PLEASE NOTE:

SURVEY COMING SOON!

It is important for an organization to periodically evaluate the effectiveness of its programs. Much has changed since the last Emeritus College evaluation in 2017. Your feedback will be needed in four areas: namely, our programs, website, newsletter, and our pre-retirement programs. All members will receive a brief (less than 15 minutes) Survey Monkey questionnaire on Wednesday, January 25. Your responses to this questionnaire will help us evaluate our current programs and design new ones.

Lunch Colloquium -- TUESDAY, January 17, 2023

“Staying Alive in Little Five: Confronting Stigma and Promoting Harm Reduction in a Graphic Novel Intervention”

Sarah Febres-Cordero

Postdoctoral Fellow, Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing



The opioid epidemic continues to impact communities across the US. Despite the availability of naloxone (an opioid antagonist), overdose deaths continue to rise. Naloxone and other harm reduction strategies, such as fentanyl test strips for illicit drug use, are gaining popularity and are more accessible now than ever. However, the stigma surrounding opioid use, naloxone distribution, and fentanyl testing persists despite evidence that these tools effectively decrease opioid overdose. Service industry workers (bartenders, servers, baristas, clerks, etc.) are on the frontline of the opioid epidemic. The community of service industry workers is uniquely positioned to intervene in opioid-related overdose, educate on naloxone distribution and administration, and would benefit from testing personal drug supplies with fentanyl test strips. However, there is a dearth of research on opioid-involved overdose that engages and tailors evidence-based interventions to fit their needs. By creating culturally appropriate interventions for service industry workers, there is potential to train a vast workforce as first responders to opioid-involved overdoses.



About Sarah Febres-Cordero:

Dr. Sarah Febres-Cordero, a post-doctoral fellow at Emory’s Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, is a PhD prepared registered nurse trained in community health and public health nursing. While a doctoral student, she created a graphic medicine novel with input from community members, to address opioid-involved overdose identification and naloxone administration by laypeople. This work was recently highlighted in Emory University’s Science Gallery Atlanta first exhibit entitled, HOOKED: When Want Becomes Need.

In addition to participating in the post-doctoral program at the School of Nursing, Dr. Febres-Cordero serves as an ambassador for the Atlanta Harm Reduction Coalition, where she has built working relationships with people who use drugs to better understand their needs, the needs of their families, and their communities. She is also the founder of the Overdose Education and Naloxone Distribution (OEND) lab at the School of Nursing. The mission of this program is to educate people who use drugs, lay people, and service industry workers across Atlanta about safer drug use, opioid-involved overdose identification, and naloxone distribution.



Lunch Colloquium -- Monday, January 30, 2023

“How to Choose a Winner”

Vicki Powers

Professor of Mathematics



Did you ever wonder why elections often produce results that nobody seems to like? Is democracy--in the sense of reflecting the will of the people--impossible?  Surprisingly, mathematics can help answer questions like these about voting, elections, and representative government.  In this talk we will explore the mathematics of voting, look at some paradoxes and bad outcomes that can and do happen in real life.  We will explore the following question: If we are choosing a winner from a set of candidates, how can we use the preferences of the individual voter to decide on the best choice for the winner?



About Vicki Powers:

Dr. Vicki Powers is a mathematician who works in algebra, specializing in real algebraic geometry, specifically questions on positive polynomials and sums of squares. In addition, she is interested in the mathematics of electoral systems.  She is the author of the book Certificates of Positivity for Real Polynomials—Theory, Practice, and Applications.  (Springer, 2021).  From 1985-1987 she was Assistant Professor at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. She has been a professor at Emory since 1987.

In Memoriam

Photo courtesy of Ian McFarlane

Eugene M. Bianchi

Professor Emeritus of Religion

Dr. Eugene Carl Bianchi (Gene), beloved husband, friend to many, and theologian died peacefully at home in Athens, Georgia on Sunday, December 18, 2022, at the age of 92. Gene was a gentle, passionate scholar and prolific author who cared equally about our environment as he did about multiple dimensions of spirituality. He touched the hearts and minds of people around the world. He is survived by his wife Margaret Herrman, his nieces Gioia Williams and Susan Fowler, as well as other nieces and grand nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his brother, George Roy Bianchi. 

Gene was born in Oakland, CA on May 05, 1930, the son of Natale and Catherine Bianchi. He completed his B.A. and M.A. cum laude from Gonzaga University, then his Licentiate in Sacred Theology cum laude from Catholic University of Louvain and was ordained a Jesuit. He earned a PhD from Columbia University and Union Theological Seminary in 1966. Gene served as a Jesuit of the California Province until 1969 when he resigned to write about institutional reform for most of the rest of his life. He published, lectured and lead hundreds of workshops on Christian theology, on the spirituality of aging, as well as trans-traditional and ecological spirituality.

