THE NEWSLETTER OF THE GABELLI PRESIDENTIAL SCHOLARS PROGRAM, BOSTON COLLEGE Volume XXIII, Issue 2 Winter 2019 Class of 2022 Takes in the Sites of Rome, Italy

Photo: Jennie Thomas By Will Riherd ’22 convent and school, the Santa Lucia P.M. to witness the daily unveiling On Saturday, March 2nd, Filippini is ideally situated in the of the luminous, silver altar of the GPSP class of 2022 arrived in heart of Rome and is only a five Saint Ignatius. The unveiling of the Rome. Alongside Professor Bailey minute walk from the Pantheon, the altar rivaled the remarkable sunset and Jennie Thomas, the group Piazza Navonna, as well as the site atop the Piazza del Campidoglio was greeted by Father Keenan, of Julius Caesar’s murder. After the group enjoyed later that night. S.J., who is teaching a semester conversing with Roman nuns in the Capping off the day, the Scholars at the Gregorian University. After convent, Fr. Keenan led a walking enjoyed their first Italian meal–a being reunited with Fr. Keenan, tour to the Piazza Navonna where family-style array of pizzas and the Scholars arrived at their home the group witnessed the famous pastas at Er Faciolaro. for the week, the Santa Lucia Bernini Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi. After an exciting Filippini. A renovated 17th-century For the majority of the Scholars, this introduction to Rome, Fr. Keenan was their first ever close-up view of led the Scholars to a lesser known Inside... one of Bernini’s works. Leaving artifact of the city–the rooms of St. GPSP Alumni Spotlight.....p.5 the plaza, they entered “the mother Ignatius. From there, they made church of the Jesuits,” the Gesu, their way to the Church of Saint 2019 SSJP...... p.6 one of the most memorable sites Ignatius, known for its false cupola, of the week. Timing it perfectly, which is only noticeable when Class of 2021 Costa Rica...p.7 Fr. Keenan ensured the group standing directly below. After a arrived precisely at 5:30 Con’t on page 2 Italy con’t from page 1 walk to the top of the Bellarmino, Photo: Jennie Thomas Fr. Keenan’s Roman residence, the Scholars enjoyed an expansive view of the city from the palace’s rooftop terrace, which confirmed the flat roof of the Church of St. Ignatius. Afterward, the group had freedom to roam the city for the rest of day. The next day, the group reconvened and traveled to Vatican City to enter St. Peter’s Basilica, a long-anticipated moment. Outside of the Basilica, Fr. Keenan pointed the Scholars’ attention to one of the most subtle yet extraordinary aspects of St. Peter’s square: stopping at a small, hardly noticeable black and white marker, the class one-by-one observed Bernini’s famous illusion in which most of the pillars in the square seem to disappear. Returning early to Vatican City the next day, the Scholars visited the Vatican Museum, enjoyed the arts of the Sistine Chapel, and scaled St Peter’s dome. Afterwards, they met with a leader of the San Egidio community–a worldwide movement of lay people committed to solidarity and the reduction of poverty. For the Scholars, the meeting echoed the Jesuit call to be “men and women for others,” sparking conversation about their upcoming volunteer plans for the summer PULSE Program. Continuing the conversation at dinner, the Scholars enjoyed a meal at Fr. Keenan’s favorite Roman restaurant, Casa Bleve; amidst its spectacular setting and creative dishes, the restaurant earned a ten out of ten on Fr. Keenan’s rating scale. The cultural excursion continued with a memorable trip to Photo: Grace Christenson

Con’t on page 3 2 Photo: Molly Funk descended through the structural timeline, they were amazed by the ability to transcend centuries in the matter of minutes. Later in the afternoon, after time on their own to explore the Colosseum and Roman Forum, the Scholars went to the Gregorian University, passed the Quirinale Palace, and visited the San Andrea al Quirinale–an intimate, oval-shaped Bernini church that highlights Baroque architecture. For their last day, the Scholars spent the afternoon at the Borghese museum. There they listened to Fr. Keenan’s description of Caravaggio’s use of realism and light in his Madonna dei Palafrenieri. The Scholars then made a stop at the Ara Pacis Augustae–an altar to Pax, the Roman Goddess of Peace. Echoing the words of the San Egidio community, the altar would ingrain a connection between the Scholars and Rome, one that would forever manifest itself in their efforts toward peace, solidarity, and common humanity in the future. With excitement, the Scholars enjoyed their final taste of Italy at L’Arcano restaurant, before completing the trip with a slow walk past the brightly lit Pantheon. For five days, Rome served as the backdrop for the Scholars’ first the Basilica San Clemente–a three-tiered complex international excursion as a class–a long anticipated and of buildings. A villa, church, and basilica, each built on exciting opportunity for many to visit Europe for the first top of the other, beginning with a 1st century Roman Villa, time. an early 4th century Christian church above, and then a 12th century basilica on ground level. As the Scholars

