Campus Update

Three Trinity Faculty Publish Books

Three Trinity faculty, Sr. Mary Johnson, SND, Dr. Roberta Goldberg and Dr. Karobi Motira, recently published books.

Sr. Mary Johnson, SND, Trinity’s distinguished professor of sociology and religious studies, published a co-authored book, New Generations of Catholic Sisters: The Challenge of Diversity by Oxford University Press. She co-wrote the text with Patricia Wittberg, SC, and Mary L. Gautier. According to Oxford University Press, the book is a “sociological study of religious life for women in the United States” and thus “offers a comprehensive examination of the generations of women who entered religious life in the United States after 1965.” Johnson said, “It was a wonderful experience of collaboration among the three of us. We analyzed multiple national data sets collected over the last 15 years regarding sisters who have entered religious life since 1966. We concluded the book with recommendations to the hundreds of religious orders in the U.S. because the ministry of sisters is still needed in this country and beyond.” The book can be ordered through Amazon.

Dr. Roberta Goldberg, Trinity professor and program chair of sociology, recently published her new book, Understanding Contemporary Social Problems through Media, with Paradigm Publishers. According to the publisher, Goldberg critically examines some of the most volatile current issues, including the environmental crisis, upheavals in the developing world, health, terrorism and technology. Goldberg uses a multimedia approach so that students can “appreciate the magnitude of the problems of the 21st century as they develop the intellectual tools to understand them – sociologically and personally.” The textbook is available for purchase through Paradigm and Amazon, where Goldberg’s previous book, Organizing Women Office Workers, is also available.

Dr. Karobi Motira, Clare Boothe Luce assistant professor of molecular biology, published A Journey Through Genetics, Part I. The book is part of the Colloquium Series on The Genetic Basis of Human Disease by Morgan & Claypool Publishers, designed for undergraduates who are not biology majors. The book gives background on the lives of pioneering scientists as well as the stories behind the science of genetics, exploring discoveries in genetics and molecular biology. Beginning with Gregor Mendel, “father of genetics,” and his discovery of the structure of the DNA double helix, the book covers up to the invention of the polymerase chain reaction, one of the most powerful tolls in molecular biology.

Catholic Educator Larry Savoy ’07 MSA Presents Sower’s Seed Lecture

As part of Trinity’s Sower’s Seed Lecture series, Larry Savoy ’07 MSA spoke about his 20-year career as a Catholic educator. Inspiring students and faculty, Savoy detailed the important role of his faith in guiding his career choices. Working at Archbishop Carroll High School in Washington, DC, his alma mater, he worked his way from teacher to dean of students and then vice principal. He is now the principal at Don Bosco Cristo Rey High School in Takoma Park, Maryland, where students pursue work experience at a variety of participating businesses while they remain in school. Savoy’s wife, Taryn Savoy, graduated from Trinity in 2004, also with her MSA.

Inspired by the Catholic values of social justice and community service, the Sower’s Seed lecture series was established by Kelly Snider Dunn ’64 and the Dunn Charitable Foundation in 2005 to highlight alumnae who have devoted their careers to community service. Watch a video of Savoy’s remarks here.

Sr. Simone Campbell Speaks at Winter Graduation

More than 200 degrees were conferred at Trinity in January at the fourth Winter Graduation where Sr. Simone Campbell, a Sister of Social Service, gave a touching keynote address. Campbell has served as executive director of NETWORK, a national Catholic social justice lobby, since 2004. She is a religious leader, attorney and poet with extensive experience in public policy and advocacy for systemic change. In Washington, she lobbies on issues of peace-building, immigration reform, healthcare and economic justice. Around the country, she is a noted speaker and educator on these public policy issues.

Campbell is well-known for organizing the national “Nuns on the Bus” tour advocating for policy making that puts a greater focus on justice and peace-building, and policies that protect the rights of the poor and disenfranchised. The tour received widespread media attention, including The Colbert Report interviewing Campbell. During the 2010 Congressional debate about healthcare reform, she wrote the famous “nuns’ letter” supporting the reform bill and got 59 leaders of Catholic sisters to sign on. This action was cited by many as critically important in passing the Affordable Care Act.