THE MAGAZINE OF THE COMMONWEALTH’S LIBERAL ARTS COLLEGE
At the Rink
Now in their second year, the MCLA Men’s and Women’s Ice Hockey programs have gained a loyal following in the North Adams community.
James F. Birge, Ph.D.
PRESIDENT
Bernadette Alden
DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS
Joseph DaSilva
VICE PRESIDENT OF ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE
Richard Glejzer, Ph.D.
PROVOST AND VICE PRESIDENT OF ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
Lisa Lescarbeau ’13
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT
André Lynch, M.Ed.
VICE PROVOST OF INSTITUTIONAL EQUITY AND BELONGING
Joshua J. Mendel, Ph.D.
CHIEF OF STAFF
Jeannette Smith, Ph.D.
VICE PRESIDENT OF STUDENT AFFAIRS
Robert P. Ziomek ’89
VICE PRESIDENT OF INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT
Trailhead
WINTER 2025
Writer & Editor Amy Krzanik
ADVANCEMENT COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER
Design Julie Hammill HAMMILLDESIGN.COM
Trailhead
He Knows His Lines
From memorizing stage lines to working restaurant kitchen lines, Christopher DeStefano has written it all down in his new book … line by line.
Not Just June
With two MCLA alums at the helm, Berkshire Pride expands its reach.
18 At Home and Away
The Alumni Office celebrated both on campus and off: Did we see you there?
IN OUR OWN WORDS:
Alumni share the ways MCLA professors and staff members inspired them to learn, helped them achieve their goals, and made long-lasting impressions on the people they’ve become.
PROFESSOR SAM GOMEZ WAS A BEACON OF POSITIVITY. HE WAS THE ONE WHO KEPT ME — AND STILL KEEPS ME — THINKING ABOUT THE POSITIVES OF LIFE. HE WAS A TRULY UNIQUE GUY.”
—Jason R. Torres ’93
SPENSER MOSER [WAS] AN AMAZING ROLE MODEL WHO WELCOMED ME INTO THE UNIVERSITY AND CONTINUES TO KEEP UP WITH MY LIFE. JONATHAN SECOR, LISA DONOVAN, AND THE ARTS MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT ALWAYS BELIEVED IN MY ABILITIES AND STRENGTHS, AND PUT THEM TO THE TEST BY PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES TO ORGANIZE EVENTS AND TAKE PART IN LOCAL ARTS ORGANIZATIONS.”
—Melody Rolph ’14
I ENJOYED MY TIME AS AN INTERN IN THE PRESIDENT’S OFFICE WITH BERNADETTE ALDEN AND MY TIME AS THE PROGRAMMING ASSISTANT FOR MCLA PRESENTS! WITH PROFESSOR JONATHAN SECOR. I GREW PERSONALLY UNDER THE WING OF JENN LABBANCE WHILE I WAS IN SAC. [THEY] INSTILLED IN ME THE DESIRE TO PUSH MYSELF, BE CONFIDENT IN MY ABILITIES, AND WORK WITH OTHERS.”
—Nora Weiss ’12
PROFESSOR PAUL LESAGE ENCOURAGED ME AND GAVE ME VALUABLE FEEDBACK AND GUIDANCE TO HELP ME DEVELOP MY OWN VOICE AS A WRITER. PROFESSOR DAVID LANGSTON INTRODUCED ME TO WRITERS AND ARTISTS AND HAD AN AMAZING WAY OF BREAKING DOWN DENSE AND INTIMIDATING MATERIAL TO MAKE IT ACCESSIBLE.”
—Krystal Grow ’06
I WORKED AS PART OF NANCY GRANGER’S STUDENT CREW RUNNING THE INTRAMURAL PROGRAM. SHE ENCOURAGED ME TO BE THE SENIOR DIRECTOR AND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE INTRAMURAL COUNCIL. IT REALLY HELPED GET ME OUT OF MY SHELL.”
—Kevin Jude Crane ’86
COACH TOM ALEXANDER IS STILL A GREAT MENTOR AND LIFE COACH TO ME. I THANK HIM SO MUCH FOR ALWAYS GUIDING AND BELIEVING IN PEOPLE LIKE ME. TOM TRULY WAS A BLESSING FOR STUDENTS OF COLOR AT MCLA.”
—Dennise Carranza ’13
COACH DEB RABER SUPPORTED ME BOTH ON AND OFF THE FIELD, AND WAS A MENTOR FOR ME. I AM PURSUING MY CAREER IN COACHING AND SHE WAS A BIG INSPIRATION.”
—Natalie Garcia Caney ’17
I RECEIVED A LOT OF SUPPORT FROM PROFESSORS LOUISE MULLIGAN AND HERSCHEL SHOHAN. THEY SUPPORTED ME THROUGHOUT MY CAREER AT MCLA AND ENCOURAGED ME WHILE I WAS EARNING MY DOCTORAL DEGREE.”
—Dr. Karoline “Karrie” Szatek ’76
THANK YOU TO PROFESSOR SAMANTHA PETTEY FOR GUIDING ME AND FUELING MY POLITICAL CURIOSITY, AND WHOSE MENTORSHIP PLAYED A PIVOTAL ROLE IN MY ACADEMIC JOURNEY. I AM GRATEFUL TO PROFESSOR HANNAH HAYNES, WHOSE SUPPORT HELPED ME FIND MY WAY HOME AND PROVIDED UNWAVERING SOLIDARITY DURING MY TIME AS A STUDENT ORGANIZER.
