*Winter 2001 Magazine CR - Webpages at SCU - Santa Clara ...

MissionMattersFirst African-American woman in spacetouches down at SCUMae C. Jemison, the firstAfrican-American woman inspace, was the keynote speaker ata conference that explored “TheFuture of Science and Technology.”Jemison, an engineer and formermedical officer in the Peace Corps,addressed Bay Area high school studentsat the January event, sponsoredby the School of Engineering as partof the University’s yearlong sesquicentennialcelebration.Jemison was the science missionspecialist on a September 1992 flightof the space shuttle Endeavour, thefirst space flight to include anAfrican-American woman. On thevoyage—a joint mission with Japan—she conducted experiments in lifesciences, material sciences, and bonecell research. The Alabama nativespeaks around the worldon science literacy, sustainabledevelopment,and the importance ofincreased participationof women and minoritiesin science and technologyfields.At the conference,SCU faculty led interactiverobot demonstrationsand discussed with studentsrecent developments in science andtechnology, including satellites,spacecraft and underwater vehicles,advanced computing, wireless communications,environmental awareness,and digital networks.“SCU is committed to increasingdiversity on campus,” said TerryShoup, dean of the engineeringFormer astronaut Mae Jemison met with high school students during"The Future of Science and Technology" conference at SCU in January.school. “With programs such as‘The Future of Science andTechnology,’ we’re proud to offeropportunities for all individualsinterested in current science andengineering topics.” Shoup addedthat it is a priority for the programto invite and include participantsof underrepresented groups in theengineering profession.GREG PIOCHARLES BARRYSanta Clara welcomes dean of American theologiansAvery Dulles, S.J., one of 37 cardinalsdesignated by Pope JohnPaul II and one of three Americantheologians ever appointed to theCollege of Cardinals, gave his firstpublic speech at SCU in his new role.Newly named cardinal Avery Dulles, S.J., (far right) talkedwith students in a class called "History of the Jesuits"taught by Gerald McKevitt, S.J. (second from right).Dulles shared his thoughts on theimportance of Pope John Paul II’stheology, and also discussed socialethics and the identity of theAmerican Catholic Church. TheBannan Institute for Jesuit Educationand ChristianValues sponsored theJan.25 event.“I am most happyto welcome FatherAvery Dulles to campus,”said PaulLocatelli, S.J., presidentof SCU. “It’sanother honor forSCU and a wonderfullycoincidental wayof celebrating 150years of Jesuit,Catholic education in the SiliconValley.”Dulles, 82, the son of JohnFoster Dulles, secretary of stateunder President Dwight Eisenhower,is considered the dean of Americantheologians. A professor of theologyat Fordham University, Dulles hasauthored more than 650 articles ontheological topics and published21 books.“For 40 years, Dulles has been amediator, making sense of theAmerican Catholic Church to Romeand making sense of the Vatican toAmerican Catholics,” said WilliamSpohn, director of the BannanInstitute. “No one in the AmericanCatholic Church has done more tobring the insights of the revolutionarySecond Vatican Council intothe theology and lives of AmericanCatholics.”10SANTA CLARA MAGAZINE/SUMMER 2001