Holy Cross Announces Eight New Faculty Hires

Posted on October 15, 2015 by Sarah Barrett '18

New faculty hiresIn her annual address to the College for the 2015-16 academic year, Margaret Freije, vice president for academic affairs and dean of the College, announced the hiring of eight new faculty members. These new faculty members include an endowed chair, three new tenure-track professors and four postdoctoral teaching fellows:

Faisal Baluch (assistant professor, political science) earned his Ph.D. in political science from the University of Notre Dame, his M.A. in political science from the University of Houston, his M.A. in applied finance from the University of Western Sydney, and his B.A. in economics and finance from the University of Mauritius. His research interests include political theory, international relations, and comparative politics. Baluch served as the Charles Carroll Postdoctoral Teaching Fellow at Holy Cross for the last two years, teaching classes in the political science department and Montserrat, a universal living and learning program for first-year students.

Danilo Antonio Contreras (postdoctoral teaching fellow, Center for Interdisciplinary Studies) is a Ph.D. candidate in government at the University of Texas at Austin and holds a B.A. in government and Spanish from Georgetown University. His research and teaching interests include race and ethnic politics in Latin America, Dominico-Haitian relations, immigration in the Americas, and U.S. Latino Politics. Previously, Contreras was the Gaius Charles Bolin Fellow in political science at Williams College. He was recently recognized as an Emerging Diversity Scholar from the National Center for Institutional Diversity at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor.

Alexander S. Duff (Veritas Postdoctoral Teaching Fellow, political science) earned his Ph.D. in political theory and American politics from the University of Notre Dame and his M.A. in political science and a bachelor of humanities (B. Hum.) from Carleton University in Ontario. Duff previously worked as a visiting assistant professor at Skidmore College and Boston College, teaching political theory, political thought, and constitutionalism. He is the author of a forthcoming book titled “Heidegger and Politics: The Ontology of Radical Discontent” (Cambridge University Press). Duff’s articles have also been featured in the Review of Politics, American Review of Canadian Studies, and the Review of Metaphysics.

Richard E. La Fleur (Bishop James A. Healy Postdoctoral Teaching Fellow, psychology) earned his Ph.D., M.A. and B.A. in psychology from the University of West Georgia. La Fleur previously worked as an instructor at the University of West Georgia, teaching abnormal psychology and human growth and development. His research interests include post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, and disturbances of self-identity among combat zone veterans. In addition to teaching, La Fleur worked as a clinical assessor at Pro-Active Management Consulting and as a pastoral counselor at Mount Paran Church, both in Atlanta.

Ashley Ruth Miller (assistant professor, economics and accounting) earned her Ph.D. and M.A. in economics from Princeton University and her B.S. in mathematics from the University of Chicago. Her research interests include education, labor, and public finance. Miller comes to Holy Cross from Mount Holyoke College, where she taught from 2012-15. She previously served as a senior analyst in the social and economic policy division of Abt Associates in Cambridge, Mass. Miller received the Towbes Prize for Outstanding Teaching in 2007 and 2010 and the Industrial Relations Section Fellowship, both from Princeton University.

Olena Mykhaylova (assistant professor, economics and accounting) earned her Ph.D. and M.A. in economics from Georgetown University and her B.A. in economics, mathematics, and chemistry from Lakeland College. Mykhaylova worked as an assistant professor of economics at the University of Richmond from 2008-15. Her research interests include open economy macroeconomics, international capital movements, and monetary policy. Her work has appeared in the Journal of Housing Economics, The B.E. Journal of Macroeconomics, and the Journal of International Economics, among others. Mykhaylova has presented her work on the housing market, financial liberalization, and monetary policy at conferences around the world.

Jean Ouédraogo (Eleanor Howard O’Leary Chair in French/Francophonic Culture, professor, modern languages and literatures) earned his Ph.D. in romance languages from The University of Georgia and his M.A. in French. Ouedraogo previously worked as a professor at the State University of New York College, teaching foreign languages and literature. His areas of interest and research include, African and Caribbean Francophone literatures and cultures and the study of Ahmadou Kourouma. He is the author of “Maryse Condé et Ahmadou Kourouma: Griots de l’indicible” (Peter Lang International, 2004). His articles and book reviews have been featured in The French Review special issues, Etudes Francophones, and L’Annuaire théâtral: Revue Québécoise d’Études théâtrales. Ouedrago was recently awarded a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Grant for teaching and research. He is currently spending the 2015-16 academic year in Burkina Faso in West Africa.

Christopher Edward Rhodes (Bishop James. A. Healy Postdoctoral Teaching Fellow, political science) earned his Ph.D., M.A. and B.A. in government from Harvard University. His research interests include comparative African politics and political economy of religion. Previously, he served as a teaching fellow at Harvard, where he taught on topics such as African and African American studies, the Cold War and international relations. He also received the Jennifer Oppenheimer Graduate Fellowship and the Graduate Fellowship in Political Economy from Harvard.

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‘American schools are modeled after factories and treat students like widgets. Right? Wrong.’

Posted on October 15, 2015 by Holy Cross in the News

Jack SchneiderJack Schneider, assistant professor of education at the College of the Holy Cross, takes over Valerie Strauss’ Washington Post “Answer Sheet” column to look at the truth behind the “factory model” theory and whether school design is really the cause of student disengagement and inadequate learning.

Schneider argues that schools are not actually modeled after a factory. “That’s an invented history full of errors and omissions. It illustrates very little knowledge of how actual factories operated. And it happens to totally disregard the evolutionary changes that have taken place over the past several hundred years,” he writes.

He explains that engaging students in deep learning requires the cultivation of environments of trust and care. “It means finding adequate space for play and for hard work. It means nudging and cajoling students, pestering and praising them. It means uncovering puzzles and conjuring mysteries. It means drawing connections to student interests, engaging with the real world, and cracking the occasional joke. Masterful teachers know this. And their classrooms are places of wonder. No observer would ever liken them to factories,” he continues.