—Bryan Vega ’19
PROFESSOR STEVE GREEN WAS A GREAT PROFESSOR AND A GREAT FRIEND. HE ALWAYS SUPPORTED ME IN EVERYTHING I WAS WORKING ON AND GOING THROUGH.”
—Gregory Milton Kimball Jr. ’99
HE KNOWS HIS LINES
HE KNOWS HIS LINES
FROM MEMORIZING STAGE LINES TO WORKING RESTAURANT KITCHEN LINES, CHRISTOPHER DESTEFANO HAS WRITTEN IT ALL DOWN IN HIS NEW BOOK … LINE BY LINE.
Christopher J. DeStefano is an award-winning chef, entrepreneur, and food writer who has been cooking professionally for more than 16 years. His cookbook memoir, “Misfit Chef,” was published by Tabletop Publications and Girl Friday Productions this summer.
A theater major in the late 1980s at North Adams State College (MCLA), Christopher DeStefano was very involved on campus, even forming the theater company Imagine That before moving back home to attend Suffolk University for his senior year.
After graduating, DeStefano began working at Suffolk, staying for 10 years and creating its performing arts program. But there was another interest besides theater that was “simmering” underneath.
“I always wanted to open my own restaurant and prepared food shop,” he said. “At the time, I was beginning the process of adopting my first child with my partner. He is a doctor, so it was a no-brainer that I would be the one to stay home. I became a stay-at-home
dad but also wanted to have a career to fall back on when the kids were older. I graduated from Cambridge Culinary School’s professional chef program, had two kids, and went back to work in professional kitchens to work my way up.”
In 2008, DeStefano realized his dream of opening his own food shop, Christopher’s Table, in Ipswich. Then the recession hit. “It was a trial by fire,” he said. “I did that for six years, then closed the restaurant.” But the
ALL PHOTOS BY CYNTHIA AUGUST.
Misfit Chef
Christopher J. DeStefano
restaurant industry is like the mafia, he said: No matter how bad you try to get out, they pull you back in.
“I wanted to have a ‘normal’ job with ‘normal’ hours, but I was constantly going back to restaurants. I eventually realized that being a chef is a young person’s game, because it’s so physically demanding, and decided I could better serve as ‘front of house.’ I always say I traded in my chef’s jacket for a suit jacket.”
DeStefano managed freestanding restaurants for many years before segueing into major hotels as a general manager and food and beverage director. He was working at Fairmont Copley Plaza and Oak Long Bar + Kitchen when COVID hit. “It was a scary time,” he said, “but I stayed with the hotel until the city began to shut down. I was laid off for a while and, when things began
to return to normal, was brought back to help reopen the hotel.
“I struggled during the pandemic because hospitality as I knew it was now different. The pandemic changed the way we interacted with guests, and it felt like our ability to create special moments for them was now gone,” he said. It led him to leave the industry for a while and open an online version of his prepared foods restaurant, Table Manners. “It was my response to people feeling like they weren’t ready to go back out there, were too busy to cook, or didn’t know how. They could pick up food or have it delivered. I couldn’t sit at home and do nothing, but as pandemic restrictions relaxed, the demand remained. I thought I would phase it out, but I was pleasantly surprised. I continued doing that for almost three years.”
IT’S VERY MUCH A HYBRID COOKBOOK MEMOIR, SO, WHETHER YOU COOK OR NOT, THE BOOK HAS APPEAL.”
—Christopher DeStefano
While at home running his online business, DeStefano found he had time to focus on writing a book.
“As a chef, I had always felt that I was different, and I wanted to write about that,” he said. “I wanted to share my origin story and explore the people and situations that shaped me. The slowdown gave me the opportunity and I spent three years writing it.
“Having a finished book still feels very surreal,” he said. “It’s very much a hybrid cookbook memoir, so, whether you cook or not, the book has appeal.” Each chapter ends with the recipes mentioned in it.
“Misfit Chef” chronicles DeStefano’s life, as well as the six years of Christopher’s Table’s existence, and includes scenes from growing up in his grandparent’s grocery store in East Boston, escaping a catering job that goes up in flames, leading food tours through the streets of Paris, and hosting late-night parties with drag queens in his kitchen.
“The book is deeply personal,” he said. “Each chapter starts with
stories about a significant time in the restaurant, but I also talk about waiting for the adoption of our second child. I was surrounded by construction workers in the restaurant when I got the call from the adoption agency telling me our son was ready to come home. I remember saying: ‘I think my water just broke.’
“It all comes full circle at the end of the book; the reason I chose to close the restaurant was for my family, for my kids,” he said.
While at home during the pandemic, DeStefano said he missed the energy of being around co-workers, the hustle and bustle. He now works as the food and beverage director for a private country club on Boston’s North Shore.
FADIA ROSTOM MAKDISI ’14
AN EXPERIENCED AND DYNAMIC LEADER
Fadia Rostom Makdisi ’14 is in her sixth year as principal of Saint Agnes Academy, a pre-schoolgrade 8 Catholic school in Dalton, Massachusetts. An interdisciplinary studies major at MCLA, and a non-traditional student, Makdisi is also a graduate of Damascus University in Syria and boasts more than 25 years of experience in public and private education systems.
