PreviousNext

MCLA Trustees Select James Birge as 12th President

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The MCLA board of trustees on Thursday selected the former president of Franklin Pierce University, who was raised in Lee, as the college's 12th president.

Jaime Birge, the majority thought, would have the "boldness" and "grit" Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts requires at this point in its history.

If approved by the Board of Higher Education in January, Birge would end what has been an arduous search to replace Mary Grant, who led MCLA for 11 years before leaving last fall to become chancellor of the University of North Carolina at Asheville.

Birge, who is currently serving as interim president at Marygrove College in Detroit, has worked in higher education for more than 30 years. He was the fourth president of Franklin Pierce, from 2009 to 2015. Previously, he was the executive vice president and interim president at Wheeling (W.V.) Jesuit University.

He holds a doctorate in leadership studies from Gonzaga University in Spokane, Wash., a masters of education in guidance and counseling from Plymouth (N.H.) State University and his bachelor's in elementary education from Westfield State University.

Birge and Alan Ray, currently a visiting scholar at Harvard Law School, were the two finalists culled from 178 applicants, five of whom visited the campus last month to meet with students, faculty and staff. The trustees also took into consideration some 249 survey responses from the college community in their deliberations.

"This has been a long road, a 17-month road, a second search, but I'm confident that we will end this with a terrific president," Chairman Tyler Fairbank said at the meeting's start. "I know no matter which candidate advances tonight, we will stand behind him as a board and a campus."

The college's first presidential search was a bust when its choice, Greg Summers, bowed out in March after initially accepting the post.

James C. Clemmer, who was appointed as interim president from the trustees, was asked what qualities the new president should have.  

He pointed to the college's last two presidents — Thomas Aceto, who rooted the college firmly in the liberal arts tradition and changed its name to reflect that, and Mary Grant, who raised the college's profile nationally and internationally and integrated science into its mission.

"If you look at what the past two presidents have done, in my mind, they've not just done incremental change, management, they've been bold enough to set a vision for our college and for the future," he said.

"I think that need boldness is what we need here, in our next leader. I think right now this college can benefit again from a visionary leader with the grit Presidents Aceto and Grant showed."

Birge was the clear favorite as each member of the board of trustees articulated their reasoning in selecting him. Most referred to his personality and ability to interact with students, his understanding of the liberal arts, his leadership abilities, his strategic plans for increasing enrollment and his ability to work with lawmakers and to fund raise.

"We are looking for someone who can articulate that strongly and be an integral part of the North Adams community, Berkshire County," he said, adding he was impressed by the community connections Birge had forged in Rindge, N.H.

Trustees Shirley Edgerton and Buffy Lord, however, thought Ray, a former president of Elmhurst (Ill.) College and professor of religion and philosophy, was a better fit. 

Ray shared many of the same leadership qualities as Birge, said Edgerton, but also had what she deemed a "cultural competence" that would aid the college because MCLA and the area's demographics are changing.

"It's one thing to recruit first-generation students or students from communities of color as well as students from underresourced households," she said. "It is another thing to successfully retain them. In this educational climate we're living, having a president with those abilities would continue to prepare us for this phenomenon."

Lord also described him as a "complete candidate," noting his juris doctorate and experience as both administrator and faculty, in public and private education, and his "strong passion for and understanding of liberal arts."

While there had been a sense among administrators and students that Birge was the favorite after his public interviews last month, faculty and staff had taken more of a shine to Ray. That may have been in part because of concerns over Birge's actions at Franklin Pierce, which has been suffering from declining enrollment and tuition. Birge had to cut $2 million out of its budget almost immediately on coming into the post in 2009 and axed six academic programs.

Fairbank made a point of referring to Birge's "challenging time" in New Hampshire and said he had spoken with the university's board chairman. Birge had acted at the direction of his board, Fairbank said, "doing things in the best interest of their institution and its unique set of circumstances at that point in time."  

"I would have no expectation that Dr. Birge would wish to replicate those exact actions at MCLA," he continued, noting the trustees set the direction for programs that are offered or eliminated. "Our current challenges lie more around enrollment, retention and financial aid."

Trustees Fairbank, Boodram, Gold, Hernigle, William Dudly, Lisa Chamberlain, Jondavid Chesloff (participating remotely), and Denise Marshall voted in favor of Birge; Lord and Edgerton for Ray.

With the vote tipped in Birge's favor, Fairbank motioned to advance his name to the Board of Higher Education, and received a unanimous vote.

The Board of Higher Education will meet Jan. 19, 2016.

North Adams Council Gives Initial OK to Zoning Change