The Thea Bowman AHANA and Intercultural Center is dedicated to fostering a welcoming, safe, and inclusive environment for students through support programs and resources, one-on-one conversations, academic counseling and mentorship opportunities, discussion groups, and resources to help students听 navigate challenges during their time at 51茶馆.
How we serve our students
We often meet with students one-on-one and can connect you to other people on campus who can support you and your needs.
Go ahead...reach out!
If you want to reach out to allies in the 51茶馆 community, please take a look at the resource guide below. Each person on this list has agreed to be an ally and contact person for LGBTQ+ students at 51茶馆. Most have had training regarding being a support for LGBTQ+ students, and this list is updated annually to make sure you have access to the best possible resources.听
There are two dedicated staff members who support and program for LGBTQ+ students at 51茶馆.
- Office of the Vice President for Human Resources听advances and sustains an inclusive and diverse Boston College Community.
- The Women's Center听offers a peer-led support group for lesbian, bisexual, and questioning female students at Boston College.听
- Boston College Career Center听has specific career resources for LGBT students and alumni.
- 罢丑别听Diversity Committee of the University Counseling Services听serves "to foster efforts that promote a broad definition of diversity and inclusivity within the Boston College community."
Boston College honors the unique experiences and needs for support that LGBTQ+ students have as they navigate college. DOS has maintained this LGBTQ+ Resource Guide for more than last 15 years.听
Need Support?
Part of being human and in community is sometimes needing support from others.听 We are here for you!听 听
If you are in crisis:
If you think you are at risk of harming yourself or others please immediately call University Counseling Services at 617鈥�552鈥�3310, during regular working hours. If after hours you can still contact听UCS at 617-552-3310 and follow prompts to speak with a clinician. More information can be found at the听UCS website. Students can also call 51茶馆PD at 617-552-4444 for any emergency situation or to ask for help.
Other LGBTQ-specifc crisis hotlines are:
- The Trevor Project: (866) 488-7386
- The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender National Hotline: (888) 843-4564
- Trans Lifeline: (877) 565-8860
If you are not in crisis:
The professional and graduate student staff in Student Outreach and Support Services are here to help. You do not have to be sure that you are part of the LGBTQ+ community to reach out for support and we support students with more than just aspects of their sexuality or gender identity. We routinely work with students who are exploring or questioning their identities and also with LGBTQ+ students who need support in other areas of their lives.听 You can call us at 617-552-3470, email:听student.support@bc.edu, or听email any of our staff directly.
You can also join us at our听weekly discussion groups.听
If you feel that you have been subject to a violation of the University鈥檚 鈥渂ias-motivated conduct policy,鈥� please also see information from the听Office of the Dean of Students regarding reporting any allegations of misconduct.
Carroll School of Management
Ethan Sullivan, Senior Associate Dean
Fulton 315 | 617-552-0459 l听ethan.sullivan@bc.edu
Jonathan Beebe
Assistant Department Chair, Business Analytics | Fulton 354C | 2-0461 | beebej@bc.edu | Former Spectrum mentort
Amy LaCombe, Professor of the Practice
Fulton 315 | 617-552-6827 l听amy.lacombe@bc.edu
Amy Donegan, Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Management Advising
Fulton 315 | 617-552-3431 l听amy.donegan@bc.edu
Erica Graf, Assistant Dean of Academic and Student Services
Fulton 315 | 617-552-0462 l听erica.graf@bc.edu
Connell School of Nursing
Anya Villatoro, Assistant Dean
Maloney 217 | 617-552-4541 |听anya.villatoro@bc.edu
M. Colleen Simonelli, Associate Dean
Maloney 218 | 617-552-3232 |听colleen.simonelli@bc.edu
Lynch School of Education and Human Development听
Julia Whitcavitch DeVoy, Associate Dean
