Roche Center Team

Melodie is the Executive Director of the Roche Center for Catholic Education and faculty member for the Lynch School of Education and Human Development at Boston College. Prior to coming to Boston College, Melodie served as an assistant professor and academic director of the Mary Ann Remick Leadership Program for the Alliance for Catholic Education at the University of Notre Dame. She also has served as president of Nativity Jesuit Academy in Milwaukee, WI and director of mission effectiveness for the NativityMiguel Network of Schools in Washington, DC. Melodie's current research and scholarship focuses on urban Catholic education, system-level leadership, effective governance practices, character formation across networks of schools, and the intersection of immigration and education. Her published work includes Cultivating Talent: Examining Pathways to Increase the Presence of Hispanic Teachers and Leaders in Catholic Schools (2022), Seven Steps to Strategic Planning for Catholic School Leaders (2020), and Responding to the Call for Educational Justice: Transformative Catholic-Led Initiatives in Urban Education (2018). Melodie has a doctorate in educational leadership and policy analysis from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and master's degrees in educational administration from Marquette University and education from Mount Mary College.

Prior to joining the Roche Center, Jeremy was a teacher and leader at a college prep high school in Lexington, MA for nearly 20 years, where along with teaching, he helped lead and coach new & experienced teachers. Jeremy recently received his Ph.D. in Curriculum & Instruction from the Lynch School of Education & Human Development at Boston College. Throughout his time studying at Boston College, he worked at the Roche Center as a research fellow and is excited to rejoin the center as an Instructional Leadership Coach.

Prior to joining the Roche Center in 2018 as a fiscal and operations administrator, Ana served as a fiscal and events specialist for Boston College's Center for Centers, where she coordinated events and managed the financial aspects of the department. Ana earned a master's degree in leadership and administration from the Woods College of Advancing Studies at Boston College in 2017.

Liz is a passionate advocate for Catholic schools. Having received a Catholic education from kindergarten through a master's degree, Liz enjoys giving back to the institutions that formed her. She has taught at the elementary, middle, high school, and graduate levels. Currently, she serves on the Catholic Schools Foundation’s Allocations Committee, and is a board member of the Sacred Heart STEM School. She also is an active member of the Boston College Alumni Association. Liz has undergraduate degrees in psychology and theology from Boston College, and a master's degree in education from the University of Notre Dame through the Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE) program.

Prior to joining the Roche Center, Tara was an Assistant Principal, and high school English teacher in London, England. During her nineteen years overseas, Tara worked at two inner city schools, where her focus was to improve literacy across the curriculum. She was also involved in a Teaching and Learning team, where she led a program for newly qualified teachers. Tara has an undergraduate degree in English from Franklin Pierce University. She also has a master's degree in Educational Leadership and Management from University of Warwick, England. In 2019, Tara returned home to Massachusetts and taught middle school ELA at Saint John the Evangelist School in Canton, MA.

Anne-Marie’s experiences in social work, theology & ministry, education, school leadership, and instructional leadership coaching have shaped her passion for Catholic education. Prior to joining the Roche Center, she served as a Catholic school leader in the San Francisco Bay Area and supported the development and implementation of the Roche Center Empowering Educators Teacher Leadership Program as a consultant. Anne-Marie has an MA in Educational Leadership from the University of Notre Dame.

Chris returns to Boston College, where he previously spent six years working in Career Services and University Advancement. Prior to joining the Roche Center, Chris worked at the Healey Education Foundation implementing new Catholic school governance structures in the Archdiocese of Boston and leading comprehensive assessments of Catholic elementary schools around the country. Through Healey, Chris successfully coached more than 80 school and board leaders on governance and board management best practices, while helping develop strong operating principles aligned with church teaching and on the ground needs of schools. Chris has nearly 15 years of direct service work with Catholic schools, including 4 years as a senior administrator leading fundraising efforts and alumni engagement at a Catholic high school and 3 years serving as vice chair of the board for a Catholic high school in Boston. Chris earned his MA in Education Administration, his MA in Pastoral Ministry and his BA in Human Development and Philosophy, all from Boston College.