“My role as a principal is multifaceted, focusing on leadership, administration, community engagement, student support, professional development, and academic oversight,” she said. “My ultimate goal is to create a nurturing environment where every student can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.
MCLA HELPED FADIA ROSTOM MAKDISI ’14 PAIR HER PRIOR EDUCATION WITH NEW PROFESSIONAL SKILLS
“The entire faculty within the Education Department at MCLA was fantastic,” she said. “Their welcoming nature and commitment to student success fostered an environment where I felt encouraged to strive. [Professor Emerita] Deb Foss, my advisor, was an incredible support during my academic journey. Her welcoming nature made a significant difference as I transitioned into the college environment. From the moment I arrived, she ensured I felt included and valued within the MCLA community.
AS A PROUD MOTHER OF THREE DAUGHTERS AND A FIRST-GENERATION IMMIGRANT, I UNDERSTAND THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF EDUCATION.”
—Fadia
Rostom Makdisi ’14
“One of the most impactful aspects of working with Deb was her assistance in transferring my credits from my home country. Her expertise and dedication not only helped me navigate the administrative challenges, but also alleviated my concerns about how my previous studies would fit into my new academic path. She embodies the spirit of MCLA, fostering an inclusive atmosphere where every student can thrive. I am grateful for her guidance and support, which was instrumental in my academic success and personal growth at MCLA.”
Makdisi said one of her most memorable days at the College was Graduation Picture Day. “Looking back at those photos now evokes a wave of nostalgia,” she said. “For me, they symbolize the realization of my dream to earn a degree in the U.S. after navigating a challenging journey. Each snapshot is a testament to the hard work, perseverance, and camaraderie that defined my college experience, making it a cherished chapter in my life.
“As a proud mother of three daughters and a first-generation immigrant, I understand the transformative power of education. Having experienced its life-changing benefits firsthand, I am privileged to serve the community in the field of education. My deep commitment to empowering others through knowledge and personal growth drives me.”
Professor Emerita Deb Foss
FERNANDO LAZU ’89 ALUMNI SP TLIGHT
THE SPEAKING AND WRITING SKILLS YOU HONE AT MCLA WILL HELP YOU COMMUNICATE FOR A LIFETIME.
Fernando Lazu ’89 has been an investigator with the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care for almost 30 years. In his position, he travels across the state to investigate licensed facilities and un-licensed programs, foster care, adoption and residential programs, family childcare homes, and group and school age programs. For the last two years, he has also served as chapter president for the local union SEIU 509, where he’s responsible for more than 125 members.
Originally from Puerto Rico, Lazu’s family moved to Lowell when he was 8 years old. He majored in English and minored in Spanish while at MCLA and uses both languages in his current job. “What I learned in college has served me every day for the past 34 years,” he said. “MCLA’s small, intimate classrooms were ideal for me. All the teachers knew you by name, and that 1-to-1 connection meant a lot.”
“[Professor Emeritus] Dr. Joseph Ebiware had a huge impact on me,” Lazu said. “One of his biggest things was making sure we knew our subject matter and had the ability to communicate and write well. I have to write reports for a living — which are sometimes reviewed by the district attorney, the governor, and police departments — and I still use those skills. If I have to testify at the state house on a union bill or in court and be deposed for a lawsuit, the ability to communicate is paramount to the outcome.”
Lazu said he also uses interviewing techniques he learned at MCLA to conduct investigations, and credits his English classes with helping him interpret regulations and testify in court.
When he’s not at work or busy with union duties, Lazu is involved with Hispanic communities in New Hampshire (where he currently resides) and Vermont, advocating for the disabled and those who don’t speak the language.
RECONNECT WITH FERNANDO: @FERNANDOLAZU
MCLA’S SMALL, INTIMATE CLASSROOMS WERE IDEAL FOR ME. ALL THE TEACHERS KNEW YOU BY NAME, AND THAT 1-TO-1 CONNECTION MEANT A LOT.”
—Fernando Lazu ’89
Lazu, second from right, ran cross-country at MCLA from his sophomore through senior years.
MORE ALUMNI SPOTLIGHTS
TYSHAWN MCGEE ’14 is a counselor in the Baltimore County Public Schools and a 2024 recipient of the Maryland State Education Association’s Minority Recognition Award for Educational Leadership. “My MCLA experience helped elevate me as a leader through being a student athlete and through rigorous academic courses. My internship placement at The Brien Center assisted in assuring my future plans after undergrad.”
BRYAN VEGA ‘19 works for New Energy Nexus, a global nonprofit providing funds, accelerators, and networks to drive clean energy innovation and adoption.
“My time as a political science student equipped me with the skills to analyze multifaceted issues and devise solutions to complex problems. As an American ethnic studies student, I learned to approach my convictions with compassion, always mindful of the shared humanity that unites people globally.”
BRISTOL STERNFIELD ’21 is a ranger for the National Park Service. Currently located in Montana, she has traveled the country to parks, historic sites, and landmarks as an environmental interpreter. “[Studying at MCLA] encouraged my love of the outdoors through amazing labs and field trips, and I learned the value of teaching and sharing with others just how important conservation is.”
CLARENCE BLAIR ’05 is a media supply chain senior coordinator for Paramount Global, and the founder and creative director of B.L.A.I.R. Creative Marketing. He said participating in diverse areas while at MCLA provided him with guidance from many instructors, and fostered curiosity, proficiency, and confidence in his chosen fields. “The hands-on, close-knit learning environment is invaluable. It allows you to build strong relationships with likeminded peers who become collaborators rather than competitors.”