Campioin 114 l 617-552-4200 l听julia.whitcavitch@bc.edu
Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences
Treseanne Ainsworth, Associate Dean for Sophomores
Stokes S171 | 2-2800 | treseanne.ainsworth@bc.edu
Joseph Desciak, Associate Dean for Freshmen
Director of the Academic Advising Center
Stokes 140S| 2-9259 | joseph.desciak@bc.edu
Jeffrey Lamoureux, Associate Dean for Juniors
Stokes S132 I 2-2800 I jeffrey.lamoureux@bc.edu
Tom Mogan, Associate Dean for Seniors
Stokes 140S | 2-2800 I mogant@bc.edu
Hilary Palevsky, Assistant Professor, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences
Devlin Hall 321D | 2-4936 | palevsky@bc.edu
Former Spectrum Mentor
Christy Pottroff, Assistant Professor, English Department
Stokes Hall 417S | 2-3708 | christy.pottroff@bc.edu
Former Spectrum mentor
Meghan Sweeney, Professor of the Practice, Theology Department; Cooney Family Director, PULSE Program for Service Learning
Stokes Hall N125B | 2-3768 | meghan.sweeney@bc.edu
Former Spectrum mentor
Fr. James Weiss, Associate Professor, Theology Department
Stokes Hall N435 | 2-3897 | james.weiss@bc.edu
Former Spectrum mentor
Woods College of Advancing Studies
David Goodman, Dean
St. Mary鈥檚 Hall S052 I 617-552-3455 I听david.goodman@bc.edu
Graduate Students
听
Boston College Law School
Avi Baur, Digital Initiatives & Scholarly Communication LibrarianLaw Library 248 | 2-8602 | abraham.baur@bc.edu
Former Spectrum mentor
Emily Libby, Assistant Dean
Stuart House M308 l 617-552-9187 l听emily.libby@bc.edu
Connell School of Nursing
M. Colleen Simonelli, Associate Dean
Maloney 218 | 617-552-3232 |听colleen.simonelli@bc.edu
Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences
Christine Murphy, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs
Gasson 108 | 617-552-0714 |听murphych@bc.edu
Chris B. Polt, Associate Professor, Director of Graduate Studies, Classical Studies DepartmentStokes Hall S243 |听 2-3662 | polt@bc.edu
Former Spectrum mentor
School of Social Work
Teresa Touhey Schirmer, LICSW, Associate Dean
McGuinn 136 | 617-552-4762 |听teresa.schirmer@bc.edu
Clough School of Theology and Ministry
Jacqueline M. Regan, M.Div., M.A., Associate Dean
Simboli Hall 225 | 617-552-6504 |听jacqueline.regan.2@bc.edu
Woods College of Advancing Studies
Claudia C. Pouravelis, Associate Dean
St. Mary鈥檚 Hall I 617-552-6373 I听claudia.pouravelis@bc.edu
28 Court Square, Boston, MA | 617-227-4313
989 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA听听
24-Hour Hotline: 800-841-8371听
75 Amory St. Jamaica Plain, MA | 857-399-1920听
听| 617-424-9595听
1340 Boylston Street, Boston, MA | 617-267-0900听
听
75 Kneeland Street, Boston, MA | 617.457.8140
听
1601 Washington Street, Boston, MA | 617-425-2000
听(TNLR)听617-742-4911 (voice) | 800-832-1901 (Toll-Free)听
听| 877-565-8860听
听| 866-438-7386
The BAIC is proud to offer training to any department or office that would like us to work with their faculty and/or staff to ensure competence and confidence when working with our LGBTQ+ students! Our sessions can be tailored to your needs in terms of length and content, and will cover many topics affecting LGBTQ+ identity construction so that you can be the best possible resource for LGBTQ+ students at 51茶馆.听
Contact spectrum@bc.edu for more information.
听
BBQ and Dinner and Dialogue
Join us for the first annual LGBTQ+ BBQ on September 20th at 12 p.m. in Baldwin's Backyard. After the BBQ, monthly dinner and dialogue events will happen October 9th, and November 6th in room 460 in the Thea Bowman AHANA Intercultural Center (BAIC). All students are welcome.
Discussion Groups
The BAIC offers private, reflective, and welcoming spaces for LGBTQ+ students and allies to meet and engage in meaningful discussion around identity development and experiences. Groups meet weekly for an hour and are open to anyone who wants a private and comfortable space to interact with peers exploring similar issues around what it means to identify as LGBTQ+ at 51茶馆 and in the world. No appointments, formal arrangements, or commitments necessary. Drop in whenever the discussion group is meeting and we'll be there waiting to welcome you with open arms, hearts, and minds!
