Criminal Justice andPublic Safety InstituteBenefits EmergencyResponders

Saint Joseph’s University College of Arts and Sciences

Spring 2009CA&S Today

College of Arts and Sciences

The College of Arts and Sciences at Saint Joseph’sUniversity places a real emphasis on the value of a liberalarts education. That emphasis, the way I see it, couldn’tbe more important in our changing and shrinking world.

A businessman or woman who can’t acclimate tohis or her diverse workplace or who can’t decipherpropaganda in rhetoric is not in a position to be mosteffective at his/her job. We live in a global society andwithout understanding different cultures, religions,economies and traditions, we cannot function as global players.

In this issue of CA&S Today, you’ll learn aboutUniversity initiatives to strengthen relations among Jewsand Catholics, to bring experts together to discussenvironmental issues in Asia, and to extend learningbeyond the traditional classroom to real-life laboratoriesand virtual worlds. The cover story announces a neweffort to fuse two long-standing programs in criminaljustice and public safety under one institute. The result:a more collaborative approach to law enforcementand response.

People are multidimensional. We have intellectual,spiritual, moral and aesthetic sides to our personalities.The humanities open up all dimensions of the humanperson and, in doing so, inspire people who will pursuelearning throughout life. As Yeats said, “Education is notthe filling of a bucket, but the lighting of a fire.” Whatis perhaps most fulfilling about my position as dean ofthe College of Arts and Sciences is the opportunity affordedme every day to learn from my colleagues and ourstudents. It is, after all, why I chose this profession andwhy Saint Joseph’s University is such a perfect place tobe both an educator and a life-long learner.

William Madges, Ph.D., Dean

Letter from the Dean

DeanWilliam Madges, Ph.D.

Associate DeansPaul Aspan, Ph.D.Nancy Fox, Ph.D.Michael McCann, Ph.D. ’87

Actuarial Science, DirectorRichard A. Cavaliere, Ph.D.

Aerospace Studies (AFROTC), ChairLt. Col. Joan Y. Fourniere

American Studies, DirectorJeffrey Hyson, Ph.D.

Ancient Studies, DirectorAndrew Payne, Ph.D.

Asian Studies, DirectorDavid Carpenter, Ph.D.

Biology, ChairKaren Snetselaar, Ph.D.

Chemistry, ChairRoger K. Murray, Ph.D.

Classics, ChairMaria S. Marsilio, Ph.D.

Criminal Justice, DirectorRaquel Kennedy-Bergen, Ph.D. ’89

Economics, ChairGeorge A. Prendergast, Ph.D.

Education, ChairJeanne F. Brady, Ph.D.

English, ChairJo Alyson Parker, Ph.D.

Environmental Science, DirectorJean Smolen, Ph.D.

European and French Studies, DirectorThomas J. Donahue, Ph.D.

Faith-Justice Institute, DirectorVirginia Goulding Johnson, Ph.D.

Fine and Performing Arts, Acting ChairRenee Dobson, M.F.A.

Foreign Languages and Literatures,ChairMaria S. Marsilio, Ph.D.

Gender Studies, DirectorAnn E. Green, Ph.D.

History, ChairKatherine A.S. Sibley, Ph.D.

Honors Program, DirectorMaria S. Marsilio, Ph.D.

Interdisciplinary Health Care Ethics,DirectorPeter A. Clark, S.J. ’75

Interdisciplinary Health Services,ChairSara Black, Ph.D.

International Relations, DirectorNancy Fox, Ph.D.

Latin American Studies, DirectorRichard Warren, Ph.D.

Mathematics and Computer Science,ChairDavid Hecker, Ph.D.

Medieval/Renaissance/ReformationStudies, DirectorAlison Lewin, Ph.D.

Philosophy, ChairJulie M. McDonald, Ph.D.

Physics, ChairPaul Angiolillo, Ph.D.

Political Science, ChairLisa Baglione, Ph.D.

Psychology, ChairDonald Leitner, Ph.D.

Sociology, ChairRaquel Kennedy-Bergen, Ph.D. ’89

Theology, ChairShawn Madison Krahmer, Ph.D.

GRADUATE PROGRAMSAssociate DeanSabrina DeTurk, Ph.D.

Biology, DirectorJames Watrous, Ph.D.

Computer Science, DirectorJonathan Hodgson, Ph.D.

Criminal Justice, DirectorPatricia Griffin, M.S. ’81

Education, DirectorEncarna Rodriguez, Ph.D.

Environmental Protection and Safety Management, DirectorPatricia Griffin, M.S. ’81

Gerontological Services, DirectorCatherine Murray, Ph.D.

Health Administration, DirectorNakai G. Henderson, M.S. ’06

Health Education, DirectorNakai G. Henderson, M.S. ’06

Nurse Anesthesia, DirectorsJohn J. Newhouse, Ed.D. Joan Woods, C.R.N.A., M.S.Ed.

Psychology, DirectorJodi Mindell, Ph.D.

Public Safety Management, DirectorPatricia Griffin, M.S. ’81

Training and OrganizationalDevelopment, DirectorThomas N. Tavantzis, Ph.D.

Writing Studies, DirectorAnn E. Green, Ph.D.