Molly has served as both an elementary and middle school educator, along with holding several teacher-leader positions in the Catholic Schools she served. She was an assistant principal and principal for the last 12 years. Most recently, she served as principal for nine years in the Chelmsford Public Schools in Massachusetts, where she was instrumental in facilitating Social Emotional Learning (SEL) effectively across all elementary schools and where she helped to research, build, and implement a Social-Emotional Behavioral Therapeutic Program for the district. Molly completed her doctorate in Educational Leadership at Boston College, where she also served as a clinical supervisor of student teachers while completing her degree and an administrative internship in the Boston Public Schools. Her dissertation was in urban parent engagement. Her passions include the impact of leadership on school communities and the importance of social emotional learning for positive school climate and overall well-being of students. Molly leads the Roche Center's SEL Academy for schools interested in implementing social and emotional learning practices as a whole school.

Prior to joining the Roche Center in January 2023, Susan served for over 27 years as an educational leader in PK-12 Catholic and independent schools in New England and Northern California. Her work includes roles teaching middle and high school English and Social Studies, serving as principal/head of school for both Catholic and independent schools, and serving as the Associate Superintendent of Catholic Schools for Curriculum and Instruction for the Diocese of Providence. Susan worked as Senior Director of Academic Support for the Cambridge Institute of International Education, where she built and managed academic programs in 107 schools across the United States. In addition to her passion for coaching leaders and teachers, Susan is a student of coming trends including school redesign and emerging artificial intelligence in schools, and is licensed as a Superintendent/Assistant Superintendent in Massachusetts.

Michael joined the Roche Center in 2021 drawing upon his previous work as a middle school educator, instructional coach, professional learning consultant, teacher educator, researcher, and policymaker across Catholic and public education settings. Most recently, he was the Coordinator of Educator Pipelines, Preparation, and Certification with the Rhode Island Department of Education. He has experience with multiple programs in the University Consortium for Catholic Education (UCCE), including as a Teaching Fellow with the Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE) at the University of Notre Dame, the founding Assistant Director of Programs with the Alliance for Catholic Education at Saint Joseph's University (ACESJU), an Instructional Coach with the Urban Catholic Teacher Corps (UCTC) at Boston College, and the Director of the Providence Alliance for Catholic Teachers (PACT) at Providence College. Michael earned his doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction with a specialization in Language, Literacy, and Culture from the Lynch School at Boston College. He is a Coyle Research Fellow with the University of Notre Dame's Center for Literacy Education and pursues research interests in contemporary issues in Catholic education, educator collaboration, professional learning and development, and writing and literacies. His published work includes Collaborative Professionalism:  When Teaching Together Means Learning for All, co-authored with Dr. Andy Hargreaves (2018).

Prior to joining the Roche Center, John served as executive director of Operational Vitality for the National Catholic Education Association (NCEA), where he oversaw the organization's programs related to communications, marketing, budgeting and finance, technology management, and digital learning and discipleship. He also served as the assistant superintendent for academic excellence and budget supervision for the 32 Catholic schools in the state of South Carolina. John has a doctorate in Organizational Change and Leadership from the Rossier School of Education at the University of Southern California.

Elena comes to Boston College from Eastern Connecticut University, where she was an assistant professor and director of the online bilingual education program. Throughout her 20-year career as an educator, Elena has served as supervisor of ESL, World Languages, and Dual Language Programs in New Rochelle, NY, and West Hartford, CT; as a board member for Upper-West Success Academy in NYC; and as a board member of New York's Brilla Prep Schools, a charter school network with a Catholic approach. Elena has a master’s degree in Supervision and Administration of Schools and Districts from Hunter College, CUNY; a master’s degree in Theological Studies from the University of Dallas; and a doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in Bilingual and Multicultural Education from the University of Connecticut.

Louis is Superintendent of Schools and Secretary of Education for the Catholic Diocese of Wilmington, Delaware. Before assuming this role in 2012, he served as assistant superintendent in the diocese, and also as director of curriculum PreK-12 and professional development for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. He has served as principal and teacher for several Catholic schools in Pennsylvania and as a professor at Neumann University and Chestnut Hill College. In every role, Louis sees his ministry in Catholic education as both an invitation and gift as he journeys with others and encounters Jesus Christ. Louis has a doctorate in educational leadership from Immaculata University.

