his contributions to the understanding of low dimensional electron physics through creative experimental studies of molecular organic conductors and superconductors in oriented high magnetic fields. In addition to Naughton, other BC faculty previously selected for this highly competitive honor include Gabor Kalman (Physics), Kevin Bedell (Physics), John Fourkas (Chemistry), and Paul Davidovits (Chemistry).
Professor Baldassare Di Bartolo (Physics) has received a grant from The National Aeronautics and Space Administration for his study on Organization of a NATO Advanced Study Institute Spectroscopy of Systems with Spatially Confined Structure.
Elizabeth Falarski Hasselbeck '99 has been named a co-host for The View, ABC Daytime's talk and entertainment program. Elizabeth, married to NFL quarterback Tim Hasselbeck '99, gained notoriety when she participated on Survivor: the Australian Outback.
Professor Amir Hoveyda (Chemistry) has been awarded a “Supporting Diversity in Organic Chemistry Research Fellowship” from Pfizer Inc.
Professor Paul Davidovits (Chemistry) has received a grant from The National Aeronautics and Space Administration for his research on “Effect of Morphology and Composition on Hygroscopicity of Soot Aerosols.”
The Dean’s Office is pleased to announce the appointment of Devonya Havis as Administrative Fellow, a newly created position in the Dean’s Office.
Associate Professor Kalpana Seshadri-Crooks (English) presented “Philosophy After Teresa Brenan” at a memorial conference established in honor of the late feminist philosopher, held in New York City.
Associate Professor Laura Hake (Biology) received a grant from The National Institutes of Health for her research on “Regulation of Polyadenylation- Induced Translation.”
In support of the Institute of Medieval Philosophy and Theology, the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation awarded a grant to Professor Stephen Brown (Theology).
Assistant Professor Shana Kelley (Chemistry) received two grants from the National Institutes of Health for her research on “Human Mitochondrial tRNA Structure and Function.”
Professor Daniel Kirschner (Biology) was awarded a grant from The University of Tennessee for his research on “Assembly and Structure of Polyglutamine Aggregates.”
The Massachusetts Review published Professor Maxim Shrayer's (Slavic and Eastern Languages) story, “Baggage.” An excerpt taken from the story reads, “An aunt brings more than memory in an orange Manchurian trunk.”
Professor Thomas Chiles (Biology) was appointed section editor for The Journal of Immunology, the official journal of the American Association of Immunologists.
Dean Joseph Quinn (College of Arts and Sciences) presented “Retirement Trends and Patterns Among Older Americans” at a Conference on “Baby Boomers and Retirement: Impact on Civic Engagement,” recently held at the Harvard School of Public Health.
Executive Director of the Irish Programs, Professor Thomas Hachey (History) has received grants from the US Department of State for his Integrated Education Projects: “Program Budget” and “Administrative Budget.”
Scott Kearnan '04, double majoring in Communications and Sociology, is the first male in BC's history to minor in Women's Studies.
WCVB-TV “Chronicle” recently interviewed Professor Jeffery Howe (Fine Arts) on Boston's historic Commonwealth Avenue architecture.
Professor Ali Banuazizi (Psychology) has been elected president of the Middle East Studies Association.
Assistant Professor Steve Bruner (Chemistry) has been named a 2004 Damon Runyon Scholar, sponsored by the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation, the first such award at BC.
Professor John Ebel (Geology and Geophysics) is the recipient of this year's Jesuit Seismological Association Award.
The American Association for the Advancement of Science has bestowed the rank of AAAS Fellow to Professor Lawrence Scott (Chemistry).
Professor Michael Numan (Psychology) has been awarded a grant from The National Science Foundation.
Associate Professor Hong Ding (Physics) has been awarded two grants, The National Science Foundation and The American Chemical Society.
Professor John Fourkas (Chemistry) has been awarded a grant from the National Science Foundation.