2 | CA&S Today

On the cover: Lieutenant John W. Dougherty ’09 and Chief Fire Officer Charles J. McGarvey, Sr. ’08 apply their graduate studies in the field every day, working together to protect the Township of Lower Merion in Pennsylvania.

When 9/11 Commission member John F. Lehman’64 (B.S.), Ph.D., visited Saint Joseph’s University inSeptember 2005 to discuss the Commission’s findingsfrom the September 11 attacks, he strongly urged hisaudience to take action.

“We must do something with a unity of purpose,we must be prepared and we must prevent somethinglike this from ever happening again,” he warned. “Wedon’t have time to chew on the problem. We need tofocus our efforts now. There are very manageablethings we can do, and if we take a stand, we willprevail.”

Patricia Griffin ’81 (B.S.), the director of thegraduate criminal justice program at the time, was inattendance and felt as though Lehman was personallycalling on her to take initiative. Pooling Universityresources in the spirit of collaboration and exigency,Griffin has helped Saint Joseph’s create the CriminalJustice and Public Safety Institute, which now willhouse its graduate programs in criminal justice, publicsafety management, homeland security and environ-mental protection and safety management.

“After Lehman’s poignant address, we looked atthe strengths of these graduate programs, whileassessing the needs of law enforcement and publicsafety entities in the 21st century, and realized wehad the resources to do something significant,”said Griffin, the director of the new Institute.

Since their inception in 1980, thecriminal justice and public safety programshave developed a solid reputation within thelaw enforcement and public safety communi-ties. Housed in the College of Arts andSciences, the master’s in criminal justice degreehas expanded over the years to address the evolvingface of legal and law enforcement issues by developinga curriculum that emphasizes research and theory.

Former Director Vincent McNally Jr., Ph.D. ’71(B.A.), originally created the graduate public safetymanagement program and the graduate environmentalprotection and safety management program — bothhoused in the former Public Safety & EnvironmentalProtection Institute — to teach emergency profes-sionals to be more resourceful managers. McNallybelieved that, in addition to being physically capableof handling a disaster, they should also be betterequipped to administer incident response and evenwork to prevent future catastrophes.

“The public safety program serves the educa-tional needs of professionals directly involved inprotecting lives, property and the physical environ-ment in our society,” McNally said. This approachwill round out the Institute’s curriculum by intro-ducing criminal justice students, who may have moreof a criminology/sociology background, to crisismanagement methods.

Joan Fabrizio ’01 (B.A.), ’07 (M.S.), theInstitute’s administrator, said, “The September 11attacks brought to light that the U.S. is vulnerable toterrorism. Our graduate public safety programfocuses on teaching all emergency responders how tocooperate and manage not only homeland security,but all other emergencies.”

Griffin added, “As a preeminent Jesuit university,everything we do is mission-driven by cura personalis,magis and transformative social justice. Our curricu-lum provides the most comprehensive, diverse learningenvironment and meets the needs of each individual.”

She noted, “The Institute will continue to supportscholarly research, host symposia, and maintain along-standing tradition of providing preventionefforts and outreach in the community.”

Now housed in the University’s sociology depart-ment and backed by a diverse faculty with extensiveprofessional experience, the Institute seeks to furtheradvance SJU’s strong reputation and track record inboth areas. Griffin explained, “By merging theseprograms under the Institute, students will benefitfrom choosing electives to augment their under-standing of the multiple facets of the criminal justice

and public safety fields.”“I think it’s a great idea to unite the

programs, since there is a commonalitybetween both subjects,” said Jack Maxwell’90 (M.S.), adjunct professor of criminal

justice at SJU and a retired PhiladelphiaPolice Department chief of detectives. “I think

this will become a premier program underGriffin’s leadership. She’s dedicated to keeping it

up-to-date, relevant and intrinsically tied to theUniversity’s mission.”

“My time at Saint Joseph’s was among the mostpositive experiences in my entire public safety career,”said Tom Sullivan ’95 (M.S.), the director of publicsafety for Montgomery County, Pa. “I’m happy to seethese two programs come together; there’s the poten-tial for some real synergy in both fields.”

Among its present initiatives, the Institute willoffer courses in the areas of addictions, alternativedispute resolution, behavior analysis, homelandsecurity, fire safety management, federal lawenforcement, intelligence and crime analysis, policeexecutive management and restorative justice. Inaddition to the potential for growth in these high-demand fields, the Institute is working to expandits online course offerings and certificate programsas well. Courses are offered at the mainPhiladelphia campus, the Montgomery CountyIntermediate Unit, the Philadelphia PoliceAcademy and Ursinus College in Collegeville, Pa.The Institute is currently pursuing opportunitiesin Bucks County as well.

Spring 2009 | 3

New SJU Institute Strengthens Criminal Justice and Public Safety Initiatives

— Sarah (Whelehon) Hennessey ’07 (M.A.)

4 | CA&S Today

New Minors Connect Artsand Sciences with Business

Institute of Catholic BioethicsLaunches Master’s Program

A new graduate program at Saint Joseph’s will respondto growing concerns about ethical medicine in today’sworld. The master of arts in health care ethics, housed in theInstitute of Catholic Bioethics, is designed for individualsinvolved in the health care field in any capacity.

