On September 7, 2023, MCLA celebrated the launch of its Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Program with a ribbon cutting at its new academic wing at Berkshire Health Systems (BHS) North Campus in North Adams. Attendees included U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, Massachusetts Education Secretary Patrick Tutwiler, BHS President and CEO Darlene Rodowicz, and Berkshire Medical Center Senior Director of Nursing Carol Passley, along with the College’s faculty, staff, major donors, and community partners.
DEAR
FRIENDS,
As we look back on this academic year and begin preparations for the next one, I am excited and optimistic about MCLA’s future.
In May, we received our decennial reaccreditation from the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE). NECHE is a voluntary, peerbased membership association that promotes educational excellence and quality assurance to more than 200 institutions. NECHE has established rigorous Standards for Accreditation to ensure quality, innovation, and student success across the evolving landscape of higher education.
To prepare for reaccreditation, we created a 100-page Self-Study to document how we provide a highquality, affordable, public liberal arts education. The Study was the outcome of two years of careful, thoughtful work, with input from more than 70 members of the campus community. It covered our mission and purpose, our academic program and student profile, and our physical plant and technology infrastructure. In the Study, we describe the ways in which we meet the standards, identify areas of progress and improvement, and offer plans to continue moving the College forward in the next 10 years.
One of the main ways we identify how to move forward is by updating our strategic plan, which we embarked upon this May. Strategic planning provides us a welcome opportunity to ask ourselves fundamental questions about who we are as an educational institution. It presents the opportunity for wide-ranging discussions on what we want the College to be and prompts us to consider plans to advance a
collective vision and address the challenges ahead.
I am pleased to report that MCLA has earned the No. 7 spot on the U.S. News & World Report’s list of Top Public Liberal Arts Schools in the nation for a third year in a row. The College’s continued commitment to affordable education and economic prosperity is reflected in our additional 2024 U.S. News rankings: No. 1 for Top Performer on Social Mobility in the state and No. 2 in the country, and No. 22 for National Liberal Arts Colleges.
Each year that MCLA appears in the Top 10 Public College rankings I am reminded how incredibly committed our faculty and staff are when it comes to the growth and success of our Trailblazers by demonstrating an unwavering dedication to excellence.
In this issue, we shine a light on a handful of our faculty and staff who not only go above and beyond during their time on campus (page 2), but who have been recognized by national publications (page 23), presented at distinguished conferences (pages 5 and 9), published scholarly works, and were awarded competitive fellowships (page 31).
As we continue our important work in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, I’m pleased to introduce you to our new Vice President of Equity and Belonging, André Lynch, who joined us in April (page 19). We continue our commitment to DEI through our annual
On the evening prior to Commencement, President Birge received a blanket of tribal significance from Commencement speaker Shannon
Day of Dialogue and our Racial Equity & Justice Institute (REJI) team, and honor those who are putting our words into action with our DEI Leadership Awards (page 17).
This issue also spotlights current students (page 30) and an alumnus (page 6) who are following their passions and blazing new trails along the way. It recaps the stellar seasons of our Women’s Volleyball and Men’s Golf teams, and shares updates on both our Men’s and Women’s Ice Hockey teams (page 20).
This year, we were extremely fortunate to be able to again share the deep knowledge imparted by our visiting lecturers with our campus and our community (page 22), and to provide our students with life-changing travel opportunities through scholarships funded by our many generous donors (page 12).
What we share with you in this issue is simply a snapshot of the hard work, well-earned accomplishments, and deep dedication that make MCLA a truly exciting place to be.
James F. Birge, Ph.D. President
Holsey and Larry Wright Jr., a member of the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska.
Success by Design
A COMPREHENSIVE STUDENT COACHING PROGRAM INCREASES RETENTION WHILE PUSHING FOR SYSTEMIC CHANGE
By partnering with faculty and staff across the MCLA campus, Kayla Hollins ’12, executive director of student persistence, and Jordan DeGaetano ’20, academic advising coordinator and success coach, have been able to create a student coaching strategy that has been not simply transactional, but transformational.
Hollins works mainly with Academic Advising and Support, The Federal TRiO Programs (TRiO), and Disability Resources, but also partners with Athletics, New Student Services, and the College’s faculty, among others. “We identify techniques that work for our student population,” Hollins said.
Success coaching in higher education was first formulated in 2000 by InsideTrack, a company offering services to higher ed institutions. Colleges then realized they could create that experience in-house.
“Success coaching identifies a person on campus students can go to for support, and it really speaks to social mobility and individualized support,” Hollins said of the program’s vision. “It’s successful because it lets the student drive the bus, and they tell us what they need.”
The coaching follows an appreciative advising philosophy model, which integrates principles from positive psychology, social constructivist theory, and choice theory to create a framework for guiding students along their academic journey.
“It is student-led as well as intentional,” said Hollins. “We have markers, but we don’t tell students what they need to do; they can identify their own goals and success. Historically, on-campus success coaching was used by disability resources through Title III, and helped 40 students with identified disabilities. In the fall of 2020, we rolled out a TRIO Supporting Student Success grant, which now helps us serve 160 students, and we have seen a better retention rate with them than the rest of the co-hort.”
IT’S SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE IT LETS THE STUDENTS DRIVE THE BUS, AND THEY TELL US WHAT THEY NEED.”
KAYLA HOLLINS ’12
In the fall of 2022, the College’s Athletics Department opted into the program, and Academic Advising and Support piloted a program with faculty members to work as success coaches for first-year undeclared students, which historically have low retention rates. “After a one-year pilot, that group of students retained at a higher rate than we’ve seen in years,” Hollins said.
In the fall of 2023, Hollins said MCLA kickstarted and enhanced its first-year program through an anonymous donor. “Success teams were created and students were assigned a peer mentor, staff mentor, success coach, and faculty instructor — that’s four people looking out for them,” said Hollins. “We are being proactive about student success, and from the first to second semester the retention rate was 92%.”
Success coaches all have common learning objectives, and each coach undergoes training in mental health support and how to use the College’s new EAB navigator software, which tracks what services students are using, who they are meeting with, and how often. The goal of the software is to help faculty and staff notice trends before they become larger issues.
Students who are on mandatory academic probation must take a 1-credit course called Thriving in College and Beyond, which provides tools on time management and study skills. But what works even better, said Hollins, is to work with coaches before that becomes necessary.
“All students benefit from success coaching and some decide to stay [after
their GPAs improve] to work on future plans, goal-building, or challenges they may be facing,” Hollins said. “Some just stop by to say hi. The real goal [of success coaching] is not to need it.”
Thanks to a variety of grants, MCLA has been able to offer a free online summer course for credit recovery or to boost a student’s GPA. For the first time last summer, a success coach was embedded in the course. That coach was Jordan DeGaetano [see sidebar].
Almost 80% of students in the course increased their GPA and fewer students failed or withdrew since the course was created four years ago.
DeGaetano steps in if students are struggling, not handing in assignments, or just need a reminder or someone to serve as an accountability partner.
“We’re focusing on persistence, not just retention,” said DeGaetano. “Students are working toward and achieving their goals and getting what they want out of college. This is a student-driven collaborative partnership where we work on time management, organizational skills, building habits and routines to be successful, identifying learning preferences, and connecting with other oncampus services. A huge piece of it is social navigation — communicating effectively and using conflictresolution skills — as well as creating accountability and self-advocacy to promote a growth mindset. If we can help students reframe experiences or thoughts about themselves, obstacles can be digestible and we can create an action plan.”
“We have the expertise on campus to do this work, but we couldn’t have picked it up off the ground without having a system,” Hollins said. “Some traditional advising is transactional — focused on one issue or question at a time — but we are turning transactional advising into something more meaningful by getting our faculty on board. We’re being very proactive in certain places because some students are falling through the cracks.”
STUDENTS ARE WORKING TOWARD AND ACHIEVING THEIR GOALS AND GETTING WHAT THEY WANT OUT OF COLLEGE.”
JORDAN DEGAETANO
Meet Jordan DeGaetano ’20
MCLA ACADEMIC ADVISING COORDINATOR AND SUCCESS COACH
In February 2024, DeGaetano attended the NACADA Regional Conference (for higher education academic advisors) where she hosted two presentations, “Success Coach Crash Course: From ‘Hello’ to ‘See You Next Session!” and “How to Connect with Gen-Z Students Using Learning Aids and Other Toys.”
