Federal Labor Official Keynote Speaker at BCC Commencement

01:43PM / Wednesday, May 12, 2010Print Story | Email Story

Jane Oates

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Jane Oates, assistant secretary for the U.S. Department of Labor and former policy adviser to the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, will be the featured speaker at Berkshire Community College's 50th commencement exercises.

Oates, who was confirmed as assistant secretary for employment and training last June, leads the Employment and Training Administration in its mission to design and deliver high-quality training and employment programs for the nation's workers. The ETA works with states and territories, municipalities, labor management organizations, employers, educational institutions, fellow federal agencies, and other partners to help workers gain the skills and credentials needed to enter careers that offer opportunities for advancement while paying enough to support a family.

"Given the economic climate here in Berkshire County and the region's ever-critical need for skilled workforce, Assistant Secretary Oates' remarks will be both timely and relatable for our graduates," said BCC President Paul E. Raverta.

Prior to her appointment as a member of Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis' leadership team, the Philadelphia native was executive director of the New Jersey Commission on Higher Education and senior adviser to Gov. Jon Corzine. In that position, she worked to strengthen the connections among high school, post-secondary education, and the workforce.

Oates served for nearly a decade as senior policy adviser to Kennedy and worked closely with him on various education, work force and national service legislative initiatives, including the Workforce Investment Act of 1998. She is regarded as one of the foremost authorities in the country on higher education, specifically community colleges and the role they play in workforce development.

Oates began her career as a teacher in the Boston and Philadelphia public schools and later as a field researcher at Temple University's Center for Research in Human Development and Education. She has a bachelor's degree in education from Boston College, and master's degree in reading from Arcadia University.

BCC's 50th commencement will be held Friday, June 4, beginning at 4 p.m. at Tanglewood in Lenox.

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Possible Measles Exposure at Boston, Logan

12:05PM / Wednesday, December 24, 2025

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Department of Public Health confirmed Wednesday that an out-of-state adult visitor who spent time in Boston and Westborough earlier this month was diagnosed with measles and was present in a number of locations.

This could have resulted in other people being exposed to measles virus.

The visitor arrived at Logan International Airport on American Airlines flight 2384 from Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, on Dec. 11 at 2:39 p.m. They stayed at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Boston-Westborough in Westborough and departed the state on Dec. 12 via Logan at 9:19 p.m. on JetBlue flight 117 to Las Vegas.

DPH is working with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local partners to identify and notify those who may have been exposed to measles from this individual.

"Measles is a highly contagious, airborne disease, which has increased significantly in the United States because of the unfortunate decrease in vaccination rates. It is also a preventable disease," said Public Health Commissioner Dr. Robbie Goldstein. "This current situation serves as an important reminder of the critical role vaccination plays in protecting our communities. While Massachusetts has not had a measles case this year, 2025 saw the highest number of nationwide cases in more than a decade — nearly 2,000 in 44 jurisdictions, and sadly, three deaths.

"Fifteen years ago, measles had been considered eliminated in the United States, but that tremendous progress is at risk. Vaccines are one of the most important public health interventions ever — they are safe, effective, and lifesaving."

Measles is very contagious. However, the risk to most people in Massachusetts is low because the vaccination rate in the state is high. People who are not immune and visited any of the locations on the following dates and times may be at risk for developing measles.

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