'Dear World' Project to Visit MCLA

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts will participate in the "Dear World" portrait and story-telling project on Thursday, April 13, as members of the campus community are asked, "If you had one story to share with the world, what would you say?"

"Dear World" is an interactive project that explores the subtle and powerful connections between students, faculty and staff at college campuses around the world. To date, the organization has taken more than 50,000 portraits.

This free event, which primarily is intended for MCLA students, faculty and staff, also is open to the public. In addition to having their portrait taken, participants will be asked to share a message about something or someone they love. The aim is for people to realize that there's more that brings us together than what keeps us apart.

Representatives from the project will be at MCLA's Marketplace in the Campus Center, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on April 13, when participant's portraits will be taken as they come and go throughout the day. The event will end with a slideshow of the day's portraits, from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. in the Campus Center Gym. During this evening portion of the project, the audience will hear stories told by several pre-selected people, whose portraits were taken earlier in the day.

In addition to MCLA students, faculty and staff, other participants will include North Adams Mayor Richard Alcombright and a few members of MCLA’s Board of Trustees.

MCLA Announces Four Finalists for Next President

03:46PM / Thursday, April 02, 2026

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts announced four finalists for the position of president, following a national search. 

 

The finalists were selected by the MCLA Presidential Search Committee and will participate in on-campus visits scheduled for the weeks of April 6 and April 13.

 

The successful candidate will replace President James Birge, who is retiring at the end of the term. 

 

The four finalists are David Jenemann, Michael J. Middleton, Sherri Givens Mylott, and Diana L. Rogers-Adkinson.

 

David Jenemann

David Jenemann is dean of the Patrick Leahy Honors College and professor of English and film and television studies at the University of Vermont, where he oversees recruitment, retention, curricular innovation, and advancement for an interdisciplinary college serving undergraduates from across the university, including UVM's campuswide Office of Fellowships, Opportunities, and Undergraduate Research. 

 

An internationally recognized scholar, he has published three books and numerous articles, with research spanning intellectual and cultural history, mass media, and the intersection of sports and society.

He holds a doctor of philosophy from the University of Minnesota and completed the Institute for Management and Leadership in Education at Harvard Graduate School of Education.