Schneider says schools are more like gardens than they are like factories.  “And great gardens aren’t the result of modernist design or entrepreneurial innovation. They are products of attention, devotion, and love. They are complex systems that demand our time and respond to our care. And in a thousand different blooms, they reward us with their beauty.”

This “Holy Cross in the News” item by Cristal Steuer. 

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With $1.5M in NSF Funding, Holy Cross Professor Makes Student Research Opportunities a Priority

Posted on October 15, 2015 by Evangelia Stefanakos

Ken_Mills2

For Kenneth Mills, professor of chemistry at Holy Cross, standing with his students — whether in the lab or at national conferences — is an essential part of his vocation.

“It is important that students see their faculty as active scholars alongside them,” he says. “I want to make sure that what we are asking them to do in the teaching and research labs is an authentic experience.”

Mills was recently awarded a three-year $748,000 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to continue his research on protein splicing and the structure and stability of thermophilic inteins. This funding falls in line with a series of uninterrupted grants from the NSF — totaling more than $1.5 million — in support of his research. Mills, who received the Mary Louise Marfuggi Award for Outstanding Scholarship at Holy Cross in 2013, has continued making scientific strides right here on campus since joining the chemistry faculty and being named the co-chair of the biochemistry concentration in 2001.

In tandem with backing Mills’ research, the grant allows for the continuation of cutting-edge undergraduate research opportunities for students on campus. And for Mills, that is a priority. He has mentored more than 50 undergraduate students in his research lab during his 14 years at the College, which has produced 25 publications, many of which have included student co-authors and appeared in peer-reviewed publications.

Mills’ excellence in bringing the teacher-scholar model to life has not gone unnoticed. In 2015, he was named a Cottrell Scholar by the Research Corporation for Science Advancement, which recognized him for the excellence and innovation in his research program and academic leadership skills.

We sat down with Mills to hear his perspective on the grant, his research, and how students fit into it all:

The grant’s impact: “The funding for the grant is a recognition of the hard work and accomplishments of my student researchers. It will allow us to purchase needed supplies, as well as fund summer research opportunities for Holy Cross undergraduates. My research students will be able to travel to national meetings of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology to present the results of their work—one of my students won a best poster competition  last year.”

Students as researchers: “Being at the interface of biology and chemistry, some research students start their experience not knowing how to use the basic tools of our research lab. However, over nine weeks in the summer all students are generating data and contributing to the labs’ projects. Students are very much involved with each stage of the “doing” of the project, each with their own hypothesis-driven research.”

The research, in a nutshell: “We are interested in studying enzymes from extremophiles. The enzymes we study are from archaebacteria that occupy unusual environments: deep sea thermal vents that are at high temperature and pressure in one case, or hypersaline lakes in another. These conditions would irreversibly damage proteins from humans or regular bacteria. We are interested in how the structures of these enzymes are stabilized and how they maintain activity under these conditions.

“The enzymes we study are inteins, which are proteins that interrupt other proteins. They catalyze their own removal from the flanking proteins and the ligation of the flanking proteins, much like a scene from a reel of film splicing itself out. We are interested in how this reaction works and if it could serve to regulate the activity of the interrupted proteins.”

A scholar and educator: “Having faculty members (and students) who are active scholars presenting the results of their work at national meetings and in the peer-reviewed literature of professional societies encourages students to be participants in science, and to be engaged in what is ‘now’ and ‘tomorrow,’ not just what has already made the textbooks.”

An invitation to explore: “Many students I work with in my lab are on the pre-health track and for some, the research experience reinforces that calling, while for others, it opens new paths. One former pre-health student reported back during medical school that his training in the lab helped him to think through challenging problems and patients in the wards. Others have continued to investigate various aspects of health in graduate school while training toward their Ph.D.’s in biochemistry.”

Advice for future scientists: “Don’t be afraid to take a risk: take the hard class, go abroad, get involved in research early, ask important questions. Great discoveries are made by those with the courage to risk failing.”

Related Information:

Visit the chemistry, biochemistry, and celebrating science web pages for more information.

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Grant Awarded to Holy Cross Professor Has Worcester Elementary Students Reaching for the STARS

Posted on October 14, 2015 by Kelly Ethier

Florencia Anggoro and Benjamin JeeFlorencia Anggoro, assistant professor of psychology at the College of the Holy Cross, has been awarded a two-year grant of $311,139 from the Department of Education – Institute of Education Sciences, along with her colleague Benjamin Jee, assistant professor of psychology at Worcester State University. The research project titled “When STARS Align: Exploring Spatial Thinking And Relational Scaffolding (STARS) in Elementary Astronomy” examines cognitive factors that support student learning in elementary astronomy. Anggoro and her team of 10 Holy Cross student researchers are working with third-graders at Worcester Public Schools and community centers, including Quinsigamond School, Tatnuck Magnet School, The Goddard School of Science and Technology and Girls Incorporated of Worcester. Anggoro’s team is exploring ways to help students understand the day-night cycle, including everyday phenomena such as sunrise and sunset. Specifically, they are testing instructional approaches that support students’ thinking about spatial relationships in astronomy—where objects are in space and how they relate to one another.

“We believe Worcester Public School students will benefit from this project,” says Anggoro. “The students that we are working with are mostly from underrepresented populations in the City. The research study is providing students with the opportunity to engage in a rich science learning experience that few students get exposed to. During after school hours, students are receiving individualized, technology-enhanced instruction that is informed by cutting edge research in cognitive science.”

Anggoro hopes that by students learning these concepts early on in their education, it will provide a strong foundation for future learning in astronomy, such as seasonal change, as well as other related topics including climate change and global warming. Anggoro says, “What’s unique about this project is that the instruction is done by supporting students’ spatial thinking skills — perspective taking in particular — skills that have been shown to predict success in STEM disciplines.”

