BC News Archive: 2020

January

A new way forward: Attendees at Boston College conference offer recommendations for a renewed formation for and practice of lay and ordained ministries

What lies ahead? Some thoughts on the year to come from Boston College faculty members

In Memoriam: Neil Wolfman, award-winning professor of the practice in chemistry

Spring lineup at Robsham Theater Arts Center

Boston College recognized for sustainability efforts: University featured in AASHE's 2019 Sustainable Campus Index

'Indian Ocean Current': At the McMullen Museum, an exploration of climate change by six leading artists

Boston College provides Amazon lockers

Article by Assistant Professor of Music Daniel Callahan earns two awards from the American Musicological Society

Carroll School of Management highly ranked in teaching quality in 2020 Poets&Quants

Report by BC Professor of Physics David Broido and international colleagues confirms high thermal conductivity predicted for isotopically enriched cubic boron nitride

BC's Center for Human Rights and International Justice helps a missing migrant's family get answers

Woods College names Tristan Johnson associate dean for graduate programs

Applications for Boston College Class of 2024: improved yield, selectivity, diversity

Canisius Professor of Theology James Keenan, S.J., director of the Jesuit Institute, is named vice provost for global engagement

Robert Avalle Jr. joins Boston College as AVP for Facilities Services

Master of Jesuit Education in a Global World: New Lynch School online degree program is the first-of-its-kind in the U.S.

Chemist Jia Niu receives an NSF CAREER Young Investigator Award; Mathers Foundation supports work by biologist Emrah Altindis

Martin Luther King Jr. Banquet will feature keynote by Harvard's David R. Williams

February

Lowell Humanities Series spring season begins

Laura J. Steinberg to direct Schiller Institute, serve as inaugural Seidner Family Executive Director

BC Psychology Department expands name to include neuroscience

Three Psychology and Neuroscience faculty members receive a combined $2.69 million in NSF funding to advance their research

A return to South Africa, via Fulbright, for BC alumna Julia Biango '16

In Memoriam: Elizabeth Strain, namesake of Woods College scholarship

Bone marrow donation by Lynch School graduate student Eric Williamson helps save the life of a young girl in Brazil

A world of flavors: Creativity and imagination are hallmarks of BC Dining's Global Eats program

BC Writing Center draws praise from undergrads

Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship recipient Shakalah Thompson '21 aims to incorporate social justice into a career in health care

New mobile app: BC Safe

Understanding coronavirus (COVID-19): Insights from epidemiologist Nadia Abuelezam of the Connell School of Nursing

Forgetful Remembrance: According to Burns Visiting Scholar in Irish Studies Guy Beiner, national and local history are shaped not only by collective memory but also 'social forgetting'

Winter workload: Campus construction projects are still in season at the Heights

Intersections' "Forefront Socials" showcase professors who have been successful at integrating BC’s mission into their work

Lynch School alumna Morgan Healy named Gates Cambridge Scholar

Paying a price: Making private business premises available to the public may brew problems, BC Carroll School researchers find

Boston College ranks among the top 30 most generous private, nonprofit colleges and universities, according to a Chronicle of Higher Education survey

Study shows link between gun policies and rate of workplace homicides: Boston College social work and economics researchers report findings in the American Journal of Public Health

'Call Me American': Somali refugee, Woods College student Abdi Nor Iftin

Jesuit Mission Priority Examen: BC will host a group from AJCU in March, the next phase in the University self-study

Boston College a top producer of Peace Corps volunteers

Connell School partnership addresses urgent health care need in Chile

BC hosts third annual Development Program for Administrative Staff

March

Parenting supports 'for refugees, by refugees' draw high marks from families: Boston College researchers developed Family Strengthening Intervention for Refugees program in partnership with Bhutanese and Somali communities

BC, FBI host Boston Conference on Cyber Security: FBI Director Christopher A. Wray will deliver the keynote address

Boston College ranked 10th worldwide in theology, divinity, and religious studies: 2020 QS World University Rankings

Lifetime achievement award for Seamus Connolly

Mounting cyber threats require innovative, collaborative, whole-of-society response, FBI Director Christopher A. Wray tells gathering of cybersecurity experts at Boston College

