Michael Harris
Director
Michael Harris, Director, joined the Office of Student-Athlete Academic Services (SAAS) in 2018. As Director, Harris reports to the Office of the Provost & Dean of Faculties, providing strategic leadership in all aspects of student-athlete academic services and formative education while facilitating and strengthening collaborations between the BC academic and athletic communities.
As a member of the Undergraduate Academic Officers Committee and Athletics Executive Team, Harris is responsible for delivering and evaluating programs and services that enhance student-athlete retention, success & well-being. Harris also represents BC Athletics on campus and conference committees dedicated to cultural and community engagement.
Under Harris’s leadership, BC has continued to be one of the nation’s leaders in graduation and student success metrics. At BC, Harris has spearheaded technology and academic facility enhancements that have improved the overall BC student-athlete experience. He’s also been instrumental in facilitating University and Athletics Department initiatives aimed at supporting marginalized students and communities.
Prior to his BC, Harris served as the Associate Director of ASPSA/Director of Football Academics at his alma mater, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC). Harris returned to Chapel Hill following a series of university reforms targeting academic services for student-athletes. While in Chapel Hill, Harris implemented initiatives that led to the achievement of APR and GSR milestones. Before Harris' tenure at UNC, he served as the Assistant Athletics Director for Academic Services and Career Development at the University of Maryland at College Park (UMD), where he provided leadership and oversight of the football program, the Gossett Football Team House Academic Center, and the Learning & Tutorial Services of all UMD student-athletes. During Harris' tenure, the UMD football program achieved annual academic milestones, including NCAA APR Public Recognition in football and an Athletics Department GPA average of 3.00.
Harris is an individually certified member of the National Association of Academic and Student-Athlete Professionals (N4A), and he has completed the Dr. Charles Whitcomb NCAA Leadership Institute (2011) and the N4A Steve McDonnell Professional Development Institute for Leaders & Managers (2012). Harris has broad-based experience in student-athlete support services after previously serving in leadership capacities at Towson University and Western Carolina University.
A native of Rougemont, NC, and a 2003 graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies, Harris was a three-year letterwinner in football. Harris has a Master of Business Administration from the Merrick School of Business at the University of Baltimore, and he is currently pursuing his Education Doctorate (Ed.D.) in Higher Education from the Lynch School of Education & Human Development at Boston College.
Stephen Darville
Associate Director
Stephen Darville joined SAAS in the Fall of 2021. He currently serves as the Associate Direct and provides oversight to the Smith Family Academic Center while managing Football & Men’s Basketball Academics while also serving as the academic counselor for Men’s and Women’s Fencing. His duties include collaborating with coaches and staff members on campus and in the athletic department to provide effective student-athlete formation services.
Prior to Boston College, Darville served as the Director of Football Academics at the University of South Florida. In his role, Stephen oversaw all aspects of the academic support structure for the USF football program. In addition, Stephen coordinated the Continuing Eligibility and Reporting process and oversaw the Post Eligibility Program for exhausted eligibility and former Student-Athletes. Prior to USF, Stephen served as an Academic Counselor for Football at the University of Maryland, the tutorial coordinator at Georgia Southern University, and as an instructing professor at Shorter University. Stephen is an active member of N4A, serving in multiple roles within the organization, and a two-time graduate of the Steve McDonnell Professional Development Institute.
Stephen received his Bachelor of Science in Sport Management with a Minor in Business and his Master of Science in Sport Psychology from the University of Tennessee, where he was a collegiate student-athlete on the football team.
Amy Morgan
Senior Assistant Director
Amy Morgan joined SAAS in September 2011. Morgan serves as the Sr. Assistant Director for SAAS, providing Academic Counseling for the Women’s Basketball, Women’s Lacrosse, Men’s Track & Field/CC, Rowing and Sailing programs.
Prior to joining Boston College, Morgan worked at Villanova University from 2003-2011 as the Associate Director of Academic Support for Athletics. Earlier in her career, she held various positions at Rosemont College. Morgan attended Franklin and Marshall College, where she participated in volleyball for four years and graduated with a degree in Accounting. Morgan earned her Master of Education in Sport and Recreation Administration from Temple University. Morgan and her husband, Cecil, reside in Norwood with their children, Isabella, Emily, and Bryce.
Richard Mapeza
Assistant Director
Richard Mapeza joined Boston College's Student-Athlete Academic Services (SAAS) team as an Assistant Director in 2024.
In his role, he serves as the academic counselor for the Men's Soccer team, providing comprehensive academic support and guidance. Richard develops personalized graduation, student success, and career plans for student-athletes, collaborating closely with university academic advisors and campus partners. He also leads the SAAS Academic Enrichment Program, coordinating content tutors, educational assistants, and all hourly employees.
Before joining SAAS, Richard worked as an Administrative & Program Specialist at Boston College's Thea Bowman AHANA and Intercultural Center, managing various programs and initiatives focused on cultural competence and inclusive excellence. Furthermore, Richard's background also includes international experience as an Information Technology Teacher and Grade Supervisor at Holy Trinity High School in Jamaica, where he developed technology curricula and managed educational systems for over 200 students and faculty members.