The Crash Course was geared toward new advisors and coaches as well as experienced ones looking for new ways to connect with their students, especially students with executive dysfunction, learning differences, and/ or who struggle with self-efficacy, selfadvocacy, and self-esteem.
The second presentation focused on how to connect with Gen Z students using learning aids, such as puzzles
or fidget toys, that can help break down barriers. DeGaetano based the talk on her experience working with students with disabilities and their learning preferences. She noticed students wanted to move around during their meetings, especially those who were not comfortable making eye contact.
Through the use of learning aids and toys, she began to see a huge improvement with how students connected with her. “If you’re open to different ways of processing,” she said, “you can build trusting relationships by allowing other people the grace to feel comfortable.”
Paving the Way
SUPPORT FROM MCLA PROFESSORS IS HELPING DAVID HOXIE ’14 PAVE THE WAY FOR OTHERS
When David Hoxie ’14 was in high school, he was discouraged from attending college and pursuing a physics career because of his learning disability. It wasn’t until he studied physics at MCLA that he gained the confidence and support system to pursue graduate school and a career in teaching.
After graduating from MCLA, Hoxie began working as a graduate teaching assistant at University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) and earned a doctorate in physics in 2023. Working in Dr. Krishen Appavoo’s Ultrafast Spectroscopy lab, Hoxie employed machine learning to help find more efficient elements of solar cells. He trained machine learning algorithms how to generate their own simulation of nanophotonic phenomena and trained the machine learning algorithmics to search through large amounts of data produced by electromagnetic simulations.
Hoxie is now a postdoctoral fellow at UAB researching computational simulation and modeling entropic and physics simulations and machine learning for autonomous vehicles and perception.
He recognizes how monumental his MCLA mentors were to his current success. “My time at MCLA helped prepare me for graduate school,” he said. “My professors were adamant that we understood why we were doing the work we were doing, not just how to do it.”
Hoxie said he received support from MCLA physics professors Dr. Emily Maher and Dr. Adrienne Wootters when it came time to apply to graduate school and explore teaching positions. He said he always knew he wanted to be a professor and have a lab, and is determined to make physics more inclusive and pave the way for a more diversified field.
“If I hadn’t had that in-depth understanding of physics I learned at MCLA, I’m not sure I would have finished my Ph.D. or understood it the way that I did,” he said.
Hoxie said he kept in touch with Dr. Maher while earning his doctorate, and would reach out to her when trying to grasp complex concepts. “Mentors, more than anything, affect a student’s progress,” he said, “and that’s one of the things MCLA offers.”
Growing up with a learning disability, Hoxie felt the cards were stacked against him, until he came to North Adams. “MCLA was the first place that showed me how to utilize [the learning disability] instead of letting it define me,” he said. “Nothing is impossible. You just need to find the right mentor and the right group of people. MCLA really gave me the confidence to overcome my challenges.”
MY PROFESSORS WERE ADAMANT THAT WE UNDERSTOOD WHY WE WERE DOING THE WORK WE WERE DOING, NOT JUST HOW TO DO IT.”
DAVID HOXIE ’14
Classroom Turned Launch Pad
MCLA PHYSICS STUDENTS DESIGN AND BUILD MODEL FOR NASA STARSHADE CHALLENGE
A group of MCLA students received a $1,000 honorarium from NASA in the fall 2023 semester as part of the Starshade Undergraduate Challenge. The funds were used to purchase equipment to design and build a model of a device that would be launched into space.
Last summer, NASA put a call out to all undergraduate physics programs in the country for students to submit a 1:100 scale model of a device that could be launched into space to block out starlight so that exo-planets could be more easily observed and measured.
MCLA physics professor Dr. Kebra Ward fielded interest from students in the physics department to participate in
the project, which led to a group with deeply diverse skill sets that drew from physics, chemistry, math, computer science, and sociology.
In addition to the equipment award, the group applied for an MCLA mini-grant to fund the project.
MCLA sophomore Téa Caravello led the team as her first independent research project. The model was submitted on December 15 and Caravello walked away with an educational experience that encompassed research, design, 3D modeling, and team management. She also presented research from the project at this spring’s Undergraduate Research Conference on campus.
“The NASA team had a lot of requirements in terms of what they wanted from this project,” she said. “It was clear this was designed for a team much larger than ours. Because of this, we approached the project intending to create a new idea, learn the research and design process, and generally try our best!”
MCLA’s design focused on optimizing petal deployment and stability once in space. The team’s goal was to innovate some aspects of previous starshade concepts, with the goal of lower mass. The students chose to build a new center frame that would be able to fold tall but compactly within the required dimensions of the container for launch.
Eclipse
Faculty, staff, and students took a break from work and classes to view the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024. In addition, a group of MCLA students, led by physics professor Dr. Kebra Ward, took a 3-hour trip north, to Saint Johnsbury, Vermont, to view the eclipse in the path of totality. Funding for the trip was provided by the TEAM-UP Together Excel grant from the American Institute of Physics, recently awarded to the College’s Physics Department.
Meet Ashleigh Hala
MCLA ASSOCIATE DEAN FOR STUDENT WELLNESS & CHIEF WELLNESS OFFICER
Ashleigh Hala joined MCLA in July, but has already launched many important initiatives on campus. “Since I’ve been here, we’ve been awarded some exciting grants for suicide prevention, bystander intervention curriculum training, and the hiring of a health promotions specialist — the first MCLA has ever had,” she said. “I’m excited to bring that work in; I want our community to buy into the idea that wellness is essential to students’ personal, professional, and academic success.” She said its important to find out what student groups are already doing, and to find out how best to support the students’ well-being. “With my new department, and counseling, health services, health promotion, and the CARE team, we have a great opportunity to do that.”
Hala has not only been a force on campus, but has also shared her knowledge on mental health, sexual violence, and harassment at outside conferences throughout the academic year. In October of 2023, she presented at Westpoint — on the panel “Are We Getting Anywhere? A Multidisciplinary Discussion about the Current State of Prevention” — as part of the National Discussion on Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment at America’s Colleges, Universities and Military Service Academies, which was attended by students and faculty from all U.S. military schools.
In January, she presented at NASPA Strategies, an organization for student affairs administrators in higher education, and was recently named co-chair of that conference. She is chair-elect of NASPA’s Wellness and Health Promotion Knowledge Community and also serves on their peer education advisor faculty.
The month of May saw Hala leading a preconference session on developing as a college health and well-being leader at the American College Health Association in Atlanta.
I WANT OUR COMMUNITY TO BUY INTO THE IDEA THAT WELLNESS IS ESSENTIAL TO STUDENTS’ PERSONAL, PROFESSIONAL, AND ACADEMIC SUCCESS.”
Majors to Meet the Moment
MCLA’S RADIOLOGIC TECHNOLOGY GRADUATES CONTINUES TO BOAST 100% EMPLOYMENT RATE
In 2019, MCLA became the teach-out partner for Southern Vermont College’s (SVC) Radiologic Sciences program, following the Bennington-based school’s closure. Both SVC students and faculty members were able to transfer to MCLA at that time, and the program, now an official MCLA bachelor’s degree in Radiologic Technology, is thriving.
Last year’s graduating class of five doubled to 10 students in 2024, and next year’s class will welcome 20 students. This year’s graduates boasted a 100% pass rate on the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists exam, and the employment rate over the past five years has also been 100%, said Program Director and Assistant
Professor Julie Walsh. “All of this year’s students had jobs before they even graduated, some even had multiple offers,” she said. Half of this year’s graduates were hired locally by Berkshire Health Systems, and others accepted offers in the Albany area.
Walsh said the majority of MCLA’s radiologic technology students come from Vermont, Massachusetts, and New York. “It’s unique to have three states that are so closely linked,” she said. Much of it stems from the fact that Vermont now has one radiologic sciences program, which offers only an associate degree, and the only other bachelor’s program in Massachusetts is located across the state, in Boston.
ALL OF THIS YEAR’S STUDENTS HAD JOBS BEFORE THEY EVEN GRADUATED, SOME EVEN HAD MULTIPLE OFFERS.”
JULIE WALSH, PROGRAM DIRECTOR
Walsh said a two-year program actually takes about three years to complete. “I encourage students to study an extra year and earn a bachelor’s degree because they can become a supervisor or take on a management role much sooner. Their education counts.”