Current and future health care professionals, as well asthose who hold institutional positions in hospitals, nursinghomes or medical organizations will have the opportunity toengage in the ongoing dialogue about the role of ethics inmedical decision-making. Recruitment for the program is inprogress, and classes will begin in September 2009.

“Our master’s program provides a solid foundation inthe theoretical aspects of health care ethics and allowsstudents to apply course work in a clinical setting,” saidMark Aita, S.J., director of the program.

The Institute of Catholic Bioethics has a constituencythat includes professionals in health care, especially inPhiladelphia. “I believe there is a real need and demand inthe Philadelphia area for professional training in health careethics,” said Peter Clark, S.J. ’75 (B.A.), professor of theologyand director of the Institute. “The Saint Joseph’s master ofarts in health care ethics will address this critical need anddemand in both Catholic and secular hospitals.”

The program will offer courses relevant to issues inmodern health care, including “Aging in America,” “HealthEducation in HIV/AIDS,” and “Social Justice and Bioethics.”Graduates will have the opportunity to extend this concernfor ethics into the practical realm of health care.

To learn more about the program, contact Terri O’Dohertyat 610-660-3425, or via email at todohert@sju.edu.

Mathew Mathew, M.D. is assistant chief medical officer atMercy Catholic Medical Center in Philadelphia. He also serveson the advisory board for the Institute of Catholic Bioethicsand collaborates on research.

For an individual with a passion for music, refiningan artistic talent can supersede any inclination to developstrategic business skills. The same could be said of awriter or videographer. While struggling to think ofwords or images to express a thought or idea, theseindividuals may let creativity prevail over business sense.

The objective of two new minors at SJU is to bridgethese areas of study in the College of Arts and Sciences(CA&S) with business fundamentals offered by theUniversity’s Erivan K. Haub School of Business (HSB). TheUniversity has approved a music industry minor and aminor in communication studies for integration into thecurriculum beginning in fall 2009.

The music industry minor was developed to meet thegrowing needs in both schools for students who are inter-ested in careers in this field. The minor will provide fineand performing arts majors with the business and legalknowledge necessary for professional success.

“There is no question that the new music industryminor will be attractive to music students,” said SuzanneSorkin, Ph.D., assistant professor of performing arts.“The curriculum is a great meld of creative courseworkin music theory and composition with practical classes inmusic entertainment and marketing.”

Likewise, the minor will benefit HSB entertainmentmarketing majors by giving them a greater understandingand appreciation of music.

“The minor provides the business marketing studentwith an appreciation of the creative process that will allowthem to market it in such a way that would be difficultwithout this behind-the-curtain knowledge,” said DavidAllan, Ph.D. ’98 (M.B.A.), assistant professor of marketing.

Music industry minors will gain hands-on industryexperience prior to graduation by working with theUniversity’s record label.

“The minor provides the coursework, and the recordlabel is the lab,” said Allan, who advises the student-run label.

The minor in communication studies was designedfor students interested in public relations, advertising,print and broadcast journalism, convergent media,technical writing, business writing, writing for the Weband digital media production.

The minor is grounded by three core courses:Communication, Theory and Practice; Ethics andCommunication and a Communication Internship.Students will select three additional courses in marketing,English, fine and performing arts, linguistics, philosophyand/or theology.

According to Jenny Spinner, Ph.D., assistant professorof English, the best feature of this program is its emphasison ethics and social justice. “It’s something we felt wasimportant to the mission of the University, and it will setour program apart from other communications programs,”said Spinner.

Spring 2009 | 5

Philip A. Cunningham, Ph.D., a leader in Jewish-Christianrelations, has been appointed director of the Institute for Jewish-Catholic Relations (IJCR, formerly known as theJewish-Catholic Institute.) He succeeds founding directorDonald G. Clifford, S.J., who guided the Institute for fourdecades, and who will continue his association with the IJCR asdirector emeritus.

Cunningham began his tenure as a full-time professor oftheology in August 2008. His faculty appointment hasenabled him to enlarge the scope of the IJCR.

“I am delighted that SJU has chosen to intensify itsdecades-long commitment to Jewish-Catholic relations byestablishing the IJCR’s directorship as a theology facultyappointment,” Cunningham said. “The Jewish-Catholicdialogue has matured to the point that each community isrecognizing its own theological self-understanding is affectedby its relationship to the other. The resources of Catholicuniversities are needed in this regard now more than ever, andthe IJCR will make a vital contribution to this effort.”

During the 2008-09 academic year, Cunningham broughtinnovative interreligious programming to SJU. Rev. Dr. HanspeterHeinz, a prominent German Catholic priest, author andscholar, spoke on “Jewish-Catholic Relations in Germany in2008” in December. In February, the IJCR held a panel discus-sion on Pope Benedict XVI’s lifting of the excommunicationsof four bishops ordained in 1988 by the founder of the Societyof Saint Pius X, an organization that rejects Vatican II’secumenical outreach.

Other programming included “Religion, Politics andMoral Decision-Making” in September 2008, and in January2009, the Institute held a public dialogue surrounding“Contemporary Questions about Covenants and Conversion.”