Photo: Grace Christenson Photo: Grace Christenson

3 GPSP Selection Process Week

Photo: Sarah Gregorian By Jakob Weiss ’22 Braving polar vortex temperatures, a talented cohort of 46 high school seniors traveled from around the world to the Heights on Wednesday, January 30, marking the beginning of the 2019 Gabelli Presidential Scholars Program Selection Process (GPSPSP). Over the course of their three-night stay at BC, the finalists followed demanding schedules complete with presentations, interviews, seminars, panels, handshakes, and much more. As prospies arrived on Seniors enjoy their last GPSPSP Welcome Dinner. the morning and afternoon of qualities and suitability for the trivia competition. Wednesday, January 30, they were Program. Some prospies also On Saturday morning, the greeted in the admissions office attended classes with Scholars in prospies reconvened one final time in Devlin Hall by a handful of their free time. The day ended with in the Yawkey Center for the closing current Scholars. A few Scholars the traditional dinner which featured brunch. Prof. Bailey and Jennie took prospies who had arrived GPSP alumnus Bill Clerico ’07 Thomas gave thanks to the attendees early to lunch at McElroy before as the speaker. Scholars stated his and to the Scholars, commending entrusting them to Luke Murphy speech inspired them to reflect on them on a successful few days. The ’20 and Trevor Jones ’20 for an their experiences. prospies departed for home, filled engaging tour of the campus. Friday saw the completion with impressions of BC and GPSP. Wednesday evening’s highlights of interviews, group conversations, Despite some changes from were the famous pizza dinner in the and seminars. The Student past iterations of the GPSPSP, admissions office, at which prospies Perspectives Panel provided the 2019 Selection Process was could meet their hosts and each insight into the impact of student a resounding success, thanks to other, and the even more famous involvement at BC. In the early the hard work and leadership open house dessert social, also evening, the prospies departed of Prof. Bailey, Jennie Thomas, held in the admissions office, much for Boston with some Scholars, Sarah Gregorian and their partners to everyone’s delight. As always relieved at having completed their in the office of Undergraduate there were ice breaker games and demanding schedule. The group’s Admissions, Grant Gosselin, and questions, orchestrated by the first stop this year was to a new Sue Migliorisi. As in every year, aforementioned duo of tour guides. venue, Lucky Strikes, a relaxed and the current Scholars, as well as Thursday began with a spacious restaurant where a buffet Program staff and BC faculty, presentation about the Program dinner was served among pool enjoyed meeting potential members by co-director Prof. Bailey. The tables and dart boards. The group of the next cohort of Scholars. rest of the day’s schedule was then continued on to Boston Opera The prospies, in turn, enjoyed individualized for each prospective House, where they saw a showing of the Program’s hospitality and the Scholar, with a mix of faculty Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. chance to become acquainted with and admissions interviews, group Upon returning to BC, the prospies the GPSP. conversations, and seminars joined current Scholars in Gasson designed to offer valuable Hall for ice cream and an engaging perspectives on her or his personal

