PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College (BCC) announced the addition of seven new full-time staff members, as well as an employment status change for one staff member.  

 

Dominic Castagna joins BCC as Testing Center Clerk. Castagna has worked in a variety of BCC offices as both a student worker and as a temporary part-time employee over the past five years. Previously, he worked at Hillcrest Educational Centers in Youth Development. He earned a Music Certificate in Music Production at BCC and plans to continue his education to earn an associate degree in music. In his spare time, Castagna enjoys building his own computers with rescue pit bull terrier Nylah at his side.

  

Debora Ellsworth joins BCC as an Administrative Assistant to the Director of Facilities in the Administration and Finance division. She has a background in banking, office management and project management. A lifelong resident of Berkshire County, Ellsworth lives in Hinsdale with her partner James in their 237-year-old farmhouse with their dog Homer. She has two grown children, Mitchell and Lee. An avid painter, Ellsworth teaches at Paint Parties and is a face painter for events in the Berkshires and beyond.   

 

Peter Farkas joins BCC as Associate Director of Workforce Development and Community Education. Born and raised in Pittsfield, he has more than 15 years of workforce and community development experience, having developed, implemented and supervised grants at a MassHire Career Center and two MassHire Workforce Development Boards in Greater Boston. Prior to joining BCC, Farkas was Executive Director of the MassHire Greater Lowell Workforce Board. He holds an MBA from Suffolk University and a bachelor of arts degree from UMass Amherst. 

 

Justine Fitzgerald joins BCC as Coordinator of Learning Services. She has worked in higher education for 23 years, most recently as Associate Professor of English at Helene Fuld College of Nursing (HFCN) in Manhattan. She also taught writing and literature courses for many years at The City College of New York (CCNY). Fitzgerald holds a bachelor of arts degree in psychology and a master's degree in Creative Writing/English from CCNY. This May, she will receive her EdD in Educational Leadership, Policy, and Administration from Fordham University.   

 

Cheryl Mirer joins BCC as Enrollment Counselor. She holds a bachelor's degree from UMass Amherst in Studio Art and Art History and a master's degree from Boston University in Arts Administration. Most recently, Mirer was Executive Director of Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. She has also worked at Clarkson University as Assistant Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations and at Bard College at Simon's Rock as Alumni Affairs/Advancement Associate, among other positions. A working artist in painting, printmaking, mixed media and African beaded jewelry, Cheryl lives in Dalton with her husband Eric, dog Cleo and cat Eve. 

 

Debra Sarlin joins BCC as Executive Director – Workforce Development. Working collaboratively with educators for almost two decades, she has strong experience developing both formal programming and informal community-based educational offerings on several college campuses. Most recently, she was Education Director at The Foundry – Net Positive Inc., a makerspace

and hub for entrepreneurship located in Buffalo, NY. Sarlin holds a bachelor of arts degree from Hampshire College, an MFA from Columbia University and a PhD in Education from The State University of New York at Albany. 

 

Judith Weiner joins BCC as Administrative Assistant for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI)

program. She was previously the administrator and leader of community education at a local synagogue. Weiner holds a master's degree in Jewish Education from the Jewish Theological Seminary in America, with a specialty in informal education. She also holds a Certificate in Virtual Experiential Education and Facilitation from the Institute for Experiential Jewish Education. A native of Australia, she loves travel, nature, reading, cultural events and great food. 

Matthew Martin, previously Coordinator of Learning Experience Design with shared time between BCC and Greenfield Community College, now holds the same position full-time at BCC.