Another reason MCLA’s program is unique is its education component in either computed tomography (CT) or mammography modalities. “Additional knowledge in CT or mammography allows graduates to dual-register and make more money,” said Walsh. “The additional year also makes our graduates more mature. They complete more than 1,400 clinical hours in a 2-year span.”
The 100% job placement rate of the program’s graduates is not the only perk of earning the degree. The huge need in the region and across the country often translates into employers offering tuition payback or remission, along with sign-on bonuses.
“Admittance to the MCLA program is competitive, but because of the small class sizes, students get to know each other well and become friends forever,” Walsh said. “At this point, if you go into any hospital in the area, there’s going to be an MCLA student taking your x-ray.”
NEW MUSIC, INDUSTRY & PRODUCTION MAJOR PROVES POPULAR
In the Fall 2023 semester, MCLA introduced its Music, Industry & Production major, which incorporates the College’s existing music classes with arts management and music production skills. In the run-up to the Fall 2024 semester, interest in the bachelor’s degree program continues to be high, with 67 applicants and 51 accepted students.
“Classes such as home studio recording (on a laptop), mastering sound and live sound mixing, and music production for film are all important skill sets because there are jobs out there,” said music professor Dr. Michael Dilthey. “We advocate for, and instructors push for the students to create their own portfolios to show what they can do. Every semester, students are writing, mastering, and recording music.”
The program will constantly evolve, said Dilthey, making sure the curriculum fills students’ needs and interests. “We want to continue to dive into this world of possibilities and different paradigms of what a 21st century music student is. They are interested in so many avenues, and that entrepreneurial spirit is how they succeed, and we succeed. We want to inspire each other to do cool new things.”
A NEW GLOBAL STUDIES MAJOR PREPARES STUDENTS TO CHANGE THE WORLD
MCLA’s goal of fostering global citizenship among its students will take a major step forward in the Spring 2025 semester as the College debuts its Global and Intercultural Studies major. The major closely aligns with the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education’s Equity Agenda and will enable the College to become an educational leader in implementing curriculum initiatives that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion. In addition, the program will enhance opportunities for social mobility for underrepresented students by offering global experiences and preparing them for career opportunities in a rapidly changing labor market.
This major includes coursework drawn from across the entire MCLA academic catalog. The major’s foundational coursework includes classes in global and cultural studies, as well as anthropology, communications, history, and political science. Additional elective coursework is pulled from economics, English, environmental studies, finance, philosophy, social work, sociology, and modern languages. The experiential learning requirement can be filled through study abroad, independent study, or an internship.
The program was intentionally structured with an abundance of flexibility, allowing students to craft their own experience to meet their individual interests and career goals. Students will work with Career Services early on in their studies to explore career options to help aid in appropriate course selection.
The goal of the coursework is to help students critically examine complex global issues and understand how world systems influence and are influenced by struggles for sustainability, social justice, and intercultural dialogue. Upon graduation, students will display a nuanced understanding and appreciation for diverse perspectives and worldviews, have actively addressed personal and cultural biases, and be able to interact across cultures.
Graduates of the new program will be able to formulate equitable solutions to pressing global challenges, demonstrate a commitment to positive change, and be active contributors to collective well-being and sustainable development.
Total Immersion
MCLA TRAVEL SCHOLARSHIPS PUT LIFE-CHANGING JOURNEYS WITHIN REACH
Each year, MCLA offers travel courses that allow students to experience other cultures, enhance their studies, and earn academic credit. This spring break, 47 students traveled to Ireland, the Bahamas, South Africa, and the American South, in large part thanks to generous donors working in partnership with the College’s Office of Institutional Advancement.
MCLA history and political science professor Anthony Daly led students to Ireland to visit Kilkenny, Belfast, and Dublin. There, students identified connections between Irish history and contemporary Ireland, compared the depictions of Irish society in fiction and non-fiction works, and discussed the similarities and differences of their experiences in Northern Ireland (UK), the Republic of Ireland, and the United States.
In San Salvador, Bahamas, biology professors Dr. Eric Doucette and Dr. Anne Goodwin and their students explored tropical island habitats by
hiking, snorkeling, data collecting, and discussing the impact of humans on tropical ecosystems.
These trips to the Bahamas and Ireland were sponsored by emerita professor of physics Dr. Adrienne Wootters, whose scholarships covered 93% of student travel costs as part of her mission to make travel courses more accessible.
For those who traveled to South Africa with physics professor Dr. Kebra Ward, the course focused on state-of-the-art science and cultural exploration in Cape Town and Gqeberha. Students had the opportunity to visit Nelson Mandela
University’s Center for High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (CHRTEM) to explore nanoscale imaging technologies under expert guidance. The hands-on experience allowed students to present their atomic-scale images at the MCLA Undergraduate Research Conference in April.
Dr. Ward taught at the University in the Spring 2022 semester and has close connections to the researchers at the CHRTEM. The South Africa travel course was sponsored for a second year by Jim and Chrystina Parks, owners of ROAM Gallery in Williamstown.
Bahamas
THE IMPACT OF THIS TRIP EXTENDS BEYOND THE SIX DAYS SPENT IN VENICE; IT HAS BECOME A CATALYST FOR PERSONAL AND CREATIVE GROWTH THAT WILL RESONATE THROUGHOUT MY CAREER AS AN ARTIST.”
JC INNOCENT
For the Civil Rights travel course, history and political science professor Dr. Ely Janis led a bus tour through Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, and Mississippi. Stops included the Freedom Rides Museum, the Martin Luther King Jr. Center, the National Memorial for Peace and Justice, and the Edmund Pettus Bridge. They also met with Civil Rights activists and Birmingham, Alabama, residents Mrs. Carolyn McKinstry and Ms. Lisa McNair, as well as Ms. Rutha Harris, a member of the Civil Rights singing group The Freedom Singers.
The Civil Rights travel course was made possible through the generosity of MountainOne Bank.
In November 2023, six MCLA students and two faculty members traveled to Venice, Italy, which was made possible by funds from the Milton and Dorothy Sarnoff Raymond Foundation. The trip was led by MCLA professor of art Melanie Mowinski and professor of fine and performing arts Dr. Eunice Uhm. The group explored landscapes at risk due to climate change and overtourism, or “riskscapes.” Students visited the Basilica di San Marco and La Biennale di Venezia, and studied printmaking to becoming at Scuola Internazionale di Grafica among other architecturally rich destinations.
Thanks to generous donors, MCLA is able to offer students these transformative journeys, each year fulfilling its mission of fostering global citizens.
Ireland
South Africa
Congratulations, CLASS OF 2024!
We celebrated our 125th Commencement on May 11 with Commencement speaker and honorary degree recipient Shannon Holsey, president of the StockbridgeMunsee Band of Mohican Indians, on whose ancestral land MCLA is now located. In addition, honorary degrees were presented to Massachusetts State Senator Paul W. Mark, former longtime CEO of Child Care of the Berkshires Anne Nemetz-Carlson, and Mass Humanities Executive Director Brian Boyles.
YOU ARE THE LIVING PROOF THAT THE AMERICAN DREAM ENDURES IN OUR LIFETIME. IT IS ABSOLUTELY YOUR TIME.”
SHANNON HOLSEY, PRESIDENT, STOCKBRIDGE-MUNSEE BAND OF MOHICAN INDIANS
Cultivating Community
DAY OF DIALOGUE, REJI TEAM, AND EXPANDED GENDER & SEXUALITY CENTER PROGRAMMING SHOW MCLA’S COMMITMENT TO DEI
MCLA’s annual Day of Dialogue is a campuswide day of workshops and discussions that focus on issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Classes are suspended so that the community may come together to engage with each other and learn from one another.
This academic year’s Day of Dialogue, held October 18, 2023, saw almost 500 attendees. The theme, Cultivating a Sense of Belonging in Uncertain Times through a Racial Equity Lens, encouraged us to continue to navigate the increasing diversity of incoming students and confront the historical systems of oppression that have influenced our higher education institutions.
The day’s presentations included the modules TRIO Scholars Explore Racial Equity, Social Identities & Inclusion; Femme in Public, an Examination of Gender and its Implications through a Cultural and Racial Lens; and Hear Me Out: Addressing Linguistic Bias. An in-person keynote lecture was given by Latrina Denson, the associate dean of students for community and belonging
the Racial Equity & Justice Institute (REJI) consortium at Bridgewater State University.