It's a dog's life: At BC’s Canine Cognition Center and Social Learning Lab, the focus is on four-legged friends

Outstanding book award for 'Reclaiming Accountability in Teacher Education': Lynch School faculty or alumni coauthors honored by the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education

Sing It to the Heights: Marketing major Stencia Bastien takes top honors at this year's competition

NSF grant reflects success of BC math teaching initiative: Six-year, $1.78M grant will support development of exemplary teacher leaders for high-need schools

BC's Global Leadership Institute series focuses on Ireland as a 'transatlantic bridge' and emerging global leader

New rankings show positive trends for BC graduate programsU.S. News & World Report survey

COVID-19: Panel of experts from Boston College and Boston University discuss COVID-19 around the world and the policies adopted to address it

Keeping the faith: How can Catholics practice their faith in a time of pandemic and social distancing?

Five tips for teach-at-home parents: Advice from teaching expert Dennis Shirley of BC's Lynch School

Boston College admits Class of 2024: Amid challenges of COVID-19 pandemic, Office of Undergraduate Admission completes most selective year in University history

Answering the call: Boston College biologists respond to the urgent need for supplies among COVID-19 health care providers

April

Excess of stress: The virus itself isn't the only negative health consequence of the pandemic, says a BC Lynch School professor. Here are tips to help deal with the stress.

Holy Week 2020: A series of liturgies will be live streamed from the Boston College campus

BC epidemiologists discuss the pandemic and responses to it

An update on Boston College Orientation 2020

Translating a pandemic: Boston College faculty member Nadia Abuelezam studies infectious diseases; now she’s explaining them to millions of anxious American

Amid global pandemic, Boston College faculty find innovative ways to teach classes and connect with students online

'A crisis within a crisis': Widespread job loss and workplace disruptions compound challenges and stressors of the Covid-19 pandemic, says David Blustein of BC's Lynch School

Rising to the (unprecedented) occasion: Responding to Covid-19 presented a daunting challenge to campus administrators and staff. They were ready.

Extracurriculars, remotely: No longer able to gather on campus, members of BC's approximately 300 student clubs and organizations find ways to stay connected

Holy Week at a time of pandemic: Though traditional experiences may not be possible, there are opportunities for faith enrichment from home, says BC School of Theology and Ministry Professor Thomas Groome

Boston College launches human-centered engineering program: New major positions graduates to solve complex global issues in areas including health, energy, and the environment

"Reserve system" could help to address COVID-19 ventilator crisis: Boston College and MIT economists, market design experts develop matching mechanism to help medical authorities ration crucial equipment

Boston College named a First-Gen Forward institution

Tips for working remotely: Working from home can be a challenging adjustment, says BC Lynch School professor

Volunteers in BC's Read Aloud program stay connected to schoolchildren virtually

Making music during the Coronavirus: Live concerts are canceled, but NYC-based musician Nickolas Diamondidis ’18 is still performing, and giving back, online

BC MentorOn: creating a 'virtual neighborhood': Lynch School Professor Belle Liang and her son create an online peer mentoring program for isolated middle and elementary school students

Boston College Arts Festival reimagined virtually

With live performances cancelled, BC theater students bring virtual fairy tales to local schoolchildren

The COVID-19 pandemic: Boston College "fireside chat" series focuses on public health and societal issues related to the coranavirus outbreak and response to it

Students in Boston College's Corcoran Competition make the case for growing affordable housing

BC Demo Day 2020: Entrepreneurial Boston College students pitch their startups, live across eight time zones

In Memoriam: James McGahay: Alumnus, former administrator whose elegant prose extolled Boston College honorary degree recipients

Interdisciplinary research team led by Boston College scientists has developed a prototype sensor to rapidly reveal bacterial species, antibiotic resistance

In Memoriam: Patrick F. Cadigan '57

A sign of hope: Amid the pandemic, BC Woods College alumna Melanie O’Neil turns her home decor business into an ingenious source of community support

Nurses on the front lines: Connell School of Nursing faculty share what it's like to be a nurse during the COVID-19 pandemic