Cunningham is a member of the Advisory Committee onCatholic-Jewish Relations for the United States Conference ofCatholic Bishops, and has served as a delegate for the Vaticanat international conferences about Catholic-Jewish relations.He is the author of numerous books, scholarly articles andprofessional papers, and is the founding executive director ofthe Center for Christian-Jewish Learning at Boston College, inChestnut Hill, Mass. Cunningham also maintains, in collabo-ration with the Council of Centers on Jewish-ChristianRelations, DIALOGIKA, an online library that chronicles theevolving conversation and relationship between the Christianand Jewish communities. DIALOGIKA provides a compre-hensive cyber-archive of official statements, historic documents,educational resources and current information.

Asian Studies Program Sponsors Conference on Asia’s Eco Plight“Asia and the Environment,” a

two-day interdisciplinary conference,brought experts in the environmentalchallenges facing Asia’s risingpowers — India and China — tocampus March 20-21, 2009.Sponsored by Saint Joseph’sUniversity’s Bernadette B. and JamesJ. Nealis III ’69 Program in AsianStudies, the conference was free andopen to the public.

The Honorable Kathleen A.McGinty ’85 (B.S.), former secretaryof the Pennsylvania Department ofEnvironmental Protection (DEP) andcurrent secretary of SJU’s Board ofTrustees, delivered the keynoteaddress — “Asia, the Environmentand Us” — which outlined why the

West has a vital stake in the success ofIndia’s and China’s environments andeconomies.

Conference organizer DavidCarpenter, Ph.D., director of theAsian studies program and associateprofessor of the history of religions atSaint Joseph’s, said that the success orfailure of attempts to deal with globalenvironmental problems may well bedecided in Asia, where unprecedentedeconomic growth has in turn beenmatched by unprecedented environ-mental devastation. “This conferencebrought together experts on India andChina to discuss some of the mostpressing environmental issues thatimpact the future of Asia and theworld,” added Carpenter.

New Leadership for Institute for Jewish-Catholic Relations

Nealis ’69, McGinty ’85 and Carpenter

Cunningham, (center) with panel participants Rev. Msgr. MichaelJ. Carroll, director of the Office of Ecumenical and InterreligiousAffairs, Archdiocese of Philadelphia, and (right), Rabbi Alan Iser,executive committee, Philadelphia Board of Rabbis.

NSF Grant to EnhanceMicroscopy

Invites Participation inInnovative Research Program

Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI), the nation’slargest private supporter of science education, has awarded SJU$1 million to fund multiple initiatives in the biology and physicsdepartments. The initiatives include interdisciplinary effortsbetween the two departments, undergraduate student research,faculty, curriculum and laboratory development and outreachprograms.

“This award will help us support many initiatives, includingthe integration of biology and physics education, so our studentscan understand and address the challenges and questions they willface as scientists of the future,” said Christina King Smith, Ph.D.,professor of biology and program director.

Faculty members of both departments will develop newcourses in biophysics and biomechanics. Existing courses in biologyand physics will be modified to enhance this integration.

To facilitate collaboration between the two departments, atenure track faculty position in biophysics will be created. “Theexpertise this new hire brings will be augmented by ourvisiting scholars program and a teaching postdoctoral fellowposition, because both programs will be broadened to includebiophysics,” added King-Smith.

In 1993, HHMI awarded the biology department $500,000for a faculty-mentored student research program — SJUSummer Scholars — that has since been institutionalized acrossthe University. The SJU Summer Scholars program is a hallmark

Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science EducationAlliance (HHMI-SEA) announced that SJU’s biology depart-ment was chosen to join the second cohort of universities andcolleges teaching genomics to freshman students through aninnovative research program. Beginning in fall 2009, one classwill engage in authentic inquiry-based study of genomes — alsocommonly known as genomics — rather than perform conven-tional “cookbook-type” experiments. A genome is a completeset of DNA or hereditary material in an organism or virus.

Christina King Smith, Ph.D., professor of biology, andJulia Lee, Ph.D., assistant professor of biology, will team-teachthe yearlong course. Both professors anticipate that the experi-ence will immerse students in the uncharted nano-territory ofbacteriophages, which are constantly evolving viruses that attackbacteria, are abundant in the environment and are minisculein size.

“Our students will contribute to the body of scientificknowledge about mycobacterium (tuberculosis) phages, andthey may have the opportunity to present their findings inprofessional venues,” said King Smith.

Students will become “phage finders” in the fall bycollecting soil samples from the environs of Saint Joseph’s. Theywill isolate, purify and characterize the bacteriophages of non-disease-causing mycobacterium by using a variety of techniques,

The National Science Foundation (NSF) hasawarded SJU $413,000 to fund the purchase of a laserscanning confocal microscope and live cell observationchamber. The microscope will be used for facultyresearch and the research training of biology master’sstudents and advanced undergraduate students inbiology and physics.

“Saint Joseph’s has offered exceptionally goodmicroscopy training to undergraduate students formany years, and this equipment will build on that tradi-tion,” said Karen Snetselaar, Ph.D., chair and professorof biology, who is principal investigator of the grant.

Confocal microscopy increases the ability tovisualize thick specimens by eliminating out-of-focus orblurry information that is a by-product of standardwide-field fluorescence microscopes, which flood theentire specimen in light. This “flood-light” illuminationcreates a large amount of visual static that can obscureimportant information. A confocal microscope uses apinhole and precise point illumination (laser) thatremoves the extraneous information and digitally scansthe specimen to reveal a much sharper, hyper-focusedimage of the molecular material. A computer thencreates a 3-D image of the specimen.

