Past Fellows

Tony Bryk is president emeritus at the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. As president, he led efforts to transform educational research and development, joining researchers and practitioners to improve teaching and learning. Previously, at the University of Chicago, he focused on improvement efforts in the Chicago Public Schools. His latest book, How a City Learned To Improve Its Schools, details efforts that fueled a systemic transformation in the Chicago Public Schools.

Father Jim Burke served in the Archdiocese of Boston, Massachusetts, for 47 years. He earned his Licentiate in Canon Law from the Catholic University of America. As a pastor, he was assigned to many parishes, including Saint Malachy Parish, Burlington; Infant Jesus-St. Lawrence, Brookline; St. Denis Parish, Westwood; and most recently, the Lexington Catholic Collaborative. He has also provided pastoral and sacramental care to the Catholic patients at the Lahey Clinic Medical Center. He looks forward to the challenge and opportunity to discover what’s next through his participation in BC Companions.

Christopher “Kip” Doran, MD, ’68 majored in Chemistry at BC and attended medical school at Yale University. He and his wife, Maureen ’69, a mental health nurse practitioner, have lived in Denver, Colorado, for 52 years. They have two daughters, Meghan ’03 and Alison ’00. Kip, a psychiatrist, has written four books and taught across the U.S. and internationally. His hobbies include travel, oil painting, clock building, and staying in touch with his alma mater as a former Alumni Association Board of Directors president.

Barbara Flynn has over three decades of experience in education, international business, and aerospace. She holds an M.B.A. in Entrepreneurial Thinking & Innovative Practices from Bay Path University, an M.A. in Education from Hofstra University, a B.A. in Education from the State University of New York, College at Cortland, and a leadership certificate from the University of Virginia, Darden School of Business. A strong believer in the importance of lifelong learning and guided by deep curiosity, Barbara is excited to join the Boston College community on a journey of reflection, discovery, and growth.

Deborah McCarter is a maternal-child health nurse—both her passion and her vocation. Over the past 45 years, she has worked as a bedside nurse, lactation consultant, childbirth educator, nurse practitioner, professor, and researcher. Drawn to work for racial reconciliation and justice in her career and her faith community, she now uses her gifts in retirement to facilitate healing in new ways and advocate for those whose voices are not heard. Deb is seeking to discern the next steps of this adventure of life and faith and is delighted to participate with the other BC Companions on this journey.

Kathleen majored in Political Science at Boston College. After graduation, she began working for The Dun & Bradstreet Corporation. She also worked for Learning International and Georgetown University. Kathleen and her husband, John, have two children: Matthew, a 2015 graduate of Brown University; and Kate, a 2017 graduate of Boston College. Kathleen, John, and their family have enjoyed living in a variety of places across the country, including Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Dallas, and Washington, D.C. They recently moved back to Hingham, Mass., and have just welcomed their new granddaughter Maren.

Jack O’Loughlin was born and raised in Boston to an Irish immigrant father and a first-generation mother. He attended Roxbury Latin School (RLS) before receiving his B.A. in Economics at Columbia University and his M.B.A. in Finance from the Tuck School at Dartmouth. Jack spent nearly 40 years in various facets of corporate, international, and investment banking, primarily with Bank of America and predecessor banks like Bank of Boston. In 2010, he opened a Boston office for Columbus, OH-based Huntington Bank/Capital Markets and built a successful business before retiring in 2022. His wife, Carol (McMahon) ’81, graduated from BC’s Connell School of Nursing. They have three adult children and four grandsons, and reside in South Boston. Jack serves on several NFP boards and mentors many graduates of RLS and Nativity Prep in Boston. 

Paula Reardon-Webster finds no greater joy than sharing mindfulness practices and tools with others. In addition to earning a master’s in Mindfulness Studies at Lesley University, she has also obtained certification as an evidence-based qigong & taiji (EBQ) instructor (Center for Taiji & Qigong Studies), completed her 500-hour registered yoga therapist (RYT500) training, has studied MBSR: Mindful Self Compassion Teacher Training, completed a Calmer Choice of Cape Cod training, completed a year-long study as a Miracle-Minded Coach with Marianne Williamson, and is a certified mindfulness instructor through the Engaged Mindfulness Teaching Institute. Most recently, Paula has piloted a group coaching program for “empty-nesters” and is developing intergenerational programs through her business “The Nowpoint.” 

Bill Reynolds served as an Information Technology leader and trusted advisor delivering mission-critical solutions, strategic insights, and thought leadership. He holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Penn State and an M.B.A. from the University of Delaware. Bill and his wife, Carolyn, are the proud parents of Chris and Megan. Carolyn and Bill raised their family in Wilmington, Delaware and enjoy discovering our world through travel, the outdoors, National Parks, skiing, and theater. Bill loves teaching the youth of his parish as both children’s liturgist and youth minister, serving as a Scout leader and United Way Loaned Executive, and volunteering for Paws for People and Habitat for Humanity. After Companions, Bill hopes to contribute to sustainability and climate change pursuits.  

In her early career, Alia Sabbey worked for major consulting companies and lived in several countries around the world, including Kazakhstan and the UK. While raising her family, she volunteered her time with Partners in Health in Boston. In 2019, Alia was accepted into the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston Associate program, to be trained as a docent where she assists in conservation projects at the Ancient Egyptian, Nubian, and Near Eastern Art Collection and gives museum tours to the public.

Cathy Cimpl Van Kula ’85 of Radnor, PA, earned her J.D. in 1988 from the University of Michigan Law School. Born and raised in Omaha, NE, Cathy is the fourth of seven daughters and has lived throughout the United States and abroad with her husband, George, and their four children. After a career as a corporate attorney in Los Angeles, she spent the majority of her adult life raising her children and volunteering in her community. From 2017 to 2023, she was the director of Christian service at her parish, supervising over 20 outreach ministries. Currently, she is involved in the resettlement and accompaniment of refugee families from Afghanistan. Cathy enjoys reading, travel, spectator sports, exercise, and spending time with friends and family.

Cliff Warner has spent the past 25 years in nonprofit and parish leadership. He is the founder of Ciudad Nueva, a community development organization in El Paso, Texas, focused on the flourishing of underserved communities. From 2006 to 2024 he served as Rector of Christ Church, an urban parish in Austin, Texas, that valued the intersection of faith with every arena of life and culture. Cliff’s vocational life centers around organizational leadership, social impact, faith-based formation and care, and communications. He also enjoys exploring cities, cultures, the outdoors, the arts, and new ideas. He and his wife, Christine, have four adult children.