KRISTCHA DEGUERRE, PH.D., LCSW ’14 is the Master of Social Work program coordinator at Galen University in Belize. “Going on a service-learning trip to Belize with the MCLA Volunteer Center sparked a connection, leading me to eventually relocate and now call Belize my home.”
TYSON LUNEAU ’13 earned his Ph.D. in history from the University at Albany and is a professor at SUNY Cortland, where he’ll be teaching in the history department and overseeing the college’s social studies teacher preparation program. “While MCLA offered excellent opportunities, it also facilitated a DIY mentality; if there was something you wanted to see or accomplish, you were encouraged to put in the work to make it happen. That was a remarkably valuable experience as I embarked on my careers in secondary education and academia, both of which require a great deal of creativity, perseverance, and motivation.”
Originally from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Mariana Melo and her family moved to the U.S. in 2016, when she was 15 years old. Since 2022, the Melos — Mariana, her parents Cristiane and Osmar, and her brother Douglas — have been at the helm of Espetinho Carioca, Berkshire County’s only Brazilian restaurant.
“My mom always loved cooking,” said Melo, “and in the Berkshires’ Brazilian community, there were no restaurants. A friend wanted to have a birthday party with Brazilian food, so my mom cooked for the party and everyone loved it. Soon everyone was going to my mom to cater their parties and it grew to be too much for our small kitchen. That’s when we saw an amazing opportunity to open a business.”
ESPETINHO CARIOCA
MARIANA MELO ’22 USES HER BUSINESS DEGREE TO BRING BRAZILIAN CULTURE TO THE BERKSHIRES
helped her jump into the roles of accountant and business development for the restaurant.
“My degree from MCLA really gave me the foundation to start a business, especially with my accounting concentration,” she said. “I take care of most of the finances, and I would have been much more lost at the beginning without it. I was fresh out of college, and the degree allowed me to take the first step, be more organized, know how to market the business, and do the taxes; it helped me a lot. I run our social media sites, and have now hired employees to help serve, so I’m not serving all the time, but I’m always in the restaurant, usually in the office.”
(fried snacks), signature skewers, sandwiches, desserts, and more — the business aims to be more than just a restaurant.
“Since the beginning, we’ve always wanted to provide food, but also share culture,” said Melo. “In late summer, we had an amazing Brazilian Day collaboration with Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. and the new Brazilian market Brazzucas. People came to listen to a samba band and get to know us and Brazilian culture. We love to do that, and we host samba nights, usually once a month. The band plays and gives explanations of where the music comes from.” In October, the restaurant celebrated Festa Junina, which marks the harvest season in Brazil.
Although their plans were delayed by the pandemic, the Melos were able to secure a location on Pittsfield’s North Street and open their restaurant in December 2022. Melo said her bachelor’s degree in business administration
Melo said her MCLA professors were amazing, especially Professor Tara Barboza, whom Melo said was willing to answer her very specific tax questions as the restaurant was opening.
“The Berkshire County community has been so welcoming and accepting,” said Melo. “We’re the only Brazilian restaurant in the Berkshires, so some people are not familiar with the food, but they are more than welcome to come and try it! We’ll always do our best to answer questions and explain.”
ALUMNI BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
MCLA LECTURES
This spring and fall, we welcomed an environmental researcher, a journalist, and three drag performers to campus.
HARDMAN JOURNALIST IN RESIDENCE
MCLA’s spring Hardman Journalist in Residence was Tamar Sarai, a writer and journalist whose work focuses on race, culture, and the criminal legal system. She gave the spring 2024 Hardman lecture on April 8 in the Feigenbaum Science Center Atrium.
VADNAIS ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES LECTURE
On November 14, 2024, Ariana Chiapella, Ph.D., a 2012 MCLA graduate, gave the 2024 Elizabeth and Lawrence Vadnais Environmental Issues Lecture, “The Implications of Contaminants for Aquatic and Human Communities,” in MCLA’s Feigenbaum Center for Science and Innovation.
LAVENDER LECTURE
This year’s MCLA Lavender Lecture — a Drag & Identity panel discussion with performers Vuronika Baked, Gemini DaBarbay, and Jackie Legs — was held October 16, 2024 in MCLA’s Venable Theater.
NOT JUST JUNE
WITH TWO MCLA ALUMS AT THE HELM, BERKSHIRE PRIDE EXPANDS ITS REACH
As the founders and only paid staff members of Berkshire Pride, Executive Director Cass Santos-China ’18 and Director of Education and Outreach Emma Lenski ’13 are not only serving the community; they’re aiming to change its culture. Once relegated to an annual festival in June, Berkshire Pride is now a year-round non-profit organization focused on being a resource hub for LGBTQIA+ folks and friends.
Santos-China, who entered MCLA as a nontraditional student, earned an interdisciplinary studies degree in business leadership.
Lenski, also an interdisciplinary studies major, focused on psychology and English and minored in women’s studies. She went on to earn a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling and is now a practicing LMHC with an office near the Berkshire Pride headquarters in Pittsfield.
Both said they learned a lot about working with others while studying at MCLA. “I learned about collaboration, teamwork, and how to give presentations,” said Santos-China. “It changed the way I thought about who could be a team member, which helps with my work at Berkshire Pride because it’s important to have diverse voices and different perspectives.”
