Photojournalist to Talk About Domestic Violence Activism

Donna Ferrato, award-winning photojournalist, will be at Fordham’s Lincoln Center campus next week to talk about her 30 years of photography and her campaign, I am Unbeatable, which uses to photographs to end domestic abuse.

She will also discuss her career as a photographer and the bridge between photojournalism and activism.

Wednesday, Oct. 9
4 p.m.
Room 524, Lowenstein Center, Lincoln Center Campus

Ferrato’s photographs exposed the secret world of domestic violence. Her landmark book Living with the Enemy (Aperture, 1991) made front-page news, including the cover of Time magazine. Her photographs and insights into the everyday impact of violence have made her a leading voice in documentary photography.

Photo by Donna Ferrato

For more on Ferrato and her work, visit IamUnbeatable.com.

This event is co-sponsored by the Departments of History, Art History and Music, Visual Arts, Women’s Studies Program, American Studies Program, and Fordham College at Rose Hill Dean’s Office.

-Jenny Hirsch

John Murray, FCRH ’57, Who Brought Michelangelo’s Pietà to 1964 World’s Fair, Dies at 83

John Murray, FCRH ’57, a shipping executive who was instrumental in bringing Michelangelo’s Pietà to the 1964 New York World’s Fair, died on Sept. 12 at his home in Highlands, N.J. He was 83.

Murray enrolled at Fordham after his military service as a first sergeant with the U.S. Army in peacetime Germany. He graduated with his younger brother, Patrick Murray, FCRH ’57, and went to work for a classmate’s family’s trucking firm, McNally Brothers, where he eventually became president. The Bronx native later traveled the world as an executive at shipping firm D.F. Young.

When Pope John XXIII authorized the transport of the Pietà to Queens to be displayed in the Vatican Pavilion at the World’s Fair, Murray traveled to Rome with a team of three men—known as the Vatican Pavilion Transport Committee—who were entrusted with the difficult task of packing and shipping the precious three-ton statue safely. In gratitude for its successful voyage and safe return, the Vatican granted Murray and his wife, Eileen, an audience with Pope Paul VI, who had succeeded Pope John. According to Murray’s son John Jr., GSB ’85, the pontiff told the elder Murray that he was the first person to ever move the Pietà from Rome, and he’d be the last. Pope Paul knighted Murray into the Order of the Holy Sepulchre.

In a family of six children, Murray had three siblings who earned Fordham degrees: the late Monsignor James J. Murray, FCRH ’48, LAW ’51, and GSS ’58 (known as “Uncle Bud” to his many nieces and nephews), who served as executive director of Catholic Charities in New York; the late Patrick W. Murray, FCRH ’57, who was special agent in charge of the FBI’s New York field office; and Mary May Houlihan, GSS ’49 and ’86, former social worker for Catholic Charities and mother of James Houlihan, GSB ’74, chair of the Fordham University President’s Council.

Murray is survived by Eileen, his wife of 57 years; their five children, Joseph, John Jr., Kathleen, Kevin, and Margaret; and 13 grandchildren. His siblings, Mary May and Sister Mary Rose Murray, S.U., also survive him. He is predeceased by his brothers James and Patrick; his sister Rosaleen Murray Sage; and his parents, Rose and Joseph Murray.

For more about Fordham’s connections to the 1964 New York World’s Fair, look for a feature story in the spring issue of FORDHAM magazine.

—Nicole LaRosa

Alumni Spotlight: Recent Alumnus Quick to Give Back

It didn’t take long for Sihien Goh to show his gratitude for his Fordham education.

After graduating magna cum laude from the Gabelli School of Business in May, Goh began working as an analyst in the Chief Investment Office of JP Morgan Chase. He received his first post-college paycheck in August, and promptly made a $1,000 gift to Fordham University, a gift that was matched 100 percent by his employer.

“I’m really excited for the beginning of my career,” Goh wrote in a letter accompanying his gift. He wrote that his gift was a “small gesture to the school for the most wonderful four years of my life and for the life-long education that I received from the Jesuits.”

Sihien Goh, GSB '13, volunteers as a soccer
coach for South Bronx United, working with
underprivileged children in the Yankee
Stadium neighborhood.

