Meet Our Staff

As the CTE’s Executive Director, Dr. Stacy Grooters champions teaching at Boston College, driving campus conversations about teaching excellence and advocating for a strong culture of reflective, inclusive, evidence-based teaching at the University. She provides strategic leadership for the Center for Teaching Excellence, ensuring that the CTE’s programs and services align with faculty needs and are responsive to campus priorities.

Stacy gained her first experience in the classroom teaching English to secondary school students as a Peace Corps volunteer in Bayanhongor, Mongolia, a small town on the northern edge of the Gobi Desert. She went on to pursue an MA in English from Miami University in Oxford, OH and a PhD in English (with a concentration in Women Studies) from the University of Washington, where she taught in the departments of English, Ethnic Studies, and Women’s Studies. At UW, she also worked as an Assistant Director in the Expository Writing Program and an instructional consultant in the Center for Instructional Development and Research.

In 2007, Stacy joined Stonehill College as the Founding Director of their Center for Teaching and Learning, where she also oversaw the establishment of the Office of Community-Based Learning. She taught as an Assistant Professor in the English department and was Co-Director of the Gender & Sexuality Studies program. She also chaired the Provost’s Advisory Committee on Diversity for three years. In 2015, Stacy was hired as the Director of Faculty Programs for BC’s newly established Center for Teaching Excellence and was then named Interim Director of the CTE in 2019. She was promoted to Executive Director in 2020.

Stacy is an active member of the POD Network, the national organization of teaching centers, and has twice served on POD's Board of Directors. Her research examines the roles of instructor and student identity in the classroom, as well as broader questions of diversity, equity, and social justice in higher education. Her most recent publication examines the POD Network's scholarly engagement with diversity in its publications and conferences.

Sarah collaborates with CTE colleagues and with faculty to develop programs inviting them to explore pedagogical questions and innovations, and foster community centered around reflective teaching. She coordinates the CTE’s support for instructional technologies, and serves as CTE liaison to campus partners such as the Academic Technology Advisory Board, and Faculty Technology Contacts. She has taught Core courses in BC’s Theology Department and co-taught a Cross-currents seminar, “Thinking about Mindfulness and Meditation.”  

Sarah holds a B.A. in History from the University of Durham, UK, an MA from Andover Newton Theological Seminary, and a PhD in Theology from Boston College. She began working in BC’s Instructional Design and eTeaching Services as a Graduate Assistant while completing her studies. She joined the staff full time as an Instructional Designer in 2004, and has been at the Center since its beginning in 2014.

Matthew leads operations and program planning in the Center for Teaching Excellence, develops and implements the marketing of CTE programs and events, and contributes to the CTE's strategic direction. In addition, he designs and facilitates intercultural workshops in the Apprenticeship in College Teaching and Back-to-School Boot Camp programs.

Prior to joining the CTE, Matthew managed a global network of courses at Harvard Business School and led a portfolio of Executive MBA programs at the University of Minnesota, working closely with faculty in both roles. He also serves as a cross-cultural trainer and has published research that examines the role of faculty and staff in cross-cultural education, as well as a model of individual cross-cultural interactions.

In addition to his work in the CTE, Matthew has taught courses on intercultural competence for both BC undergraduates and adult learners in the community, as well as an online course for BC students who are studying abroad for the semester. He is also a certified administrator of the Intercultural Development Inventory. Matthew earned his B.A. in English literature from Carleton College, and his M.A. and Ph.D. in Comparative and International Development Education from the University of Minnesota.

Kim is honored to work at the CTE where she gets to support faculty and graduate student instructors as they reflect on their teaching practices and pedagogical philosophies. Through program management, consultations, and resource development, Kim is in regular conversation with campus instructors and the literature on college teaching, with a special emphasis on questions of equity, justice, and inclusion in college classrooms. 

Her investment in promoting the well-being of students and instructors is also informed by her other work on campus: Kim taught in the Theology core program, staffed the campus Sexual Assault Network, and co-taught a course for graduate students on responsibly, compassionately responding to sexual assault disclosures in their role as future faculty. She earned her B.A. in Religious Studies and English Literature from Denison University and her M.T.S. from Boston College School of Theology and Ministry. She is currently working on a dissertation in systematic theology on the intersections of shame, sin, and antiblack racism in the U.S. Catholic Church. 

As the CTE Academic Technologist, Scott conducts research and development for the department and is actively involved with the testing and implementation of new teaching technologies. Scott is the CEO of ResearchWare, Inc., a software development firm that produces tools for qualitative data analysis and has been on the staff at Boston College since 1983. He has taught as an adjunct faculty member in Boston College's Carroll School of Management and Communications programs and currently teaches in the Lynch School of Education. Scott earned his B.S. in Mass Communications from Miami University of Ohio.

Francesca oversees the CTE’s graduate student programs, services, and resources, in order to support graduate students in their current teaching roles at BC and prepare them for future teaching roles in higher education. As part of this work, she collaborates with individual faculty as well as with all of BC’s schools and colleges and other university offices. Francesca also supervises the center’s Learning Technology Assistants, helps support all of the CTE’s programs, and provides assistance with CTE-supported technologies, in particular Poll Everywhere. At BC, Francesca periodically teaches college writing courses in the Woods College of Advancing Studies, most recently in an asynchronous online format.

Francesca holds a B.A. in Hispanic Studies and Anthropology from Oberlin College, an M.A. in Mediterranean Studies from Middlebury College, and a Ph.D. in Romance Languages and Literatures – Italian from the University of Michigan. While at the University of Michigan, Francesca worked at the Center for Research on Learning and Teaching as an Instructional Technology Graduate Teaching Consultant and workshop facilitator.