Marc Martinez is the founding principal of St. Peter’s Catholic: A Career and Technical High School, in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, where he will open the school in the fall of 2023. Prior to being named founding principal, Marc served as Dean of Academics at St. Pius X High School in Houston, TX, and before that, he was the principal at O’Connell College Prep in Galveston, TX and of True Cross Catholic School in Dickinson, TX. Marc began his educational career as a 2nd grade teacher, and has taught 4th grade, 5th to 8th grade Math, 7th & 8th grade religion, and has coached baseball and volleyball, while also serving as athletic director. In every role, Marc sees his ministry in Catholic education as a vocation and an opportunity to serve God and others. Marc has earned a doctorate in educational leadership from Saint Louis University, a master’s in private school administration from the University of St. Thomas, and a bachelor’s in business administration from St. Edward’s University.

Dr. Melanie Palmisano has extensive service to Catholic schools as a teacher and administrator on the elementary, middle, high school levels as well as the university undergraduate and doctoral levels. She recently retired from the Diocese of Baton Rouge after thirteen years in service as Superintendent of Schools and currently provides leadership coaching and school improvement consulting through Inspir-ED Consulting, LLC specializing in the areas of resilient leadership and school improvement. Dr. Mel earned a Doctorate in Education Leadership from the University of San Francisco, a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of New Orleans, and a Bachelor of Science in Elementary and Secondary Education from Loyola University of the South. Her publications include articles for NCEA’s Momentum and The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools on accreditation and school improvement. Dr. Mel has provided presentations and workshops to schools, districts, and professional organizations on a wide variety of topics with the goal of providing support for educational improvement. Dr. Mel’s focus is to bring joy to the work of Catholic schools, and she is especially happy to share the journey as a coach to graduate students at Boston College.

Ms. Lytia Reese currently serves the ministry of Catholic education in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Raleigh as Superintendent of Schools, where she leads 28 Catholic early childhood, elementary and high schools. A product of Catholic schools K-college, Ms. Reese received her Bachelor of Science in Economics and Finance from Christian Brothers University and received her Master of Arts in Instructional and Curriculum Leadership from the University of Memphis. She has dedicated her vocation in education to serving under-resourced students and embodied the tradition of her Dominican roots by modeling her instruction and leadership around the four pillars of Dominican education: preaching; prayer; study; and community. A teacher for over 15 years, she spent much of her career serving students attending Title I schools. In 2012, she began her appointment as Principal in Jubilee schools in the Diocese of Memphis, which students who would not have been able to afford a Catholic education without significant financial assistance. She continued her service to under-resourced students in the Diocese of Galveston-Houston as the Assistant Superintendent of Urban Achievement. There, she oversaw and supported 13 schools whose primary mission was to serve students who could not afford a Catholic education. Prior to becoming an educator, Ms. Reese worked in the financial sector as a manager at The Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, Memphis Branch. She discovered her love of teaching through her involvement with Junior Achievement where she taught financial literacy to middle-schoolers.

Patrick is the Executive Director of the Xaverian Brothers Sponsored Schools, a network of 13 schools in Maryland, New York, Connecticut, Kentucky, and Massachusetts. A liaison between the Xaverian Brothers and the schools’ leadership teams and boards, he assists schools in animating the mission of a Xaverian education while promoting strong governance at the board level. Previously, he served the Archdiocese of Omaha for 15 years as a K-8 principal, a high school president, and Superintendent of Schools. In his role as superintendent, Patrick restructured the staffing of the Catholic School Office and was a key team member in the Archdiocese’s Ignite the Faith Capital Campaign which raised $53 million for various needs throughout the archdiocese. The newly developed leadership team strategically invested a significant portion of these funds in Catholic education, leading to the highest Catholic school system enrollment gain in the country in the years following the program investments. Patrick has also held leadership roles in private, non-denominational schools in Maryland and Massachusetts. He earned his bachelors from the College of the Holy Cross, a master’s in educational administration from Harvard University, and his doctorate degree from Creighton University.