Students will engage in hands-on activities that are designed to make learning fun and will include embodying Earth, drawing, and modeling. Throughout the STARS program the students will discuss and compare different spatial perspectives of the day-night cycle; for example, students will compare what sunrise looks like from Earth and from outer space using videos captured by head-mounted, first-person cameras (showing the Earth-based perspective), as well as third-person cameras (showing the space-based perspective). The program will include 112 students in the first-year and 104 in the second-year. At the end of the lessons, students will be tested to assess their learning.

Carmen Garcia, a third-grade teacher at Quinsigamond School, is thankful for the opportunity her students have to work with Holy Cross students in the STARS program. She says, “The extra time to accomplish standard based third-grade curriculum experiments and activities is valuable, as often we don’t have time to complete them throughout the academic year.” The proof for Garcia that this study is having a positive effect on her students is hearing them express enthusiasm about attending the program and watching them participate in new discoveries. For Garcia, there is no greater reward than hearing students say “Wow, I am starting to love science!” or “I didn’t know science was so much fun!”

A second goal of the project is to examine the contribution of vocabulary and spatial skills in student learning. A great deal of research has shown that vocabulary is related to academic success. “What new research is uncovering is that spatial thinking skills may uniquely contribute to STEM learning, over and above vocabulary ability,” adds Anggoro.

The benefits of the study have a much higher reach than elementary school students alone. There are eight Holy Cross student research assistants who are in their second, third, and fourth-year at the College involved in the project, as well as two first-year students who are shadowing the upperclassmen. Anggoro and Jee have expertly trained the research assistants to run the study sessions, which are quite complex. The students administer standardized tests of vocabulary and spatial skills, conduct interviews on third- graders’ astronomy knowledge, work with the study materials and technology, and teach the astronomy content itself. The day-to-day activities of the students in the project consist of learning how to conduct the research procedures in the “real world.” This includes participant recruitment and data collection—which can be both challenging and fun when children are involved—as well as time spent in the lab working with data. “I am grateful that this grant offers psychology students the opportunity to get involved in an interdisciplinary research project at the intersection of cognitive development and education,” says Anggoro. “It is important that they not only are learning the procedures, but also are deeply understanding the theoretical motivation for the study and its potential impact.”

Caitlin Murphy ’16, a psychology major at Holy Cross from Foxborough, Mass. is the lead research assistant in the program. She says, “Working in Professor Anggoro’s lab has served as a capstone for my academic experience.” Murphy explains, “Throughout my involvement in the STARS project, I have had the pleasure of testing and teaching a fantastic group of third-graders. Their excitement about the project and their love of science is truly infectious. Their constant curiosity and willingness to learn keeps us motivated to collect solid, conclusive data.” Murphy hopes that the findings from the study will influence the way in which future students learn and process STEM material.

The goal of Anggoro’s research is twofold: to test the theory that viewing and comparing different perspectives of astronomical events will help students understand the day-night cycle, and to measure the relationship between children’s spatial thinking abilities and their learning of astronomy. The STARS lessons incorporates several important components— embodied cognition, analogical comparison, and perspective taking. Anggoro and her team believe that these cognitive factors will help students achieve the learning goals.

Anggoro feels that her study could not come at a better time as the Obama administration and the Department of Education has made STEM education a priority in schools throughout the U.S. “From a developmental psychology perspective, we know a great deal about how children think and learn, but often these findings are not tested in authentic educational settings,” Anggoro explains. “We’re excited to be supported by the Institute of Education Sciences, who have prioritized the integration of cognitive science in education.”

The day-night cycle has been taught to elementary students for many years in curriculums throughout the world. Research out of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics has shown that the day-to-day observations of the sky lead us to believe what we think we see. However, it is not always scientifically accurate. Over the years, research has shown that even the brightest students coming from the most prestigious educational backgrounds share common misconceptions about the solar system. Anggoro wants her study to identify ways for elementary-age students to develop a coherent understanding of basic astronomy, and she also hopes that this experience will spark an interest in the students to pursue further studies in STEM.

Media Coverage
Telegram & Gazette, Oct. 21: A place in the sun: Federally funded study helps Worcester kids grasp astronomy

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Twenty Candidates Announced for 2016 Bob Cousy Award

Posted on October 13, 2015 by Cristal Steuer

Bob Cousy Award The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced today the 20 watch list finalists for the 2016 Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award presented by College of the Holy Cross. Named after Hall of Famer and former Boston Celtic and Holy Cross guard Bob Cousy ’50, the annual honor now in its 13th year recognizes the top point guards in Division I men’s college basketball. A national committee comprised of top college basketball personnel determined the watch list of 20 candidates.

“The athletes on this list represent the most dedicated and skillful point guards in college basketball,” said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame.  “They exhibit many of the characteristics that made Mr. Cousy such a successful player and we are pleased to be recognizing them for their accomplishments. We thank College of Holy Cross for their continued support of this esteemed award.”

Bob Cousy played for Holy Cross from 1946-1950 winning an NCAA Championship in 1947. He was named a Consensus First-Team All-American in 1950. His success continued at the professional level as a six-time NBA Champion (1957, 1959-1963), NBA Most Valuable Player (1957) and 13-time NBA All-Star (1951-63). In 1996, he was named a member of the NBA’s 50th Anniversary All-Time Team.

By mid-February, the watch list of 20 players for the 2016 Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award will be narrowed to just 10. In March, five finalists will be presented to Cousy and the Hall of Fame’s selection committee.  The winner of the 2016 Bob Cousy Award will be presented at the ESPN College Basketball Awards Show live from Club Nokia in Los Angeles, Calif.,  on Friday, April 8, 2016. Broadcast information will be released at a later date.