Denson’s speech, Cultivating a Sense of Belonging to Promote Racial Equity and Justice is Urgent . . . So Let’s Slow Down, focused on how an equitable and just community requires acknowledging and dismantling the characteristics of the systems of power that invite and condition us into toxic thinking and behaviors.
According to Denson, one of those characteristics is a sense of urgency. An organization working toward racial equity and justice through urgency reinforces existing power hierarchies such as the control of decision-making, unrealistic expectations about how much can get done in a period of time, and perfectionism based on expected standards defined by those in power. This sense of urgency is often perpetuated on the backs and shoulders of BIPOC students, faculty, and staff, resulting in burnout.
The REJI consortium, on whose leadership team Denson serves, charges each participating institution with creating and identifying a group of folks that push forward the agenda of creating a more racially equitable campus. This group then focuses on creating racially equitable practices to transform institutions and close achievement gaps that too often affect students of color.
Throughout the year, MCLA’s REJI Team had an opportunity to meet once a month for two hours to discuss topics on the year’s theme, The Fierce Urgency of Now — Advancing Racial Equity in the Face of the Counteroffensive. Sessions included Equity-minded Student Belonging and Mattering Practices, Racial Equity in DataInformed Decision-making, and Moving from the Racial Equity Plan to Racial Equity Progress.
During this interactive session, participants explored what it means to cultivate a community of care that values getting it right by slowing down, pausing, and creating realistic action plans based on the lived experiences of students, faculty, and staff through guided self-reflection, and small and
Also during the 2023-2024 school year, under the guidance of Program Coordinator of Gender and Sexuality Ara Phoenixx, the Gender & Sexuality Center (GSC) expanded its programming and reach, fostered ongoing collaboration with on-campus and community organizations, and offered new student internship opportunities. The GSC launched two new gender-based student groups: the Femme Forward Coalition, which
provides space for the creation of feminist community and activism, and the My Masculinity Dialogue Group, which allows men and masculine folks to connect in community and explore masculinity in a way that is healthy, beneficial, and individual.
This academic year’s GSC programming explored period product accessibility, healthy relationships, diversity of queer experiences, transgender celebration and grief, self-care, and shared community, among other topics. The group was fortunate to be able to partner with a variety of on-campus groups and departments — Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies faculty; the Residence Hall Association; resident advisors; the e-sports lounge; intramurals; and the Queer Student Union — as well as community groups and businesses, including the Elizabeth Freeman Center, Wild Soul River, Christo’s Pizza, the Berkshire Queer History Project, and MCLA alumni.
In addition to participating in programs and events, students had the opportunity to take on leadership roles in the GSC while earning financial compensation or class credit through work study, a gender and sexuality internship, and a Berkshire Queer History Project internship.
THE 3RD ANNUAL MCLA Awards for Leadership
in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
MCLA’s 3rd annual Awards for Leadership in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion were held April 22, 2024 to celebrate and honor campus community members. This year’s recipients are listed below.
Department Award for Leadership in DEI: TRiO Student Support Services
Staff Award for Leadership in DEI: Executive Director of Student Persistence Kayla Hollins and Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice Initiatives Arlene Theodore
Faculty Award for Leadership in DEI: Associate Professor of Interdisciplinary Studies Dr. Hannah Haynes and Associate Professor of Physics Dr. Kebra Ward
Student Award for Emerging Leadership in DEI: Sali Bah ‘24
Multicultural Advancement Award: Taylor Hope ‘24
Student Organization Award for Leadership: Queer Student Union
Meet André Lynch
MCLA VICE PROVOST FOR INSTITUTIONAL EQUITY AND BELONGING
André Lynch joined MCLA as its Vice Provost for Institutional Equity and Belonging this past April, bringing experience in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging work across multiple institutions, most recently Wells College and Berkshire Art and Technology Charter Public School (BART).
As BART’s first DEI director, Lynch was responsible for creating the school’s DEI program from the ground up. “I regard the programmatic as performative, in a good way — people can see the work — but the shifts in systems live at the policy level. I do both,” he said. “I created a four-prong structure looking at programming (what they can touch and see), policy (the systems-level work to shift the culture), professional development (so that we’re all on board and shifting our focus to an equity lens), and planning (creating a committee on institutional planning and effectiveness for all department heads
to hold them to task, set goals, track progress through a rubric, and support them to reach those goals.)”
While at BART, Lynch also helped launch the first and only international festival in the northern Berkshires, and created a community action theater program, based on Theatre of the Oppressed (TO) techniques. In that program, a small group of students work with a TO practitioner to develop skits on social justice issues they have experienced, such as racism and sexism. During the performance, spectators become spec-actors, as audience members take the place of the actors to change the outcome of the scene. “It engages students at a different level,” Lynch said. “It’s not necessarily a ‘safe space,’ but a ‘brave space’ to practice their bystander intervention training and figure out how we correct harm and hold space for those who are harmed.”
Lynch has also established mentor programs for Black and Brown youth, and hopes to create an ecosystem of Black and Brown educators. “I attended a Department of Elementary and Secondary Education conference on the demographics of educators,” Lynch said. “Only about 1% of them are Black males. We want to get young Black males excited about teaching and have them return to teach in the local schools. We’ve seen success, even in the first three years of the program.”
Lynch is a board member of Blackshires, a community empowerment association whose most public-facing program is an accelerator program for up-and-coming Black leaders; a Roots Rising board member, where he’s led equity trainings and increased the amount of Black and Brown board members; a recent 40 under Forty award winner; and the founder of the Berkshire Equity Association, a group for local DEI professionals.
The Year in Athletics
TRAILBLAZERS HOCKEY, VOLLEYBALL, AND GOLF TEAMS WRAP UP EXCITING SEASONS
MEN’S ICE HOCKEY TAKES TO THE ICE
“The first year of MCLA Men’s Hockey has come and gone and, looking back, I am very proud,” said MCLA Men’s Ice Hockey Coach Jeremiah Ketts.
Although they were the youngest team in the MASCAC in terms of experience, Ketts said the players learned a lot about each other and how to count on one another in times of adversity. The team ended the season with a 7-17-1 record. “Comparing ourselves nationwide, we ended up with more wins than many established programs,” Ketts said. “We saw strengths in certain areas like our Penalty Kill, which ended up 11th in the nation at the end of the season. There is a lot to improve upon, but we grew a ton collectively and are looking forward to the upcoming years.” Off the ice, the team had the highest first-semester GPA in the Athletics Department.
Ketts said support from the local community and students in the first year has been great. “I know we will continue to grow our fanbase in the community and within our MCLA family.”
He said plans for next year include renovations to the Peter W. Foote Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Skating Rink (the College’s home facility). “As a program, we will continue to impact our MCLA community in a positive way and support our other sports teams,” Ketts said. “We will look to continue our connection with our alumni, as well as look to improve on the ice.”
MEN’S GOLF WINS BIG
It was a big year for MCLA freshman Mathew Gover ‘27, who led the Men’s Golf Team to its first tournament in years. Gover won the MASCAC Championship Golf tournament and the team took second place. Gover also was named Player of The Year, Rookie of The Year, and 1st Team All-Conference. The Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) announced in May that Gover has been named to the organization’s 2024 NCAA Division III PING All-Region Team and All-Freshman Team. Alex Ferris ‘27 was named to the AllMASCAC Second Team.
“I think bringing in some highly talented golfers and increasing our strength of schedule helped improve our program this year,” said Golf Head Coach Jeremiah Ketts. “This year was a major success for our program. We made huge steps forward.”
THIS TEAM IS MORE UNITED THAN MOST — EVERYONE IS WORKING TOWARD THE SAME GOALS, AND EVERYONE GETS TO PLAY.”
HEATH ISAACSON, MCLA WOMEN’S ICE HOCKEY COACH
WOMEN’S HOCKEY JOINS MASCAC
Beginning with the 2024-2025 season, the MCLA Women’s Hockey team, whose inaugural season record was 5-19-1, will move from the Eastern Collegiate Hockey Alliance to join the College’s other teams in the Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference (MASCAC).
“The ECHA is not a recognized conference by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) because there are only four teams,” said MCLA Women’s Ice Hockey Coach Heath Isaacson. “But we were still able to have playoffs and weekly awards where our players could be recognized. Now, being a MASCAC team, we’ll have the full weight of the NCAA behind us, which brings a lot more notoriety and legitimacy to our team.”