Goh came to Fordham at the age of 20 after completing two years of mandatory military service in his native Singapore.

Some 60 years earlier, his grandparents had immigrated to Singapore from southern China in search of a better life. They worked as laborers on the docks during the British colonial era, dying young.

Goh’s father, orphaned at a young age, worked as a child in rubber plantations and started his own business growing tropical fish when he was 17.

Goh’s mother held a variety of jobs—baking, electronics assembly, and taking care of her three children—while her husband worked extremely long days.

Their hard work to build a better life for their children paid off. Goh’s two older brothers attended university in England. By 2008, when it was time for Goh to choose where to study, the U.S. banking collapse was making global headlines. He closely followed newspaper reports detailing the crisis, and developed an interest in finance and a desire to study in New York City.

His desire for an immersive American experience led him to Fordham, where he found the feeling of a local community and the opportunity to travel with friends around the United States.

“I went to my friend’s wedding in Cleveland, spent Thanksgiving with a friend in Allentown [Pa.],” says Goh. “I had a good time.”

While majoring in finance at the Gabelli School of Business, Goh interned at UBS Financial Services in Manhattan and at the Singapore offices of Credit Suisse and Lazard during the summers. He also co-founded, with Anthony Walters, FCRH ’13, Fordham’s Alternative Investments Club.

And, as vice president of his Gabelli School class in Fordham’s United Student Government, Goh helped to lobby for the Gabelli School to offer a value-investing specialization. The school debuted the three-course specialization, now a secondary concentration, in 2012.

Goh, who specialized in value investing, greatly admires two of its most prominent and successful proponents, Warren Buffett and Mario Gabelli, GSB ’65, the school’s namesake.

Goh is grateful to Joseph M. McShane, S.J., president of Fordham, for introducing him to Mario Gabelli, and for his leadership for the University and his commitment to liberal arts education.

“I will never forget our liberal arts core curriculum, in particular the philosophy and theology classes, that opened my eyes to new perspectives in life. It got me thinking about other things besides numbers and finances, to think about my life, relationships, friends, and family.”

At home in Singapore, his parents often recited a common Chinese proverb: “to always remember the source of the water that you are drinking from.”

Goh says he will always remember “anyone who helped me get to where I am.”

—Rachel Buttner and Jen Spencer

Did you know that many employers offer a matching gift program to eligible employees? Your gift to Fordham may be doubled or tripled. Learn more about matching gifts.

Positive Marketing Knowhow from the C-Suite

High fashion and flawless marketing make their way to Fordham on Wednesday, Oct. 2 when Fordham Schools of Business’ Center for Positive Marketing launches its "Marketing Lessons from the C-Suite" with Tony Spring, president and COO of Bloomingdale's. Spring will deliver a talk titled, "Inside the Brown Bag: What Makes Bloomingdale's Bloomingdale's." The event, to be held at the Lincoln Center Campus’ South Lounge, promises to be a packed house.

The series will bring successful business executives from a variety of sectors to hold forth on subjects that don't always full under the purview of their official title, said Dawn Lerman, Ph.D., associate dean of graduate business education and executive director of the center.

"Often it's the case that students tend to look at things in the silos of which they’re studying, but every particular business function is impacted by every other business function," said Lerman. "Marketing lessons don’t necessarily come from the marketing department, they can come from the COO, CIO, CFO, and of course the CEO—the lessons really can come from anywhere."

The backbone of a business education often requires that business functions be taught separately, said Lerman, but curriculum must also provide perspective on how those parts come together.

The series aims to mesh these functions via the perspective of individuals who have worked their way up to the executive suite of the chief officers—"The C-suite."

"C-suite executives view business holistically because they experience it that way firsthand," said Lerman. "The series will present people at the top who have found ways to manage their career to get there."

Here's the lineup...

Tony Spring, president and COO of Bloomingdale's will be speaking at Lincoln Center Campus on Wednesday, Oct. 2, 6 p.m. in the South Lounge.

Chris McWilton, president of U.S. Markets and former CFO of MasterCard, will be speaking at Lincoln Center Campus on Thursday, Oct. 17, 6 p.m. in McMahon 109.

Salman Amin, COO-North American Markets, S.C. Johnson and Son, will be speaking at LC on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 1:30 p.m., Room TBD.