Carrie Fuller is the Managing Director of School Networks in the Department of Catholic Schools, Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Previously, she served eight years as principal of All Souls World Language Catholic School, the only two strand (Mandarin-English, Spanish-English) dual language Catholic school in the nation. Dr. Fuller came to All Souls from Boston College where she served as an Instructional Coach with the Urban Catholic Teacher Corps (UCTC), researched successful school leadership and Catholic school sustainability, as well as assisted with professional development for principals and teachers through the Roche Center for Catholic Education. A Florida native, Dr. Fuller is proud of her Nicaraguan/Cuban heritage, has lived and traveled in Latin America, and is always looking to improve her Spanish. In addition to ensuring the needs of language learners are prioritized, Dr. Fuller is a fierce advocate of inclusive schooling as well as the centrality of arts education. She has taught all levels of education—from first grade to graduate school. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Notre Dame, a Master of Divinity from Harvard University, and her PhD in Curriculum and Instruction with a focus on Education Leadership from Boston College.

Having served as a bilingual classroom teacher, reading specialist, consultant and educational researcher, Gloria has extensive experience in developing dual language curriculum. She has her own consulting firm, which provides professional development workshops to school teams and helps districts develop their literacy and dual language programs. Gloria earned a doctorate from the University of Southern California and holds a master's of education degree in language and literacy from Harvard University with a reading specialist credential focused on second language acquisition.

Dr. McGilvray-Rivet is the recently retired principal of Barbieri Elementary School in Framingham, Massachusetts. In 1990, Barbieri opened one of the first Two-Way Bilingual programs in the state. Prior to serving as the principal, she served as the Director of Bilingual and Sheltered English Programs at the district level. Her 43-year career in public education in Massachusetts also includes serving as an elementary principal in Topsfield and as Bilingual Program Coordinator and Elementary Spanish Bilingual Teacher in Lawrence, MA. Her primary interests are in supporting Two-Way Immersion teachers and leaders and in family involvement. Dr. McGilvray-Rivet has bachelor's degrees in elementary education and Spanish from Wittenberg University, and she completed her master's and doctoral degrees at Boston University.

Leticia Oseguera is the Superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Diocese of San Diego. Previously, she was the principal of Mater Dei Juan Diego Academy in San Diego, where she joined the faculty in 2017. She has 19 years of bilingual education experience, five years as the principal of the only Catholic school in San Diego with a dual language program and 14 years of teaching experience at the high school level in public and Catholic schools. A product of bilingual education herself, Leticia migrated with her family from Michoacán, México to the United States as an 8-year-old, and is committed to educating the next generation of bilingual, faith-filled global leaders. She has a master's degree in educational leadership and administration from St. Thomas University, a master's degree in education with an emphasis on second language acquisition from Claremont Graduate University, and a bachelor's degree in Spanish literature from the University of California, San Diego. As a life-long learner, Leticia recently completed a Certificate in School Management and Leadership from Harvard.

Fr. Gilbert is a Catholic priest from Nigeria. Before his studies in the United States, he served as a teacher, principal, and member of the Nsukka Catholic Education Commission in his native country. His research interests include educational change and policy, Catholic education, the tutorial relationship model, and formative / meaning-making education. In partnership with the Roche Center, Fr. Gilbert organized the Catholic Educators’ Conference in Nigeria and investigated the practice of the tutorial relationship model in Mexico and Chile with the Womenhoven grant. He has master's degrees in Educational Leadership and Curriculum and Instruction from Boston College and a bachelor's degree in Philosophy and Theology from Pontifical Urban University, Rome.

Currently, David serves as the head of school at St. Hubert Catholic School in Chanhassen, MN. In addition, he is as a national faculty member at the University of Notre Dame where he has taught graduate courses on research and executive management. Prior to his work at St. Hubert, David served as the assistant principal at Seton Catholic Preparatory in Chandler, AZ. He helped guide the development of an engineering program, technology initiatives, faculty mentoring and professional development programs, under-performing student support programs, and a House program designed to foster community among the Seton community. The scope and scale of this work contributed to Seton being recognized as a 2017 National Blue Ribbon School by the United States Department of Education.