4 Alumni Spotlight, GPSP Selection Week Dinner: Bill Clerico ’07

Photo: Sarah Gregorian of experiencing failure for the first time in Professor Bailey’s Fundamental Concepts of Politics class. Reflecting on his easy success in high school, and the stark contrast to what he encountered in this class, he shared that received the lowest grade in his “entire life” from Professor Bailey: a D on the midterm, before managing to bring it up to a C+ in the class. For Clerico, Professor Bailey’s class became a humbling experience, ingraining in him a sense of perseverance and hard work. Clerico went on to elaborate Photo: Shaan Bijwadia about his extracurricular activities during his college years, such as By Gabriela Prostko ’22 He described meeting and making his experience with the BC chapter On January 31, prospective friends with a diverse group of of the American Red Cross, where students, current Scholars, faculty, people for the first time here, and he learned about leadership, staff, and alumni came together for how they became his life-long persuasion, and motivating others, the annual GPSP Selection Process friends, adding that he was going as well as his experience as welcome dinner featuring GPSP skiing with his college friends soon. Baldwin the Eagle, which taught alumnus Bill Clerico ’07. Speaking Perhaps the most important person him how to entertain people and only briefly of the company he BC gave him, he noted, was his make them laugh. He cited both founded, WePay, with his fellow wife, whom he met at their five- of these skill sets as incredibly P-Scholar Rich Aberman, Clerico year class reunion. He urged the valuable to a CEO, even though promised “not to bore” the crowd prospective students to look around, he may not have realized it at the with talk of integrated payment noting that he would bet that the time. He noted that even further, processing. Instead, Clerico focused people they met within the past 24 BC taught him how to be a good on Boston College and the GPSP, hours would go on to shape their business leader in teaching him specifically what the two meant to lives in a “really meaningful way.” ethics and to how approach ethical him. He opened up with a nostalgic Clerico also focused on problems. Overall, he reflected story of arriving at his own propsie the ways in which the experiences upon the lessons he learned at BC weekend, sixteen years ago, and he had at BC impacted him as and how they still influence him. sitting down in Logan Airport next an individual and in terms of the Clerico closed his speech to someone he did not know at the communities he belonged to. He with a bit of advice. He urged time, but who would eventually also claimed his experiences set everyone to think of college as become his college roommate, him up for success later on; he an investment of time, money, business partner, and co-founder mused they were the “perfect set of thought, and energy; he encouraged in WePay. Elaborating on this later experiences to take [him] to where everyone to look at that time on in his speech, he drove home [he is] today,” but at the time they through the lens of finding a place the idea that the people he met here were all about experimenting and to help you become the person you at BC became the most important meeting new people. want to be and a community you people to him later on in his life. He shared a brief story want to be a part of.

5 SSJP 2021: The Geography of Opportunity

By Aroub Yousuf ’22 inequalities that they witnessed community about the obstacle at A recurring motif within during their summer placements, hand so that individuals would be the GPSP is a focus on social the Class of ’21 decided to focus more inclined to address it. The justice, with the Sophomore on how where one lives impacts Class of ’21 saw their work come Social Justice Project serving as one’s opportunities, specifically to fruition with the Geography a culmination of the mission, as access to education, affordable of Opportunity Panel that hosted its purpose is to facilitate us on housing, and transportation. some of the most knowledgeable the journey towards becoming At the Dover Retreat back individuals within the fields of men and women for others. The in August, the sophomores gave housing, transportation, and urban sophomore class has the task and a presentation to the rest of the planning, specifically with the privilege of putting their minds Scholars about their proposed Greater Boston Area. together to identify and raise plan and took suggestions from On Tuesday, October awareness of a social injustice that many of the upperclassmen and 30 at 7:00 p.m., many students they believe is prevalent in society freshmen alike. Their ultimate goal and faculty gathered in Gasson today. After reflecting upon the was to inform the Boston College Hall, to hear a discussion on the issue. The panelists were Angela Johnson, Transportation Justice T H E G A B E L L I P R E S I D E N T I A L Organizer at Transportation S C H O L A R S C L A S S O F 2 0 2 1 for MA, Barry Bluestone, the P R E S E N T Founding Director of the Dukakis Center for Urban and Regional Policy, and Dominique Williams, THE GEOGRAPHY the Deputy Director of the Office of Housing Stability for the City of Boston. The discussion was OF OPPORTUNITY moderated by Amy Glasmeier, the Professor of Economic Geography A SOCIAL JUSTICE PANEL EXPLORING PUBLIC and Regional Planning at the MIT POLICY & ACTIVISM Department of Urban Studies and Planning. The panelists started by introducing themselves and MODERATED BY AMY GLASMEIER continued to provide insight on the PROFESSOR OF ECONOMIC GEOGRAPHY & REGIONAL PLANNING @ MIT DEPARTMENT OF URBAN STUDIES & PLANNING root of the issue of the geography of opportunity, later proposing WITH SPEAKERS ideas for ways in which we can be more aware of the problem at a BARRY BLUESTONE grassroots level. FOUNDING DIRECTOR @ DUKAKIS CENTER URBAN & REGIONAL POLICY The discussion began with Dr. Glasmeier refuting a claim DOMONIQUE WILLIAMS Photo: Meg Loughman made by previous generations DEPUTY DIRECTOR @ OFFICE OF HOUSING STABILITY, CITY OF BOSTON that hard work will inevitably ANGELA JOHNSON manifest itself in success. She TRANSPORTATION JUSTICE ORGANIZER highlighted the deficits within @ TRANSPORTATION FOR MA this statement, beginning with the lack of equal opportunity of many TUESDAY, OCTOBER 30 Americans that is rooted in their GASSON 100 | 7:00 - 8:00 PM place of residence. Dominique Sponsored by UGBC, 4Boston, History Department, Theology Department, and Faith, Williams corroborated QUESTIONS? CONTACT [email protected] Peace, & Justice Department Con’t on page 9 6 Sophomore Class Explores Development in San Jose, Costa Rica