The 2023-2024 season saw the Trailblazers competing against teams that have been playing together for years and that boasted around 25 players. The Trailblazers had 15 skaters and 3 goalies, making for 18 players total. Isaacson said the roster was intentional.
“A first-year program is all about culture and development. We don’t want anyone just sitting in the stands, because that can build a divide between those who are getting to play and those who are not. As it is now, we’re all working together, not competing to be in the lineup.”
Isaacson’s goal for year two is to have 22 players, and be able to roster 22 players a game, so no one is sitting out. “This team is more united than most — everyone is working toward the same goals, and everyone gets to play.”
THIS SEASON WAS ONE FOR THE RECORD BOOKS.”
AMANDA BECKWITH, HEAD VOLLEYBALL COACH
WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL HEADS TO CHAMPIONSHIP
This year, the Women’s Volleyball team made it to the MASCAC conference championship, which they had not done since 2015, and played the same opponent, Framingham State. “This season was one for the record books,” said Head Volleyball Coach Amanda Beckwith of the team’s 21-5 record. “The students were really focused on making their way to the championships; it was their goal since the beginning of the season. Plus, we got to host it.”
Beckwith said this year’s team “had heart, hustle and grit, and the chemistry was strong.” They boasted an 11-game winning streak, two players joined the grand club—Shannon O’Brien ‘26 for sets and Ellie Walter-Goodspeed ‘25 for digs—and all-time MCLA kill record was broken by Chloie Garber ‘25 with 879 kills.
The team was also strong academically, Beckwith said, with a GPA of 3.495 in the fall, the highest of the women’s teams. “Eleven players were on the dean’s list and three of them had a 4.0 GPA,” she said.
Thanks to support from MCLA Gives donors, the volleyball team will fly to California this coming pre-season for a multi-day tournament. The experience will allow them to play ranked teams from out of the area and form bonds that will last a lifetime.
The Experts Come to Us
DURING THE 2023-2024 ACADEMIC YEAR, AWARD-WINNING JOURNALISTS, CELEBRATED AUTHORS, AND TRAILBLAZERS IN THEIR FIELDS VISITED US IN NORTH ADAMS.
Tamar Sarai
HARDMAN JOURNALIST IN RESIDENCE
Writer and journalist at Prism, Tamar Sarai visited campus on April 8 and 9, 2024. She spent the afternoons speaking with students and presented an evening lecture for the campus community and public.
Amanda L. Tyler
MICHAEL S. AND KITTY DUKAKIS PUBLIC POLICY LECTURE
UC Berkeley law professor and Supreme Court expert Amanda L. Tyler spoke to students and gave the 2023 MCLA Michael S. and Kitty Dukakis Public Policy Lecture on October 26.
Caleb Gayle
HARDMAN LECTURE
Author, professor, and New York Times Magazine contributing writer Caleb Gayle gave the 2023 MCLA Hardman Lecture on November 16.
Emily Monosson
ELIZABETH & LAWRENCE
VADNAIS ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES LECTURE
On April 8, 2024, environmental toxicologist and UMass Amherst professor Emily Monosson gave a lecture based on her new book, “Blight: Fungi and the Coming Pandemic.”
Genny Beemyn, Ph.D.
LAVENDER LECTURE
Genny Beemyn, director of the UMass Amherst Stonewall Center and coordinator of Campus Pride’s Trans Policy Clearinghouse, gave the 2023 MCLA Lavender Voices Lecture on November 8.
On the Cutting Edge of Science
MCLA PHYSICS PROFESSOR’S RESEARCH NAMED ONE OF THE TOP 10 PHYSICS BREAKTHROUGHS OF 2023
The work of MCLA Physics Professor Dr. Emily Maher and the 64 other scientists in the MINERvA collaboration, based at Fermi National Accelerator Lab (Fermilab), was chosen by Physics World as one of the Top 10 Physics Breakthroughs of 2023.
Over a 10-year span, the MINERvA detector recorded the interactions of neutrinos and antineutrinos, the antimatter partners of the neutrino. The physicists working on the MINERvA experiment used the data to make a ground-breaking new measurement which was published last February in Nature, titled “Measurement of the axial vector form factor from antineutrino–proton scattering.”
“We work to uncover and understand nature’s smallest building blocks,” said
Dr. Maher. “I am repeatedly amazed at how we use particle accelerators that span miles to shoot invisible particles at multi-story detectors to ‘see’ something as small as a proton. No human has even been able to make this measurement before, and I am delighted that this science is not merely interesting to specialists in my field but also recognized by the larger world as a real contribution.”
To be featured on the list of physics breakthroughs, research must have been published within the last year, have made significant advances in knowledge or understanding, and shown the importance of work for scientific progress and/or development of real-world applications.
The study, led by Tejin Cai at the University of Rochester in the U.S. and Canada’s York University, shows how information about the internal structure of a proton can be gleaned
from neutrinos scattering from a plastic target. The team focused on isolating the signal from neutrinos scattered off lone protons within the background of those scattered off protons bound in carbon nuclei. Their innovative approach involved simulating and subtracting the carbon-scattered signal from experimental data. This provides insights into proton structure and enhances the understanding of how neutrinos interact with matter.
Dr. Maher has spent more than 20 years studying neutrinos. She began her work at Fermilab in 2000, studying the tau neutrino for her thesis work. This experiment, DONuT (Direct Observation of Nu Tau), made the world’s first direct observation of the tau neutrino. Maher said she enjoys studying neutrinos because they “continually surprise us and point us to new physics.”
Proton probe.
Photo courtesy of Reidar Hahn/ Fermilab and Physics World Publication
Above and Beyond
MCLA STUDENT CREATES SNOW ART FOR VERIZON MARKETING CAMPAIGN
There are a variety of reasons why a student may miss class, but MCLA student Danielle Galietti’s excuse is by far the “coolest.”
This past semester, Galietti, a snow artist, was flown to Steamboat Springs, Colorado, to create her largest piece yet. She was contacted by Verizon for the new Test Force marketing campaign — a series of short videos that show real-life Verizon engineers supporting customers in unusual scenarios.
Galietti typically must document her work from high above, such as from the quarry at Natural Bridge in North Adams. But, for this project, an engineer flew a drone above Galietti so she could see her work in real-time. “It was awesome to work with the engineer on this project and highlight some of the creative ways their
network can help you see things in new ways,” Galietti said.
Galietti creates snow art as a way to heal from a traumatic brain injury. “Throughout this three-year recovery span, I encountered a lot of doctors who have outdated ideas, but I finally found doctors who were able to help me
stay active,” she said. “I use the snow walking as part of the process to push myself, and a lot of new research points to quite the opposite of what most doctors are saying about pushing past your limit.”
Her injury and recovery journey has inspired Galietti to pursue a profession in either head injury prevention or athletic training. She is currently enrolled in three classes at MCLA as a non-matriculated student and hopes to continue into a degree program by next year.
She said she was thrilled to be able to share her passion for art on a larger scale. “It was incredible to have a larger entity see it. I don’t need the external validation, because what I do for myself is all that matters, but to share what I love with others feels like a really nice gift.”
Danielle Galietti (right) pictured with Verizon engineer.
TO SHARE WHAT I LOVE WITH OTHERS FEELS LIKE A REALLY NICE GIFT.”
DANIELLE GALIETTI
Meet Taylor Hope ’24
MCLA STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT
As the Student Government Association (SGA) president, a former student trustee on the MCLA Board of Trustees, and an appointee to the Massachusetts Governor’s Advisory Council, Taylor Hope ’24 is well on her way to putting her political science and sociology degrees into practice.
Hope is the first female student of color to lead MCLA’s SGA, but she is no stranger to politics, having served on her high school’s student advisory council in her home city of Philadelphia. “My love of and my focus on political science is because I came from a public school system,” she said.
Through her many College extracurriculars, including serving as the chapter head of MCLA’s Women of Color Initiative and as one of the College’s admission ambassadors, Hope has been privy to all aspects of campus culture — from answering the questions of future Trailblazers to updating College trustees about campus activities.
“I enjoyed my time as a student trustee,” Hope said. “It allowed me to understand how the College works, as a whole, and I think I did a good job of sharing that with other students. It was an eye-opening experience, seeing how the College’s finances work, and meeting the wider MCLA community, including the people who volunteer and give back.”