Victoria is a Master’s candidate for a MA Theology & Ministry/ Master’s of Social Work (MSW) dual degree. She received her BS in Molecular & Cellular Biology / BA in Spanish from Johns Hopkins University and has worked full-time in public health research and epidemiology for five years. Most recently, Victoria completed a year of ministry with the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange, where she provided case management and spiritual support group services for seniors, the unhoused, traumatic brain injury (TBI) survivors, and survivors of intimate partner violence through a Catholic, community based hospital. Victoria’s research interests focus on adapting Ignatian spirituality for use in mental health care, particularly to address adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and trauma throughout the lifespan.

Julia is currently in her final year of the Master of Divinity program at the School of Theology and Ministry (STM). At the STM, she is the student leader for the Crispaz El Salvador Encounter and serves on the Spiritual Advisory Board. Her journey with the Roche Center began as a participant on the Encuentro Immersion trip to the US-Mexico border. She serves as a graduate assistant for the Templeton-funded research project on Pedagogies of Character Formation. She is excited to join the Roche Center team and learn more about dual language education in the US through her work with the TWIN-CS network.

Sr. Genevieve Okoye is a Catholic Nun from the Congregation of the Daughters of Divine Love. She studies Educational Leadership and Policy in the Lynch School of Education and Human Development at Boston College. Prior to joining the Roche Center, Sr. Genevieve was the Directress of Divino Amore Vocational Institute in Nigeria. She was a Graduate Assistant in a Catholic university, Godfrey Okoye University in Nigeria. She was also a lecturer at the Institute of Ecuminical Education. She graduated from Enugu State University of Science and Technology.

Michael is an award-winning theatrical producer and music director, has held senior positions at the Charlotte Symphony, Davidson College, and Habitat for Humanity, and earned an MFA in theater from the University of Texas at Austin. His most formative work has come along the frontiers, in Europe and especially in Central America, where he has a long association as guest artist with Teatro la Fragua, the Jesuit theater in Honduras. He hopes his work at Boston College allows him to explore more fully the lessons he has learned from folks in Honduras: about poverty, courage, art, laughter, and faith.

Gwen Babyak is currently a sophomore at Boston College in the Carroll School of Management. She is pursuing her bachelor's degree in Management with concentrations in Management and Finance, as well as a minor in Ancient Greek Civilizations. During her time at Boston College, she has been involved with the fashion club and also a campus magazine. She is excited to immerse herself in analyzing literary work alongside learning more about the development of individuals through international immersion at the Roche Center.

Jaysen Bass is an undergraduate senior at Boston College majoring in Communication. He has a passion for creative expression through visual media arts and writing. He hopes to strengthen his relationship with religion through the connections and resources offered at Boston College. The motto, “Men and Women for others,” is one that resonates with him, as he hopes to dedicate his life to giving back to communities in need, like the one of Newark, New Jersey where he was born and raised, and helping to provide youth with the support and knowledge necessary to become the individuals that they wish to become. He believes the Roche Center is a place that aligns with his goals, and a place that will allow him to flourish into the leader he strives to be, fortifying the skills he has gained from his time as president of the Student Organization Writers’ Circle, and through other creative ventures he has embarked on.

Mary Grace is currently a senior at Boston College in the Carroll School of Management. She is pursuing her bachelor's degree in management with concentrations in marketing and business analytics, as well as a minor in managing for social impact. In her time at Boston College, she has been involved with club athletics and volunteer work through the PULSE Service program. She is excited to be gaining experience in marketing and analytics at the Roche Center.

Teddy is an undergraduate sophomore at Boston College in the Carroll School of Management. He is pursuing his bachelor’s degree in Management with a concentration in Business Analytics and International Studies with a concentration in Political Economy and Development Studies. In addition to his academic pursuits, Teddy is involved with Freshmen League, 4Boston, BC Bigs, and Sports Analytics Club. Having attended Boston College High School and now Boston College, Teddy has found the Jesuit aspect of his education to be important in shaping him into who he is. He hopes to use this Catholic foundation to guide him at the Roche Center as he helps with the development of projects such as the Executive Leadership Academy.