He holds a Master's in Sports Administration and Leadership & Administration from Boston College's Woods College of Advancing Studies. Mapeza's combination of technical expertise, academic credentials, and extensive experience working with Boston College students positions him as an asset to the student-athlete academic services team
Lee Metzger
Assistant Director
Lee Metzger joined SAAS in 2002 and has been an Assistant Director since 2011. In this role, Metzger is the Academic Counselor for Baseball, Softball, Volleyball, and Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving. Metzger also provides oversight of the study monitors in the Murphy Family Study Center and serves on the SAAS & Student-Athlete Development Team. A veteran of BC, Metzger has previously worked with the Football, Men’s Basketball, Men’s and Women’s Track and Field, Cross Country, and Lacrosse programs. She also formerly oversaw the SAAS Tutorial Program for six years. Metzger came to Boston College from the University of California at Berkeley, where she provided academic, personal, and career guidance to a diverse population of student-athletes in Football, Volleyball, Softball, Lacrosse, Swimming and Diving, Cross Country, Tennis, Field Hockey, Rugby and Rowing teams.
Metzger earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Merrimack College, where she was a member of the Women’s Basketball team. She completed her Master of Science in Counseling, with specializations in College and Career Counseling, at San Francisco State University (SFSU). Metzger played her remaining year of eligibility while in graduate school at SFSU. She also worked as an Academic Advisor in the Gator Academic Resource Center and as a Career Center Events Coordinator in the Career Services and Leadership Development Center.
Patrice Bouzan
Learning Specialist/Academic Counselor
Patrice Bouzan joined SAAS in 2010 and serves as an Academic Counselor for Men and Women's Ice Hockey, Field Hockey, and Women's Track & Field/Cross Country. Bouzan also works as a Learning Specialist and provides direct support for student-athletes who have learning disabilities and/or ADHD.
Bouzan graduated from Boston College with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. Additionally, she has a Master of Education in Counseling and Human Development with a concentration in Sport Psychology and a C.A.G.S. in Special Education from Boston University. Prior to Boston College, Patrice worked as a special educator at the middle school, high school, and college levels.
Sophia Bates
Learning Specialist/Academic Counselor
Sophia Bates is in her third year full-time as a learning specialist and academic advisor in student-athlete academic services (SAAS) after joining Boston College as a graduate assistant in 2020, then becoming full-time in 2022.
Bates specializes in support for student-athletes and college-aged individuals. Currently serving as a learning specialist & academic counselor at Boston College, Sophia excels in organizing and managing learning support caseloads for at-risk student-athletes, including those on the football team, men's tennis team, and fencing team.
Bates holds a Master of Arts in higher education with a focus on student affairs and is pursuing her Master of Science in Leadership with a focus in Project Management from Boston College’s Woods College of Advancing Studies. She also earned certificates in student-athlete development and special education. Her academic background is complemented by a Bachelor of Arts in secondary education and history from Saint Michael's College in Colchester, Vermont.
Originally from North Haven, CT., Sophia and her fiancé Matt reside in Newton.
David Jordan
Academic Counselor/Learning Specialist
David Jordan joined SAAS full-time in September 2022, bringing a strong foundation in academic support and student development. He currently serves as an Academic Counselor and Learning Specialist for Men’s Basketball and Football, where he provides targeted guidance to ensure student-athlete success both in the classroom and toward degree completion.
Prior to this role, David held positions across collegiate athletics and education, including Assistant Director of the Reggie Lewis Track & Athletic Center at Roxbury Community College, Graduate Assistant within SAAS at Hampton University, and Academic Mentor with Boston College SAAS. He also served as a Teacher’s Assistant and High School Football Coach in Wayland, MA, reinforcing his commitment to student growth at every level.
A Boston native, David earned his Bachelor of Science in Sports, Entertainment & Event Management from Johnson & Wales University, followed by a Master of Science in Sports Administration from Hampton University. He currently serves as President of the Zeta Kappa Sigma Boston alumni chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., reflecting his ongoing dedication to leadership and community engagement.
Kathleen Steele
Learning Specialist/Academic Counselor
Kathleen Steele joined SAAS full-time in August 2022. She currently serves as a Learning Specialist and Academic Counselor for the Football and Ski teams. In these roles, she provides individualized support to student-athletes throughout their careers at BC, helps to enhance learning strategies, and provides organizational tools to empower academic success. She also coordinates the SAAS Writing Specialist program.
Prior to this role, Steele worked as a Mentor and Assistant Learning Specialist in SAAS since 2016. She also taught First-Year Writing Seminar at BC since 2015, serving as a pre-major advisor since 2017, while also previously teaching Writing and Literature at Newbury College. Steele graduated from Boston College with both a Bachelor of Arts in English and History and a Master of Arts in English.
Madison Damm
Academic Counselor
Maddie Damm joined SAAS full-time in March 2023 after previously working as an Academic Mentor for the Football and Men's Basketball teams. She currently serves as an Academic Counselor working for Football, Women’s Soccer, & Women’s Tennis.
Prior to returning to Boston College, Damm served as the Assistant Athletic Director for Academic Support at the University of New Hampshire, where she oversaw all aspects of academics for the Football program.
Damm earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Connecticut, where she was a member of the women's soccer team. She earned her Masters of Education in Athletic Counseling from Springfield College in 2020.
Anna Pacella-Cerasani
Office Administrator
Anna Pacella-Cerasani serves as the office administrator, managing day-to-day operations, including part-time employee payroll, records management, data entry, procurement, and office calendars.