BCC Announces Three Presidential Finalists
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Presidential Search Committee has selected three finalists for the position of president of Berkshire Community College, including the current interim president. The successful candidate will replace Paul Raverta, who retired in January after more than six years leading the college.The candidates are Steven G. Budd, interim President Ellen Kennedy and Valerie R. Roberson. They will individually visit the campus between May 7 and 10 to meet with college faculty, staff, and students and to interview with the board of trustees.
"The Presidential Search Committee completed its charge from the Board of Trustees and has recommended three highly qualified candidates," said Ross Dindio, chairman of the committee. "The openness and transparency with which the committee conducted their process and deliberations has been beneficial to both the community at-large as well as the faculty and staff of Berkshire Community College."
Budd received his bachelor's degree, master of business administration, and doctor of education from the University of Massachusetts. He has held administrative roles at Springfield Technical and Greenfield community colleges. Currently, Budd is the president of River Valley Community College in Claremont, N.H.
Kennedy received her bachelor's degree from North Adams State College, now Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, a her master of business administration from the University of Massachusetts and master of public administration from Harvard University, and is pursuing a doctor of education from Northeastern University. Kennedy has held senior positions at National Patient Safety Foundation, WFCR New England Public Radio, and MCLA. Kennedy, who stepped in as interim president in January, previously held the position of vice president for administration and finance and chief financial officer for BCC.
Roberson received a bachelor's degree from Bradley University, a master of arts in adult education, employee training and development from Roosevelt University, and a doctor of philosophy in higher education administration from Illinois State University, and has taken courses toward a doctorate of philosophy in human development and social policy at Northwestern. Roberson has held various administrative positions at City College of Chicago, Olive-Harvey College, where she was president, and Heartland Community College, Trition Community College, Chicago City-Wide College, and Roosevelt University. She is currently the vice president of academic affairs at Joliet (Ill.) Junior College.
Dindio, vice chairman of the board of trustees, has led the national search process for Raverta's successor. The search process is being facilitated by R.H. Perry & Associates, and the search committee includes representation from BCC's faculty, staff, students, and trustees. The committee reviewed 38 applications and interviewed seven semifinalists. At the May 22, trustees meeting,
The trustees will vote at their May 22 meeting to recommend one candidate to the Board of Higher Education for its approval. The BHE will meet to approve the recommended finalist on June 19 at its regularly scheduled meeting at Cape Cod Community College.
BCC expects that the new president will be in place by July 1.
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