Diversity, Inclusion Summit to be held virtually

May

BC alumnus Lucas Levine named Knight-Hennessy Scholar at Stanford University

Reexamining the origins of human fatherhood: Dads emerged to reap the benefits of partnerships with females and other males, international research team including Boston College economist contends

Boston College is among nation's top 'Schools for Service' on Catholic Volunteer Network list

Beacon Leadership Conversation on students amid pandemic

BC Dining Services serves local community amid pandemic

Reducing homelessness among Boston public school students: Boston College School of Social Work and United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley partner on new project

Doug Flutie virtually visits student seminar

BC Relay for Life goes on: Student organizers create a virtual take on the annual campus fundraiser for the American Cancer Society

Vigilance and readiness: The coronavirus crisis shines a light on the vital role of University Health Services, at the front lines of BC's response

In sickness and in filth: Biases against the physically unclean extend to the sick, holding implications in the COVID-19 era, researchers find

Beacon Leadership Conversation on students amid pandemic

Pine Manor College, Boston College announce institutional agreement

Rising Star Award: BC School of Social Work researcher Cal Halvorsen recognized by Gerontological Society of America

BC premieres "The Show @ 6"

“Tollite Project”: The University Chorale continues a longstanding tradition with a virtual parting gift to the Class of 2020

Comedy break: Emmy award-winning television writer Tracy Wigfield '05 pops in for Zoom chat with students

"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

BC Career Center steps up virtual resources for students, alumni

BC programs highly ranked in GradReports survey

Boston College faculty, staff experience survey reveals positive findings for employees

Adam Krueckeberg named special assistant to the provost

NSF CAREER Award for Psychology and Neuroscience faculty member Stefano Anzellotti'

BC names J.M. Caparro interim Athletics Director

In Memoriam: Mary Armstrong, who taught painting at Boston College for almost 30 years

Economic impact of an outbreak: Insights from faculty of Woods College's M.S. in Applied Economics program

Leadership transition for Gabelli Presidential Scholars Program: Kathleen Bailey succeeds Canisius Professor James Keenan, S.J..

The Institute for Advanced Jesuit Studies is offering a virtual retreat inspired by and rooted in the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius Loyola

June

BC Experience for h.s. students now online

In Memoriam: Joseph E. Corcoran '59, H'09

Lynch School's Marilyn Cochran-Smith receives Spencer Mentor Award

Temple A.D. Patrick Kraft Named Director of Athletics

Witness of Gospel love: Jesuits at Boston College come together in prayerful solidarity with black community, against racism

BC Establishes Forum on Racial Justice in America

Robert Savage named interim director of BC Irish Studies

Feeding the front line: With the coronavirus taxing essential workers and threatening local restaurants, BC Fulbright Lori Niehaus ’18 has found a way to help both

$1M grant for study of positive youth development, co-conducted by BC Lynch School professor

A virtual talk show for challenging times: "The Show @ 6: BC and the Common Good" turns lens on racism

Sending Forth: The School of Theology and Ministry's annual blessing for graduating students is reimagined due to the coronavirus

Undergraduate Admission to be test optional in 2020-21 academic year

BC appoints Dr. Douglas Comeau asdirector for University Health Services, Primary Care Sports Medicine

In Memoriam: Norine Smith: Longtime employee of BC's Carroll School of Management

Boston College political scientist Michael Hartney awarded fellowship at Stanford's Hoover Institution

National Academy of Education Fellowship winner: Jon Wargo is the second consecutive Lynch School recipient

U.S. Department of Education awards Lynch School team $1.4-million to study new approach to supporting math learning for low-income students

Hello World: Global art project launched with the summer solstice brings audiences on a virtual voyage around the world

New leadership at the Center for Teaching Excellence: Stacy Grooters named executive director

New Donohue Assistant Professor at Boston College Law School: Atinuke 'Tinu' Adediran

Air pollution interventions: Global research report released by BC's Schiller Institute and partners identifies top five actions to benefit health and climate

Air check: With Barr Foundation support, BC’s Global Observatory on Pollution and Health to study air pollution-related deaths and disease in Massachusetts

Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur: At age 102, alumnus and emeritus professor John Donovan receives France’s highest honor for his role in the nation's liberation during WWII

Political Science Professor Ken Kersch receives the C. Herman Pritchett Award from the American Political Science Association

Pew Latin American Fellow in Biomedical Sciences: BC postdoctoral researcher Luisa Maria Nieto Ramirez is one of only ten 2020 fellows

Lynch School names inaugural Duganne Faculty Fellows: Professors David Blustein and Dennis Shirley

In solidarity and support: Members of the Saint Peter Faber Jesuit Community have rallied around a fellow Jesuit who is undergoing treatment at Dana Farber Cancer Institute

July

Heising-Simons Foundation supports DREME Network project

BC faculty honored by Catholic Press Association: Thomas Groome, James Keenan, S.J., and Hosffman Ospino

McMullen from Home: A host of virtual opportunities to explore, enjoy, and learn from BC's McMullen Museum of Art

Collaborative Institute of Education Sciences grants totaling $5.1 million to BC's Lynch School for projects related to bilingual education

With grant from the Salmanowitz Program, Brandon Brito '20 creates a documentary on the hardships and limitations of soccer players and clubs in Cape Verde

The COVID-era college search: With campus visits off the table, Undergraduate Admission is bringing BC, and its students, into the homes of high schoolers everywhere

BC to be a tobacco- and smoke-free campus

Take Three: Third-year BC students reflect on their junior year experiences.

In Memoriam: U.S. Representative John Lewis, former MLK Banquet keynote speaker

Lynch School Professor Rebekah Levine Coley receives inaugural APA Hetherington Award

BC students launch online resource for high schoolers in their Parsippany, New Jersey hometown

BC sociologist Sarah Babb honored for research

Research by the Lynch School's Scott Seider finds the innovative approach can bridge disparity between low-income and more privileged youth

Broadway's Megan Hilty joins BC musical theatre group's virtual telethon: "MT Ring Ring,” a fundraiser for Black Lives Matter, raises 12 times its goal

Joy Moore named inaugural executive director of Pine Manor Institute for Student Success

Susan Gennaro will step down as Connell School of Nursing dean

Pandemic quiets the earth: Associate Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences Alan Kafka and an international team reveal COVID-19 shutdowns markedly reduced Earth’s seismic “noise”

August

Scholars of Color Distinguished Career Contribution Award: Lynch School Professor Emerita María Estela Brisk honored by AERA

A new spin on magnetism: New approach developed by Boston College physics researchers creates synthetic layered magnets with a unprecedented level of control over their magnetic properties

A population in peril: Report by Boston College School of Social Work and Harvard Global Health Institute outlines a health crisis among asylum seekers at the northern border of Mexico

Remembering John Hume: A crusader for peace in Northern Ireland, the Nobel Prize winner forged a strong relationship with Boston College

New leadership at Saint Columbkille Partnership School: Jennifer Kowieski

Increasing COVID-19 plasma donations: Boston College economists Tayfun Sönmez and Utku Ünver use expertise in matching markets and mechanism design to incentivize donors

Inspired by nature: Boston College chemists use a multi-catalyst system to covert greenhouse gas carbon dioxide into methanol

Ashana Hurd named Lynch School assistant dean for professional development, urban outreach

Building community through comedy: From 'The King of Staten Island' to 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!,' Fleabag alum Lou Wilson ’14 is crafting the career he always wanted

Boston College receives $1.7M Student Support Services grant: Five-year award hosted by BC Learning to Learn will assist low-income, first-gen students, and students with disabilities

Dual research honors: The Connell School's Christopher Lee has been appointed to the National Advisory Council for Nursing Research and received an award from the American Heart Association

BC sociologist Wen Fan studies work-from-home model

September

Boston College appoints new University Historian: Clough Millennium Professor Emeritus of History James O'Toole

Lynch School will offer part-time online doctoral degree program

University alters fall 2020 Commencement plans

University Convocation: Senior leadership expressed confidence in Boston College's ability to meet the challenges of an extraordinary time

A new, and different, year begins: Amidst COVID-19 safety protocols and guidelines, the University officially reopens for the first time since late March

