MCLA Search Committee Closing in on Presidential Candidates
 MCLA interim President Cynthia Brown leads the traditional opening semester breakfast on Tuesday morning. |
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — There was an important figure missing from this semester's opening breakfast on Tuesday at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, but attendees were assured that the college was closing in on her replacement.
Mary Grant, after a dozen years leading MCLA, took up her new duties as chancellor of the University of North Carolina at Asheville two weeks ago. A search committee that has spent the last months seeking out a suitable candidate conducted interviews over the weekend in Albany, N.Y.
"We're still in the confidential stage of this process and this past weekend was spent interviewing 13 viable candidates," said Denise Marshall, a trustee and graduate of the college, and executive vice president of Adams Community Bank. "The college community will have the opportunity in the near future to meet the finalists that emerge as the result of these interviews."
Three to five candidates will be invited to tour the campus and meet with the college community. The final selection will be made by the board of trustees, likely in April, and submitted to the state Board of Higher Education.
The college is going through a transitional period, with Cynthia Brown, vice president of academic affairs, stepping in as interim president. Brown, presiding over the traditional introduction of the semester, told faculty, staff and local officials that the goal is to continue the college's quality education, as noted by its consistent inclusion on national rankings for academics and educational value.
"We thank her for her dynamic leadership and vision for the last 12 and half years," Brown said of Grant. "They have positioned the college to continue to move forward and to continue to achieve ... It's her work and leadership that got us where we are today.
"I know that she's very busy down at UNC-Asheville but I'm sure she's thinking of us today."
Marshall described the transitional leadership team as "competent and capable" of keeping the college on track. Mayor Richard Alcombright seconded with vocal support of Brown that was applauded by the packed dining hall in the Amsler Campus Center.
The mayor described the college as a "cornerstone" of the community whose contributions "resonate" beyond the campus.
"Your commitment to excellence on this campus and within the greater region is so evident, the social, the eduational and economic benefit at MCLA that you bring, make MCLA a respected and valuable cornerstone of this city," said Alcombright.
State Sen. Benjamin B. Downing, D-Pittsfield, and state Rep. Gailanne Cariddi, D-North Adams, both said they would continue to advocate for the college as the state's new administration lays out its budgetary priorities.
Downing said the MCLA and Berkshire Community College were foundational blocks for growing the economy. Their community involvement and academic missions "makes it that much easier for Gail and I to go to bat during budget discussions."
Brown also reviewed more recent accomplishments over the last semester, including recognition events, speakers and fall graduations, and noted upcoming spring activities within the college's disciplines.
Bowman Hall is still closed, she noted to laughter, but will be reopened by the fall semester. The $15 million project begun last summer will provide space for mathematics, computer science, robotics and the visual arts. It will also house the offices for Academic Affairs.
Bowman is the latest building project on the campus, which most recently saw the construction of the new science center and a facilities building, the first new buildings in nearly 40 years. The college's master plan is looking ahead to other buildings that will need renovations, including Mark Hopkins, Venable and Eldridge halls, the Church Street Center and Freel Library.
"These recommendations are made in anticipation of a higher ed capital bond, you have to have recommendations done and the plans locked down," Brown said. The college community will be able to review the plans again in February; green space and the college's downtown facilities will be taken up at a later date.
The college is also applying for several grants to increase and support diversity and to promote STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) curriculum. It will also continue working on sustainability issues, such as the planned co-generation system that will replace its 60-year-old boilers with a natural gas system generating electricity and steam heat. Brown said the "green team" will also be resurrected.
Also speaking at the breakfast were Sean Smith, representing the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees; Charles Cianfarini, the Association of Professional Administrators; professor Sumi Colligan, the MCLA Faculty Association; Brendan Peltier, president of the Student Government Association; and Alyson Stolz, student representative on the board of trustees.
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