CTE 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, where she has twice served on POD's Board of Directors and was elected POD President for 2023-2024. Her research focuses on the ways that commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion are practiced within the field of educational development. Her 2014 article, “Tracking POD’s Engagement with Diversity,” analyzes 35 years of POD conference sessions and journal articles to track changes in how questions of diversity have been taken up by the field. Her current project seeks to define what it means to be an “equity-minded educational developer” and identify the pathways that educational developers take towards growing an equity-minded practice.
Sarah Castricum
she/her
Associate Director
Teaching, Learning, and Technology
sarah.castricum@bc.edu
Collaborating with colleagues in and beyond the CTE, Sarah aims to support purposeful, equity minded use of educational technologies by instructors in the service of their intentions for student learning and formation. She coordinates development of the CTE’s tech focused programs and online resources, and works with Schools and Departments on offerings tailored to the technology needs of their faculty. She serves as CTE liaison to campus partners such as the Academic Technology Advisory Board and Faculty Technology Contacts.
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. While completing her studies she began working in BC’s Instructional Design and eTeaching Services as a Graduate Assistant. She joined the staff full time as an Instructional Designer in 2004, and has been at the Center since its beginning in 2014, holding the role of Assistant Director, Faculty Programs from 2019 to 2024. Sarah has taught Core courses in BC’s Theology Department and co-taught a Cross-currents course on Mindfulness and Meditation. She has presented at gatherings of professional associations such as Educause, on innovative uses of instructional technology at BC.
Attentive to what she hears from BC faculty, informed by the research on college teaching, and in conversation with CTE and campus colleagues, Kim leads the Center’s teaching and course design support for faculty. Through programs, resources, and consultations, Kim invites faculty into a space of reflective, inclusive, and evidence-based teaching, finding ways to align classroom practices with pedagogical values while addressing concrete teaching challenges. Committed to a philosophy of taking students seriously when designing learning experiences, Kim is equally committed to supporting faculty as they find satisfaction — even joy — in their teaching on a sustainable schedule. She is honored to walk with faculty at all stages of their career as they ask new questions about their teaching, return to perennial quandaries, and seek community around teaching.
Kim has taught Core courses in the BC Theology Department, 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 holds a 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 joined the CTE as a Graduate Assistant in 2015 and joined the Center as a full-time staff member in 2019.
Francesca is committed to supporting graduate students and postdoctoral scholars in their current teaching roles at BC and preparing them for future teaching roles in higher education. She strives to create programming that provide spaces for grad students and postdocs to reflect on their own teaching and learning experiences, engage in interdisciplinary conversations about teaching, and practice articulating an evidence-based, student-centered approach to teaching. In addition, she collaborates with departments and offices on campus to help support graduate student instruction and celebrate graduate student instructors.
On a national level, Francesca is actively involved in supporting graduate student development. From 2024-2027, she is serving as Co-Chair of the Graduate Student, Professional Student, & Postdoctoral Scholar Development Special Interest Group of the POD Network.
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, she worked at the Center for Research on Learning and Teaching as an Instructional Technology Graduate Teaching Consultant and workshop facilitator. At BC, Francesca has taught college writing courses in the Woods College of Advancing Studies.
Nirmal Trivedi is Assistant Director for Teaching, Learning and Technology at the Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE) at Boston College. For the past 10 years, he has worked closely with faculty from various universities and institutions to improve teaching practices for students at the undergraduate level. A graduate of BC’s English PhD program, Nirmal went on to teach at Georgia Tech where he led the university’s First-Year Seminar program for several years. He went on to lead Kennesaw State University’s award-winning First-Year Seminar program for five years, where he was awarded a national teaching award and received statewide recognition for curricular innovation.
Core to Nirmal’s approach is the assumption that students are willing and excited to learn from faculty that they trust. Building that trust takes time and patience as well as an awareness about the prior learning experiences of students.
As a researcher, he has a unique profile that integrates his work in the disciplines of English and American Studies with the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SOTL). As an American Studies scholar, he focuses on race and American imperialism, World Literature, and narratives of trauma in wartime. He has published in the Journal of Transnational American Studies, borderlands, and the Journal of Asian-American Studies.
As a SOTL scholar, he writes about improving retention and graduation rates through high-impact practices, which require applied, hands-on learning experiences and have positive “compensatory” effects for students from historically underserved populations. He has published in eSource for College Transitions, Improve with Metacognition, and the Journal of Effective Teaching in Higher Education.
Graduate Assistants
Tanvi Asur
Learning Technology Assistant
Tanvi started her first year of the Masters in Cybersecurity Policy and Governance (CPG) Program in January, and spent the three years prior working at a cloud computing and virtualization firm in Palo Alto, California. She’s passionate about exploring the intersection between the law and emerging technology.
Her school and work experience makes Tanvi a strong advocate for promoting internet safety and data privacy. At the same time, her interest for new technology and its real life application is the catalyst for Tanvi starting at the CTE. Through her work, she hopes to support and encourage individuals in BC teaching roles to navigate the intersection of higher education, leadership, and technology.