Frankenfood, coined by Professor Paul Lewis (English) in 1992, was the October 17 “Word Of The Day.”
The National Science Foundation recently awarded a grant to Associate Professor of Chemistry Udayan Mohanty.
Professor Jorge Garcia (Philosophy) was named a non-resident fellow for 2003/2004 at Harvard University's W.E.B. Du Bois Institute for Afro-American Research.
Professor Michael Naughton (Physics) received a grant from The National Science Foundation
Associate Professor Lisa Cuklanz (Communication) was presented the Eastern Communication Associate Past Officers Award.
The 20
03 Alpha Sigma Nu National Jesuit Book Award Winners include two BC Professors—a first for Paul Davidovits' book, Biology and Medicine, won in the Discipline of the Natural Sciences category, while Peter Clote won in the Discipline of Mathematics/Computer Science category for his book, Boolean Functions and Computation Models.
Three students join Beckman Program, an opportunity for gifted undergraduates in biology, biochemistry, and chemistry to work on a research project with a faculty member. The group includes James Dombrowski '05, working with Lawrence Scott (Chemistry), Jason Chalifoux '04, working with Grant Balkema (Biology), and Erin Donnelly '05, working with David Burgess (Biology).
Hurricane Isabel scrutinized by Professor John Ebel's (Geology and Geophysics) Meteorology and Weather Prediction class. BC Chronicle
After his recent satirical piece in the Toronto Globe and Mail, Professor Paul Lewis (English) has published a comment on the reactions that the first article engendered.
John Michalczyk, noted documentary filmmaker, Professor of Fine Arts, and Co-director of the BC Film Studies Program, received the Arts and Humanities Award. BC Chronicle
Psychological and Intergroup Implications. Linda Tropp (Psychology) received a grant from the National Institute of Mental Health.
The
Blues, a PBS documentary series premiering 9/28-10/4 on KQED TV, will include Carlo Rotella's book, Good With Their Hands, an understanding of how music, art, film, and even sports reflect both the participants and their environments.
J. Joseph Burns is appointed Associate Academic Vice President for Undergraduate Programs. Former Associate Dean in the College of A&S for the past 17 years, Burns new AVP role will be Project Manager of the $5 Million Carnegie Grant recently awarded to Boston College. BC Chronicle
William H. Petri is appointed Acting Associate Dean. Petri, a faculty member in the Biology Department since 1976, will assume advising responsibilities for the Senior class for the upcoming academic year.
Boston College Awarded $5 Million Carnegie Grant—The Lynch School of Education, in collaboration with the College of Arts and Sciences, will receive the grant from the Carnegie Corp of New York as part of its "Teachers for a New Era" initiative.
PULSE Program is commemorated with Voice For Justice Award. For the past 33-years the PULSE Program has provided BC students with the opportunity to combine community service with the study of Philosophy, Theology, and other disciplines.
The 
H
ouses We Live In, authored by Professor Jeffery Howe (Fine Arts), is an informative illustrated guide to the architectural styles of American houses from colonial to modern America. BC Chronicle
Professor Paul Lewis (English) writes a satirical essay suggesting a secessionist movement of states that voted for Al Gore—to Canada!
Tatyana Yakovleva '03 was awarded a Gates Cambridge Scholarship at Cambridge University, where she will continue to study biochemistry. As an undergraduate, she conducted research for three years with Professor Anthony Annunziato, culminating in a Scholar of the College research project on human histone H3.
The 2004 American Chemical Society National Award Winners include Scott Miller, a recipient of the prestigious Arthur C. Cope Scholar Award, given to recognize and encourage excellence in organic chemistry. In being selected for this outstanding honor, Miller joins two former winners from Boston College, Ross Kelly and Amir Hoveyda.
Associate Professor Carlo Rotella (English) writes about Linwood Taylor's Blues. All he ever wanted was to rock. But as the red carpet is being rolled out for America's deepest roots music, he's still singing the blues.