"Preaching from Sr. Thea’s Kitchen": New Campus Ministry initiative amplifies BC's Black voices, with a focus on the intersection of scripture, Ignatian spirituality, and racial justice

Mass of the Holy Spirit will be September 10

Bruce Springsteen will speak at First Year Academic Convocation

Lowell Humanities Series goes virtual

BC launches #KeepTheHeightsHome campaign

Running for the Campus School: BC runners take on virtual Boston Marthon to raise funds

Walking the talk: Gordon Wayne ’23 escaped homelessness, then walked 550 miles to help others do the same

Boston College ranked 35th in 2021 U.S. News Survey

An evening with Bruce Springsteen: First Year Academic Convocation webcast with BC Class of 2024

Rise in faculty diversity: University's strategic commitment to diversity results in consistent upward trend

Formative education thriving at Boston College, survey finds

No summertime blues: When the pandemic ruined her students' summer plans, BC political scientist Jennifer Erickson stepped in with a workshop that engaged intellect and built community

Pops Off the Heights: Singer, songwriter, and actor Josh Groban will headline the virtual scholarship gala

Withstanding the challenge: Perspectives from BC political experts on the primary victory of U.S. Senator—and double Eagle—Ed Markey

University Counseling Services offers virtual gathering space for students to discuss shared struggles amid pandemic

Boston College's virtual Student Involvement Fair connects students with more than 300 clubs and organizations

Lockdown investors bolstered market liquidity: A new app put powerful trading tools in the hands of individuals stuck at home, Carroll School finance professor reports

October

Boston College has nation's third-highest graduation rate for Pell Grant recipients

Meet BC's Class of 2024New class demonstrates academic strength, geographical and ethnic diversity

Brian K. Smith named Honorable David S. Nelson Professional Chair and associate dean for research at the Lynch School

2020 Finnegan Award winner: Newly minted Lynch School alumna Sera M. Stotelmyre '20 receives Boston College's highest undergraduate honor

Boston College Forum on Racial Justice in America begins

Ph.D. in Theological Ethics program offers new track to train students for work as ethicists, mission directors, and other positions in Catholic health care settings

'Migration Narratives': New book co-authored by Lynch School Dean Stanton Wortham

Forming Latino parish leaders: Taught in Spanish, a new certificate program from the School of Theology and Ministry and BC School of Social Work combines faith formation, spirituality, and community engagement

'The Irish Influence' presents award-winning author Mark O'Connell: Weekly webinar series live from Dublin presented by Boston College Ireland and BC Irish Studies

New book from BC sociologist Juliet Schor looks at the 'gig' economy

The politics of school reopening: Study co-authored by a Boston College political scientist

In Memoriam: Thomas A. Vanderslice: Boston College alumnus, benefactor, and former trustee

Senior Associate Athletics Director and Senior Woman Administrator Jocelyn Gates named NCAA Division I FBS Nike Administrator of the Year

Annual Red Bandanna 5k goes virtual

The Schiller Institute develops its first initiatives

Fulbright Alumni Ambassador: BC Law Professor David Wirth

The shows will go on: Theatre Department Chair Luke Jorgensen talks about performances during a pandemic

Gaelic Roots Series unveils virtual format this fall

20th annual Diversity Challenge, now virtual, will feature robust roster of speakers and panelists

U.S. Department of Education GAANN grants support political science doctoral students of outstanding promise

BC junior Dennis Wieboldt and Boston Intercollegiate Government to host U.S. Senate candidates in virtual town hall

Why study abroad?: Online 'eNav' sessions aim to help students examine their study-abroad plans within the context of the University’s Jesuit mission

The School of Theology and Ministry's Spanish-language virtual courses are drawing participants throughout Latin America and beyond

Boston College named one of Massachusetts’s best employers in Forbes' survey

BC psychology researchers use technology to study the impact of the pandemic on children's language development

Teaching and research related to COVID-19 will be the focus of the University's Advancing Research and Scholarship Day

Be a Beacon: Boston College launches new $125-million fundraising campaign to support financial aid

In reimagining its annual dance performance, the BC Marching Band arranged some of its most successful collaborations to date

"The Irish Influence": New Boston College webinar series features major and rising figures in Irish cultural life.

