Elizabeth Brewer, Ed.D. Clinical Assistant Professor, Loyola Marymount University
Dr. Elizabeth Brewer is Clinical Assistant Professor at the Loyola Marymount University School of Education where she is also the Director of Catholic Teacher Preparation and CAST Specialized Programs in Urban Education. Her research interests include cyberbullying, students' experience with technology, the role of social networking in student development, digital citizenship, and netagogy creation and integration. Dr. Brewer received a dual undergraduate degree from the University of Southern California, and an M.A. in Secondary Education and Ed.D. in Educational Leadership for Social Justice from Loyola Marymount University.
Keith Crowley, Ph.D. Principal, St. John's Prep
Dr. Keith Crowley is principal of St. John's Prep, a secondary school for young men sponsored by the Xaverian Brothers, located in Danvers, MA. He has more than two decades of experience in Catholic education, including eight years as assistant principal for academics at Xaverian Brothers High School in Westwood, MA. In addition to his secondary school experience, Dr. Crowley has been an adjunct professor of science at Dean College in Franklin, MA, since 2003. He also serves on the faculty of the Summer Institute at Loyola University's Center for Catholic School Effectiveness in Chicago, IL. A trained physical therapist, he has worked with high school, collegiate and recreational athletes in a variety of settings since 1995. Crowley holds a Ph.D in educational administration from the Lynch School of Education at Boston College, as well as a B.S. and M.S. in physical therapy from Springfield College.
Patricia Weitzel-O'Neill, Ph.D. Executive Director, Boston College
Patricia Weitzel-O'Neill joined the Barbara and Patrick Roche Center for Catholic Education after serving as Superintendent of Schools for the Archdiocese of Washington and the Vice President for Academic Affairs at Trinity Washington University in Washington, DC. As the Executive Director, she is responsible for the oversight and management of Center personnel, professional development for leadership teams in Catholic education, advocacy work, and facilitating applied research with the Lynch School of Education and the School of Theology and Ministry on behalf of the Catholic school community, both locally and nationally. Dr. Weitzel-O’Neill is the co-author of the National Standards and Benchmarks for Effective Catholic Elementary and Secondary Schools (NSBECS) and continues her work with co-author Dr. Lorraine Ozar, Loyola University Chicago, and the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA). She also works advancing new resources for the Standards and is leading a National Survey to support the implementation of the NSBECS. Currently, Dr. Weitzel-O’Neill and Dr. Hosffman Ospino, Boston College School of Theology and Ministry, are concluding the National Survey of Catholic Schools Serving Hispanic Families. An advocate for Catholic schools, she advises and presents regularly at workshops and conferences and also serves on several boards and councils, including the Governing Board for the Journal of Catholic Education.
As Superintendent of Schools for the Archdiocese of Washington, Dr. Weitzel-O'Neill was responsible for 29,000 students in 96 early learning, elementary, and secondary schools. During her eight-year tenure, she worked to develop Catholic school policies, strengthen academic excellence, and enhance professional development. Additionally, she was instrumental in securing the DC Opportunity Scholarship Program, a federal voucher initiative that provided thousands of low-income children the opportunity to attend parochial and non-public schools. Prior to serving as superintendent, Dr. Weitzel-O'Neill worked with Trinity Washington University as Vice President of Academic Affairs, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, and as an associate professor of sociology. She is a graduate of Wheeling Jesuit University and holds an M.A. and a Ph.D. in Sociology from St. Louis University.
Gerald Smith, D.B.A. Associate Professor, Boston College
Dr. Gerald Smith is Associate Professor of Marketing at Boston College in the Carroll School of Management, where he leads the Product and Brand Management Specialization and teaches Strategic Brand Management, Strategic Pricing Management, and the First Year MBA core Marketing course. He is a member of the Duke Corporate Education Global Learning Resource Network, and has taught in executive programs at the Wharton School, Columbia, Duke, Boston University, and Suffolk University. Dr. Smith received an undergraduate degree from Brandeis University, an M.B.A from Harvard Business School, and a D.B.A. from Boston University.
Kristin Barstow Melley Director for Professional Development, Boston College
Kristin Barstow Melley is the Director for Professional Development for the Roche Center for Catholic Education. She develops professional learning opportunities for Catholic educational leaders working in PK-12 schools. Her current projects include the Two-Way Immersion Network for Catholic Schools (TWIN-CS) and the Emmaus Series: A Leadership Advancement Program for Catholic School Leaders. Kristin presents nationally on Faculty and Student Faith Formation, Catholic Identity, Managing School Change, School Board Development, Marketing Catholic Schools and Whole-school Teacher Collaboration. She is a contributor to the National Standards and Benchmarks for Effective Catholic Elementary and Secondary Schools implementation resources. She serves as liaison for the Catholic School Office of the Archdiocese of Boston and the Lynch School of Education at Boston College. Formerly, Kristin served as Associate Superintendent of Catholic high schools in the Diocese of Worcester and as the Director of the National Catholic Center for Student Aspirations at Assumption College. She was a high school teacher of history, art history, literature, and writing, and a soccer and basketball coach. She taught world religions, ethics, and writing at Endicott College. She received her Bachelor’s degree from Wheaton College in Norton, MA and a Masters in Theology from Harvard University.