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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Possible Measles Exposure at Boston, Logan

12:05PM / Wednesday, December 24, 2025

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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