Ben Birnbaum is special assistant to the president of Boston College and editor of Boston College Magazine, as well as executive director of the university's office of marketing and communications. He has published fiction, poetry, and essays in a wide range of journals and his work has been anthologized in Best American Essays, Best Spiritual Writing, and Best Catholic Writing. He holds degrees from Ner Israel Rabbinical College, Queens College of the City of New York, and the University of Vermont. He lives in Brookline Massachusetts. He is a member of the steering committee for the Church in the 21st Century Center at Boston College.