Grants $1 Million for Science Education

6 | CA&S Today

Howard Hughes Medical Institu

Biology majors Matthew Kongkatong ’10 andJacquelyn Cortes ’11 work with the microscope.

Spring 2009 | 7

Professor’s Music ResearchTakes a New Shape

From the Greek astronomer Pythagoras’ theory of “themusic of the spheres” to the concept of using colored lights topresent songs to a deaf audience, the idea that we can “see”music or associate physical properties to it has been aroundfor centuries. According to research supported by SaintJoseph’s University mathematician Rachel Hall, Ph.D., thatidea may not be far from the truth, and geometric delineationof music isn’t as counterintuitive as some may think.

In a recent article in Science magazine, Hall expands onresearch by scientists from Florida State, Yale and Princetonuniversities that combines a large number of geometrictheories that already exist and identifies techniques forexploring musical theory that had not previously been seen.

“[This new research] showed that even very basic musicalrelationships — the kind one learns in an undergraduate musictheory class — have complex mathematical implications,”Hall said in an interview. “They used geometry to representthese relationships, and it turns out that the geometry is quiteunusual. It’s similar to some of the models physicists use.”

In simpler terms, by mapping notes and chords to pointsin a geometrical space, researchers can better describe howcomposers combine melody and harmony to producecoherent music.

One of the most exciting outcomes from this researchcould be the development of new instruments, according toHall. “This type of geometry actually appears in some instru-ments that have been around for a while,” she said. “Studyingthe geometry could allow us to create new ones. For now, it willbe extremely useful in teaching music theory and composition.”

of excellence in undergraduate education at Saint Joseph’s, andthe HHMI grant will support increased funding for studentstipends and research supplies.

“We will also recruit undergraduate student researchersfrom nearby Lincoln University to participate in our SummerScholars program, which will broaden student access toscience,” said King-Smith.

The grant will also support the existing biology departmentoutreach program GeoKids LINKS (Learning InvolvingNeighborhoods, Kids and Science), which allows both under-graduate and M.S. biology students to work with elementarystudents, teachers and educational specialists of the Wagner FreeInstitute of Science in Philadelphia.

including electron microscopy and DNA analysis. At the end ofthe semester, a purified DNA sample will be sent to the JointGenome Institute–Los Alamos National Laboratory in NewMexico for sequencing.

During the spring semester, students will download thegenome sequence from the National Laboratory and will usebioinformatics tools to annotate its DNA. They will also havethe opportunity to name the fully sequenced and decoded phage.

Above, King Smith and Lee willteam-teach course.

Right, Bacteriophage collectedfrom the environs of the ScienceCenter.

ute Supports Science at SJU:

Hall

8 | CA&S Today

Award-winning filmmaker DeronAlbright, M.F.A., associate professor offine and performing arts, has spent the2008-09 academic year as a FulbrightScholar in Ghana, West Africa.

According to Albright, “Ghana andWest Africa are central to my work for

several reasons, but at the heart of thematter is the idea of exchange — whatthe Fulbright commission calls ‘mutualunderstanding and benefit.’”

“Despite — or because of — theabundant American imagery available inAfrica, a lack of fundamental knowledge

about the two worlds traverses theAtlantic Ocean in both directions,” saidAlbright. He has designed his lecturecurriculum and creative research project,“African Home,” to address this lack ofunderstanding.

“African Home” is a multimediaevent that follows a day in the life of amale character named Kojo. The projectwill be produced as an interactive DVDfor distribution and community/festivalscreening.

Through courses in popular Americancinema, television studies and film/mediaproduction at his host institutions — theUniversity of Ghana, Legon, and theNational Film and Television Institute(NAFTI) — Albright is engaging Ghanaianundergraduate students in the creationand production of their own stories andcollaborative work, while they studyhow images have shaped their perceptionof America.

Additionally, Albright will produce thefeature film “Bodom, The Stray Dog,”with screenplay by Ghanian Yao BunuNunoo, which is built upon the frameworkof Akira Kurosawa’s 1949 masterpiece“Nora inu” (“Stray Dog”). “Bodom”will target the 2010 festival circuit andsubsequent international distribution.

Professor Receives Fellowship forWork in Denmark, Germany

Professor of Philosophy Vincent A.McCarthy, Ph.D., former provost anddean of the College of Arts andSciences, spent the fall 2008 semesteron sabbatical. With the support of theAlexander von Humboldt Foundationof Bonn, Germany, McCarthy was asenior research fellow on the philos-ophy faculty at the HumboldtUniversity of Berlin. At the same timehe was a senior research fellow at theKierkegaard Research Center of theUniversity of Cøpenhagen.

During his sabbatical, McCarthy —who has published widely on the fatherof Existentialism, Danish philosopher

Søren Kierkegaard — worked on abook about Kierkegaard’s psychologicalthought. His previous book, The Pheno-menology of Moods in Kierkegaard, waswritten in the late ’70s when he was alsoa von Humboldt fellow in philosophyand theology at the University ofTübingen in Germany.