John Osborn, President and CEO of BBDO New York will be speaking at the Rose Hill campus on Monday, Nov. 11, time and room TBD.

For more information contact Linda Purcell, 212-636-6115, lpurcell2@fordham.edu.

Vice President for Lincoln Center Campus to be Honored for Longtime Service to the Bronx

Brian J. Byrne, Ph.D.,
vice president for Lincoln Center.

Fordham University’s Brian J. Byrne, Ph.D., vice president for Fordham's Lincoln Center campus, will be honored Oct. 3 at the 30th anniversary celebration of the University Neighborhood Housing Program (UNHP).

Byrne will be awarded the UNHP’s Founder’s Award in recognition of his longtime service to the organization, which he helped to establish in 1983. Fordham’s Board of Trustees initiated the effort as a way for the University to have a greater involvement with the Bronx Community Redevelopment, which centered on the housing preservation and redevelopment during some of the Bronx’s darkest days.

“Brian Byrne has long been not just a supporter, but a staunch advocate for the communities surrounding Fordham’s campuses,” said Joseph M. McShane, S.J., president of Fordham. “His work and influence have improved the lives of our neighbors, and helped build and improve upon vibrant communities. I cannot think of a more deserving recipient of this honor.”

The UNHP is a community-based nonprofit that aims to create, preserve, and improve affordable housing in the Northwest Bronx and New York City. Founded jointly by Fordham and the Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition, the UNHP began by purchasing dilapidated privately owned buildings and renovating them to create affordable housing.

Since then, the organization has expanded its work to meet the various needs of the Northwest Bronx community. In addition to continuing to improve distressed multifamily buildings, the UNHP issues low-interest loans, provides technical assistance to community leaders, neighborhood groups, and housing managers, and organizes around researching issues that impact housing affordability. Its Building Indicator Project is responsible for improving thousands of distressed multifamily units and maintaining the affordability of over 80 multifamily buildings.

In 2011, UNHP opened the Northwest Bronx Resource Center to provide financial education, foreclosure prevention, free tax preparation, and small business help.

The Oct. 3 commemoration will be held at the historic Apple Bank Branch on the Grand Concourse in the Bronx. For more information, visit the UNHP website.

— Joanna Klimaski

What's so Bad About Walter White?

credit: AMC

Why is America so fascinated with Walter White, the mild-mannered chemistry teacher-turned-methamphetamine-drug-kingpin? Paul Levinson, professor of communications and author of the popular culture blog Infinite Regress, weighs in on the character of Walter, on human nature itself, and on the evolution of American television heroes, in anticipation of  the popular AMC show's final episode on Sunday, Sept. 29.

AUDIO: Fordham Professor Paul Levinson on "Breaking Bad"

Father McShane Discusses Pope Francis on Charlie Rose Show

Father McShane on Charlie Rose: The Week

If one wants to get a better understanding of what the Jesuit Pope is putting out there, who better to consult than a member of the Society of Jesus?

That’s exactly what newsman Charlie Rose did on Sept. 20, as he had a pair of Jesuits on his PBS show, “The Week,” to dissect Pope Francis’ much talked about interview with America magazine.

Joseph M. McShane, S.J., president of Fordham, was joined by Father Matt Malone, S.J., editor of America.

Rose asked Father McShane to give his thoughts on the interview, and whether it offended anyone.

“I would say most of the women and men who work in the parishes and frontline ministry, receive this with unfeigned joy, with great enthusiasm of spirit,” Father McShane said, “because it speaks in terms that resonate with the lived experiences of those who are pastors, women or men. I think those who did not receive this with joy would be those who have conceived of the faith in narrow, dogmatic terms, and not in terms of what Francis says is the beginning of the faith—encounters with the Lord.”

Father McShane, who last appeared on the Charlie Rose show just hours after Pope Francis was named as Pontiff, also opined on whether the Pope is a moral center to the world.

“I think he does want to call the world to its senses,” Father McShane said. “Although he seems very off the cuff, I don’t think he does anything off the cuff. I think he reflects deeply about what he’s going to do and then gives voice to the plan that he has conceived through testing and goes forward with it. I do think he wants to have a moral voice present in the world and I think in all that he did around the Syria question, he wants to unite all religious voices.”