Associate Professor Gail Kineke (Geology and Geophysics), an oceanographer at Boston College and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, researches coastal sediments, the study of mud flow from rivers to the sea.
Professor Marc Landy (Political Science) writes how Schwarzenegger, the Radical Moderate, is infuriating California Republican stalwarts.
Cut Time: An Education at the Fights by Associate Professor Carlo Rotella (English) is featured on the National Public Radio programs Only a Game and Fresh Air.
Paul Schervish (Sociology Professor and Social Welfare Research Institute Director) has been named to the NonProfit Times "Power and Influence Top 50" for the fourth consecutive year. He and SWRI Associate Director John Havens, who marks his third time named to the list, represent two out of only three researchers in the nation singled out for this distinction.
Michael Smyer (Dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, and Associate VP For Research) has been awarded the M Powell Lawton Award for Distinguished Contribution in Applied Gerontology, funded by the Retirement Research Foundation. Smyer's research has focused on the design, implementation, and evaluation of health-related interventions for older adults and their families.
Joseph Quinn (Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences) comments about the "new retirement age," where boomers are choosing a combination of work and leisure over the traditional retirement and a gold watch.
Harvey Egan, S.J. (Theology Professor) views the Virgin Mary's apparition on Milton Hospital's window as a sign that people are searching for a message from God.
Professor Emeritus John L. Mahoney (English) was given the distinguished honor of presenting the 2003 Wordsworth Memorial Lecture at Rydal Church, the Anglican chapel where the notorious poet worshipped during the final years of his life. This prestigious event is held annually and attended by noted academicians and literary aficionados from the United Kingdom and North America. BC Chronicle
Assistant Professor Stephen Wicks (Biology) has been awarded The Ellison Medical Foundation New Scholar Award in Aging. This distinguished fellowship is bestowed to promising new scientists who have the potential to become prominent leaders of biomedical science with relevance to Gerontology.
Boston's Histories, A fascinating array of essays edited by prominent BC historians gives an in-depth perspective into Boston's vibrant social, ethnic, political, and religious past.
Professor Thomas Hachey (History) has received the 2003 Roger McHugh Award, distinguishing his article, The Rhetoric and Reality of Irish Neutrality, as the article most likely to be referenced on its particular topic over the next 10-20 years.
BC 
ha
s been named a Truman Honor Institution, in recognition of its ongoing encouragement of outstanding students to pursue careers in public service. Truman coordinators, Professor Jennie Purnell and Associate Professor Kenji Hayao are being credited for this prestigious honor.
In an interview with the Boston Herald, President William P. Leahy, S.J. predicted that lay Catholics will be taking on prominent roles in the Church's future.
The Long Retreat, a pensive memoir of a 30-day Ignatian silent retreat written by Professor Paul Mariani (English), has won the Catholic Press Association's first-place award for popular presentation of the Catholic faith. Boston College Magazine
While taking a break from writing her thesis, Jill Winters '98 discovered she has a gift for writing romance novels. Boston College Magazine
Professor Marc Snapper (Chemistry) has received an unsolicited grant from Novartis, a Swiss Pharmaceutical Company, in support of Academic Research in Synthetic Organic Chemistry. This distinction not only recognizes Snapper's research program, but also BC's relationship with the pharmaceutical industry.
