A Top College, Again: The MCLA Community Reflects on Success

02:51PM / Monday, February 14, 2022Print Story | Email Story

As a top ten public college, MCLA has a lot to offer: more than 100 scholarships, a liberal arts curriculum that helps students learn across academic disciplines, tons of student activities, and support ranging from student-led tutoring to the TRIO Program, which focuses on helping low- income, first-generation, or disabled students get the most out of their college experience.

These are all important facets—and no doubt part of why MCLA also continues to appear on U.S. News’ list of best colleges for social mobility—but the MCLA community, who work here, live here, and learn here, has more to say about why MCLA has been named a Top Ten College for nine of the last 11 years, and keeps climbing the rankings lists each year.

"I think MCLA is a top college because of the quality of education it provides," said Domenica Gomez ’23, who attends MCLA while working as an admission ambassador, giving tours to prospective students. "Throughout my college experience I have had the opportunity to receive one-on-one assistance from professors that genuinely care about your educational success and

make long-lasting connections that will help shape my future."

Kayla Hollins ’12, MCLA’s director of admission, came to MCLA from New York City and has helped thousands of students learn more about the College before they apply.

"MCLA is a top ten college because it is filled with true trailblazers—first generation students, students who live far from campus, undeclared students, and more," she said. "These are students who took a chance on our small community—and our community continues to deliver a quality education. MCLA is a place for all students to learn how to be a leader. As an alum, I pride myself on being a Trailblazer, and as the director of admission, I hope to recruit more of us to the institution."

MCLA professors bring their classes to experience everything in the Berkshires, from tracking salamanders in the MCLA forest and Mount Greylock State Reservation to working with museum staff on arts and education projects.

"We have incredible access to the arts," said Professor of Art Melanie Mowinski. "MASS MoCA, the largest contemporary art museum in the country, is one of our teaching labs. I think that experiential element related to the arts, the environment, and the beauty of the land is what continues to make us a top ten school."

"I think the institution, meaning the people who are at its core, understand and stay true to the ultimate mission: providing a quality affordable liberal arts education to a student population that is not especially advantaged," said Dennis Ducharme ’82, president of the MCLA Alumni Association. "The college provides amazing support through a great student to faculty ratio and with many layers of services geared to maximize retention and graduation rates. The result is an educational experience that puts our students on an upward trajectory, both financially and as engaged members of their communities."

Want to learn more about MCLA? Talk to the Office of Admission, or plan a visit, at www.mcla.edu.

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North Adams Housing Authority Appoints Interim Director

Staff Reports06:07AM / Thursday, October 22, 2026

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The North Adams Housing Authority (NAHA) Board of Commissioners appointed Lisa Labonte as its interim executive director during an emergency meeting Wednesday.

"Lisa is a dedicated and highly regarded employee whom the board trusts to provide interim leadership of the housing authority," Chairwoman Leigh Uqdah wrote in a statement released by NAHA Wednesday afternoon. "She has been with the organization since June 1999"

Labonte replaces longtime director Jennifer Hohn, who resigned earlier this month.

Uqdah wrote that HUD notified NAHA as a courtesy that the authority had yet to submit its application for Federal Assistance SF-424 – Operating Fund Grant, along with HUD-52722 and HUD-52723 forms. The deadline to update the Massachusetts CY2027 Operating Subsidy (Form MA034) was 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 21.

She wrote that failure to submit all required documentation by this deadline could result in the agency not receiving operating subsidies for the 2027 calendar year.

The catch was that only an Executive Director or Interim Executive Director whose contact information was listed in the PIH Information Center (PIC) could submit the paperwork.

"In an effort to stabilize and secure funding the board voted, with Colin Todd's absence, unanimously to appoint Lisa LaBonte, Director of Operations, as Interim Executive Director, effective immediately," Uqdah wrote.

The commission held a meeting on Oct. 15 to discuss an appointment, but after a lengthy executive session, it never made a decision. They had planned to take up the discussion again during a future meeting.

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