She said being appointed to the Massachusetts Governor’s Advisory Council has made her appreciate the education she received at MCLA. “It made me happy to see all of the things we do for students at MCLA, including offering free or affordable textbooks for courses, and to know that the school is aligned with what the Secretary of Education and the state are doing.”
Having served as an MCLA admission ambassador since her freshman year, Hope said she has enjoyed meeting prospective students and their families, including alumni whose own children are now touring the College. She said it also has helped her keep things in perspective: “I would sometimes forget about the beauty of our camps because I’d become so used to it,” she said, until her tour group members pointed it out.
After graduation, Hope intends to pursue policy writing.
STUDENT AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIPS
We’re reflecting back on the impressions all our MCLA students made this year. The following students were recognized at the end of the Spring 2024 semester for going above and beyond in their studies, as club and organization leaders, and as community citizens. MCLA also offers more than 100 scholarships for qualifying students. We’re proud of each and every MCLA student and are proud to share this list with the world.
Student Affairs Leadership Awards
SCHOLARSHIPS
Diane Collins SGA Scholarship
Tonimarie Basil
Ryan Taylor
Heather Fischlein Memorial Resident Advisor Scholarship
Agnieszka Ramirez
On the Rise Scholarship
Traizen Griffith
Outstanding Resident Student Scholarship
Faith LeBlanc Leadership Awards
Advisor of the Year Award
Professor Sara Steele
Behind the Scenes Award
Tia Kareh
Club Executive Board Member of the Year Award
Tonimarie Basil for WJJW
Club/Organization
Excellence Award
Book Club
Distinguished Service Award
Pablo Calderon
Leadership Achievement Award
Ryan Taylor
Lorraine B. Maloney
Spirit of Service Award
Lydia Beeler
Program of the Year Award
SAC Blue Plate Special
Randall Warren “Unsung” Hero Award
Ellie Walter-Goodspeed
Rising Star Award
Traizen Griffith
Cinderella Khoury
Student Engagement Change Agent Award
Taylor Hope and Paige Dufur for their work on SGA
Senior Leadership Awards
Outstanding Senior Leader Award
Karesha Graham
Tyler Cotting
Lydia Beeler
Janeilah Vazquez
Taylor Hope
Pablo Calderon
Ellie Walter-Goodspeed
Vice President’s Award for Distinguished Leadership, Scholarship, and Service Award
Erick Ramos Jacobo
Academic Department Awards
Specific awards given by MCLA’s academic departments
Frederick K. Bressette 1946 Performing Arts Scholarship
Georgia Dedolph
Gailanne M. Cariddi Memorial Scholarship
Armanni Rios
Gary F. Kelley Computer Science and Math Scholarship
Donovan Howell
Grace S. Hampel Scholarship
David Babineau
Abby Bird
Emma Butler
Lena Dupont
Brigette Marcil
Bunny Moreau
Tyler Pettit
Armanni Rios
Paul Roeder
Anelisse Ahoon
Trinity Greer
Addison Hayer
Rylee Joy
Katherine Martin
Laney Martin
Ruby Pullaro-Clark
Jasmine Robert
MaKayla Schuerer
Mya Linsky
Samuel Warner
Heather Fischlein Memorial Award
Alexander Holcomb
Henry J. Bruton Scholarship for Women
Alyssa Mercier
Fatma Ceylan
Victoria Leja
Anna White
Samantha Rodriguez
Madison Goodell
Kathryn Kopetchny
Ella Formel
Lena Dupont
Mariama Bayo
Kassie Heck
Shamika Mungin
Savanah Brown
Kendall Booth
Abigail Morrison
Jennifer Parker
Stacie Morris
Abby Bird
Mary Kipp
Lisa Christman
Karen Horton
Honors Program Scholarship Fund
Lydia Beeler
Corin Carpenter
Ida Maino Trabold 1936 Scholarship Fund
Christopher Manley
Isanne and Sanford Fisher Scholarship
Emily Baker
JC Innocent
J. Michael Silsby 1976 Scholarship
Lydia Beeler
James A. Hardman Jr. Endowed Scholarship
Karesha Graham
Mamadou Diallo
James L. May, PH.D. Memorial Endowment Fund
Marissa Parker
Jane Kerr Kahlert 1922 Scholarship
Ryan Taylor
Ezmerelda Albright
Alaina Vigiard
Jane P. Avis Memorial Scholarship
Karesha Graham
Jane Ruth White Scholarship
Kristina Chilson
Ella Formel
Kathryn Kopetchny
Victoria Leja
Stacie Morris
Samantha Rodriguez
Jenny Rosenberg Fyler 1913 Scholarship
Dylynn Hardee
Kristina Chilson
John M. C. Hess Scholarship
Justina Pardi
Molly Wojnicki
John Morrison White Scholarship
Kevin Chen
Aleasia Yeaton
Kathleen M. Shea Memorial Scholarship
Ryan Taylor
Lawrence V. Gould World Ready Fund
David Perez Umanzor
Lee Hamilton Ransford Memorial Scholarship
JC Innocent
Leilani Claire Scholarship
Maggie Closinski
Maxwell Fyfe
Maia Rice
Linda and Stephen Crowe Endowed Scholarship Fund
Colby Burleson
Lisa O’Brien Nursing Scholarship Fund
Jessica Ahearn
Lola and Edwin Jaffe Arts
Management Scholarship
Olivia Bonesteel
Julien Gamache
Alison Blakeslee
Emily Baker
Mary A. and Walter Grant Jr.
Memorial Scholarship
Solaima Antunez
Margaret A. Hart ’35 Scholarship
Philip Evans
Mary Ellen Harding Memorial Scholarship
Allie Bayer
Armanni Rios
Sam Broderick
Cody Lucido
Veronica Nault
Margaret, Frances, Nellie Karrey Scholarship
Corin Carpenter
MCLA Scholarship
Bryan Hall
Kristopher Safford
Bunny Moreau
Darius Cicero
Maya Dey
MCLA Foundation Scholarship for High School Students
Jack Cooper
Trinity Greer
Addison Hayer
MCLA South Africa
Travel Course
Ezmerelda Albright
Solaima Antunez
Tea Caravello
Maya Dey
Chloie Garber
Cameron Gingrich
Alexa MacDonald
Abigail Morrison
Katrina Nakaya
Natalie Rich
MCLA Travel Course Scholarship
Emily Baker
Serena Wiita
Michelle Williams
Clarke Stading
Charles Darling
Audrey Krzanik
Chase Klemansky
Additional Awards and Scholarships continued
Melvin Band Scholarship in Mathematics
Emily Downing
Cody Lucido
Michael and Elaine Christopher Scholarship
Johnluke Kunce
Mitchell L. West Opportunity Scholarship Agnieszka Ramirez
Mohan Boodram and Robert Morris Endowed Scholarship Pablo Calderon
Nancy Wright Scalise Cozzaglio Scholarship
Sophia Mele Summer Nichols
NASC Scholarship Fund
Brady Hamel
Norma Lorell Starr Memorial Scholarship
Justina Pardi
Northern Berkshire EDC Scholarship
Zack Sawyer
Outstanding Resident Student Scholarship
Irving Mogene
Pamela P. Dennis Scholarship
Alaina Vigiard
Courtney Romeo
Lydia Beeler
Paula Nickerson Plock ’73 Scholarship
Ashlyn Bill
Ashley Pacheco
Philomena J. Dolan Memorial Scholarship
Freya Langley
Alison Blakeslee
President Mary K. Grant Service Award
Domenica Gomez
Resident on the Rise
Tonimarie Basil
Rodney Bartlet Card and Rita Rosch Card Visual Arts Scholarship
Maxwell Fyfe
Matthew Flanagan
Sharron Sprague Zavatarro
1985 Scholarship
Fallon Maloney
Thomas and Susan Aceto Scholarship
Ava Hamilton
Timothy Jay Psychology
Ambassador Fund
Ezmeralda Albright
Tom Olsen Scholarship
Owen Brown
Wooters Travel Scholarship
Ellie Walter-Goodspeed
Veronica Nault
Yvonne Leonesio Memorial Scholarship
Victoria Tynan
Ziomek Family Scholarship
Ashlyn Bill
MCLA Sophomore Receives Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women Scholarship
MCLA sophomore Veronica Nault ‘26 was one of five women chosen to receive a statewide scholarship to support her college career.