Fourteen receive Fulbright Fellowships, a one-year post-baccalaureate study abroad. Created at the end of WWII, the Fulbright program encourages understanding between the people of the US and other countries through the exchange of persons, education, and expertise. BC Chronicle
Phi Beta Kappa students have voted Cynthia Lyerly (History) Teacher of the Year. Noted for her dedication to students, as well as her ability to mesmerize her audience while lecturing, one nominator wrote, "The classroom was as still and quiet as a church. Her words seemed to take the breath out of me." BC Chronicle
Marta Villacorta '03 has become the first BC Fulbright winner to have participated in BC's Options Through Education Program (OTE), a pre-college summer enrichment program designed to help academically and financially disadvantaged students become acclimated to college life. BC Chronicle
John Boylan has won the 2003 BC Community Service Award, an award presented annually to an employee whose actions best exemplify the Jesuit spirit of community service and involvement. BC Chronicle
Commencing August 1, Professor Thomas Groome (Theology), a distinguished Catholic scholar, will begin a three-year term as Director of Boston College's Institute of Religious Education and Pastoral Ministry. More
Book-of-the-Month Club has selected James O'Toole's (History) book, Passing for White: Race, Religion and the Healy Family, 1820-1920, for their May non-fiction category, the first time in 25 years since a BC faculty member has received this prestigious honor. Also, listen to O'Toole read from his work, courtesy of Front Row.
Roger Woolsey, a visually impaired teacher and advisor in the Communication Department, commutes between BC and his home in Newburyport, a five hour trek via public transportation. His explanation for what keeps him going, "If you can get up and go, Wow, I'm excited to go to work, then feel that way about coming home ..."
Erik Weihenmayer '91, the first blind mountain climber to conquer the world's Seven Summits, addressed the graduates at the 2003 Commencement Exercises. Encouraging the graduates to take risks, Weihenmayer stated, "There's a difference between a winner and a champion. A winner plays the game once. A champion understands the game never ends. Life is an ongoing process of reaching into the darkness, not knowing what we'll find."
Her dedication to teaching, as well as her exuberant teaching style, has earned Associate Professor Elizabeth Wallace (English) a 2002/2003 Distinguished Teaching Award. BC Chronicle
Lawrence Scott (Chemistry) has received a 2002/2003 Distinguished Research Award. Respected among his peers, one colleague nominator wrote, "Professor Scott exemplifies the very best of what research at BC should be." BC Chronicle
Hong Ding (Physics) also received a 2002/2003 Distinguished Research Award. Due to his multitude of impressive publications, Science Watch credited him as being the world's most heavily cited physics researcher in 1997. BC Chronicle
Fossilized remains from a genus of undersea invertebrate 500 million years old have been found in Hayward's Quarry in Quincy, MA and named Skehanos, to honor Professor Emeritus, James Skehan, S.J. (Geology and Geophysics) for his contributions to New England geology. BC Chronicle
Erik Weihenmayer '91 will address the graduates at the 2003 Commencement Exercises. Blind since age 13, Weihenmayer began climbing mountains at age 16. In 1995 he set a goal; to conquer the Seven Summits, the tallest mountains in the world. In May 2001 he became the first sightless mountain climber to achieve this feat. BC Chronicle
Rattigan Professor of English Emeritus John L. Mahoney Sr. was awarded an honorary degree at the 2003 Commencement Exercises. Mahoney, a full-time faculty member from 1955 until his retirement last year, continues to teach part-time. He was named Massachusetts Teacher of the Year in 1989 and appointed inaugural holder of the Rattigan Chair in 1994.
The 
A
merican Academy of Arts and Sciences, an international learned society that recognizes men and women of exceptional achievement, has selected Kay Schlozman (Political Science) and Lawrence Wolff (History) as Fellow members. Other Fellow members include more than 160 Nobel Prize laureates and 50 Pulitzer Prize winners.
Daetwan Williams '02 has received a National Medical Fellowship. Daetwan, currently completing his first year of medical school at the U of Louisville, will be doing his research work in the laboratory of Thomas C. Chiles (Biology) this summer.
For two decades Carlo Rotella (English) researched the game of boxing; he interviewed the fighters and analyzed the matches, from high-profile televised celebrity fights to small-town cards throughout New England. And now he shares his findings in his recently published book, Cut Time, an insight into the world of boxing.
Hong Ding (Physics) and Shancai Wang, a doctoral student working in his group, are among the researchers whose findings on a mystic superconductivity mechanism have opened doors for the discovery of other high-temperature superconductors.