Previous winners of the Bob Cousy Award include Delon Wright, Utah (2015), Shabazz Napier, Connecticut (2014), Trey Burke, Michigan (2013), Kendall Marshall, North Carolina (2012), Kemba Walker, Connecticut (2011), Greivis Vasquez, Maryland (2010), Ty Lawson, North Carolina (2009), DJ Augustin, Texas (2008), Acie Law, Texas A & M (2007), Dee Brown, Illinois (2006), Raymond Felton, North Carolina (2005) and Jameer Nelson, St. Joseph’s (2004).

This is the second year in a row the College is sponsoring the award.

For more information on the 2016 Bob Cousy Award presented by College of the Holy Cross, log onto www.CousyAward.com.

2016 Bob Cousy Award presented by College of the Holy Cross Candidates

Kyle Collinsworth, Brigham Young University
Tyrone Wallace, California
Maodo Lo, Columbia
Xavier Rathan-Mayes, Florida State
D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera, Georgetown
Juan’ya Green, Hofstra
Yogi Ferrell, Indiana
Monte Morris, Iowa State
Frank Mason, Kansas
Tyler Ulis, Kentucky
Melo Trimble, Maryland
Marcus Paige, North Carolina
Demetrius Jackson, Notre Dame
Gary Payton, Jr., Oregon State
Kris Dunn, Providence
Carson Puriefoy, Stony Brook
Jalen Brunson, Villanova
Ryan Arcidiacono, Villanova
Fred VanVleet, Wichita State
Bronson Koenig, Wisconsin

Related Information

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John’s Brothers Thriving for 15 Years

Posted on October 9, 2015 by College of the Holy Cross

men's lacross players particpate in Rodman RideFor the past 15 years, the Holy Cross men’s lacrosse team has participated in the Big Brothers Big Sisters Program in honor of its teammate John Price. In 2000, Price died suddenly, leaving his team and the Holy Cross Community too soon. Price was named a captain after his junior season and shortly before his death. A religious studies major, Price dedicated much of his time to community service and planned on working as a lawyer in the field of human rights. In his honor, the lacrosse team started John’s Brothers, which serves each week at the Canterbury School in Worcester. Every member of the team works directly with their “little” with whom they play games and tutor.

The team and the kids at Canterbury enjoy their time together each week. The men’s lacrosse program raises $10,000 each year to support the Canterbury School’s after-school program. This year they surpassed their goal and raised over $15,000. In order to receive donations, the team participated in the Rodman Ride for Kids, a local gift matching charity that focuses on social service organizations that aids children in Massachusetts. The money raised at the Rodman Ride will go to various charities that support local children, one of which being the Big Brothers Big Sisters Program. On Sept. 26, 22 players rode 25 miles each in the Rodman Ride while the rest of the team volunteered by giving out water and cheered on the riders.

The event evokes excitement from the team. “My favorite part is the overall atmosphere of the event,” said Nate Chung ’18 from Wyckoff, N.J. “There are hundreds of people present from all over the area, from different schools, companies and organizations, all there for a similar reason. This communal sense of helping others creates a positive energy that can easily be felt walking around the grounds or riding in the race.”

Read the full story on GoHolyCross.com.

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‘College Town: Holy Cross team donates filled book bags for kids in court’

Posted on October 9, 2015 by Holy Cross in the News

CASAThe College of the Holy Cross’ women’s field hockey team delivered more than 50 book bags filled with school supplies for children coming through Worcester Juvenile Court. The children, whether as victims or innocent bystanders in stressed families, often lack many material things, including basic school supplies and book bags. Featured in the Telegram & Gazette, the players were asked to assemble the bags by the Court-Appointed Special Advocates for Children (CASA). The non-profit organization is committed to speaking for the best interests of abused and neglected children in the Worcester County Courts.

The court has handled more than 1,100 child abuses cases in the past 21 months and more than 2,000 children have been placed in foster care, Juvenile Court Judge Carol A. Erskine, told the Telegram.

The Holy Cross players have been called on to help CASA in the past. Kathryn Nutting ’17 shared with the Telegram how the players have donated more than 1,000 books to the children’s library at the court. “For both projects, we incorporated it into our sport,” said Nutting. “We did a school support drive at two of our home games.” She describes how the project was very special to her, her mother having worked for CASA for 10 years.

The book bags were filled with essential school supplies for both younger and older children, such as crayons and glues sticks or notebooks and pencil cases. “You might not think that it’s a huge thing,” Erskine said, “but it’s a huge thing for these kids.”

This “Holy Cross in the news” item is by Emma Collins ’16

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Cantor Art Gallery’s Exhibit on Hurricane Katrina Featured in Worcester Living Magazine

Posted on October 8, 2015 by Holy Cross in the News

CantorGallery_JMarshall_AdamAndEveweb

The Cantor Art Gallery at the College of the Holy Cross is featured in Worcester Living Magazine’s “10 Years Anniversary Issue.”  The article, “Bearing Witness,” focuses on the gallery’s current exhibition: “Katrina Then and Now: Artists as Witness.” The exhibition reflects on the 10 years following Hurricane Katrina’s impact on New Orleans.

Roger Hankins, director of the Cantor Art Gallery, explains how the exhibit is broken into two parts in order to focus what he calls the “exhibition narrative” into chapters. The first part focuses on the hurricane and immediate aftermath, subtitled “Documenting, Describing and Dealing with Disaster” and will be open to the public until Oct. 10. The second part, subtitled “The Rebirth of Art” will be on view in the gallery from Oct. 22-Dec.18.