Lenski said moving across the state to attend MCLA helped her become more of who she is. She was exposed to new people, gained concrete knowledge for her career, and was
able to take on leadership roles, including serving as a resident advisor.
Lenski and Santos-China began volunteering for Berkshire Pride around the same time, at its inception in 2017-2018. Lenski’s involvement in the group stemmed from her participation in the annual Live Out Loud conference, often hosted on the MCLA campus. Santos-China came to the group after working with seniors for 20 years as a certified dementia care provider. She now leads Berkshire Rainbow Seniors.
As the festival began to grow, each took on more responsibility and wanted to see the organization expand beyond Pride Month. Santos-China enrolled in free classes on how to fundraise, build a board, and secure legal assistance through the Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires, of which she is now a board member. Lenski developed a Certified SafeSpace program, comprised of three classes, in which she instructs groups of as few as
Cass Santos-China ’18 Emma Lenski ’13
staff, and volunteers
four or as many as 60 in how to create an atmosphere in which LGBTQIA+ folks will feel accepted, respected, and affirmed.
Through their hard work, Berkshire Pride became a 501(c)3 nonprofit in 2023 and now runs a weekly after-school program for LGBTQIA+ teens and tweens; hosts interns from MassHire, Miss Hall’s School, and the BCC Community Health worker program; and has greatly expanded its programming.
Along with a group of dedicated volunteers, the organization hosts an annual Pride O’ Ween dance party on National Coming Out Day (October 11) with a resource fair beforehand, and a full pride week that includes a 5K race, a youth pride event, and a parade, with even more events planned for 2025.
“It’s important to have visibility and make a space for young, queer people to go and be themselves,” said Santos-China. “We didn’t have that in the Berkshires when I
was younger. But queer events are fun for everyone, and the festival is also an economic driver. Both vendors and attendees are coming from Vermont, Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Boston. They’re spending their money here and staying overnight. And we grow every year; we had 3,500 attendees in 2024, which is substantially larger than the 700 we had the first year. We also had more than 200 vendors this year.
“It’s a huge responsibility to head an organization and have people look to you as a queer leader,” Santos-China continued. “I was terrified when we first decided to expand pride programs, but the community was overwhelmingly positive and I knew we were going in the right direction.”
IT’S IMPORTANT TO HAVE VISIBILITY AND MAKE A SPACE FOR YOUNG, QUEER PEOPLE TO GO AND BE THEMSELVES.”
—Cass Santos-China ’18
Participants,
pose for a photo at the 2024 Berkshire Pride 5K race.
Berkshire Pride Board Members
ALUMNI AWARDS
The MCLA Alumni Association honors distinguished alumni and friends who have made outstanding contributions in public or community service or in service to the College. Congratulations to each of our distinguished honorees!
2024 HONOREES
OUTSTANDING EDUCATOR AWARD DR. MAURA MILLS ’05
After earning her undergraduate degrees in psychology and English at MCLA, Maura Mills went on to complete master’s and doctoral degrees in industrial and organizational psychology at Kansas State University. In addition to her years working for Sirota Consulting, she has most recently worked as an associate professor at Hofstra University, and, currently, as an associate professor of management at the Culverhouse College of Business at The University of Alabama (UA). She has taught a wide range of courses to both undergraduate and graduate students.
In recent years Mills has been nominated for UA’s Culverhouse Instructional Excellence Award and the Scholarly Contributions to Educational Practice Advancing Women in Leadership Award. Last year, she earned a pedagogical enhancement grant to develop an interdisciplinary course, which she presented at the international Management & Organizational Behavior Teaching Society conference. The course, “Work, Family, and Gender,” is, in part, intended to help attract and retain a more diverse range of students to the business school. Mills was also recently selected as one of only 10 UA faculty members to be an inaugural Faculty Fellow at the college’s Teaching Academy.
Mills’ extensive pedagogical service includes running the internship program for master’s students at Hofstra, and serving as a faculty mentor for the Legacy Scholars program (for first-generation students) and the REACH program (for foster youth pursuing collegiate degrees) at UA. She also serves on committees for scholarships, course evaluations, and undergraduate and graduate degree programs, and on the Faculty Executive Committee.
Mills has presented and published pedagogically related work in both national and international outlets, and her 2015 book is used as a textbook in courses at a variety of institutions, including Dartmouth. Mills serves as a state leader for the Alabama chapter of the Scholars Strategy Network, an organization aimed at facilitating the potential for academic research to positively impact policy, including education policy.
VANGUARD AWARD ABAIGEAL O’BRIEN ’14
After graduating from MCLA with a degree in environmental studies, Abaigeal O’Brien enrolled at Vermont Law School, where she graduated cum laude with her Juris Doctor. After passing the Vermont Bar, she moved to Dillingham, Alaska, a town accessible only by plane.
There, she worked as the judicial law clerk for the Hon. Judge Christina Reigh, the only judge in an area the size of Ohio. Her diverse workload included everything from routine misdemeanor arraignments to a wrongful death suit due to a faulty airplane. During her time in Dillingham, O’Brien learned what it is to be a lawyer in a small town connected to its native cultural and traditions.
O’Brien now works with the Alaska Court System in Anchorage, as the deputy director of Access to Justice services. Her department focuses on providing a robust self-help website and phone line, creating new court forms, ensuring all litigants have proper interpreter services, and allowing for mediation opportunities.
