Patricia Weitzel-O'Neill, Ph.D.
Executive Director
Patricia Weitzel O'Neill joined the Roche Center for Catholic Education after serving as superintendent of schools for the Archdiocese of Washington and the former vice presidents for academic affairs at Trinity Washington University in Washington, DC.

As superintendent of schools in the Archdiocese of Washington, Weitzel-O'Neill was responsible for 29,000 students in 96 early learning, elementary and secondary schools. During her eight-year tenure, she was credited with strengthening the schools' academic programs, introducing a standards-based curriculum and enhancing professional development standards. In addition, she was instrumental in efforts to secure the DC opportunity Scholarship Program, a federal initiative that enabled thousands of very low-income children to attend parochial schools.

Prior to serving as superintendent, Weitzel-O'Neill worked with Trinity Washington University as vice president of academic affairs, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, and associate professor of sociology. She is a graduate of Wheeling Jesuit University, and holds an MA and a Ph.D. in sociology from St. Louis University. 
Email: weitzelo@bc.edu 

Theresa R. Alden
Administrative Assistant
Terri joined the Lynch School of Education in 2005. In her role with the Center, she coordinates the preparation, organization, and follow up of various Center activities.  Terri holds a bachelor's degree from Boston College.
Email: theresa.alden.1@bc.edu

Michael Bennett
Managing Editor, Catholic Education: A Journal of Inquiry and Practice
Michael comes to the journal with over twenty years of experience researching and writing for a variety of governmental, private and non-profit organizations.  Most recently, Michael served as Policy Analyst for the Boston based Rennie Center for Education Research and Policy where he served as principal investigator on studies of teacher preparation and evaluation, dropout prevention and college and career readiness.  Michael graduated with a B.A. in History and Sociology from West Virginia University and a M.A. in American Studies from the University of Notre Dame.  He has two school-aged children and recently stepped down as Chair of the Board of KidsArts!, a community-based arts program in Jamaica Plain, MA.
Email: michael.bennett@bc.edu

Carrie Fuller
Doctoral Student
Carrie is a doctoral student in the Curriculum and Instruction Program at Boston College and serves as the research assistant for Joseph O’Keefe, S.J., Dean of the Lynch School of Education. Her academic and research interests include teacher preparation and professional development as well as school reform in an international and comparative perspective, educational opportunities for Latin American students, and urban education. Previously, Carrie taught for two years in Catholic elementary schools and worked for five and a half years as a religion teacher in Catholic high schools. She also spent a year and a half in Bolivia where she taught in two rural Fe y Alegria schools. Carrie graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1997 with a bachelor’s degree in American Studies and earned a Master of Divinity degree from Harvard Divinity School in 2003.
Email: fullercb@bc.edu

William Hurley
Associate Director for Curriculum
Bill comes to the Center for Catholic Education with more than 25 years of educational administrative experience as a principal and superintendent, and several years of teaching educators at the post masters level. After his retirement as Superintendent in Sudbury, Bill consulted to school systems on the topics of leadership and team building. He also mentored principals in several school districts. Bill received his master's in counseling psychology and CAES in Educational Leadership from Boston College. Bill and his wife Carol are the  parents of Dan (BC '99) and Caitlin (BC '03), who is now a third-year medical student at the University of Massachusetts Medical School in Worcester.
Email: william.hurley.1@bc.edu

Michael James, Ph.D
Fellow
Michael brings more than 20 years of experience in Catholic education administration to the Center and Boston College.  Prior to joining BC, Michael served as vice president of the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities (ACCU). And prior to ACCU, he served in a variety of administrative and academic roles at the University of Notre Dame, Indiana University, and Mount Marty College.  Michael holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Notre Dame and a master's and Ph.D in higher education administration from Indiana University.
Email: michael.james.1@bc.edu

Kristin Barstow Melley  

Associate Director for Professional Development

Kristin joined the Roche Center in the fall of 2011 and brings 13 years of education experience, as both a classroom teacher and administrator, to her position. For 6 years she served as the director of a national center for Catholic schools and students. She is passionate about serving the mission of Catholic schools and empowering Catholic school leaders to excel in the many roles they hold. Kristin holds a bachelor's degree from Wheaton College in Norton, MA and a masters in theology from Harvard University. Email: kristin.melley@bc.edu

Meghan Scheffler
Interim Director, Urban Catholic Teacher Corps
Meghan, currently the interimin director, has served as the administrative assistant for the Urban Catholic Teacher Corps since June of 2007. She coordinates several educational programs, including the Stand Up Speak Out student leadership conference, and supports the success of all Roche Center events. She graduated from Boston College in 2004 with a bachelor's degree in history.
Email: meghan.scheffler.1@bc.edu 

Elizabeth Twomey, Ed.D.

Fellow
Prior to joining the Center as a Fellow, Betty was a professor in the Educational Administration program at the Lynch School and was coordinator of the Professional School Administrator Program. She previously served as Commissioner of Education in New Hampshire and has an expertise in relationships between boards and administrations, the role of the principal, the role of the superintendent, and the role of leadership in education reform. She has been honored with distinguished educator awards from Emmanuel College, Phi Delta Kappan, the New England Association of School Superintendents, and the New Hampshire School Boards Association; has received the New Hampshire Women in Educational Leadership Award; and, has received the Champion for Children Award from the New Hampshire Administrators’ Association.
Email: twomeye@bc.edu