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.