Daina Cheyenne Harvey, assistant professor of sociology at the College with personal ties to New Orleans, came up with the idea of bringing works by New Orleans artists to Holy Cross while working to help rebuild the Lower Ninth Ward, where the worst of Katrina’s flooding and devastation took place. Joining with Susan Rodgers, a colleague and professor of sociology and anthropology, Harvey had a change of heart about bringing an artistic perspective to the story of Katrina. “Then I thought that maybe this would be a really unique and maybe fun way to show what was going on in New Orleans,” he is quoted saying in the article, “rather than the suffering and the pain and loss and abandonment that I’d been writing about.”

Harvey continues “[The artists] were very eager to talk about it [Hurricane Katina]. It seemed the city was finally ready to reflect upon it, particularly because the 10th anniversary was coming up and people were beginning to take stock of where they were and how they had moved on.”

Harvey believes the exhibition’s visual message of hope amid catastrophic loss and despair will come through in a direct way to the public and, especially, his students. “I can have them read my books and articles and things like that but this tells the story in a completely different way, in a more accessible way” he said.

Related Information

This “Holy Cross in the news” item is by Emma Collins ’16

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Daniel Ricciardi Named Among Top 30 University Endowment Investors In Hedge Funds

Posted on October 8, 2015 by Holy Cross in the News

ricciardiDaniel P. Ricciardi ’06, investment officer at the College of the Holy Cross, was named to Trusted Insight’s list of the “Top 30 University Endowment Investors in Hedge Funds.” Starting out as an analyst in 2008 for the College, Ricciardi became an investment officer and oversaw a $730 million endowment as part of a three person team.

Ricciardi graduated from Holy Cross with a degree in history and the initial intention of becoming a history professor. But he decided he wanted to gain experience outside the academic world before pursing his Ph.D., which ultimately led to his decision to work in finance. He tells Trusted Insight, “I wanted to experience something outside the role of being a history professor, so I worked at BNY Mellon for a couple of years and discovered that I loved financial services. That was a surprise.”

Ricciardi teaches a class for non-finance majors at the College with the specific intention of “translating the language of finance to the langue of liberal arts.” He discusses his focus on the long-term horizons of investment as well as the hedge fund money in global equity assets. When asked what he looked for in a hedge fund manager, Ricciardi replies “we’re interested in their long-term strategy, investment philosophy and firm culture. Our best managers are always curious about how we see the world and view the relationship as a partnership, not as a source of funding.”

Living by Holy Cross’ mission, “Men and women for and with others,” Ricciardi discusses how important service is to him, “My brother is autistic, and that been a very important part of my life.  I’m an advocate for people with disabilities.” He is proud of the service Holy Cross provides to communities and urban developments, such as tutoring. Ricciardi’s sense of service can even be heard in his comment on the pope’s visit to New York, in which he told Trusted Insight “Jesuits have a commitment to help the world’s poor and suffering, and it’s wonderful to see the head of the church really exemplifying that.”

This “Holy Cross in the news” item is by Emma Collins ’16

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Holy Cross Shortstop and Boston Red Sox Draft Pick Nick Lovullo ’16 Featured in The Boston Globe

Posted on October 8, 2015 by Holy Cross in the News

Nick LuvolloNick Lovullo, a College of the Holy Cross senior and son of the Boston Red Sox interim manager Torey Lovullo, discusses his relationship with baseball and his father after being drafted in the 34th round for the Red Sox in June. The Globe calls Luvollo “a slick-fielding shortstop” who “led the Crusaders with a .410 on-base percentage last spring.”

“I was kind of speechless,” Lovullo told the Globe when he learned he had been drafted. “Shocked.  It was right before a game. Our athletic trainer said, ‘Congratulations, that’s awesome.’ I said, ‘What’s going on?’”

Lovullo ultimately made the decision to stay at Holy Cross and finish his degrees, maintaining a 3.0 GPA, before going on to achieve his dream of playing in the major leagues. “You’re definitely looked at differently,” he says, following the draft announcement. “You’re held to a different standard.  Sometimes you’re having a bad game but you can’t show it.  You have to respect the game.”

Lovullo accredits his father’s advice for his work ethic: “The main thing I learned from Dad is always play the game hard…You’re going to have your ups, you’re going to have your downs.  Stay consistent, even-keeled. Don’t let it get to the point where it controls your life. Enjoy every second of it.”

Lovullo will graduate from Holy Cross in May with a B.A. in economics and history. “He’s brilliant,” says his father. “He was reluctant to stay.  He wanted to start his dream, and I told him, ‘It’ll be there in another year…’”

This “Holy Cross in the news” item is by Emma Collins ’16

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Pulitzer Prize-Winning Couple Kristof and WuDunn to Give Annual Hanify-Howland Lecture at Holy Cross

Posted on October 7, 2015 by Cristal Steuer

kristof_wudunnThe 50th annual Hanify-Howland Memorial Lecture will be given by husband-and-wife duo Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn on Tuesday, Nov. 3 at 8 p.m. in the Hogan Campus Center Ballroom at the College of the Holy Cross. The lecture, which recognizes individuals who have distinguished themselves in the realm of public service in honor of Edward Hanify, a member of the graduating class of 1904, and Weston Howland, will address challenges facing America today. The talk, titled “Why Students Should Care About the World—& Change It,” is free and open to the public.

Husband-and-wife duo Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn are journalists and focus on a unique brand of reporting centered on human rights abuses and advocacy. They are the first married couple to win a Pulitzer Prize in journalism for their coverage of China’s Tiananmen Square democracy movement; they co-wrote “China Wakes: The Struggle for the Soul of a Rising Power” (Vintage, 1995) and penned the best-selling “Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide” (Vintage, 2009). Addressing worldwide maltreatment, marginalization, and brutality towards women, “Half the Sky” draws a compelling picture of the trials and triumphs of women struggling for opportunity and equality. Called “electrifying” by The Washington Post, the book inspired a special four-hour PBS series of the same name. Their most recent book, “A Path Appears: Transforming Lives, Creating Opportunity” (Knopf, 2014), is a narrative about making a difference in the U.S. and abroad— a road map to becoming an effective global citizen.