Photo: Kathleen Bailey

By Raffi Toghramadjian ’21 met Elisa Vanegas, their tour met Professor Cynthia Mora, During the final week of guide from the Center for Global who spoke about immigration, winter break the Class of 2021, Education, and traveled to the emphasizing Costa Rica’s along with co-directors Professor hotel to settle in and prepare for welcoming attitude toward Bailey and Fr. Keenan, traveled the week ahead. The next morning immigrants and migrants to Costa Rica to learn about the began with a presentation by attempting to travel through country’s history and development. José Rojas, who spoke about the the country on their way to the While sophomore classes have history of Costa Rican politics United States. The Scholars then traditionally visited Nicaragua, and his role in founding Coalición traveled to the Universidad Bíblica the current crisis precipitated by Costa Rica—a citizens’ group Latinoamericana, where they President Daniel Ortega’s violent that mobilizes voters while also met with representatives from a response to protests against his lobbying to support policies that women’s network, who discussed Sandinista government forced this better reflected the views of its the progress they had made in year’s trip to be relocated to Costa members. The sophomores then connecting women with resources Rica. In contrast to Nicaragua, met Professor Carmen Hutchison, need to promote entrepreneurship Costa Rica has long stood out as an who discussed the history of race in and sustainable development. example of successful development Costa Rica as well as her personal Tuesday ended on a more somber in a region historically marked experiences as a Black woman note, with presentations about the by high levels of social and living in Costa Rica. After a break Nicaraguan crisis by Elisa, and political unrest. While maintaining for lunch, the Scholars got their Nicaraguan Luis Elena Estrada, the Program’s relationship to first taste of San Jose on a tour of who was forced to flee to Costa Nicaragua to the extent possible the downtown area—including Rica. Through these two talks under the circumstances, the the splendid National Theater and the sophomores learned about sophomore class also had the its historic market—guided by the extreme challenges facing opportunity to forge connections in historian Noelia Fernandez. Nicaragua. a new country. Tuesday opened with a The next day focused After touching down in trip to the National University of on Costa Rica’s economic San Jose on Sunday, the Scholars Costa Rica, where the Scholars development, as the sophomores

