Reading Roundup

In addition to being esteemed educators, many of Stonehill’s professors are also accomplished authors. Check out these recently published works written by members of our academic community.

True Crime & Extraordinary Times 

Child Last Seen: The Search for Patty Desmond: Written by Associate Professor of Communication Maureen Boyle, who worked as a crime reporter for many years, this book investigates the shocking disappearance of a 15-year-old from her Pennsylvania home in winter 1965. After decades without any leads, a tiny crack in the case led law enforcement to finally figure out what happened to the teenager.

Critical Perspectives on Cybersecurity: Edited by Stonehill College Associate Professor of Political Science Anwar Mhajne and Troy University Associate Professor of Political Science Alexis Henshaw, this work centers feminist voices and the contributions of scholars and practitioners in the Global South as it examines the impact of surveillance, data overcollection, cybercrime, and cyberbullying on international relations.

Freedom's Crescent: The Civil War and the Destruction of Slavery in the Lower Mississippi Valley: Recently named the winner of the 2024 John Nau Book Prize and a finalist for the 2024 Gilder Lehrman Lincoln Prize, this book by John Rodrigue, Stonehill’s Lawrence and Theresa Salameno professor of history, focuses on four states in the lower Mississippi valley that seceded from the Union (Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Louisiana). Through an investigation of military campaigns and other political events in the area, the book demonstrates the challenges that faced attempts to abolish slavery.

Thoughts on Theology & Beliefs About Being

Anointed for Mission: Exercising Your Baptismal Call: Rev. Stephen S. Wilbricht, C.S.C., professor of religious studies, offers insight on the communal nature of baptism to help parish groups reflect upon what their discipleship entails as they seek to make Jesus Christ known, loved and served.

In Heidegger's Vineyard: Reflections and Mystical Vignettes: Professor of Philosophy Richard Capobianco, the eminent scholar on 20th century thinker Martin Heidegger, invites readers on a meditative “walk” through his latest work. His writing surveys the philosophical, religious and spiritual implications of Heidegger’s perspective on Being.

The Mystified Letter: How Medieval Theology Can Reenchant the Practice of Reading: Instructor of Religious Studies & Theology Craig Tichelkamp takes a comprehensive look at how medieval theologians used literature as a vessel through which they could connect with God. In addition to exploring the past, his examination exhibits how we can foster reading cultures around mystified literatures in the present.

The Virgin Mary: A Very Short Introduction: Mary-Joan Leith, professor of religious studies, explores the evolution of how the Blessed Mother has been viewed throughout history, from early Christianity to the present day. The book provides perspectives on beliefs that various religions hold about Mary through an examination of art history, archaeology, gender studies, doctrinal history and popular culture.

Research With Real-World Ramifications

Athletic Activism: Global Perspectives on Social Transformation: Edited by Stanley Thangaraj, Stonehill’s James E. Hayden Chair for the Study of Race, Ethnicity, and Social Justice, and Jeffrey Montez de Oca, professor of sociology at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, this book was published as part of the series Research in the Sociology of Sport. It focuses on the ways in which athletic activism not only impacts how inequity is discussed, but also how it promotes institutional changes that result in a more diverse, equitable and inclusive world. 

Looking for Math in All the Wrong Places: Math in Real Life: Professor of Computer Science Shai Simonson’s book showcases how mathematical concepts are present in our everyday life. Full of amusing anecdotes, including some drawn from the faculty member’s professional experiences with Stonehill students, the work seeks to help make math accessible by casting it in an entertaining and relatable light.