“There are very different dimensions between a career in industry and a career at Boston College. Working at BC, I got a chance to do something that I loved while being a part of a very special community. There have been so many ways that I have been able to immerse myself in the BC community, ranging from retreats to teaching and, of course, tailgating. I also had an opportunity to see my kids benefit from a Jesuit education, work alongside my brother, and support the AJCU and the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome with technology matters, all while enjoying our wonderful colleagues here at BC. I am profoundly grateful for the opportunity to have served Boston College.” - Michael Bourque, Vice President for Information Technology Services who will retire in March 23 years at BC | READ MORE: https://on.bc.edu/MichaelBourque

“Montserrat is a very special place. In my role, I can be that face of love to say, ‘Listen, you matter. We want to succeed. We want to make sure that you truly, at the end of your day, become a Jesuit graduate who's competent, compassionate, and loving.’ It's a place where I really find joy because I come every day to a job that has been an engine to my vocation.” - Michael Davidson, S.J., the 2025 winner of the Bishop Healy Award | READ MORE: https://on.bc.edu/HealyAward_Davidson

“Both (my friend) Zach and I have seen how mental health can play a pretty big role in people's lives. We think it's very important, especially at an academically rigorous school like Boston College where people focus a lot on classes, studying, getting good grades, and are always sort of looking toward the future. Thinking about getting an internship or into a graduate program. We think that it's important for students to be able to have an outlet where they can feel safe and talk about things. "BC already has resources, like counseling services, but we wanted to just create a student club. We wanted to create an outlet for people who also feel passionate about mental health and have the end goal of eliminating the stigma around campus of reaching out for help. Students should be able to say, ‘Yes, I do get stressed out. This does happen. I'm not just some perfect student who got into this school who studies all the time and does all these extracurriculars.’ We're hoping to find people who feel similarly and are looking to invest time into initiatives like that.” - Luke Mangano '28, who co-founded the "Be Seen @ BC" student group

“Braver Angels’ approach is so important to toning down the rhetoric and mistrust engulfing U.S. politics because it is focused on reminding Americans how to exchange viewpoints in an environment that has become saturated with various media that thrive on disagreement and controversy. We have to lower the temperature and find areas of agreement and trust. I remain hopeful that we can do so.” - Peter Skerry, Political Science Professor who is leading a national effort to depolarize American politics | READ MORE: https://on.bc.edu/BraverAngels

“My time in Mombasa, Kenya, was one of my most transformative experiences, shaping my professional path. From the beginning, I felt supported and cared for. That strong framework gave me the confidence to step outside my comfort zone and really immerse myself in the placement. ⁣ "The heart of the experience was the health placement itself and the people who guided me through it. Their unwavering support and kindness made me feel welcome and pushed me to grow. I developed my interventions, an empowering process that built my confidence and showed me how creativity and collaboration can improve healthcare delivery. They modeled what it means to be both skilled and compassionate, and their guidance gave me a clearer picture of the kind of healthcare provider I aspire to be. Beyond the formal mentorship, my relationship with community members was equally impactful. Being welcomed into their daily lives reminded me that healthcare is not just about medicine but about trust, empathy, and connection.⁣” - Mackenzie Meyer '26, a summer intern for International Medical Aid - IMA | Full Quote & More Photos: https://bit.ly/MMeyer_IMAQuote

“Social work is built on walking alongside someone—in a change effort, a growth effort, a recovery effort. I feel like we walk alongside students by setting up structures that support their learning and processes that support them if they’re struggling. “It was really amazing to think—with the longevity of this—how many different students I’ve engaged with and had as part of my life. It’s been a privilege to be in this role because I never would have imagined it. But looking back on it, I couldn’t imagine doing anything else.” - Sue Coleman (right), Boston College School of Social Work Assistant Dean of Field Education who is retiring after 28 years at BC | READ MORE: https://on.bc.edu/SueColeman

“Newton Campus has such a special place in our hearts. Our roommates and so many of our friends have a certain bond from being on that campus, and it played such a role in our story as a couple. Most nights we would go to 10 p.m. Candlelight Mass, take the bus back, and walk around for hours, just getting to know each other. So every time I heard a freshman complain about Newton I would always say, ‘You know, I actually love Newton Campus. I even met my boyfriend on the Newton bus.’ Now I guess I have an even better Newton story.” - Sophia Paranzino ’26, who recently got engaged to her fiancé, Thomas Scordino ’26, on board the Newton shuttle bus where they first met | READ MORE: https://on.bc.edu/RidetoRemember

"Earlier this year, I sat in my office with the door open. As students rushed between classes, one of them noticed the Argentine flag on my wall. We had a brief but meaningful exchange in Spanish, where they shared their Argentine ancestry and I invited them to check out our Latin American Studies minor. That quick moment of recognition—seeing a piece of your heritage reflected back—can create such a strong sense of connection. Encounters like this remind me of the importance of making space for students to feel that their histories, languages, and cultures belong in the university setting. It all starts with an open door." - Ángeles Picone, Assistant Professor of History

“Meeting with prospective students and learning about their lives and what inspires their career aspirations is one of my favorite parts of my role in the Boston College School of Social Work. I’m also privileged to be able to share my own experiences here as a student. Looking back, as a Black immigrant woman and a bit of an introvert, I felt disconnected from the Boston College community at large. Now, understanding the vast opportunities available to students and having a better understanding of the Jesuit commitment to caring for the whole person, which aligns beautifully with the mission and values of social work, I can encourage students to take advantage of these opportunities and intentionally affirm for them that they belong here and have earned their spot.” - Paula Coutinho '99, MSW '03, BCSSW's Associate Dean of Enrollment Management Photo by Amanda Simpson '28

"I have had the opportunity to create safe spaces for marginalized identities at Boston College, and I am proud of always being there for my mentees, making sure they are comfortable coming to me when they are struggling academically, socially, or mentally. "Through my leadership roles as an RA, Freshmen League captain, peer mentor with Experience, Reflection and Action, Stride lead, and the general coordinator of the Queer Leadership Council, I realized that what the world needs me to be is a person for others. I feel like my truest self is when I am helping others and making sure they are taken care of. "Suffering from my own mental health struggles alone made me realize how important a support system is when you are at your lowest, and I want to be that support system as an emergency psychiatrist. I know that this journey will be worthwhile, as I will get to serve others and provide them with the treatment and help they deserve and need, which I wish I had during my lowest times." - Tushar Nag '26, winner of the 2025 Paul Chebator and Mer Zovko Community Award

"[Just go for it.] Worst case scenario, you give this a whirl for a couple of years and the stars don’t align,” he said. “But the amount you learn and the value you have to the next startup or employer goes up dramatically.” - Jason Krantz ’95, P’23, an SSC Ventures Partner mentor, giving his advice to young entrepreneurs | READ MORE in Boston College Magazine: https://on.bc.edu/SSCVenture_BCM

"One section of The Laughing Medusa’s mission statement reads, 'We hope to emphasize and explore our collective humanity, and hope that all readers can see themselves in these pages.' I find myself going back to these lines when I think about the organization that I love, that offers a space for authenticity, connecting artists and writers in a communal space of idea-sharing and creativity. Fostering an outlet where non-binary individuals and women can express themselves fully is what makes my role so fulfilling, and why the journal remains such an important presence on-campus." - Olivia DiRenzo '26, the Editor-in-Chief of The Laughing Medusa Literary Arts Journal Photo by Amanda Simpson '28