Nault is a recipient of the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women (MCSW) scholarship to support emerging leaders of the Commonwealth in continuing their educational journey to leadership and economic empowerment. Each recipient is awarded $5,000 for tuition, fees, books, and related supplies or equipment for study. Roughly 200 students applied this year.
“Given that only five women in the state are chosen, I was very honored,” Nault said. “It’s such a huge help to have a scholarship like this because for a long time I didn’t know if I’d be able to go to college.”
Nault is widely involved in nature-related groups and projects throughout campus, serving as vice president of the Outdoors Club, president of the Gardening Club, and an environmental studies research technician for work-study. She is studying biology with an environmental science concentration and hopes to pursue a career in ecology or conservation after college.
This spring, as part of the College’s Tropical Ecology travel course, Nault visited San Salvador, Bahamas, where she investigated the biology of tropical ecosystems and the social issues that impact them. At the MCLA Undergraduate Research Conference in April, she presented research from a long-term study about salamander populations.
Nault recently completed an internship, with MCLA environmental science professor Dr. Daniel Shustack, banding birds and tracking migration patterns in the MCLA Forest. She’ll spend the summer in North Dakota, interning at the Chase Lake National Wildlife Refuge to monitor invasive plants and survey American white pelicans.
FACULTY & STAFF
ACCOMPLISHMENTS | 2023–24
Every year, MCLA’s faculty and staff members write, edit, and contribute to papers and articles, receive awards and grants for their research, are quoted as experts, and contribute to their community, among other accolades. We are proud to present this list of accomplishments for the 2023-24 academic year.
Biology
Dr. Anne Goodwin, professor Dr. Goodwin gave the presentation “Engaging students in online journal article discussion,” focusing on course design and AI use, at the 2024 Massachusetts PKAL Regional Network Winter Conference “(Re)Engaging in Passionate STEM Teaching and Learning.” In addition, she is coordinating an update to the Berkshire County Community Food Assessment, an effort involving undergraduate students and a wide variety of community members.
Education
Dr. Lisa Arrastia, associate professor Dr. Arrastia designed and initiated the Berkshire Hearing Collective, with local schools in Berkshire County, to allow teachers and families to listen across difference and build understanding. She delivered a national, live,
remote keynote titled “Love Pedagogy & Self Advocacy: Difference Disrupting Notions of Difference” for Stonybrook University’s LEND Center (Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities). She also delivered a live, remote keynote for families and administrators titled “Love Pedagogy: Listening Across Difference” at Keys School, an independent school in Palo Alto, California. Dr. Arrastia was included in a film about The Listening Project, a program designed by NYU’s Professor Dr. Niobe Way for boys in schools across New York City. In the interview, she discussed the listening practices she teaches in her MCLA class Discourses of Difference. Dr. Arrastia serves as board president of Kite’s Nest, a liberatory education center in Hudson, New York.
English and Philosophy
Dr. Amber Engelson, professor of rhetoric and writing studies, director of writing
The culmination of 13 years of ethnographic research in Indonesia, Dr. Engleson’s first book, “The Hands of God at Work: Islamic Gender Justice through Translingual
Praxis,” was published in April 2024 through NCTE’s CCCC Studies in Writing and Rhetoric book series. Dr. Engleson also presented on her research at the Feminisms and Rhetorics Conference at Spelman College in Atlanta, and at the Conference on College Composition and Communication in Spokane, Washington.
Dr. Paul Nnodim, professor of philosophy
Dr. Nnodim published his sixth book, “Ubuntu: A Comparative Study of an African Concept of Justice,” with co-editor Austin Okigbo. Published by Leuven University Press, the book describes the philosophy of Ubuntu for both African and non-African scholars For the first time in contemporary philosophical scholarship.
Dr. Jenna Grace Sciuto, professor of English
Dr. Sciuto was a recipient of the 2024 Snorri Sturluson Icelandic Fellowship to support three
months as a visiting researcher in Iceland, and her article on white violence and exclusion in Icelandic and U.S. Southern literature was published in The Faulkner Journal. She gave an invited talk at the Halldór Laxness Museum in Iceland, and presented her research at conferences in Boston, Philadelphia, Atlanta, and Oxford, Mississippi. Dr. Sciuto’s second book, “Intersecting Worlds: Colonial Liminality in U.S. Southern and Icelandic Literatures,” was accepted for publication with the University Press of Mississippi. She is a board member of the Berkshire County Historical Society: Herman Melville’s Arrowhead.
Fine & Performing Arts
Dr. Michael Dilthey, professor of music
Dr. Dilthey has been named a Research Fellow at Jacob’s Pillow in Becket, Massachusetts. He will be researching and working on a dance for his new opera, “Eury.” He also recorded more of the work over spring break in MCLA’s Church Street Center auditorium with students, past faculty members, and an artist-in-residence.
Dr. Lisa Donovan, professor In November 2023, radio station WAMC’s “The Academic Minute” featured Dr. Donovan’s work exploring how the arts can help the cause of academic rigor. She was selected as one of Berkshire Magazine’s 2023 “Berkshire 25,” an award that honors individuals who are the backbone of our community. Dr. Donovan published two articles on the website MiddleWeb: “Integrating Arts in ELA: Creating 2-Voice Poems” and “History: Pairing Primary Sources and the Arts.” She also led professional development for ART OMI, served as a keynote speaker for the ABC Schools Conference in South Carolina, and led a year-long leadership program for the ABC Schools based on her book “Teacher as Curator,” written with Sarah Anderberg.
Dr. Paul E. LeSage, professor Dr. LeSage serves as an elected member of the Corporation Board of the Boys’ and Girls’ Club of the Berkshires, an organization primarily involved with fundraising for the Club.
Melanie Mowinski, professor of art
In September 2023, Professor Mowinski’s two-person show, “Pause,” opened at the Eclipse Mill in North Adams. That work was directly supported by the Cultural Council of Northern Berkshire, a division of the Massachusetts Cultural Council. In November, she led an MCLA travel trip to Venice, Italy. January took Mowinski to Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, to the invitationonly residency Pentaculum. In March, Mowinski taught a woven accordion workshop, which was in support of the exhibition “Inherit” at Springville Museum, in Springville, Utah. This exhibition featured the work of Place | Lab, a collaborative project Mowinski has been a part of for nearly 10 years.
History & Political Science
Dr. Anthony Daly, professor of history
Dr. Daly presented a paper, “An Irish Outsider in English Radicalism: William Sharman Crawford as a Chartist,” at the annual meeting of the Canadian Association for Irish Studies, in Ottawa, Ontario in June 2023. He serves on the boards of the North Adams Historical Society and St. Stanislaus Kostka School, and is a coach for the North Adams Youth Basketball League.
Mathematics
Dr. Elizabeth Hartung, professor
In May, Dr. Hartung delivered a keynote talk, “The Clar and Fries Numbers of Fullerenes and Benzenoids,” at the conference Computers in Scientific Discovery in Kortijk, Belgium. The theme of the conference was mathematical chemistry, which is Dr. Hartung’s primary research area. In August 2023, Dr. Hartung presented “Relayering and Repositioning Gray Codes” at the Canadian Conference on Computational Geometry. This included joint work with an MCLA student done through the Feigenbaum Summer Research Institute.
Physics
Dr. Emily Maher, professor Dr. Maher and her collaborators’ work on the MINERvA experiment, at the Fermi National Accelerator Lab, was listed as one of the top 10 physics breakthroughs of 2023 by Physics World. Dr. Maher and an MCLA student attended the 2024 Conference for Undergraduate Women in Physics (CUWiP) conference at Boston College, where she created and moderated a workshop designed for undergraduate students to discuss topics such as BIPOC experiences in physics, the journeys of first-generation physics students, and strategies
for breaking stereotypes. In April, Dr. Maher and three MCLA students attended the American Physical Society meeting in Sacramento, where they learned about Quarks to the Cosmos (the theme of the meeting), networked with other students and physicists, and attended informational sessions on graduate school and careers in physics.
Dr. Kebra Ward, associate professor
Dr. Ward and the MCLA Physics Department received a $110,000 grant from the American Institute of Physics. This grant provides funding for physics departments that successfully educate and support African American bachelor’s degree earners through systemic change initiatives. Awards help recipients expand their successful strategies and model their successes for other departments. The grant funds have allowed the department to establish a speaker series, send students to national conferences, expand activities offered by the Society of Physics Students, and offer a professional development workshop for high school physics teachers.