Kelsey is a PhD candidate in the English department, specializing in film studies. Her research focuses on adaptation and queer affect in film and television. At BC, she has taught First Year Writing, Literature Core, and a Shakespeare elective. In her spare time, she likes to study comedy writing and socialize with her two cats.

Megan Crotty is a Doctoral Student and Irish Studies Fellow in the English Department at Boston College. Her research interests include empire, nationalism, and gender in Irish and Commonwealth literature. She is also particularly interested in the position of women in relationship to violence and agency in contemporary literature. 

Megan also holds a B.A. in English and Dance from the University of Massachusetts Boston and an M.A. in English from Boston College. When not studying or working, she likes to take dance classes and go to the beach.

Sam is a Mental Health Counseling student in the Lynch School at Boston College. Sam received her B.A. in Psychology and in Public Health, Behavior, and Society from the University of Rochester. She is currently in her clinical internship year, where she provides therapy to college students, and has plans to focus her practice on supporting LGBT youth.

At the CTE, Sam works with instructors to navigate learning management systems. Sam enjoys working one-on-one with staff to find solutions to their concerns. In her free time, Sam can be found trying out a new crafting hobby or playing with her cat. 

Natasha is a Mental Health Counseling student in the Lynch School at Boston College. At the CTE she works closely with the undergraduate assistants and supports the CTE's programs and classrooms as an Operations Coordinator. 

Natasha holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Washington. In her spare time she can be found at the ballet or a baseball game, exploring museums, traveling in search of the best cup of tea, or playing in a park with her dogs.

Megan is currently pursuing her PhD in English in the Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences. At the CTE, she spends most of her time working with graduate students as the coordinator for the Apprenticeship in College Teaching program.

Megan holds an MA in English from Boston College, and a BA in Interdisciplinary Studies (English and Theology) from Southeastern University in Florida. When not studying or working, she enjoys exploring New England, going to the theatre, and watching BBC novel adaptations.

Jodie is an Operations Coordinator at CTE. She provides supervision and support to the Center's undergraduate consultants and assists in day-to-day operations.  

Jodie is at Boston College pursuing her Master's in Clinical Social Work. This year, she will be completing her clinical internship at a therapeutic elementary school. She is interested in providing trauma-focused care for children and youth and is very excited to bring her direct-service experience to support students. In her free time, she enjoys walking or biking anywhere and everywhere, reading, journaling, and cooking.

Hilary is a Catholic priest and a chartered mediator. He holds a BA in Philosophy (Ibadan), B.Phil. in Philosophy (Rome), B.D. in Theology (Rome) and STL in Theology (Maynooth). He is currently pursuing his PhD in Theological Ethics at Boston College. His research interests revolve around the common good ethics and strategic peacebuilding, where he reflects on multiculturalism, identity, recognition, and ecological justice.

At the CTE, Hilary assists instructors with the learning management system (Canvas) and other tools like lecture capture (Panopto), personal response systems (iClicker, Poll Everywhere), and virtual communications (Zoom). He also assists with individual consultations and group training sessions for instructional technologies and pedagogies. When not working or studying, he likes traveling, learning new languages, and watching detective movies.

Sara is a doctoral candidate in the Applied Developmental and Educational Psychology Program at Boston College. She received her B.A. in Psychology from Washington University in St. Louis. At Boston College, she does research with adolescents and young adults, focusing on their development in the civic domain and how they think about systems of oppression (e.g. racism). As a member of the CTE team, Sara hopes to learn more about pedagogical strategies that can promote inclusion and equity in the classroom. She is a huge Liverpool fan, and likes to go hiking.

Jenna is a Doctoral Candidate in the Biblical Studies track of the Theology department at Boston College’s Morrissey School of Arts and Sciences.  Her research involves the intersection of early Christian martyrdom narratives, identity formation, and gender.

Jenna holds two masters degrees in Biblical Languages and Early Christianity from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and a B.A. in Bible and English from Cornerstone University.  She has served as a Teaching Assistant, Teaching Fellow, and an adjunct instructor at Boston College.  In the classroom and in her work at the CTE, Jenna is passionate about developing intercultural and inclusive pedagogical practices.

When Jenna is not working or studying, she enjoys traveling with her partner, reading recent (often bad) fiction, and tending her ever-growing hoard of plants.

A native South Carolinian, Byron Wratee is a doctoral student in Systematic Theology at Boston College. Byron earned his B.A. in English from Stillman College, his J.D. from the University of South Carolina School of Law, and his M.Div. from Candler School of Theology at Emory University.

His current research interests include black theology, political theology, mystical theology, and theological anthropology. Byron is also a lifetime gospel music singer and a classically tutored tenor. Byron has sung in multiple chamber choirs, directed choirs, and arranged liturgical music.

Felicia is studying Finance and Computer Science in the Carroll School of Management and comes to BC from Chicago. She is involved in Women in Business, an organization, network, and community of undergraduate female students dedicated to their empowerment and education. She is also a member of the Chinese Student Association, Finance Academy, and the student executive team, Start @ Shea.

Shahzad is currently a Biology major in the Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences. Originally from Dallas, Texas, Shahzad is a dedicated soccer fan, with Manchester City being his favorite team. Prior to coming to Boston College, Shahzad served as a student youth leader in his community and was very involved in different volunteer opportunities in his hometown.