Gene’s teaching career began in 1955 at St. Ignatius High School, San Francisco, CA, continued at the University of Santa Clara, Santa Clara, CA, as an assistant professor of theology and director of Center for the Study of Contemporary Values. He joined the faculty of Emory University’s Department of Religion (1966) and retired as an Emeritus Professor in 2008. When not fulfilling his obligations at Emory, he taught at University of San Francisco, Stanford University, California State University, Sacramento, and John Cabot University in Rome, Italy. A legacy, available to all, exists in the 19 published books he authored, co-authored, or served as one of several authors. These writings document many facets of his multi-part journey.   

He authored John XXIII and American Protestants (1968); American Catholic Exodus (1968); Why Priests Leave (1969); Reconciliation: The Function of the Church (1969); A Democratic Catholic Church (1992); The Religious Experience of Revolutionaries (1972); From Machismo to Mutuality (1976); and Passionate Uncertainty: Inside the American Jesuits (2002). These books explore the structural dynamics and explicit as well as implicit values of the Church and Christianity with an eye to expanding awareness as well as potential reforms.

He wrote or contributed to four books about aging: Aging as a Spiritual Journey (1982), On Growing Older: A Personal Guide to Life after Thirty-Five (1985), and Elder Wisdom: Crafting Your Own Elderhood (1994), and Selving: Linking Work to Spirituality (2000). In these books, Gene invited readers to embrace aging, unrestrained by negative cultural stereotypes. Gene’s memoir: Taking a Long Road Home (2010), traces a journey from his humble Italian roots to a professional life where he was described as a scholar, teacher, writer, poet, and all-round great guy by his colleagues. This was underscored by Gene's conversations with luminaries at Emory, including President Jimmy Carter, HH the 14^th Dalai Lama, and Desmond Tutu.  

In later retirement, Gene broke the mold by publishing two novels: The Bishop of San Francisco (2005) and The Children’s Crusade (2009). His most personal voice resonates in his four books of poetry: Ear to the Ground (2013), Chewing Down My Barn (2014), The Hum of It All (2019), and Interbeing (2021).

Part of Gene’s spirituality was to serve others. He supported America magazine in New York, NY (1963-66) as an assistant editor. He also contributed about forty articles and many reviews to periodicals, including America, Catholic World, Church History, Commonweal, Ecumenist, National Catholic Reporter, and Incunable (Madrid). He was the founding director of the Emeritus College at Emory University and was awarded the Distinguished Emeritus Award (2005). He helped found the Federation of Christian Ministries, which awarded him their Anthony Soto award (2018) for his activist role championing civil rights as well as the rights of women. He presided over the Association of Retirement Organizations in Higher Education (2003-2006) and was a member of the American Society of Church History, American Academy of Religion, Religious Education Association, and the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion. 

In his own words, Gene wrote: "A primary task for older people is to divest themselves of reminiscing rather than creating new memories."

Growth through diminishment, based on a willingness to encounter the inner demons of old age with faith, can lead to authentic joy even amid hardships. Oftentimes this means that we must learn to adjust as obstacles and diminishment become evident. It's good to think of God as our dancing partner as we improvise the new steps of growing older."



Memorial services are planned for this spring in Athens and Oakland. Please look for announcements. For anyone wishing to honor Gene, and in lieu of flowers, Gene would cherish donations to one of three funds: the Athens Area Community Foundation to support small nonprofits that help address local poverty; Emory University’s Emeritus College Bianchi-Bugge Award to support projects that promote the public good; and the Department of Religion’s Eugene Bianchi Prize for an undergraduate religion major who demonstrates outstanding service to the community. 

From Bobbi Patterson, Professor Emerita of Pedagogy in Religion:

I first heard of Gene through my brother. He took a class with Gene when he was a Sophomore at Emory and told me that he enjoyed how Gene wove class material into the issues of daily life.

When I was invited to become a member of the Religion Department, Gene--of course--warmly welcomed me. In part, we had already worked together on a number of public issues including the "nuclear freeze" movement and other actions supporting inclusion and equity. Gene cared about justice and equity, including issues in the church and earthcare.

His scholarship remained strong and creative throughout his life. But more, his presence in the Religion Department and at Emory kept us smiling . What a joyful person! He reminded us that community matters.