Lavender Graduation
A celebration that recognizes LGBTQ+ students of all backgrounds and acknowledges their contributions to the University. Graduating LGBTQ+ seniors and graduate students are recognized for their leadership, successes, and overall commitment and contributions to the LGTBQ+ community. Through such recognition, LGBTQ+ students may leave Boston College with a positive final experience, filling them with pride both in themselves and in their college experiences.
Pride Peers听
A mentoring program that pairs LGBTQ+ undergrad/transfer students with upper-class LGBTQ+ peers. There will be monthly social gatherings and spaces to bond and reflect on sexuality and gender identity. If you are an upper-class 51茶馆 student and would like to serve as a mentor, please fill out the application. All students are welcome.
Prism
A group for all LGBTQ+ and questioning students to talk about queer identity and experiences. Facilitated by queer and trans graduate students.
Transcend
A weekly peer to peer support discussion group for transgender, non-binary, gender queer/non-conforming, and questioning students. Transcend will be held every Monday starting September 8th at 7 p.m. in Maloney Hall, room 460 in the Thea Bowman AHANA Intercultural Center (BAIC). All students are welcome.
Spectrum Retreat
Spectrum is a confidential, free weekend away for LGBTQ+ students. In this welcoming environment, participants will be encouraged to engage in conversation and reflection about their personal identities and to discern who they are and who they are called to be at Boston College and beyond. All students are welcome. February 2026 retreat date TBD.
听
Spectrum 2026 Lead Application
Being a Spectrum Lead is an incredible and amazing opportunity and includes a few responsibilities:As a lead, you must have attended Spectrum at least once before. There will be 8 preparatory meetings, attendance at which is mandatory.
If I come to a discussion group (Transcend, Prism, Q), do I have to attend each week?
Nope! No commitment necessary. Come when you can.
I am still exploring my sexuality and gender identity. Do I have to identify as LGBTQ+ to come to events?
Nope! Everyone is welcome, including allies. Our events are a good space to explore those questions and connect with others in the community.听
Where do I sign up for the mailing list?
.
Undergraduate Students
Allies of Boston College
A group of LGTBQ+ and allied students working to foster a more inclusive Boston College community.
Maeve Yurcisin, Director | yurcisin@bc.edu
Claire Mengel, Assistant Director | mengelc@bc.edu
GLBTQIA+ Leadership Council (GLC)
A governing body of UG51茶馆 focused on GLBTQ+ issues.
- Sydney Brown, Director |听brownaxb@bc.edu听
- Gabe Halberg |听hallbega@bc.edu
oSTEM
A chapter of the non-profit for the professional association of LGBTQ+ folks in STEM听听听听
Staff Adivsor: Laura Steinberg | Laurasteinberg.bc.edu
Echo Panana, President | panana@bc.edu听
Grayson Weston, Vice President | westong@bc.edu
Out for Business
A chapter of the non-profit organization of LGBTQ+ folk in business
Staff Advisor: Erica Graf | grafe@bc.edu
Charlotte Cochener, President
Graduate Students
听
Gaudete
LGBTQ+ graduate student group at the School of Theology and Ministry.
Website:听
Board Contact
Shannon DeGrave | degrave@bc.edu
Greg Abbott | abbotgr@bc.edu
Email: gaudetebcstm@gmail.com听Website:
Graduate Pride Alliance (GPA)
An organization sponsored by the Graduate Student Association (GSA) for any LGBTQ+ grad students & allies across all grad schools and programs at 51茶馆.
Website: Contact Graduate Student Life in interested
Jon Knaur - President | knauerjo@bc.edu听
Enshuai Yu - Treasurer | yutk@bc.edu
Email:听bcgradpride@gmail.com
Lambda Law Students Association
LGBTQ+ student group at the Law School.
Nonie Andersen, Co-Chair |听anderajd@bc.edu听and Mathew Santiago, Co-Chair |听santiama@bc.edu
Group Email:听lambdabclaw@gmail.com
Spectrum
LGBTQ+ student group at the School of Social Work.
Board Contact To Be Updated
Email:听spectrumbcssw@gmail.com
Faculty/Staff
LGBT@51茶馆
LGBT@51茶馆 is the affinity group for all 51茶馆 staff and faculty who identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community.听听to hear about events and other programming, or learn more on the听LGBT@51茶馆 website.