A two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist for The New York Times, Kristof is often called a “reporter’s reporter” and was the subject of the 2009 Sundance Film Festival documentary “Reporter.” He has lived on four continents, reported on six, and traveled to 140 countries, all 50 states, every Chinese province, and every main Japanese island in order to offer a compassionate glimpse into global health, poverty, and gender in the developing world. As part of the “Half the Sky” documentary series, Kristof travelled around the world along with celebrity activists America Ferrera, Diane Lane, Eva Mendes, Meg Ryan, Gabrielle Union, and Olivia Wilde to meet inspiring individuals confronting the global oppression of women.

The first Asian American to win a Pulitzer Prize, WuDunn is a business executive, entrepreneur, and best-selling author. She has special expertise in Asia, entrepreneurship, global women’s issues, and philanthropy. As an investment banker, she currently helps growth companies, including those operating in the fields of new media technology, entertainment, social media, healthcare, and the emerging markets, particularly China. In conjunction with “Half the Sky,” she helped launch the development of a robust multimedia effort, creating a thoughtful, effective philanthropic strategy that includes an online social game for Facebook, the PBS documentary series, and outreach with many Nongovernmental organization.

Since 1965, the Hanify-Howland lecture series has brought a host of distinguished speakers to Holy Cross who have exemplified in their work the spirit of public service that the series was established to encourage. Past speakers include astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, retired Lieutenant General Brent Scowcroft, U.S. Air Force; Clarence Thomas ’71, associate justice of the United States; Ruth Wedgwood, director of the Program in International Law and Organizations at Johns Hopkins University; investigative journalist Bob Woodward; Steven D. Levitt, co-author of the bestselling books “Freakonomics”(Harper, 2009) and “Superfreakonomics” (Harper, 2011); award-winning journalist Soledad O’Brien; and Governor Jon Huntsman.

In keeping with the traditional practice of the Hanify-Howland Series, Kristof and WuDunn will conduct a seminar on campus, which will allow students to interact with the speakers in an intimate and intellectually stimulating environment.

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Ambassador Thomas ’78 Visits Political Science Class

Posted on October 7, 2015 by College of the Holy Cross

HarryThomasAmbassador Harry K. Thomas Jr. ’78, who was nominated by President Barack Obama in July to be the U.S. ambassador to Zimbabwe, began his Homecoming Weekend by speaking to students in Professor Christopher Rhodes’ Introduction to Comparative Politics class on September 25.

Thomas majored in political science at Holy Cross and earned an M.A. in urban planning from Columbia University before working as a foreign service officer for more than 30 years, including serving as U.S. Ambassador to Bangladesh and the Philippines and working closely with then-National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice at the White House.

Ambassador Thomas drew upon his diplomatic experiences in his talk, focusing on the politics and cultures of India and Nigeria, two countries which students have been studying in Prof. Rhodes’ class and where Ambassador Thomas served early in his career.

Several students joined the Ambassador for lunch after the talk. “Students greatly enjoyed Ambassador Thomas’s dynamic, interactive presentations and frank conversations about global politics,” said Christopher Rhodes, Bishop James A. Healy Postdoctoral Teaching Fellow in the political science department.

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New Mobile-Friendly Alumni and Campaign Websites Launch

Posted on October 6, 2015 by Amy Kotsopoulos

gatesThe Become More campaign website launched on Sept. 30. The site serves as the informational hub for all campaign news and updates, and it succinctly describes campaign objectives, goals and progress.

The web pages feature bold, artistic photography of the campus and College community. The site’s navigation is organized around six priorities: Inspiring Creative Teaching and Learning; Living Our Faith; Advancing Success, Leadership and Citizenship; Empowering Athletics, Health and Wellness; Enabling Access, Diversity and Affordability; and Sustaining Our Future, Our Mission, Our Vision.

News stories, photo galleries, videos as well as donor and beneficiary testimonials can be found throughout the site. As the campaign progresses, the website will include time-lapse video and photos documenting progress on the facility projects — the Thomas P. Joyce ’59 Contemplative Center, the Hart Center and Field House, and the Prior Arts Center — as well as updated news, donor and impact stories. The Become More campaign is the largest in Holy Cross history, with a $400 million goal.

In addition to the campaign site, the Holy Cross Alumni web pages have received a fresh new face to reflect the look of the College’s recently launched mobile-friendly website. The alumni pages feature larger and bolder photography, improved navigation and easier access to the online alumni community. To report any problems or errors on the new sites, submit your feedback to Amy Kotsopoulos.

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Best-Selling Author Julianna Baggott’s ‘Harriet Wolf’s Seventh Book of Wonders’ Receives Rave Reviews

Posted on October 6, 2015 by Emma Collins '16

Julianna-BaggottCritically acclaimed author and the William H.P. Jenks Chair in Contemporary American Letters at the College of the Holy Cross Julianna Baggott’s latest novel “Harriet Wolf’s Seventh Book of Wonders” has been called by the New York Times “intricate” and “tenderhearted.”

Released by Little, Brown and Company in August, the book has received rave reviews from the New York Times, Baltimore Sun, Entertainment Weekly, was named an “Editors’ Choice” by the New York Times and AudioFile Magazine, where it also won an Earphones Award. No. 1 New York Times bestselling author of “Orphan Train” Christina Baker Kline calls the book “inventive, playful, and deeply affecting.”

“Harriet Wolf’s Seventh Book of Wonders” tells the story of its title character, Harriet, a famed, reclusive author, daughter, Eleanor, and her granddaughters, Tilton and Ruth.  After releasing six bestselling award-winning novels, Harriet’s highly anticipated seventh novel was never published despite urgent calls by her cultish readers. Nearing the end of her life, Harriet secretly writes one last book to tell “a different kind of truth, a truthful kind of lie,” knowing it might never be found. Baggott spent nearly two decades writing “Harriet Wolf’s Seventh Book of Wonders” and calls the book “secretly literary,” its narrative alternating between the voices of four women across three generations.  The Baltimore Sun praises her style saying, “Baggott is one of those writers  who seems as much at home in popular culture as she does in the circles of the rarefied elite.”