Psychology
Dr. Carter J. Carter, assistant professor of psychology
Dr. Carter’s articles were published in Studies in Gender & Sexuality and Psychoanalysis, Culture & Society, and he currently has a book contract with Routledge. Dr. Carter served as co-chair of the APA Division 39 Spring Meeting, a major international psychoanalytic conference, and received the APA Division 39 Diversity Award in recognition of scholarship, teaching, and professional service. He was interviewed as an expert by The Guardian, the Los Angeles Times, ProPublica, and local outlets including WHMP, WAMC, Greenfield Recorder, and The Berkshire Eagle. He is a columnist for The Ashfield News, a local volunteer newspaper.
Dr. Sharon Claffey, professor of psychology
In October 2023, Dr. Claffey and Dr. Ruby Vega led a Participant Idea Exchange, titled “Removing Barriers and Bringing Equity to the Teaching of Statistics and Research Methods,” at the Society for the Teaching of Psychology’s Annual Conference on Teaching in Portland, Oregon. Dr. Claffey serves as co-chair of the Williamstown Theatre Festival Guild.
Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work
Dr. Anna Jaysane-Darr, associate professor of anthropology
Dr. Jaysane-Darr presented her research on autism, disability, and education in South Africa at three conferences: the Conference on Anthropology and Education (October 2023), the American Anthropological Association Annual Meetings (November 2023), and the Northeast Workshop on Southern Africa (April 2024). In September of 2023, she presented on college student mental health to the Teaching Anthropology Network’s Interim Meeting.
Disability Resources
Nancy Rumbolt-Trzcinski, assistant director of disability resources
Rumbolt-Trzcinski received certification as an Assistive Technology Specialist from California State University at Northridge. She is currently enrolled at the UMass Boston in the Rehabilitation Counseling program.
Human Resources
Barbara Chaput, chief human resources officer Chaput serves on the MassHire Berkshire Workforce Board of Directors and the Berkshire Family and Individual Resources (BFAIR) Board of Directors. MassHire’s mission is to develop partnerships, generate resources, and advocate for solutions that result in a skilled workforce, prospering businesses, and equitable access to meaningful career pathways and quality employment for residents and youth. BFAIR is a national and state accredited human service agency responsive to the unique needs of people with cognitive disabilities, autism, and acquired brain injuries in the Berkshires and Pioneer Valley.
Institutional Advancement
Shela Levante, senior director of development Levante contributed “Volunteer Group of ‘Corporators’ Advance Foundation’s Strategic Priorities” to The Volunteer Management Report, vol. 8 no. 10, Sept. 2023. She also coauthored, with Kate Gigliotti, “How to Leverage Major Gifts During ‘Days of Giving’” for The Major Gifts Report, vol. 25 no. 10, Sept. 2023. Levante is chair of the Berkshire County
Commission on the Status of Women, serves on the boards of Hillcrest Educational Centers and Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts, and is a court-appointed special advocate with CASA/GAL Association for Children.
Student Financial Services
Bonnie Howland, director of Student Financial Services
Howland is board president of No Paws Left Behind, Inc. and served on the boards of the Northern Berkshire United Way from 20212023 and the MS Resource Foundation from 2019-2023.
Student Affairs
Jeannette Smith, vice president of student affairs In the fall, Smith and former MCLA Director of Assessment Erin Milne co-published the article “Equitably Assessing Highimpact Practices in Student Affairs” in The EvoLLLution. This spring, Smith published the book “Student Affairs Professional Preparation: A Scholar-practitioner Guide to Contemporary Topics.” She serves on the boards of Berkshire Health Systems and Williamstown Community Chest, and volunteers as a R.O.P.E. mentor.
Economic Impact
TOTAL OPERATING BUDGET
$46,919,577
Source: MCLA 2023 Audit
EMPLOYEES
College Employees
270 Full Time 61 Part Time
Employee Salary & Benefits
$28,710,012 Salary & Benefits
$20,097,430 After Tax (70%)
$11,254,561 Employee Spending (56%)
Source:
per Visitor Spending: $63.32
Source: Visitors counts from department reports/estimates 2023; Visitor Spending from MASS MoCA Economic Impact by Center for Creative Community Development
MCLA’s Free Tax Assistance Program Helps Return More Than $1M in Refunds to the Community
The College’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program celebrated its five-year anniversary this spring, marking a half-decade of service to the community. In that time, students helped return more than $1 million in refunds to taxpayers. Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the program has continued to thrive, offering vital assistance to individuals and families in need. (The program did not operate in 2021.)
The VITA program assists taxpayers with disabilities or limited English speaking skills, those 60 years of age or older, or individuals who make $64,000 or less a year. MCLA students assist with both basic and advanced returns, including those with itemized deductions. MCLA’s VITA program is led by professor of accounting Tara Barboza, an enrolled agent with the United States Department of the Treasury and a Certified Public Accountant.
Over the past four years, the program has:
n Produced 51 internships, providing valuable experiential learning opportunities for MCLA students
n Completed 884 federal and state tax returns for residents across at least eight states, including Massachusetts, Vermont, New York, Connecticut, California, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, and Maine
n Served 381 unique clients, offering personalized support and guidance throughout the tax filing process
n Returned a total of $1,005,775 to the community in federal and state tax refunds, helping alleviate financial burdens for individuals and families
n Collected $162,361 for federal and state taxing authorities, ensuring compliance with tax regulations and responsibilities
MCLA students have dedicated more 2,800 hours of their time to direct contact with the community, while faculty and staff have contributed an additional 1,565 hours of service, totaling 4,370 hours of impactful engagement.
MCLA Executive Leadership
James F. Birge, Ph.D., PRESIDENT
Bernadette Alden
DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS
Barbara T. Chaput
CHIEF HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICER
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
VICE PROVOST FOR INSTITUTIONAL EQUITY AND BELONGING
Gina Puc ’07, CHIEF OF STAFF
Jeannette Smith, Ph.D.
VICE PRESIDENT OF STUDENT AFFAIRS
Robert P. Ziomek ’89
VICE PRESIDENT OF INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT
2023–2024
MCLA Board of Trustees
Brenda Burdick, CHAIR
Frederick J. Keator, VICE CHAIR
John Barrett III
Mohan Boodram
Dr. Jean Clarke-Mitchell ’00
FOUNDATION BOARD REPRESENTATIVE
Paige Dufur ’26, STUDENT TRUSTEE
Karen Kowalczyk
Denise Marshall ’81
Dr. Robert Reilly
Franklyn Reynolds
Kathleen Therrien ’97
2023–2024
Alumni Association Board of Directors
OFFICERS
Jake Boillat ’18, PRESIDENT
Kimberly Roberts-Morandi ’91, ’01
M.Ed. ’00, VICE PRESIDENT
Crystal (Wojcik) Adelt ’21 FOUNDATION BOARD REPRESENTATIVE
DIRECTORS
John Cadiz ’88
Patrice Dwyer ’81
Lizz Furtado ’91
Danielle Gismondi ’10, M.Ed. ’15
Carla Holness ’95
Shaleigh Howells ’10
Scott Lamountain ’89
Gary Lavariere ’16
Glenn Lawson ’77
Michael Lee ’95
Joe McCue ’75
Bentley Munsell ’15
Michael Obasohan ’11
Theresa O’Bryant ’86
Bruce Richman ’78
Carol K. Spector ’82
Alyssa “Laini” Sporbert ’92
Amy Tibbetts ’97
2023–2024
MCLA Foundation Board of Directors
OFFICERS
Jason Dohaney ’04, CHAIR
Timothy Cherubini, VICE CHAIR
JamieEllen Moncecchi, TREASURER
Amy Smith ’96, CLERK
Robert Ziomek ’89, PRESIDENT
DIRECTORS
Julie Arnold ’94
Michael Avis ’91
Tara Barboza, MBA ’12
Kimberly Boyden-Briones ’89
Wende Carver
Dr. Jean Clarke-Mitchell ’00, BOARD OF TRUSTEES REPRESENTATIVE
Crystal (Wojcik) Adelt ’21, ALUMNI ASSOCIATION REPRESENTATIVE
In Memoriam
MCLA Trustee Dr. Robert “Rob” Reilly passed away in late spring after a courageous battle with a long-term illness. He served with great passion, and we will miss his contributions to our students and to the Board.