Watch some excerpts from the interview on the Fordham YouTube page, and follow Fordham on Facebook, where we will post the whole video when it’s available.

http://youtu.be/hOME-_YSOJo

- Gina Vergel

Head of ECLAC/CEPAL to Give a Talk at Fordham

Alicia Bárcena, executive secretary of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC/CEPAL), will explore the future of Latin America and the Caribbean in a lecture on Thursday, Sept. 26.

Socio Economic Outlook of Latin America and the Caribbean
Thursday, Sept. 26
5 p.m.
Tognino Hall, Duane Library, Rose Hill Campus

Before working at the ECLAC/CEPAL, Bárcena served as the as the Under-Secretary-General for Management at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. She also was Chef de Cabinet and Deputy Chef de Cabinet to the former Secretary-General, Kofi Annan.

Alicia Bárcena
Courtesy of Wikipedia

“This is a fantastic opportunity for the Fordham community to hear and meet an influential member of the Latin American and international community, Alicia Bárcena,” said Dewis Shallcross, the representative for the Latin American and Latin Studies Institute (LALSI) Graduate Student Association.

The ECLAC/CEPAL, headquartered in Santiago, Chile, is one of the five regional commissions of the United Nations. It was founded in 1948 with the purpose of contributing to the economic development of Latin America and reinforcing its economic ties around the globe.

“This is the first time that Bárcena will be visiting our campus and we at LALSI would like to open this opportunity to those outside our own department,” Shallcross said.

The event is sponsored by LALSI. For more information and to RSVP, call LALSI’s office at (718) 817-4792 or email lalsi@fordham.edu with “Barcena” in the subject line.

-Jenny Hirsch

Fordham Jesuits and Faculty Discuss Pope Francis in the Media

Pope Francis (Image via Wikipedia)

Buzzworthy is not a word one would normally associate with a global religious leader, but it’s apropos for Pope Francis. 

The news media is greatly interested (rightfully so) in what the Pontiff has to say, and, naturally, it results in opportunities for Jesuits and faculty from Fordham University to offer analysis.

A 12,000-word interview published on Sept. 19 by major Jesuit publications around the world, including the New York-based America magazine, created the latest “buzz.” In the exclusive interview, Pope Francis said that the Roman Catholic Church has become disproportionately obsessed with condemning abortion, gay marriage, and contraception.

Father Joseph M. McShane, S.J., president of Fordham, will discuss the Pope's insightful interview on the Charlie Rose show on Friday evening. He'll be joined by Father Matt Malone, S.J., editor of America. Check local listings here. 

“The interview brims with Pope Francis' fundamental optimism about human beings – and his confidence in our ability, individually and collectively, to discern what is good and what is of God,” J. Patrick Hornbeck, Ph.D., chair of the department of theology, told The Christian Science Monitor.

Hornbeck also gave an interview on television about the Pontiff, as did colleagues, Maureen Tilley, Ph.D., and Father John J. Shea, S.J. Watch below:

Maureen Tilley, Ph.D., professor of theology, on WPIX.

Patrick Hornbeck, Ph.D., chair of theology, on Al Jazeera America.

Father John J. Shea, S.J., director of campus ministry at Lincoln Center, of WPIX.

Don't forget to keep up with Fordham news on Twitter and Facebook, where we update faculty in the news often.

- Gina Vergel

Fordham Professor Co-Writes Hip Hop Lit

Mark Naison, Ph.D., professor of African and African-American Studies, has teamed up with Yale University graduate student Melissa Castillo-Garsow to write a new novel, “Pure Bronx” (Augustus Publishing, 2013).

The book, which will be available on October 13, provides intimate perspectives on life in the Bronx, in much the same way lyrics from hip-hop songs often expose the underbelly of urban life.

The plot features characters such as a drug dealer with a heart of gold and an ambitious woman forced to strip for financial support.

In an interview with the Washington Square News, Naison said he hopes the book will make people look more closely at poorer or working class neighborhoods.

“It shows some of the difficulties that young people from such areas may have to face in order to survive," he said.

"Sometimes the bad choices they make are the necessary choices.”

—Patrick Verel