Baggott is also the New York Times best-selling author of “Girl Talk” (Pocket Books, 2001).  A prolific writer, she also writes under the pen names Bridget Asher and N.E. Bode and has released more than 20 books in the past 12 years.  Her novel “Pure” (Grand Central Publishing, 2012) won the ALA Alex Award and was a New York Times Notable Book of the Year in 2012

Baggott teaches an intermediate level fiction workshop at Holy Cross and co-founded the nonprofit organization “Kids in Need – Books in Deed” with her husband, David Scott, in 2006.

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Photo Gallery, Video: Campus Conversations and Discussion Connect Students with Distinguished Alumni

Posted on October 6, 2015 by Evangelia Stefanakos

On Sept. 18, students had the special opportunity to hear from and interact with the five alumni selected as this year’s Sanctae Crucis honorees—individuals who are leaders in business, professional or civic life; who live by the highest intellectual and ethical standards; and who are committed to the service of faith and promotion of justice. The Sanctae Crucis Award is the highest non-degree recognition bestowed by the College upon graduates who continue to live out the Holy Cross mission well after graduation.

The alumni, honored in the evening at the 19th annual Sanctae Crucis awards presentation in the Hogan Ballroom, were: David G. Butler, M.D. ’61, physician specializing in obstetrics and gynecology in private practice, in addition to conducting annual medical missions in the Haitian village of Milot for the past 23 years; Shannon C. Carroll ’92, president and CEO of Genesis Center in Providence, R.I., serving immigrants, refugees and low-income families; Joan Hogan Gillman ’85, executive vice president and chief operating officer of media services at Time Warner Cable; William K. Olsen, Jr. ’86, principal of Rutland High School in Rutland, Vt.; and Rev. John H. Vaughn ’82, executive vice president of Auburn Theological Seminary.

During the day, the recipients participated in a series of on campus events, including a panel discussion moderated by Tracy Barlok, vice president of advancement. The panel was followed by seminar-style conversations led by each recipient where students and faculty got an inside look into the lives and career paths of the alumni and how their Holy Cross education served as a foundation for later success.

More coverage about the awards ceremony and the honorees will appear in the winter issue of Holy Cross Magazine.

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Submit Nominations

Do you know a Holy Cross graduate who has an exemplary record of professional achievement or community service? The College is soliciting nominations for next year.

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Award-Winning Writer and Journalist to Give Lecture on the Limits of Freedom Under the Putin Administration

Posted on October 2, 2015 by Emma Collins '16

Dmitry BykovDmitry Bykov, award-winning writer and journalist from Russia, will be speaking at the College of the Holy Cross on the limits of freedom under the Putin administration on Monday, Oct. 5 at 5 p.m. in Stein 133. The event is free and open to the public.

Bykov studied at Moscow State University’s Faculty of Journalism. A prolific writer, his works include poetry, fiction, and biographies. He is a co-founder of the “Citizen Poet” project which showcases satirical political poetry.

In 2006, Bykov’s biography on Boris Pasternak (Young Guard, 2008) won the National Bestseller and Big Book awards. He won the National Bestseller award again in 2011 for “Ostromov, or the Sorcerer’s Apprentice” (PROZAiK, 2010), a novel about Freemasons in Leningrad during the 1920s which was shortlisted for the 2011 Big Book award. In addition to “Ostromov,” Bykov has published seven novels, three volumes of essays, and eight collections of poetry.

Bykov is also the creative editor of the Sobesednik newspaper and often appears on television and radio. He has hosted numerous programs including “The City Show with Dmitry Bykov.” The New World journal reviewer Nikita Eliseev called Bykov “one of Russia’s most colorful contemporary writers,” and that his [Bykov’s] dream is to write the great Russian novel of the early 21st century.

This event is sponsored by the Russian program, Russian and East European Studies, and Peace and Conflict Studies.

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Film Based on Leah Hager Cohen’s Novel ‘The Grief of Others’ to be Shown at Holy Cross

Posted on October 2, 2015 by Emma Collins '16

Leah Hager CohenThe Working Writers Series at the College of the Holy Cross will present two screenings of the film “The Grief of Others.” The film is based on the book “The Grief of Others” (Riverhead Books, 2011) written by critically acclaimed author Leah Hager Cohen, the James N. and Sarah L. O’Rielly Barrett Professor in Creative Writing at the College. The events will take place in Seelos Theatre on Oct. 21 at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Patrick Wang, who wrote and directed the film, will join Cohen after each screening to discuss the film and offer a behind the scenes perspective with the audience.

“Every time I hear Patrick speak I learn something new,” Cohen says, “not just about the film or the process of translating text into moving image and sound, but about art itself, and how it can guide our learning about our own humanity.”

The feature film chronicles the life of a family struggling with a tragic loss when an unexpected visitor arrives. The guest stirs up the pain and emotion of past betrayals but also conjures an unforseen gift: an outlet for the family to awaken from sadness. “The Grief of Others” cast includes Rachel Dratch (“Saturday Night Live”), Wendy Moniz, and Trevor St. John (“One Life to Live”). This past spring, “The Grief of Others” premiered nationally at the South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Festival in Austin, TX, and internationally at the Cannes Film Festival.

“I’m grateful to the College for supporting the work by bringing both the film and the filmmaker to campus,” Cohen says, looking forward to the events. “The post-screening discussions should be especially vibrant.”