O’Brien herself runs the Parenting Plan, Child in Need of Aid, and Adult Guardianship mediation programs. She also helps apply for and manage new grant programs such as the Eviction Diversion Grant, Full Faith and Credit Grant, and Violence Against Women Act Grant. Every day, O’Brien strives to make the law more accessible to Alaskans and her future goals are to increase the number of programs and make them models for courts across the country.
In her spare time, O’Brien volunteers with the Food Bank of Alaska and the Northwest Abortion Access Fund.
DISTINGUISHED ALUM AWARD AMANDA (MARINO) HERLIHY ’07
Amanda Herlihy is originally from Cortlandt Manor, New York, and graduated from MCLA with a degree in fine and performing arts and minors in both Spanish and arts management. After graduation, she moved back to New York and began pursuing an acting career while juggling multiple jobs. But when she discovered fundraising, she dove in headfirst.
She, her husband, and her son now live in Anderson County, South Carolina, where Herlihy is the executive director of the SC Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities Foundation. She had previously served as the Foundation’s director of development and interim executive director. In her roles, Herlihy has raised over $5M in support of arts education across South Carolina.
Herlihy is a board member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals Piedmont Chapter, and has served as its VP of membership, VP of communications, and mentorship chair. She is also a member of the Rotary Club of Greenville and the Association Health Plan Trustee for Together SC. Herlihy recently received the 2024 GSA Business Report’s Women of Influence Award.
OUTSTANDING EDUCATOR EMERITUS AWARD DONALD PECOR ’66, HON. ’08
Born in Adams, Massachusetts, Donald Pecor graduated from North Adams State College in 1966 and the master’s degree program at Siena College in 1969, going on to a lead a long and successful career as a beloved educator.
He taught at Drury High School in North Adams from 1967-2006, served as the chair of its History Department from 1979-2006, and as its dean of curriculum and instruction from 1999 until his retirement in 2006. At MCLA, Pecor taught as an adjunct professor from 1983-2020, along the way earning the 1992 North Adams State College Teacher of the Year Award and the MCLA Class of 2005 Senior Appreciation Award.
Pecor served on the MCLA Alumni Association Board of Directors for more than 12 years, including as its representative to the MCLA Foundation Board. He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Pedagogy at the College’s 2008 Commencement exercises and, in 2006, received the MCLA Alumni Association Service to the College Award.
Pecor has received grants from the Horace Mann Educators Foundation, a John Hay fellowship at Williams College, is listed in Who’s Who Among American Teachers, and the Department of Education has published his educator’s guide, “Teaching Women’s History.” While at Drury High School, Pecor introduced several new courses, including Black History in 1970. He also chaired the school’s successful 1992 accreditation and coached its Academic Decathlon team for nearly 20 years, during which time it qualified for numerous state tournaments. Pecor has served terms on North Adams city boards, including its Zoning Board of Appeals and Library Board of Trustees.
COMMUNITY SERVICE & CITIZENSHIP AWARD CHRIS HANTMAN ’14
Chris Hantman is the college and career readiness coordinator at BART Charter Public School in Adams, Massachusetts, where he was recently voted High School Teacher of the Year in BART’s Kids’ Choice Awards. Prior to that, he served as the coordinator of civic engagement for MCLA.
Service was a major part of Hantman’s upbringing, and it continued to guide his work at the College. He was heavily involved in what was once called the Center for Service and Citizenship. When he graduated in 2014, he was hired to work within that office, where he helped form the Volunteer Center and supported Spencer Moser and MCLA students in creating the College’s Food Pantry. In this role, Hantman also organized the spring and fall Days of Service for eight years, along with Alternative Spring Break trips, MLK Days of Service, and student-led programming.
Hantman has a long history of community involvement outside of work, as well, having served as vice president of Berkshire Food Project’s board of directors for six years. He has held roles on the 1Berkshire Youth Leadership Program steering committee and the Greylock Community Club board of trustees. He was a top fundraiser for Elizabeth Freeman Center’s Walk a Mile event for five consecutive years and is a founding member of Common Folk Artist Collective.
Hantman is also a writer who has published two collections of poetry and is currently working on a horror/thriller novel.
MCLA BOOKSHELF
JOHN W. KENNEDY, PH.D. ’78
“12 SIMPLE WORDS” Independently published
LINDA BASSICK ’87 & GREG ROTHWELL
“SQUIRREL IN A TREE: A MAPLE’S BUSY MORNING ADVENTURE” Onion River Press
COL. ROB CAMPBELL ’90
“LEFT AND RIGHT OF THE BOOM: THE ART OF LEADERSHIP BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER CRISIS” Bentmouth Press
DR. JILLIAN BUMPUS, MBA ’13
“WHO YOU ARE” Independently published
THERESA E. RADLEY ’07
“SPEECHLESS” Independently published
CHRISTY BUTLER ’89 & JAN BUTLER
“VERMONT DESTINATIONS” Independently published vtdestinations.com
CHRISTOPHER DALY ’78
“THE DALY GUIDE TO LIVING: NOTABLE MEN AND WOMEN IN HISTORY OFFER WISDOM, WIT AND WHAT’S IMPORTANT” Outskirts Press
DIANE LENNEA ’11 (UNDER PEN NAME ZANA K. ELIN)
“YOU GOT NO GUTS: VISION QUEST FOR NONTOXIC SCHOOLS” Newman Springs Publishing
FRANCIS BRAZEAU
“PRINCIPLES OF BEING: A COSMIC LOVE STORY” Hawes & Jenkins Publishing
FRANK O’BRIEN-BERNINI
“THUMBS UP: HITCHHIKING ACROSS AMERICA, FUELED BY THE KINDNESS OF STRANGERS” Wanderlust Publishing
If you’re an author and would like to see your book listed in a future publication, or know of an alumni author with a recently published work, please contact alumni@mcla.edu.