As a library and novel enthusiast, Tanvi registered for a Boston Public Library Card within a week of moving to the East Coast, and is perpetually in the middle of an audiobook. She’s excited about learning more about Boston’s history and food scene.
Hadi Baz
Faculty Programs Coordinator
Hadi Baz is MSF Candidate at The Carroll School of Management. Hadi recently graduated from Michigan State University with a major in Finance and a minor in International Business. During his time at MSU, he served as a Global Student ambassador, supporting international students in their transition to campus life, and held leadership roles in both The Market Research Group and the Arab Cultural Society.
In addition to his campus involvement, Hadi gained professional experience through internships at banks and professional services firms,developing skills in communication, project coordination, and client engagement.
Outside of work, Hadi enjoys trying new coffee beans, playing soccer, snowboarding in the winter, and exploring new places - he is especially excited to get to know Boston in his free time. As Faculty Programs Coordinator at the CTE, he looks forward to supporting faculty and
contributing to programs that foster inclusive and effective teaching.
Ken Haley
he/him
Research and Resources Assistant
Ken is currently in his third year of the English PhD at Boston College’s Morrisey College of Arts and Sciences. His research interests center around the gothic and horror genres and their shifting depictions of race and gender. He holds a BA and MA in English from Northeastern University.
At the CTE, Ken works to support and aid instructors in the development of their courses and the various technological tools they may employ.
Jun Hee Jung
Learning Technology Assistant
Jun Hee Jung was born in Seoul, South Korea. Growing up under the guidance of his parents, who founded Newjireh Christian School, he had the opportunity to interact with many students. It was during this time, while reading the Bible to teach them, that he encountered God deeply.
This experience led him to major in Christian Education during his
undergraduate studies, followed by completing his M.Div. degree, and earning a Th.M. with a focus on Old Testament Studies. To further
explore and refine his academic interests, Jun Hee pursued an M.T.S. at Boston College Gloria L. and Charles I. Clough School of Theology and Ministry in 2024.
During his studies, he developed a passion for exploring the connections and unresolved elements between the Old and New Testaments, which deepened his understanding of the Bible and confirmed his calling in this field.
Jun Hee is married to Juye Han, who is currently studying Christian Ethics. Together, they continue their academic journey in Boston. He is a pastor at Boston Korean Central Evangelical Church and Newjireh Christian School.
Alice Ghislaine Musabe
she/her
Operations Coordinator
Alice is a first-year master’s student in the Mental Health Counseling program. She earned her BA in Neuroscience and Behavior from Wesleyan University. After graduating, she worked with children with mental health and autism spectrum disorders, providing a nurturing, caring, and understanding space for them. Her passion for mental health stems from her upbringing in Rwanda, where mental health at that time was largely unrecognized. To join other changemakers in decreasing mental health illiteracy and stigma in Rwanda, Alice raises awareness among Rwandan youths through her co-authored mental health poetry book and various FunHealth games and projects.
At the CTE, Alice works as an operation Coordinator to ensure the smooth running of the office, triaging help requests, front desk tasks, and any other needed services to support instructors at BC to excel.
Alice enjoys TV shows, Afrobeat, board games, baked snacks, and recreational sports in her free time with friends and family.
Paulinus Emeka Nweke
Operations Coordinator
A Nigerian by birth and Catholic Clergy by vocation, Paulinus holds bachelor’s degrees in philosophy and Theology obtained from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, and Pontifical Urban University, Rome respectively. He has also undertaken graduate programs in Education and Theology. Currently, he is pursuing a License in Sacred Theology at Boston College School of Theology and Ministry. Prior to his studies in Boston College, Paulinus worked as a Pastor, an administrator, an educator, and a hospital chaplain.
At the CTE, Paulinus assists in the coordination of the office operations –specifically, the management of the office emails, phone, and other roles that facilitate the smooth running of the office. Working at CTE has been exciting as it offers him the needed space to hone his skills and nurture his passions.
Paulinus loves to teach, read, listen to news, and play volleyball.
Tiffany Thompson
she/her
Graduate Programs Coordinator
Tiffany is a PhD Candidate in the History department and an affiliate of the Irish Studies Program at Boston College. She is a historian of modern Ireland and Britain with a focus on Northern Ireland's "Troubles." Her dissertation explores Northern Irish women's experiences of conflict-related violence, displacement, and migration. She previously earned a BA in history from the University of California, Irvine and an MA in European History, Politics, and Society from Columbia University.
In her dual roles as a graduate student instructor and the Graduate Programs Coordinator at the CTE, Tiffany is passionate about pedagogy and encourages equality, justice, and belonging in the classroom. While at Boston College she has served as a TA for the History Core and as a summer instructor for Modern History I & II. You'll often find her on campus with her little chihuahua mix, Luna, who's proven herself to be a fantastic "teaching assistant to the teaching assistant." Luna provides support for students in the classroom, but don't worry, this dog doesn't eat homework.