Burns Scholar values links between folklore, literature: Award-winning Irish writer Éilís Ní Dhuibhne on her work, research, and teaching BC undergraduates

November

In Memoriam: James Skehan, S.J., former director of Weston Observatory and namesake of a half-billion-year-old genus of trilobite

Sacred strangers: A replica of the bronze sculpture installed in St. Peter’s Square as a call to extend hospitality to refugees and migrants will be on display on campus

Elections in America: If it’s an election year, BC political scientist Kay Schlozman is giving students a comprehensive look at the electoral process

Of politics and pandemics: New book of poetry by BC's Maxim D. Shrayer

Career Night in the Arts + Entertainment: The Boston College Arts Council's pinnacle fall event, virtual and expanded to a weeklong series

Exposing the fault lines: Boston College marks International Education Week with a series of events that will encourage reflection on how to respond to social and economic challenges here and abroad

BC, Australian Catholic University to collaborate

Campus School at Boston College and Kennedy Day School to form collaborative partnership

Jesuit Refugee Service celebrates 40 years: The international organization’s long-standing partnership with Boston College has yielded field placements, professional development opportunities, and jobs

20th Annual Boston College Veterans Mass and Remembrance Ceremony will be virtual

Bringing Jack home: A new book, co-authored by BC alumnus and Army veteran Jack Wilson, tells the story of a World War II battle and the repatriation of the remains of his uncle Jack Farrell, Jr. '44 more than 65 years later

Woods College launches programs in applied liberal arts; diversity and inclusion: New academic initiatives and tuition incentives

Lynch School’s Lauri Johnson earns Carnegie Project distinguished service award

Focus on design thinking: Five Lynch School students join 12 students from three other ACC schools in a "humanity and design thinking" workshop

BC's Office of Governmental and Community Affairs facilitates delivery of food, diapers, baby formula, and other essentials to local organizations serving those hard-hit by the pandemic

Schiller Institute to address environmental racism at BC Forum on Racial Justice in America event

Actor, writer, coach, teacher, and director Paula Plum—this year's Monan Professor in Theatre Arts—directs a challenging and unconventional BC production of “Twelfth Night”

Glenn Gaudette named inaugural chair of BC's new department of engineering

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

Lessons of the Great Recession: Q&A with BC Law's Rappaport Distinguished Visiting Professor Richard Cordray

Boston College Dining Services hosts a "friendsgiving" feast for students remaining on campus at Thanksgiving

Thinking outside the boxWhen the pandemic struck, local business owner Torry Stamm ’03 stepped up

Understanding pediatric celiac disease: Mathers Foundation grant will support the work of BC biologist Emrah Altindis linking gut microbes with autoimmune diseases in children

Sociology Ph.D. student Ryan Thombs is the lead author of a research article that shows income inequality as a key driver behind rising U.S. drug overdose deaths

December

A team effort: As the semester comes to a close, BC departments say collaborations were key in protecting campus from COVID-19

New this semester: BC First, a living and learning community dedicated to first-generation students

BC announces partnership with Service to School VetLink program

University web redesign project concludes

Oceans in peril, humans at risk: Widespread ocean pollution threatens the health of more than 3 billion people, international study led by Boston College researchers shows

Emine Fetvaci named Calderwood Professor in Islamic and Asian Art

From Saint C's to BC: The partnership school in Brighton is emerging as a new "nest" for future Boston College Eagles

Simulation offers global public health lessons: BC undergraduates enrolled in Global Public Health Law took part in multilateral negotiations surrounding the World Health Organization’s COVID-19 response

BC Professor G. Robert Meyerhoff named fellow of the American Mathematical Society

The Color of Creatorship: New book by BC faculty member Anjali Vats traces intersections between racism and U.S. intellectual property law

BC Endeavor to feature Pfizer VP, double Eagle Yolanda Lyle

A (virtual) hand to hold: As children’s mental health issues rise, alumna Kelly English helps launch a digital resource center where parents can learn and take action

14 feel-good moments from 2020

BC News Archive: 2020

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