“The Grief of Others” was long-listed for the Orange Prize; selected as a New York Times Notable Book; and touted as one of the best books of the year by the San Francisco Chronicle, Kirkus Reviews, and Globe and Mail.

Cohen has published several novels including “No Book but the World” (Riverhead Books, 2014) and “Heart, You Bully, You Punk” (Penguin Books, 2003). She has received nominations for the IMPAC Dublin International Literary Award and the Dayton Literary Peace Prize. She is also a frequent contributor to the New York Times Book review.

Director Wang’s first film, “In the Family,” was nominated for the 2012 Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature and was screened at the College in 2012.

The events are also sponsored by the Barrett Chair in Creative Writing, Arts Transcending Borders, and the Seelos Film Series.

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Holy Cross to Celebrate Family Weekend Oct. 23-25

Posted on October 1, 2015 by College of the Holy Cross

DanceEnsembleAs fall settles in on the Hill, preparations are underway for Family Weekend 2015. Holy Cross is excited to welcome parents, grandparents, siblings, and other family members to campus Oct. 23-25.

“The weekend will be a great opportunity for Crusader families to connect and enjoy the beautiful fall season on Mount St. James,” says Cathleen Doane, associate director of Student Involvement and director of Orientation and Transition. “There are a variety of activities planned throughout the weekend for all ages.”

Highlights include:

  • President’s Hour: Join Rev. Philip L. Boroughs, S.J., president of the College, and his leadership team for an informative discussion about the College and current initiatives.
  • Athletic competitions: Cheer on our dedicated student-athletes.
  • Crusaders Against Cancer 5K: Participate in this inaugural morning road race on campus.
  • Performances: Attend one of the many performances scheduled throughout the weekend showcasing an array of student talent.
  • Art exhibitions: Explore art both on campus at the Cantor Art Gallery — “Katrina Then & Now: Artists as Witness” is the exhibition currently on view — and off campus at the Worcester Art Museum.
  • Worship: Join us for Catholic Mass or the Protestant Interdenominational Service.

For the complete schedule, more information, and to register online, please visit the Family Weekend website or call the Office of Student Involvement at 508-793-3487. Online registration will close Friday, Oct. 16. On-site registration will be available Oct. 23 and 24.

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Discussion Series to Continue Campus Dialogue on Social Injustices and Solidarity

Posted on October 1, 2015 by College of the Holy Cross

CampusConversationsThis semester, the College of the Holy Cross will be hosting a four-part discussion series, titled “Campus Conversations: Social Justice and Solidarity – Community Voices Heard,” aimed to address the complex issues that have surfaced between law enforcement, and the legal and justice systems as they relate to the black community. These dialogues continue the larger conversations happening at the national level around the #BlackLivesMatter movement.

In keeping with the College’s Mission inviting all members of the community to join in dialogue around issues of justice, this series will include panel discussions featuring members of the Holy Cross community, as well as community leaders from Worcester and Boston. The goal of the series is to offer an informative, balanced, and multi-perspective response to the issues addressed.

The first panel discussion, titled “PART I, Black Males: Vulnerability and Victimization,” took place on Sept. 30 and featured representatives from the Department of Public Safety, the Worcester County District Attorney Office, the local Attorney General Office, and the Department of Justice Boston office. The panel also included Don Xenos ’82, assistant district attorney for Worcester County, and Lance Madden ’18. It was moderated by Michael West, associate professor of history.

The second panel discussion, titled “Part II, Black Females: Invisible and Voiceless,” was held on Oct. 29 and addressed viewpoints on issues affecting black females. The panel included: Virginia Coakley, associate chaplain and director of Protestant and ALANA ministries at the College; Yvesh’a Bellevue ’16; Gloria D. Hall, historic preservation researcher and interpreter; Brianna Turner ’11, CBMI coordinator and outpatient clinician at the Multicultural Wellness Center; and April English, deputy division chief, insurance and unemployment fraud division, at the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office. It was moderated by Kendra Fulwood, visiting assistant English professor at the College.

The third panel discussion, titled “Part III, In the Line of Fire: Wearing the Blue,” will take place on Nov. 9 from 4 – 6 p.m. in Hogan Suites B/C, and will address law enforcement issues impacting the black community. The discussion will begin with opening remarks from Melissa F. Weiner, associate professor of sociology, titled “Race and Policing: A Brief History,” followed by conversation between the panelists and attendees.

The semester-long series will continue with the following program:

  • Monday, Nov. 30: PART IV, The Black Community: Where Do We Go From Here?

The events are sponsored by the Office of Multicultural Education and are open to the campus community. For more information, please contact Mable Millner, associate dean of students for diversity and inclusion and director of the office of multicultural education, at 508-793-2669.

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‘A Sea Change in Admissions?’

Posted on October 1, 2015 by Holy Cross in the News

mcdermottThe College of the Holy Cross is one of 80 colleges and universities that have joined the Coalition for Access, Affordability, and Success. The Coalition is dedicated to improving the college admission application process for all students by working together to develop a free platform of online tools that will help streamline the experience of planning for and applying to college.

Ann McDermott, director of admissions at Holy Cross, wrote a piece for Inside Higher Ed about what the College hopes to accomplish with this new admissions system.  She writes, “too many talented students are opting out of or severely limiting their college search because of the perception that a college is out of their and their family’s financial reach.”

McDermott writes about how students will be able to build a digital portfolio early in their high school career. “I am excited that the application process promises to be a resource for first-generation college students and those from underrepresented groups or low-income households,” she writes. “For example, a student from a low-income background can now use the collaborative platform to invite mentors, advisers, a parent and others to engage in a dialogue. They can provide feedback directly on the platform and let the student know if what he or she is producing is on the right track. I see enormous possibilities for students in these groups to be empowered by the options and flexibility this platform will provide. I also hope that starting earlier in the process will give them a college mind-set.”

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This “Holy Cross in the News item” by Emma Collins ’16.

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