Con’t on page 8 7 Costa Rica con’t from page 7 met with a representative from Photo: Sara Samir the Costa Rican Investment Promotion Agency (CINDE), a non-governmental organization that helps encourage international companies to invest in Costa Rica. After learning about the macroeconomic side to Costa Rica’s economic success, the class traveled to Cartago, Costa Rica’s former capital, to learn about efforts to encourage economic development on a local scale. Following a brief tour of the city center and lunch, the students met and showed them around. in recent years. On the tour, the with Grameen, a microfinance On Friday, the class sophomores saw the beautiful organization that offers loans traveled to Doka Coffee Estate, architecture and the maker-space, to female entrepreneurs. The where they learned about the complete with 3D-Printers, of sophomores received an overview history and process of coffee the newly built SIFAIS, a school of Grameen’s work and then spoke production in Costa Rica, which, that offers free classes in a wide with three women who have started until recently, was the country’s variety of subjects to people of all and grown their own businesses most important export. Along with ages. Along with the recently built with Grameen’s support. The day the educational aspect of the visit, primary school, SIFAIS embodied offered the Scholars the chance to the sophomores enjoyed both the the community’s hope that they see two very different approaches coffee they sampled, as well as the can improve the future for their to development and to reflect on stunning views of the mountains children even as they struggle to the complementary roles they play. surrounding the coffee plantation. overcome the challenges they face Thursday started with a After returning to the hotel for a today. presentation delivered by Johnny relaxing afternoon, the sophomores On Sunday, the Class Rosales on Costa Rica’s immense had dinner with artists—both Costa of 2021 returned to Boston. biodiversity and the challenges Ricans and Nicaraguans—who Over the course of their visit, its wildlife faces as the country discussed their art and experiences. the sophomores learned about continues to develop. Johnny then The class was struck by the story of Costa Rica’s history and culture, accompanied the sophomores to Gabriel Benavente, a Nicaraguan and perhaps more importantly, Prusia National Park, where the artist whose art became a powerful created lasting relationships with students saw the nature of Costa symbol of protest against the the people they met. Throughout Rica first hand, although without Ortega government. the entire trip, the students were their guide, who had generously On the last full day of amazed by the hospitality extended stayed behind to help replace a flat the trip, the sophomores visited to them, especially by Alvaro tire on the bus. After returning to La Carpio, a poor neighborhood Fernández, the owner of the hotel’s San Jose, the Class of 2021 met comprised mostly of immigrants restaurant, along with the many with Dr. Alejandro Madrigal, who located next to the San Jose dump, others who warmly welcomed offered insight into Costa Rica’s where they heard from Bethel them into their businesses, homes, health system and discussed the Meza and her family who invited and communities. The trip also challenges within—many of which them into their home and took gave the sophomores the unique were very similar to the challenges them on a tour of the area. While opportunity to examine Costa of America’s health care system. they learned about the many Rica’s development and the many The sophomores finished the day at challenges the community faces, different areas that contribute to the the University of Costa Rica, where the sophomores were also inspired country’s success. While the trip they met with a group of students by the positive developments the may have only been a week, the who shared stories of campus life neighborhood has experienced Class of 2021 is sure to remember it for the rest of their lives. 8 Alumni Announcements Lynne Santoro Sullivan ’95 was Ari Daniel Shapiro ’01 and his Joe Zabinski ’10 joined OM1, a named regional executive editor for wife welcomed their second child, health analytics startup in Boston, The Standard-Times/SouthCoast son Raja, in October (2018) as Director of Data Solutions Media Group of New Beford, The Enterprise of Brockton, The Herald Hannah Nolan-Spohn ’05 was Colleen Maher Ernst ’11 started News of Fall River and the Taunton awarded the 2019 Debby Jannotta a new job as Deputy General Daily Gazette and Shirley Jaffee CFE Teacher of Counsel to Governor Ron DeSantis the Year Award in February, by the in January and is living in Erin Frey Pearson ’99 completed Chicago Foundation for Education Tallahassee her MPH from the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health Caroline Beimford ’10 got Elizabeth Fair ’12 received her in Chapel Hill this past December married in June (2018) to a fellow license to practice as a clinical (2018), and is now working as a BC 2010 alum, Josh Idaszak (with psychologist in December (2018) Postdoctoral Teaching Fellow at a sizeable PSP alum contingent in the North Carolina State University attendance), and in September she College of Veterinary Medicine in started as a lecturer of writing at Raleigh MIT

SSJP con’t from page 6 this statement by asserting that in Williams attended, received a only to find that Boston is one of her own experience, her ability significantly greater amount of the least equal cities in America. to have received an education in funding than the Roxbury public There are blatant disparities within an area that was different than schools, where she lived. the quality and accessibility of where her home was allowed her Barry Bluestone was next the public transportation system, to academically flourish, as she to speak, and he touched upon which motivated her to eventually proceeded to earn an undergraduate the geographic inequities within become a professional in this field. degree and attend law school. She Detroit. Once a flourishing city, All of the speakers offered said that the fact that her success it now consists of homes that some advice to the audience who was contingent upon the location have depreciated significantly in were now inspired to put an end to of her school was inherently value. The Black population lives this injustice including voting for unfair to the students who did mainly in the city while the white candidates on the local level who not receive the opportunity to population primarily migrated to have a genuine interest and drive to attend well-funded schools. The the tranquility of suburbs. Again, ameliorate these inequities. Many moderator went on to show the this segregation is intrinsically of the students left the discussion audience a graph that displayed related to education, with suburban feeling an intense motivation to the tremendous disparity of schools receiving better funding take action. Overall, the event was distribution of monetary resources than city schools due to the higher a great success, leaving a large to various public school districts, property taxes of the outskirts. group of individuals with a more and how it directly connects to Lastly, Johnson spoke holistic perspective on the sources the wealth of the area in which about how she was drawn to of inequality within our nation. the school operates. For example, Boston from Texas because of the Newton public schools, where the opportunities and city life,

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