image description — Matthew Kenny, left, is the new dean of science and business and Akinyemi Blackshear joins BCC as assistant director of marketing and communications.

Berkshire Community College Announces New Staff Members, Promotions

03:47PM / Saturday, July 19, 2025Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College has added two new staff members and made two promotions.

Matthew Kenny joins BCC as dean of science and business. He brings 25 years of experience as a professor of biological sciences and as program coordinator and division chair of massage therapy at Columbia-Greene Community College in Hudson, N.Y. Kenny has a strong background in program assessment, curriculum development, faculty mentorship, community partnerships and evidence-based teaching and learning practices. His leadership with Achieving the Dream at Columbia-Greene reflects his ability to build collaboration and drive student-focused, equity-centered work.

Kenny is an amateur silversmith and lover of all things gardening. He lives outside of Hudson with his husband, two dogs and eight chickens.

Akinyemi Blackshear joins BCC as assistant director of marketing and communications. Originally from North Carolina, Blackshear holds a bachelor of fine arts in dance from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Most recently, they served as marketing operations manager at Theory Wellness and as manager of social media accounts for the Coalition to Protect America's National Parks. They previously interned at Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival — an experience that launched an eight-year career in marketing.

In their free time, they enjoy choreographing and dancing, spending time outdoors and with family, experiencing local arts and occasionally birding with the Hoffmann Bird Club. Blackshear and their partner, Steven, live in Pittsfield.

Addie VanDeurzen has been promoted to senior manager of Bridge to College. She had been the career and technical education linkage and concurrent enrollment coordinator since joining BCC in October 2013.

Judith Weiner has been promoted to program manager of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. She had been administrative assistant I for OLLI since joining BCC in March 2022.

Tags: BCC, promotions, staffing,

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Peace Officer Standards Commission Strips Former Pittsfield Cop of Certification

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
02:52PM / Tuesday, August 25, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass.— A former Pittsfield Police officer was one of five statewide who recently had their licenses revoked by the POST Commission.

Last week, the Massachusetts Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commission voted to strip five former officers of their licenses to work in law enforcement, including former PPD officer William Straub.

The commission had determined that these workers were unfit to carry a badge and gun in Massachusetts; so far, 92 state police officers have been decertified by the commission.

Records indicate that Straub faced charges tied to a 2024 incident, but details are redacted. On Oct. 31, 2024, the POST Commission suspended Straub's law enforcement certification, and he resigned from PPD in April.

"According to Pittsfield District Court records, Straub pleaded guilty in April to two counts of misdemeanor assault and battery tied to a 2024 incident," MassLive wrote on Monday.

"Three other charges, including drunk driving and carrying a firearm while intoxicated, were continued without a finding. While that resolution allows the charges to be dismissed after a period of time if Straub abides by certain conditions, the commission treats them as a criminal conviction."

According to records, he was certified as a police officer in July of 2021, and recertified in July 2024.

"The Respondent's appointing agency, the Pittsfield Police Department ("PPD"), submitted a final report to the Commission finding that the Respondent had engaged in criminal conduct and conduct unbecoming [of] an officer," the Aug. 20 final decision to decertify reads.

"The Respondent resigned from PPD on April 9, 2026, prior to the imposition of any discipline."

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