October 20, 2015
News in Brief
Campus Ministry students, staff see pope in Philadelphia
When Pope Francis made his first visit to the United States in September, 50 students from Campus Ministry traveled to Philadelphia to see him.
The trip was organized by Andrew Butler ’16 (Riverside, R.I.) and Daniel Isabel ’16 (Riverside, R.I.). Joining the students were Assistant Chaplain Rev. Peter Martyr Yungwirth, O.P.; campus ministers Sister Anne Klein, O.P. and Heidi Fraitzl ’14; and Rev. Philip Neri Reese, O.P. and Rev. Ambrose Little, O.P., both visiting instructors of philosophy.
Dr. Sandra T. Keating, associate professor of theology, attended an interfaith service with the pope at the 9/11 Memorial and Museum in New York City. She was part of a group of about 150 people who listened to prayers from the pope and representatives of world religions. Cardinal Timothy Dolan, archbishop of New York, invited Keating to participate because of her work with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Catholic-Muslim Dialogue Group.
Alumni in Washington, New York, and Philadelphia saw the pope as well. One of them was Elise Italiano ’06, who reported on his visit to New York as part of her work as director of communications for the Diocese of Arlington, Va.
Notre Dame philosopher serving as Rev. Robert J. Randall Professor
Dr. David Solomon, a philosophy professor at the University of Notre Dame who founded its Notre Dame Arts and Letters/ Science Honors Program, is serving as the 12th Rev. Robert J. Randall Distinguished Professor in Christian Culture for the fall semester.
Solomon, who studies contemporary moral philosophy and medical ethics, has been a National Endowment for the Humanities Research Fellow, a Milbank Research Fellow, a University Research Fellow at Oxford University, and a Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Ethics, Philosophy and Public Affairs at St. Andrews University. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Baylor University and a doctorate from the University of Texas.
Justice author Sandel discusses book during Academic Convocation
Dr. Michael J. Sandel, author of Justice: What’s the Right Thing to Do? (Farrar, Straus and Giroux; 2010), the 2015-16 academic year’s Common Reading Program selection for the College, discussed his book with the Class of 2019, faculty, and staff at Academic Convocation. Sandel, a professor of political philosophy at Harvard University, signed copies of the book and participated in a question-and-answer session after the address.
At the event, the College also welcomed 30 new full-time faculty members and acknowledged Dr. T.J. Harper, associate professor of music, who is this year’s recipient of the Joseph R. Accinno Faculty Teaching Award, PC’s top teaching honor.
Costello awarded three NSF grants
Dr. John H. Costello, professor of biology, and his research team — which includes Dr. Sean P. Colin ’93, professor of environmental science at Roger Williams University — received three grants totaling more than $466,000 from the National Science Foundation (NSF).
They received a $227,722 grant to study how jellyfish use fluid motion to capture prey and to define rules of jellyfish propulsion that apply generally to the more than 1,000 species that exist. In addition, they will use a $123,890 grant to study whether rules of propulsion for jellyfish and plankton can be applied to other swimming and flying animals. The researchers hope to establish principles that could be applied to vehicle design.
With $114,999, the team will develop diver-assisted technology so it can apply its laboratory methods underwater to study processes that affect the health of the ocean and wildlife.
College joins physician assistant program
PC graduates who meet requirements can take advantage of preferred admission to the two-year Physician Assistant Studies Program offered by Johnson & Wales University. Physician assistants perform many medical tasks, including examinations, prescribing medication, and diagnosing illness. To qualify for the master’s degree program, graduates must have a GPA of 3.3 or higher and get a recommendation from a science professor at the College. They also must take required science courses and the GRE, and complete 250 direct patient hours and shadowing hours.
SCE introduces Professional Studies Program
The College’s School of Continuing Education (SCE) has a new opportunity for working professionals to earn a résumé-boosting certificate along with a bachelor’s degree through its new Bachelor of Arts in Professional Studies Program. Certificate options include accounting, business, leadership, management, pre-med/pre-health professions, organizational communication, and teaching (secondary and middle school). Most certificates require five courses.
PC establishes study abroad partnership in social work
Through a new agreement with the Center for Global Education and Experience at Augsburg College in Minneapolis, Minn., social work majors from PC will be able to study abroad in Cuernavaca, Mexico, beginning in 2016. PC faculty will be able to serve as faculty directors of the program as well.
Dr. Hugh F. Lena, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs, said the agreement “expands our (study abroad) offerings in Latin America and extends our relationship to a new set of Midwestern colleges and universities.”
The agreement makes PC part of the Bachelor of Social Work Consortium with Augsburg and 11 other colleges.
