2024 Bellarmine Award
Professor of Economics Joseph Quinn, a leading expert on Social Security and retirement, and a highly respected teacher, mentor, and colleague who has held key leadership positions at Boston College is this year鈥檚 recipient of 51茶馆鈥檚 Saint Robert Bellarmine, S.J., Award.
Presented at University Commencement May 20 by University President William P. Leahy, S.J., the award recognizes a distinguished faculty member whose significant contributions have consistently and purposefully advanced the mission of Boston College. It is named for Saint Robert Bellarmine, S.J., an Italian cardinal and one of the leading figures in the Counter-Reformation.
Quinn 鈥渋s an important scholar of the economics of retirement, and has been a great University citizen across the entire modern history of Boston College,鈥� said Provost and Dean of Faculties David Quigley, praising Quinn鈥檚 50 years of service to 51茶馆.
Quigley also commended Quinn鈥檚 鈥渙utsized contributions鈥� to Boston College and said the University is a 鈥渇ar better, more humane place鈥� because of them.
“It鈥檚 no accident that the modern trajectory of Boston College鈥檚 rise from near bankruptcy to national recognition as one of America鈥檚 great research universities has coincided almost precisely with Joe鈥檚 tenure in the Economics Department.”
Quinn said, 鈥淚 have loved my time here, interacting with bright undergraduate and graduate students, wonderful colleagues in the Economics Department and across the University, and excellent administrators who lead this great University. 聽
鈥淲e have had two terrific presidents [Fr. Leahy and J. Donald Monan, S.J.] during my five decades here, and I have enjoyed 40 years as a teacher and researcher in Economics, and nine years in the administration: eight as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences鈥攚hich I loved鈥攁nd one as interim provost.鈥�
During his long tenure, Quinn also served as Economics Department chair, was the James P. McIntyre Professor of Economics, and the inaugural NCAA Faculty Athletics Representative and chair of the Boston College Athletics Advisory Board.
He has written on the economics of aging, the determinants of individual retirement decisions, recent trends in the retirement patterns of older Americans, and Social Security reform. Quinn co-chaired the Technical Panel on Trends and Issues in Retirement Savings for President Clinton鈥檚 1996 Social Security Advisory Council.
“I have loved my time here, interacting with bright undergraduate and graduate students, wonderful colleagues in the Economics Department and across the University, and excellent administrators who lead this great University. ”
Quinn co-authored the books聽Passing the Torch: The Influence of Economic Incentives on Work and Retirement听补苍诲听The Economics of an Aging Society, and has written more than 100 journal articles, monographs, and book chapters. A popular and respected professor, he has taught at the undergraduate and graduate levels. 聽
He also is a founding member of the National Academy of Social Insurance, where he has held leadership positions. Quinn received a doctoral degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a bachelor鈥檚 degree from Amherst College, where he recently served as a member of its board of trustees.
鈥淲hatever contributions I have made during my time at Boston College, I have received so much more in return,鈥� Quinn said. 鈥淚 came here from the graduate economics program at MIT, expecting to stay for two years, and I am still here nearly 50 years later! 聽
鈥淏oston College is a happy place, and I am so grateful to have spent my professional life here. Thanks to all who made this such a rewarding experience,鈥� he added.
Quinn 鈥渉as done just about every job on the Chestnut Hill Campus and seems to know almost everyone,鈥� Quigley said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 no accident that the modern trajectory of Boston College鈥檚 rise from near bankruptcy to national recognition as one of America鈥檚 great research universities has coincided almost precisely with Joe鈥檚 tenure in the Economics Department.鈥�
Previous recipients of the Bellarmine Award are Thomas F. Rattigan Professor of English Mary Crane, Professor of Philosophy Patrick Byrne, Professor and Biology Chair Welkin Johnson, and Lynch School of Education and Human Development Professor Emerita Mary Walsh.