To facilitate his research, McCarthytraveled between Berlin and Cøpenhagen,but was based in Berlin. “Kierkegaardtraveled between Berlin and Cøpenhagenin 1841, and accomplished some ofhis best work in this way, so it’s atravel route worth imitating,” notedMcCarthy.

Filmmaker Awarded Fulbright Grant to Teach in Africa

McCarthy

Albright

Philadelphia, like other American cities, has seen anepidemic of violence. Last year 392 homicides wererecorded, and nearly half — 49 percent — remain unsolved.It can be hard to imagine, but young people who live incrime-infested neighborhoods and witness violence every dayare often the last to report those crimes to police.

Saint Joseph’s University’s Institute for Violence Researchand Prevention (IVRP) attributes this to a cultural mindsetknown as the “Stop Snitching” phenomenon, which was firstrecognized in 2004 and threatens violence to would-be informants.Armed with a $67,000 grant through the Edward ByrneMemorial State and Local Law Enforcement AssistanceProgram, the IVRP is taking to the streets — quite literally —to seek a greater understanding of how youth in medium-tohigh-crime neighborhoods in Philadelphia perceive and interactwith law enforcement.

“We need to understand and adopt the most effectivemeans of response to this growing epidemic of violence,” saidMaria Kefalas, Ph.D., director of the IVRP and associateprofessor of sociology. “To accomplish this, we must explorenew approaches to public safety while opening the lines ofcommunication between vulnerable youth and those lawenforcement officials and policymakers charged withprotecting them.”

Researchers contacted social services and begancollecting interviews this past summer, talking to youngpeople, ages 14 to 24, on street corners in high-crimePhiladelphia neighborhoods. According to Kefalas, the basicidea is to see youth as a resource for anti-violence initiatives

rather than as a cause of the problem.The IVRP is looking to answer anumber of questions through the inter-views: are young people in theseneighborhoods alienated from thepolice? How much legitimacy does thecriminal justice system have in theseareas? What does “Stop Snitching”mean to young people? How does the“Stop Snitching” message permeatethese neighborhoods?

Kefalas and her team believe that authorities lack the datato evaluate and address the “Stop Snitching” phenomenon,and therefore will benefit from the research findings. Anotherphase of the project involves bringing these results to thePhiladelphia Police Department, City Hall and communitygroups in the form of a summit, to be held sometime this fall.

“What we know is that young people who grow upunder these conditions all too often espouse an oppositionalstance to police and the legal system throughout their lives,”said Kefalas. “If we start with this demographic, hopefullywe can build trust and open communication for futuregenerations.”

The Edward Byrne Memorial State and Local LawEnforcement Assistance Grant Program (Byrne FormulaGrant Program) is a partnership among federal, state andlocal governments to create safer communities. The grant isnamed for Officer Byrne, a New York City police officerkilled while protecting a witness.

Kefalas

It’s one thing to sit in class or read from an instructionmanual and quite another to actually apply that knowledge.This is especially true for the millions of Americans serving onour many emergency response teams. Saint Joseph’sUniversity’s Early Responders Distance Learning Center(ERDLC) understands that distinction, and has workedclosely with the federal government on a number of projectsaimed at providing state-of-the-art and accredited training forthe nation’s emergency response personnel. Most recently, theERDLC was awarded $795,000 from the Technical SupportWorking Group, a national interagency program for counter-terrorism, to bring port security to the virtual world througha simulated learning environment.

Users of the simulation will approach it in much the sameway as they would a video game, in first person as characters,driving the unfolding scenario. For example, users will explorea simulated port environment, encounter suspicious persons,engage them in a line of questioning, determine their level ofrisk and either apprehend the individuals or send them on theirway. A built-in scoring system will track each decision point inthe game and determine the user’s level of success.

“Simulated learning environments allow users to replicatereal world scenarios without the real world consequences,”

said Paul DeVito, Ph.D., executive director of ERDLC and SJUassociate provost. “Additionally, they allow users to experiencesituations that would otherwise be too costly, too risky, ornearly impossible to achieve in a real world environment.”

Users of the simulation will run the gamut from military,security and law enforcement personnel to the generalemergency response community. According to Brian McCauley,senior director of business operations and development forERDLC, it’s important to make the training accessible tothese many layers.

“Our current security environment assumes that all U.S.forces are vulnerable to attack,” he explained. “In the eventof a real emergency, personnel within and outside the portindustry will need to respond. It’s imperative that we take across-agency approach.”

The ERDLC creates and administers accredited Web-based training for the emergency response community onpreparing for weapons of mass destruction and terroristincidents with a specialized focus on psychological conse-quences. In the past five years, ERDLC has developed onlinecourses that focus on port security, food security andcombating agro-terrorism.

Distance Learning Center Awarded $795K in Federal Funds

Spring 2009 | 9

Institute Hits the Streets to End Silence Surrounding Crime

10 | CA&S Today

SJU Debuts Online Learning for ProfessionalsAs the economy continues to struggle, people in every

walk of life are doing everything possible to build as much jobsecurity as they can. Thanks to a new set of online programsfrom Saint Joseph’s University, professionals in several fieldscan do just that starting this month, with the launch ofSJU Professional.