DISCOVER MCLA AUTHORS
Visit www.indiebound.org to order one of this issue’s featured books.
INTERVIEW WITH THE AUTHOR
STEPPING UP
MIESHA ADAMS ’18 CULTIVATES THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS
When people use the term “walk the talk,” they could very well be describing Miesha Adams ’18 as a prime example.
The MCLA psychology and sociology major, and former teacher, is the founder and CEO of Operation Level Up Leadership Youth Edition. The non-profit organization’s goal is to cultivate the next generation of leaders through exposure to leadership development opportunities and entrepreneurship workshops centered around culture, community, and mentorship.
And it all began when Adams chose her minor at MCLA. “My minor in leadership helped me grow a passion for teaching and prepared me for my career in education, as a leadership teacher, and as a facilitator for my nonprofit,” she said. “My education in psychology and sociology helped me not only understand the way our brains work, but also how current circumstances can shape someone’s mindset. I was intrigued by the way people interact with others based on their surface level features or titles.”
The Roxbury, Massachusetts, native is now based in Atlanta, where she spent five years in the classroom with Teach for America, and recently moved into recruiting for the program so she could focus more time on her nonprofit. While teaching, Adams said she was able to create her own class in leadership and entrepreneurship for middle school students. “I used data from my five years of teaching to create a leadership curriculum and
write two books — an “Operation Level Up Leadership: Youth Development and Leadership Curriculum” facilitator edition and workbook — which I published in May through Star Book Writing Publishing. After I moved from teaching into recruiting, the school I worked at was the first to purchase my curriculum,” she said.
In addition to her leadership minor, Adams said joining the MCLA dance team allowed her to begin expressing herself and built her confidence. “I learned a lot of leadership, communication, and political skills through that experience,” she said. Working at the College’s orientation events and becoming a peer advisor allowed her to meet more people and eventually take on leadership roles. “I loved working in teams and getting to try different leadership styles,” she said.
“What’s really interesting about all this is that I didn’t plan to go to college,” she said. “I came
MY EDUCATION IN PSYCHOLOGY AND SOCIOLOGY HELPED ME NOT ONLY UNDERSTAND THE WAY OUR BRAINS WORK, BUT ALSO HOW CURRENT CIRCUMSTANCES CAN SHAPE SOMEONE’S MINDSET.”
—Meisha Adams ’18
from a single-parent household, where I was always told that, whatever I wanted to do, I had to make sure it was something I could afford to do on my own. Adams said that all changed when an MCLA admissions ambassador visited her high school science class. “I thought I wasn’t going to college, but I met with Terrell and was drawn in. I took part in the overnight program, and that’s what made me fall in love with MCLA.”
FIND OUT MORE: @OLULEADERSHIP
AT HOME & AWAY
During the past year, the MCLA Alumni Office celebrated at home, in North Adams, and away, in Worcester and Bellingham, Massachusetts. We loved meeting new friends and reconnecting with old pals. To find out where we’ll be next, follow us on social media: @mcla_alumni
SPRING WEEKEND
We welcomed alumni back to campus April 19-20, 2024 for alumni sports games, performances, and an MCLA-themed trivia night.
BRIGHT IDEAS ALUMNI-STUDENT MIXER
Graduating MCLA seniors joined alumni for a casual get-together at our local brewpub, Bright Ideas Brewing in North Adams, on May 9.
In photo: Thailia Chee ’24 and Erica Barreto ’18
BALDERDASH
Alumni and guests enjoyed an afternoon out at Balderdash Cellars in Richmond on July 13, 2024.
STEEPLECATS
Mara Woolley ’96 threw out the first pitch and Rachel Lamarre ’25 sang the national anthem at MCLA Night at the SteepleCats game on July 18, 2024.
LAVENDER GRADUATION
Kate McCaffrey ’91 poses with Lavender Graduation keynote speaker Lizz Furtado ’91 during Spring Weekend.
’60 s -’90 s REUNION
NASC/MCLA alumni who graduated in the 1960s-1990s gathered in Bellingham for a reunion on November 2, 2024.
ALUMNI AWARDS
On October 5, we celebrated the 2024 Alumni Association Award winners at the College’s Feigenbaum Center for Science and Innovation. In photo: MCLA President James F. Birge, Abaigeal O’Brien ’14, Christopher Hantman ’14, and Donald Pecor ’66.
WOOSOX
Alumni, friends, and family gathered at Polar Park in Worcester on August 4, 2024 to watch the WooSox take on the Buffalo Bison.
CONVOCATION
MCLA President James F. Birge, Ph.D. poses with 2024 Convocation speaker Annie Pecor, M.Ed. ’09.
CLASS NOTES
In March 2024, James “Jim” Conboy ’78 was sworn in to the Board of Registrars, a fourperson panel instituted by state law to resolve election disputes. When he’s not working at his company, CarpetFresh of Sudbury, Jim writes articles about local sports and other events for The Acton Exchange newspaper.
