Morrissey College News

News from the Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences

A story to tell

Rising junior Kudzai Kapurura celebrates her bicultural identity through award-winning poetry and public speaking.

Global Conversations

A student-led Boston College program connects undergraduates with peers abroad for discussions on topics from COVID to racial justice.

"Change begins with one person"

Romero Scholarship winner Daniela Vazquez Loriga '22 is Cuban-American first-gen student who aspires to a career in international law.

Finding the 'missing link'

The discovery of a billion-year-old fossil offers new insight into animal evolution, BC researcher says.

New UGBC leaders

Juniors Jack Bracher and Gianna Russi say their administration is centered around student voices.

A matter of ethics

BC undergraduates advanced to the finals at the 25th annual Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl.

Two BC juniors named Truman Scholars

Max German and Jenna Mu receive Truman Scholarships, prestigious national awards that support commitment to public service leadership.

New O'Hare Fellows

Two BC seniors will get an in-depth intro to professional journalism as Joseph A. O’Hare, S.J., Postgraduate Media Fellows.

First-gen journey

Monica Sanchez '21 channels pride in her heritage into a means of helping others.

Scene from BC's production of "Spoon River Revival"

BC’s ‘Spoon River Revival’ wins Kennedy Center award

The spring production capped a year of unprecedented challenges in the presentation of live theater.

New Simons Fellow

McIntyre Professor Solomon Friedberg is named a 2021 Simons Fellow in Mathematics.

Stories from the field

A new podcast highlights tales from scholars and students in political science.

MLK Scholarship winner

As founder, producer, and director of Black Muslim TV, Latifat Odetunde '22 created a space for Black, Muslim voices.

Early Career Award

Recognition for BC prof Katherine McAuliffe, whose research examines the development of human sociality.

BC senior named to Forbes '30 under 30'

History major Phillip Hui-Bon-Hoa is among the magazine's top young entrepreneurs for 2021.

BC physicist wins NSF CAREER Award

Two National Science Foundation grants will support Brian Zhou's research and teaching in quantum science.

Pfizer VP at BC Endeavor

Yolanda Lyle '94, J.D. '01, is the keynote speaker at the annual career exploration event focused on the liberal arts advantage.

'The babysitter of last resort'

Early results of a pandemic study show kids' increased screen time can be an indicator of family distress.

'Letters from an American'

How did a BC history prof's take on current events make her a breakout star? Read about it in the New York Times.

Small, profound moments

English Professor Allison Adair spins late-night writing into award-winning poems.

$mathematics$

American Mathematical Society fellow

Professor of Mathematics Robert Meyerhoff is honored for outstanding contributions to the field.

Studying the ocean's history

A BC researcher uses deep-sea corals to unlock secrets of past rapid carbon dioxide increase.

Inaugural chair named for new BC engineering department

A biomedical engineering specialist, Glenn Gaudette's research focuses on solving problems from heart disease to sustainable food production.

Learning from man’s best friend

BC's Canine Cognition Center studies how dogs think—and what that says about humans.

BC names new University Historian

Clough Millennium Professor Emeritus of History James O'Toole becomes the third distinguished scholar to hold the position.

Two people standing next to a truck and piles of boxes

Thinking outside the box

When the pandemic struck, local business owner Torry Stamm ’03 stepped up.

elephant and donkey political party icons

Elections in America

BC political scientist Kay Schlozman gives students a comprehensive look at the electoral process.

Burns Scholar values links between folklore, literature

Award-winning Irish writer Éilís Ní Dhuibhne on writing, research, and teaching BC undergraduates.

The 'gig' economy

It showed promise. What went wrong? A new book by BC sociologist Juliet Schor sheds light on the sharing economy.

The politics of school reopenings

A BC researcher finds local political conditions play a big role in whether K-12 public schools offer in-person classes this fall.

Ireland landscape (jusuf111 via pixabay)

The Irish Influence

A new Boston College webinar series features major and rising figures in Irish cultural life.

In Memoriam: James Skehan, S.J.

The renowned geologist and researcher founded BC's department in the field, directed Weston Observatory, and is the namesake of a half-billion-year-old genus of trilobite.

New faculty, 2020–2021

Meet 10 new Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences faculty as they talk about their respective fields and what they are working on at Boston College this year.

APSA Pritchett Award winner

Professor Ken Kersch is honored for his work on book on development of conservative constitutional thought.

Lowell Humanities Series

This year's virtual lineup includes Maggie Haberman, Carol Anderson, Bridgett Davis, Michael Murphy, Stephan Wolfert, and M Jackson.

A knotty problem

Math experts had been searching for a solution for 50-plus years. A BC alumna solved it in less than a week.

Studying remote work

Sociologist Wen Fan's NSF-funded project examines the experience of remote work and the sustainability of the work-from-home model post-COVID.

Incentives to give the gift of life

Boston College economists Tayfun Sönmez and Utku Ünver work to increase life-changing plasma donations to coronavirus patients.

Pandemic quiets the earth

BC researcher Alan Kafka and an international team reveal COVID-19 shutdowns markedly reduced Earth’s seismic “noise.”

Inspired by nature

Boston College chemists use a multi-catalyst system to convert greenhouse gas carbon dioxide into methanol.

Dual honors for BC sociologist

Sarah Babb's research earns awards from two sections of the American Sociological Association.

Hello World

A global art project, launched with the summer solstice, brings viewers on a virtual voyage around the world.

Up in the air

BC’s Global Observatory on Pollution and Health will study air pollution-related deaths and disease in Massachusetts.

Feeding Chicago's front line

A Fulbright to Malaysia led alumna Lori Niehaus '18 to an unexpected mission during the pandemic.

'Reserve system' for equitable COVID vaccine allocation

BC economists and colleagues develop a mechanism to ensure vulnerable communities receive a fair share.

Fellowship to Hoover Institution

Political scientist Michael Hartney is selected for a preeminent fellowship to Stanford University.

Aquino Scholarship winner

Political science and international studies major Urwa Hameed '21 aspires to a career addressing injustice.

Romero Scholarship winner

Monica Sanchez '21 immigrated to the U.S. as a child. She plans to study law to help those facing similar challenges.

"Mr. Tornado"

PBS "American Experience" film by BC alumnus, faculty member Michael Rossi tells the story of one man's pursuit to understand the deadliest storms.

Environmental sociology honors

Professor of Sociology and Environmental Studies Andrew Jorgenson is recognized for outstanding service, innovation, and publication.

NSF CAREER award

National Science Foundation funding will support study of the brain mechanisms that fuel recognition and understanding.

Pew Latin America Fellow in Biomedical Sciences

BC postdoctoral researcher Lisa Maria Nieto Ramirez is one of ten 2020 fellows selected from across Latin America.

Rob Savage named interim director of Irish Studies

His research, teaching, and administrative leadership has bolstered the renowned program for more than two decades.