From Brenda Bynum, Senior Lecturer Emerita in Theater Studies

I did not know Gene at all well before he called me in early 2001 to recruit me for the Emeritus College. I had just retired from the faculty of the Theatre Studies department and did not envision a future of more meetings with academics but Gene's enthusiasm was hard to resist. "Just give it a try" he said, and I am so happy that I succumbed. I not only had the pleasure of getting to know him better, but also the new friends (other Bianchi recruits) from disciplines throughout the college who were jumping into the same pot. That cross-pollination has enriched my life immeasurably for the last two decades and continues, thanks to his persistence.



I also have to smile every time I think of him sitting in on all of the earliest meetings of the "Conversations on Late-Life Transitions" as the only male member. It never occurred to him that there might be anything odd about that as he was deeply interested in the topic of aging and how to do it properly without regard to gender, but he eventually felt the need to leave us and form a men's group for the same purpose. Sadly, that group did not last. Nonetheless, I feel sure that his experiences in both groups planted seeds for the brilliant insights in my favorite poem of his, "Cage-Free Aging."



You may use this link to share memories of Gene Bianchi with his family and express your condolences.



Nominations Needed!!! -- EUEC Faculty and Service Awards

Each year, the Emory University Emeritus College (EUEC) offers two categories of awards: the EUEC Faculty Awards of Distinction and the Distinguished Service Award. Please know we are now beginning to accept nominations for 2023. 

For the 2023 awards, completed nominations must be submitted by no later than 5:00 p.m., Wednesday, March 1, 2023. Please submit nominations by email to Dianne Becht, EUEC Program Coordinator, whose email address is Dianne.becht@emory.edu. 

Please consider nominating one or more of your colleagues. And please know that self-nominations are also permitted and encouraged. Too often, retired faculty are not fully aware of the achievements of their colleagues, and we must rely on self-disclosure. 

The eligibility requirements are as follows: 

 EUEC Faculty Award of Distinction (formerly Distinguished Emeritus/Emerita Award):  

• All retired Emory faculty who have been members of EUEC for at least two years. 
• Significant professional contributions since retirement to Emory University or its affiliated institutions, as well as contributions to local, state, regional, national, or international communities or professional organizations that reflect the “spirit of Emory.”   
• A maximum of four awards are given annually. 
• This award may be conferred only once. 

Distinguished Service Award:  

• All members of the EUEC, including those who have received the Distinguished Faculty Award of Distinction. 
• Membership in the EUEC for at least two years.
• Significant service to Emory University or its affiliated institutions, as well as to local, state, regional, national, or international communities or other organizations that reflect the “spirit of Emory.”  These contributions must have been made since retirement and are beyond those used to support a previous Distinguished Faculty Award. 
• No requirement that an award will be given each year. 

When you make your nomination, please include the following: 

• Name of nominee 
• Department or unit with which the nominee is associated. 
• Contact information (email, phone number, and mailing address of nominee). 
• Name of nominator 
• Department or unit with which the nominator is associated. 
• Contact information (email, phone number and mailing address of nominator). 
• Description of why the nominee should receive this honor, in no more than two pages. Please do not exceed this limit, but be certain to include enough information for the selection committee to make an informed decision. Please include a curriculum vitae if possible. 

Please let us know if you have questions about this process. Thank you in advance for your participation. 

Sincerely,  

Glenn Kellum 

Chair, EUEC Honors and Awards Committee  

Senior Associate Vice President, Retired, Foundation and Corporate Relations

Member Activities

Dorinda Evans

Professor Emerita of Art History

Dr. Evans recently published a scholarly book, William Rimmer, Champion of Imagination in American Art (November 2022) with the academic, non-profit press in England, Open Book Publishers.

Timothy Albrecht

Professor Emeritus of Music

We recently received word that Amazon has just released--again, both in e-version and as a paperback--the second book in Timothy's series of J.S.Bach keyboard explorations. 

Exploring the Magic: Short Notes on the Bach-Busoni Chaconne. 

It is available both on the Amazon website and from Barnes and Noble.

Note from Timothy: The book cover intentionally looks similar (though what comes out of Bach the magician’s hat is different!) from my earlier book on the Well-Tempered Clavier.  

New Member

New members are the lifeblood of any organization.

Please make a special effort to welcome them to the EUEC!

David L. Roberts, MD, FACP

Professor, Charles F. Evans Chair

Master Clinician

Director of Seavey Clinic



Happy New Year!

Ready to start walking again? Let's hope the mild temperatures stick around, and the snow and ice stay far from our metro area.

For our first walk in 2023, let's look at the newest building on campus.....so new, it's not quite finished yet.

Where will you find this on the Emory campus?