After 39 years at Cardinal Cushing School/Centers, Doug Frazier ’78, retired on July 12, 2024.
Judy (Reilly) Roberts ’81 retired after working for more than 33 years at Tunxis Community College in Farmington, Connecticut, as a learning center director, grant writer, and counselor/advisor. She was honored with Merit Awards and Student Service Excellence Awards, and served as the Mace carrier for the 2023 graduation ceremony.
Kristen Demeo ’86 has published several books on the local history of northern Berkshire, including “The Legend of Mt. Greylock”; a book about the early life of Susan B. Anthony, “Susan, Shrouded in the Mist”; “Jefferson’s Cheshire Cheese”; and “The Rails of Northern Berkshire.”
On May 24, Carla Holness ’95 was honored by the Broward County (Florida) Public Schools as Mentor of the Year in the College Readiness & Resiliency category. Holness has been a mentor with Take Stock in Children for the past six years and mentors at South Plantation High School. As a mentor, she focuses on activities that help students with personal development and growth.
Jennifer (Smith) Huberdeau ’00 placed second in the Arts & Culture Criticism Portfolio category in the Society for Features Journalism’s 2024 Excellence-in-Features Awards. Huberdeau, who has written for The Berkshire Eagle since 2014, won for a portfolio arts criticism, which included reviews of “Cubism and the Trompe l’Oeil Tradition” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and “Love from Vicki Island” and “Like Magic” exhibitions at MASS MoCA. This is the second time she has placed in the national competition. In 2023, she took home an honorable mention in the same category.
Roohi Huda ’03, M.Ed. ’08 is an assistant professor in the English Department at Brac University in Dhaka, the capital city of her home country of Bangladesh. She often recalls her MCLA days very fondly.
Greg Lucid ’05 has been working in scheduling, registration, and medical messaging for Allina Health in Minnesota. He and his wife Laura have two daughters: Mallory (6) and Claire (4).
Kristen Hurley Dedrick ’06 is the associate director of student care and wellbeing for Residential Life at UMass Amherst. She would be glad to assist any budding student affairs professionals, whether current students or alums.
Michelle Hansen ’08 is the space management coordinator at SUNY Oneonta.
Brendon Graffum ’09 is the aquatics director for the Lynn YMCA, as well as the head cheerleading coach for Bishop Fenwick High School in Peabody. A diver he coached from Wellesley High School recently was named All American.
Betsy Bizarro ’10, who lives in Monroe, has been involved with the Brain Injury Association of Massachusetts since 2020 and co-facilitates two of their support groups. She also co-facilitates a Mindfulness Meditation Practice group under an independent organization.
Stephanie Hill-Manuel ’12 & Charles Manuel ’12 celebrated their 12th wedding anniversary in September. They run their own accounting and tax businesses, The Breezy Bookkeeper and H-M Consulting.
Corbin Apkin ’13 is an archivist at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library in Boston. Prior to that, he served as an archivist and aerial photography subject matter expert at the National Archives at College Park, Maryland.
Samantha Giffen ’18 is the Communications Manager for the Town of Amherst, Massachusetts.
Andrew Baillargeon ’19 is in his second year of teaching; his first was as a special education teacher at Crosby Elementary Academy and he is now a 5th-grade math teacher at Molly
VIEW OR SUBMIT A CLASS NOTE bit.ly/MCLAclassnote or email your Class Note to alumni@mcla.edu
Stark Elementary. Prior to that, he worked as a youth development professional at Hillcrest Educational Centers. He said these jobs would not have been possible without the bachelor’s degree he earned at MCLA.
Cheyanne (Woodward) Bourn ’19 married her partner of 12 years in 2022 and they welcomed an Australian shepherd rescue dog named Ollie into their lives. Cheyanne is a social worker for the Vermont Department for Children and Families. She has been accepted into the MSW program at Westfield State College.
Crystal (Wojcik) Adelt ’21 received a master’s degree in governmental accounting from Rutgers University School of Business. She and Brian Adelt ’20 were married in March.
Tarah Valin ’21 earned a master of divinity degree from Boston College and is now a high school theology teacher.
Brianna Baez ’22 is enrolled in NYU’s Master of Public Health program, with a concentration in epidemiology.
Trinity Luther ’23 is an assistant behavior consultant at an ABA clinic in Vermont, and is pursuing a master’s degree from Florida Tech to eventually become a BCBA.
Ashton Peixoto ’23 is an advancement assistant in the alumni office of the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health.
Em Marlay-Wright ’24 is attending graduate school for studio art at Queens College, with a long-term goal of becoming a photojournalist.
STAFF RETIREMENTS
Carrie Alibozek, Student Financial Services
Barbara Baker, TRIO
James Baumbach, Facilities
Dawn Lesure, Athletics
JOIN US!
WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN US FOR THESE UPCOMING EVENTS:
JANUARY 20, 2025
MLK Day of Service
MARCH 14, 2025
M.Ed. Professional Development Event
APRIL 5-6, 2025
Spring Weekend + Alumni Athletics Games
APRIL 6, 2025
Sam Gomez 5K Race:
APRIL 7-8, 2025
MCLA Gives
MAY 16-17, 2025
Class of 1975 50th Reunion Weekend
MAY 17, 2025
Commencement Ceremony + Recognition of Golden Graduates