SJU Professional (www.sjuprofessional.com) offers onlinecertification for degree-holding adults who are interestedin adding credentials to their line of work or learning relevantskills for a new career. The site debuts with classes in crisismanagement, purchasing certification and project management,and will soon expand to offer courses from various disciplines.

“The site is geared toward career enhancers and careerchangers,” said Paul DeVito, Ph.D., associate provost at SJU.“The typical user already has a degree, but is looking to makehim or herself more employable.”

The concept of not-for-credit programming is not new toSJU — classes have been offered through University College andthe Early Responders Distance Learning Center for years — butthe online component, according to DeVito, is bringing SJUinto a market already occupied by several of its peers.

“Students who choose SJU Professional will encounter atruly virtual classroom experience,” DeVito said. “Instead of aclass run by a computer, our programs feature a facilitator whowill interact with students.” He added that class participantswill also have the opportunity to interact with each other online.

The programs will tap both on-campus teachers and non-

faculty experts to act as facilitators. Future classes in medicalcoding and pharmaceutical technologies, for example, willutilize existing partnerships between the University andauthorities in those fields. Programs in sport management andcertified financial planning are also being planned through theexpertise of SJU faculty.

The use of online programming is beneficial both tothe student and the University, according to DeVito.“Professionals who enroll in online programs can take classesfrom anywhere in the world, and they learn from an expertand receive the advantage of a certificate from SaintJoseph’s,” he said. “Meanwhile, the University is able to reachconstituents that we are normally unable to reach.”

Students in Saint Joseph’s University’sOnline Special Education: Response toIntervention Program will have the opportunityto earn certification as Wilson Reading System®

teachers, a highly respected credential for teacherswho instruct students with language-based learningdisabilities, such as dyslexia. The University’s partnershipwith Wilson Language Training Corporation marksthe first time the certification will be available in anonline format, as part of a master’s degree.

“SJU’s collaboration with Wilson is anexciting enhancement to our special educationprogram and a testament to the quality of ourteacher preparation programs,” said CathySpinelli, Ph.D., professor of education and directorof special education programs. “The online master’sdegree is only in its first year and enrollment is high. We’rethrilled to be able to offer this option to our students in sucha convenient format.”

Since its launch in 1986, more than 10,000 educatorshave become certified in the Wilson Reading System®,

designed to bolster training for teachersassisting students with readingchallenges from grade two through

adult. The integrated Webcam practicumintroduced through Saint Joseph’s University

allows teachers to have their lessons observed whilereceiving simultaneous feedback from a professor.

“We have seen a significant increase in thenumber of students identified with readingdisabilities in recent years. School administratorstell us that parents want their schools to provide

the Wilson Reading Program,” explained Spinelli.“Some students don’t learn the way we typicallyteach. Many students with reading disorders, even

non-readers, benefit from the systematic instructionalapproach provided by the Wilson Reading System®.”

Online Master’s Degree in Special EducationOffers Coveted Certification

Saint Joseph’s University offers onlinedegree programs in education,business, and criminal justice.

+ Saint Joseph’s University

Journal/Research Highlights

Concha Alborg, Ph.D., professor offoreign languages and literatures,“Todas las direcciones apuntan alamor,” a prologue to Rosa Nautica.

F. Betul Atalay, Ph.D., assistant professorof mathematics and computer science,Proceedings of International MeshingRoundtable 2008.

Tetyana Berezovski, Ph.D., assistantprofessor of mathematics and computersciences, An Inquiry into High SchoolStudents’ Understanding ofLogarithms.

Gerald J. Beyer, Ph.D., assistantprofessor of theology, Journal ofCatholic Social Thought.

Sara Black, Ph.D., assistant professor ofhealth services, Journal of AdolescentResearch, Family Violence PreventionHealth Practice.

James Boettcher, Ph.D., associateprofessor of philosophy, Metaphilosophy,Philosophy and Social Criticism.

Peter Clark, S.J. ’75, professor oftheology and director of the Institute ofCatholic Bioethics, The InternetJournal of Health, Christian Bioethics,Journal of Law, Medicine and Ethics.

Joseph Corabi, Ph.D., assistant professorof philosophy, Religious Studies,Journal of Consciousness Studies.

Thomas J. Donahue, Ph.D., professor ofFrench, Jacques Copeau’s Friends andDisciples: The Théâtre du Vieux-Colombier in New York City,1917-1919 (Peter Lang Publishing).

George W. Dowdall, Ph.D., professor ofsociology, College Drinking: Reframinga Social Problem (Praeger Publishers,2009).

Sylvia Forman, Ph.D., associate professorof mathematics, PRIMUS (Problems,Resources, and Issues in MathematicsUndergraduate Studies).

Amina Gautier, Ph.D., assistant professorof English, Tampa Review.

Peter Graham, Ph.D., assistant professorof chemistry, Organometallics.

George J. Grevera, Ph.D., assistantprofessor of computer science,Proceedings of SPIE Medical Imaging.

Joseph Godfrey, S.J., associate professorof philosophy, A Cosmopolitan Hermit:The Bridging of Tradition andModernity in the Philosophy of JosefPieper, anthology edited by Bernard N.Schumacher.

Rachel W. Hall, Ph.D., associateprofessor of mathematics, Science, Proceedings of Bridges, Math Horizons.