Kevin Hoskins '04 is one of 22 students nationwide to be granted a $32,000 Beinecke Scholarship, an award given to students who have demonstrated superior standards of intellectual ability, scholastic achievement, and personal promise during their undergraduate career.
Pasha Mirazimi '03, working with Udayan Mohanty (Chemistry), has been awarded the Norris/Richards Undergraduate Summer Research Scholarship from the Northeast Section of the American Chemical Society.
Catholic Charities honored BC's PULSE Program with a distinguished recognition award, in acknowledgement of the 35,000 plus hours of community service work students have given their organization. In the PULSE Program students are given the opportunity to combine supervised social service or social advocacy field work with their studies in Philosophy, Theology, and other disciplines. BC Chronicle
Geomagnetic Storms and the stock markets:
“Playing the Field: Geomagnetic Storms and International Stock Markets,” a provocative paper authored by Boston College Ph.D. Cesare Robotti and Ph.D. candidate Anna Krivelyova, was recently published in the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta's working paper series.
Debate considered the best freshmen team in modern history of Debating Society
The Boston College team of Allen Best '07 and Mandy Castle '07 reached the final round of the freshmen breakout round at the 47th annual Wake Forest Dixie Classic, held in Winston-Salem, NC.
Baccalaureate 2003
William B. Neenan, S.J., Vice President and Special Assistant to the President, was the Celebrant at the 2003 Baccalaureate Mass. BC Chronicle
Japanese earthquake recorded
Japan's September 25, 2003 earthquake (magnitude 8.0) was recorded by the Department of Geology and Geophysics' seismograph, located in Devlin Hall.
Strength of science programs seen as factor in application hike
John Mahoney (Undergraduate Admission) says “BC's traditional humanities offerings are a major attraction for most incoming students, but the University's strengthening of its science programs-embodied in the Merkert Chemistry Center and the recently renovated Higgins Hall-has drawn attention as well. A closely related factor, he says, is the BC pre-med program, which boasts a 90% acceptance rate to medical schools and graduate programs.” BC Chronicle
William Lowell Putnam Mathematical Competition
Boston College placed forty-first in the 2003 competition, the team's best finish in University history. The Putnam is the most prestigious undergraduate mathematics competition in the world, and colleges and universities throughout the United States and Canada participate. This year, 401 institutions fielded teams and 3615 students competed. The BC team consisted of Erik Jensen ´04, Matthew Sequin ´04, and Paul Wenger ´04. In addition, Scott Gentile ´06, Laura Henry ´07, Davis Mosca ´05, and Tyler Stewart ´04 competed as individuals.
Fulton Debate Society reaches final round
The BC team of Mark Irvine ´06 and John Powell ´06 reached the final round of the junior varsity division of the 46th annual United States Naval Academy tournament held in Annapolis, Maryland.
Marshall Scholarship recipient credits science departments
During a recent interview with the Boston Globe Marshall Scholarship winner Thomas Kempa ´04 stated, “In some of the other universities that compete with us across the river, there are so many good students it's hard for everyone to be noticed. Here there's tremendous support for undergraduates who want careers in science.” BC Chronicle
Top speaker
Allen Best ´07 was named top speaker in the varsity division of the George Mason Patriot Debate Tournament held in Fairfax, VA.
Research Incentive Grant recipients
Each year, 15 Research Incentive Grants, each worth up to a total of $15,000, including one month's summer salary, are awarded to BC faculty on a competitive basis.
Fulton Debate Society qualifies for tournament
Two BC teams are qualified to compete at the 58th annual National Debate Tournament (NDT), to be held at Catholic University in Washington, DC. This marks the 27th year the Fulton Debate has qualified teams to the prestigious NDT, which is limited to the top 78 debate teams in the U.S.
Irish Studies Program has new leadership
Robert Savage and Marjorie Howes have been appointed Co-Directors of the Irish Studies Program. Mary O'Herlihy has been appointed Director of the Irish Institute. BC Chronicle