BCC Announces New Faculty/Staff, Promotion, Title Changes

Print Story | Email Story
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College (BCC) announces the addition of six faculty and staff members, one promotion and three title changes.   
 
New Faculty/Staff 
 
Sanah Fouz joins BCC as Assistant Professor of Nursing. She currently resides in her home town of Pittsfield. Fouz is a graduate of BCC and earned a bachelor's degree from College of Our Lady of the Elms. Most recently, she worked as a staff nurse at Berkshire Medical Center for nine years. Her husband and two children are also BCC alumni. 
 
Darcie Lampiasi joins BCC as Food Security Coordinator. She received an associate degree in Science of Social Work, a certificate in Human Services and a certificate in Addiction and Recovery from BCC. Most recently, she was a Harm Reduction Specialist at Berkshire Health Systems, a role that resulted from a BCC internship. She has also supported students in the BCC TRIO office through past internships. Previously, she served as the Administrative Assistant for the City of North Adams Public Works Department. She lives in North Adams with her 13-year-old boys and her pug, Griffin. In her free time, she enjoys yoga, hiking and meditating.  
 
Darlene McCauley joins BCC as the Clerk IV for Counseling Services and the Disability Resource Center. She brings more than 10 years of experience working with at-risk youth and diverse populations, including roles at Pittsfield Public Schools. McCauley has also worked for the Berkshire County Sheriff's Department – Juvenile Resource Center, and, most recently, for the Town of Lenox, as Director of Parks & Recreation, Community Center and the Lenox Council of Aging. She also serves on the board of directors for the Gladys Allen Brigham Community Center. McCauley enjoys spending time with her husband, Wayne, daughter Megan and her fiancé Jack, son Mitchell and daughter-in-law Rachel, as well as yoga and reading. 
 
Erin Milne joins BCC's Division of Teaching and Learning Innovation as the Coordinator of Integrative Learning. Milne was raised in Dalton, and both her parents are BCC alumni. With more than 20 years of experience in the education profession, she most recently spent eight years as Director of Assessment at MCLA, where she continues to serve as adjunct instructor of the MCLA Concert Choir. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the Association for the Assessment of Student Learning in Higher Education. Milne holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music Theory/History from Oberlin College and a Master of Arts with Teacher Licensure in Music Education from Case Western Reserve University. In her free time, she serves on the Hoosac Valley Regional School Committee for the town of Adams, sings with the Cantilena Chamber Choir, and enjoys relaxing with her daughter and cat. 
 
Valerie Rose joins BCC as Assistant Professor of Respiratory Therapy. Most recently, she was the Clinical Manager of Respiratory Therapy at Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton. She holds a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from UMASS Amherst and is also a graduate of the BCC Respiratory Program. Rose grew up in Pittsfield and has lived in Dalton for the past 25 years. 
 
Cody Scolforo joins BCC as Special Programs Coordinator – Digital Technologies Coach. Scolforo is a Pittsfield native and a Taconic High School alum. He was a Technology and A/V Specialist for the last four years at the Mt. Greylock Regional School District, after spending several years working at Mad Macs in Pittsfield. In his spare time, he loves to cook and try new foods, play tabletop and video games, and spoil his 19-year-old cat named Yogi. 
 
Promotion 
 
Christopher DeGray, formerly Director of Facilities, has been promoted to Executive Director of Facilities & Capital Planning. He has been with BCC since September 2021. Previously, he was Facilities and Operations Department Director for Environmental Services at Westfield State University, where he served for nearly 12 years. 
 
Title Changes 
 
George Ambriz is now the Interim Assistant Dean of TRIO and Student Success. Previously, he was was the Assistant Dean of Enrollment Management and Retention. He has been with BCC since June 2018.  
 
Elizabeth Dister is now the Interim Assistant Dean of Enrollment Management and Student Success. Previously, she was the Student SUCCESS Assessment & Research Analyst. She has been with BCC since October 2022. 
 
Casey Young is now an Enrollment Counselor. She previously served as the Food Security Coordinator, a position she held since May 2023. 

Tags: BCC,   

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Pittsfield School Committee Sees Budget Calendar, Chapter 70 Concerns

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Pittsfield Public Schools kicked off its fiscal year 2027 budget calendar, and are again facing uncertainties with state Chapter 70 funding. 

During the first meeting of the new term on Wednesday, the School Committee OK'd an FY27 budget calendar that plans the committee's vote in mid-April. Interim Superintendent Latifah Phillips stressed the importance of equity in this process. 

"It's really important for us through these next couple of months to look at our different schools, our different needs, different student demographics, and really understand, are we just assigning resources equally, or are we really assigning them based on what different groups of students need?" she said. 

The district could lose up to $5 million in Chapter 70 funding from declining enrollment, specifically of low-income students. This is a similar issue that PPS saw in 2024, when the discovery of 11 students meeting those income guidelines put the district in the higher funding category and added $2.4 million to the school budget. 

"We are in a funding category, Group 11, for a district with a large percentage of low-income students, and that number could fluctuate depending on who exited the district," Phillips explained. 

"So we're going to do our best to understand that, but ultimately, these numbers will impact the budget that is proposed to us by the governor." 

According to the budget calendar, a draft budget will be presented in March, followed by a hearing in early April, and the School Committee is set to vote on the budget in mid-April. The City Charter requires it to be adopted before May 1, and a meeting with the City Council must occur no later than May 31. 

Assistant Superintendent for Business and Finance Bonnie Howland provided an overview of the Chapter 70 funding and budget process. The budget calendar, she said, is designed to really support transparency, coordination, and legal compliance. 

View Full Story

More Pittsfield Stories