Benjamin H. Liebman, Ph.D., associateprofessor of economics, Journal of Lawand Economics.

April Lindner, Ph.D., associate professorof English, Born Magazine, TheCincinnati Review, Mad Poets Review,Valparaiso Poetry Review.

Maria S. Marsilio, Ph.D., associateprofessor and chair of foreignlanguages and director of the classicsand honors programs, Latomus.

John J. McCall, Ph.D., professor ofphilosophy and management and directorof the Pedro Arrupe Center for BusinessEthics, Handbook of Business Ethics.

Scott M. McRobert, Ph.D., professor ofbiology, Ethology, BehaviouralProcesses.

Randall M. Miller, Ph.D., professor ofhistory, Library Journal, PennsylvaniaHistory.

Jodi A. Mindell, Ph.D., professor ofpsychology, Annals of the Academy ofMedicine Singapore, Behavioral SleepMedicine.

Peter Norberg, Ph.D., associate professorof English, Leviathan: A Journal ofMelville Studies.

Robert Palestini, Ed.D. ’63, ’67, associateprofessor of education, A Game Planfor Effective Leadership: Lessons from10 successful coaches in moving fromtheory to practice (Rowman &Littlefield) and Catholic SchoolAdministration: Theory, practice,leadership, 2nd edition (Pro-ActivePublications).

Rommel G. Regis, Ph.D., assistantprofessor of mathematics and computerscience, SIAM Journal on ScientificComputing.

Encarna Rodriguez, Ph.D., associateprofessor of education, The Journal ofCurriculum Theorizing.

Philip Schatz, Ph.D., professor ofpsychology, chapters in: FavoriteActivities for the Teaching ofPsychology and Handbook for theAssessment of Driving Capacity.

Samuel Smith, Ph.D., professor of mathematics and computer science,Mathematical Proceedings of theCambridge PhilosophicalSociety, Pi Mu Epsilon Journal.

David R. Sorensen, Ph.D., professor ofEnglish, Carlyle Society Papers, NewVersions of Pastoral: Post-Romantic,Modern, and Contemporary Responsesto the Tradition.

Kristopher Tapp, Ph.D., assistantprofessor of mathematics, Proceedingsof the American Mathematics Society.

John Tudor, Ph.D., professor of biology,Applied and EnvironmentalMicrobiology.

Aubrey Wang, Ph.D., assistant professorof education, US-China Review.

CA&S TodayEditorKelly Welsh ’05 (M.A.)

Managing EditorHarriet Goodheart

DesignCarol McLaughlin ’80

PhotographyMelissa Kelly

ContributorsPatricia AllenKelly Farber ’09Jeffrey Martin ’04, ’05Carolyn SteiglemanSarah (Whelehon) Hennessey, M.A. ’07

Spring 2009 | 11

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Faculty members who have been seen and heard in the news include:

Sara Black, Ph.D.David H. Burton, Ph.D.James Carter, Ph.D.Judy Chapman, Ph.D.Peter Clark, S.J. ’75Philip A. Cunningham, Ph.D. Joseph J. Feeney, S.J.Piotr Habdas, Ph.D.

Emily Hage, Ph.D.Eric Hoffman, Ph.D.Jeffrey Hyson, Ph.D.Susan Jackson, M.S.Maria Kefalas, Ph.D.Francis Graham Lee, Ph.D.Benjamin Liebman, Ph.D.

John J. McCall, Ph.D.Michael McCann, Ph.D.Scott M. McRobert, Ph.D.Randall M. Miller, Ph.D.Jodi A. Mindell, Ph.D.Jack Newhouse, Ph.D.Robert Palestini, Ph.D. ’63, ’67

Cristian Pardo, Ph.D.Elaine Shenk, Ph.D. Katherine Sibley, Ph.D.Karen Snetselaar, Ph.D.Clint Springer, Ph.D.John Tudor, Ph.D.Umeyye Isra Yazicioglu, Ph.D.

NewsmakersCollege of Arts and Sciences faculty have contributed their expertise to stories appearing in the following media outlets:

Argus LeaderThe Arizona RepublicAssociated PressThe Boston GlobeBusinessWeekCatholic Star Herald CBS “The Early Show”Centre Daily TimesChambersburg Public

OpinionThe Chronicle of Higher

EducationCincinnati EnquirerCitypaperColumbus Dispatch

The CourierCourier-PostCNN.comDaily Indian (California)Daily RecordDaily TechDemocrat and ChronicleThe Evening BulletinThe ExaminerFlagstaff TodayInvestor’s Business DailyKansas City Infozine NewsKYW Newsradio 1060AMLebanon Daily News

Massage Magazine The Modesto BeeMonterey County HeraldMother Nature NetworkMSNBCNational PostNBC “The Today Show”

OnlineThe News Journal

(Wilmington)New Scientist, CellNew York Times NPRPhiladelphia Daily News

The Philadelphia InquirerPhiladelphia MetroPoliticoThe Seattle TimesSpringfield News-LeaderThe TennesseanThe Thubodaux Daily CometU.S. News & World ReportUSA TodayThe Virginia EngineerWayne SuburbanWDEL-1150WTFX-29FOXYahoo!