BCC Announces New Staff, Promotions

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College (BCC) announces the addition of four staff members, two promotions and a title change.   
 
New Staff 
Lori DuBois joins BCC as EDP System Analyst III – LMS Administrator in the Division of Teaching and Learning Innovation. Originally from Maine, DuBois earned her BA in Psychology with a minor in Education from Colby College and a MS in Library Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Most recently, she was a customer support specialist and trainer for the ed-tech company Springshare. Previously, she was a reference librarian and instruction coordinator at Williams College. At BCC, DuBois will be managing the learning management system and supporting faculty in their use of instructional technologies. 
 
Michelle Mellace joins BCC as Administration and Finance Division Manager. Mellace brings over 20 years of experience in contract management and 18 years in public purchasing. Most recently, she served as the Money School Coordinator at the Elizabeth Freeman Center, where she coordinated their financial independence program and provided comprehensive support to participants. Previously, she was Program Manager at General Dynamics Mission Systems and Chief Procurement Officer for the City of Pittsfield. Mellace holds an MBA from the University of Massachusetts Isenberg School of Management and a bachelor of science in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix.  
 
Jessica (Jess) Pemble joins BCC as Administrative Assistant II for Workforce Development and Community Education. She was most recently Senior Administrative Assistant for Charter Communications (Spectrum)'s Western Massachusetts and Eastern New York technical operations management teams. Pemble brings over 18 years of experience in office administration, management support, data analysis and events coordination. She resides in Dalton with her two sons, Jaxson and Logan, who keep her spare time busy with sporting events and local children's theater shows. She enjoys playing golf, exploring new hiking trails and spending as much time as possible with family. 
 
Thomas Weeks joins BCC as Network/Systems Administrator. He brings extensive expertise in IT, encompassing servers, switches, applications and cybersecurity. Before joining BCC, Weeks was the IT Manager at Berkshire Sterile Manufacturing. Previously, he was the Associate Director of IT at a performing arts theater in New York City. Together with his wife Shannon and their dog Reese, Weeks relocated to Pittsfield two years ago and has been enjoying the natural beauty of Berkshire County. In his leisure time, he is an avid kayaker and paddleboarder, and he also enjoys building furniture and engaging in restoration projects. 
 
Promotions 
Kelsey Breault is now Director of Payroll & Budget Management. She was previously Payroll Manager, a position she held since joining BCC in April 2024. 
 
Tom Warner is now the Senior Network & Data Warehouse Administrator. He was previously Network & Systems Administrator. Warner has been with BCC since July 2012. 
 
Title Change 
Abby Powers is now Interim Student Engagement and Communications Specialist. She was previously Administrative Assistant – Student Engagement, a position she held since April 2021. 
 

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Possible Measles Exposure at Boston, Logan

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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