BCC Names Two to Board of Trustees

10:19AM / Monday, October 13, 2025Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass — Berkshire Community College (BCC) announces the election of two members to its Board of Trustees.

The board is composed of area residents appointed by the governor of Massachusetts.

Julie Fallon Hughes of Dalton is president and chief executive officer of Adams Community Bank, a role she assumed in August 2024. With over 25 years of experience in the banking industry, Hughes has held senior leadership positions at First Indiana Bank, M&I Bank, BMO Harris Bank, Fifth Third Bank, and most recently at Northwest Bank. She is widely recognized for her strategic leadership and her ability to guide teams through complex organizational change. Her approach reflects the bank’s long-standing mission of supporting the people and communities of the Berkshires through exceptional service and charitable giving. In addition to her professional accomplishments, Hughes is deeply committed to community engagement. She has held leadership roles with organizations such as Allies for Children, United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania, and Imani Christian Academy, focusing on education, child advocacy, and regional development.

Victor X. Reyes of Pittsfield, a liberal arts student at Berkshire Community College, is actively engaged in leadership roles including student trustee, parliamentarian, and student leader within the Student Government Association (SGA). They participate in various volunteer activities such as operating at Pittsfield Carousel, environmental efforts with the Green Team, beekeeping, and advocacy through MASSPIRG. Work experience includes roles as a student engagement intern, library work-study, front desk at Paterson Field House, shift lead at Burger King, and Amazon Flex driver, demonstrating a blend of leadership, communication, and customer service skills.

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Pittsfield Council Revisiting DEI Office Restructure

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
04:11PM / Tuesday, October 13, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The conversation about the DEI office renaming that was halted by a charter objection will resume on Tuesday.

The City Council will discuss a request from Mayor Peter Marchetti to restructure the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

It proposes to rename the DEI office to the Office of Equity, Access, and Opportunity and merge the Human Rights Commission and Affirmative Action Committee into an Equity, Access and Opportunity Commission.

The Ordinance and Rules Subcommittee supported the changes in August, and in September, Ward 2 Councilor Cameron Cunningham delayed the vote with a charter objection.

Pittsfield's City Code prohibits charter states that "if a single member present objects to the taking of the vote, the vote shall be postponed until the next meeting of the city council." It also stipulates that at least four members must object if it is an emergency measure.

Cunningham also submitted a petition, which was referred to O&R under Rule 27, to replace the DEI Office and the Human Rights Commission with an equity, access, and opportunity coordinator in the Department of Community Development, with formal complaints and Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action functions assigned to Human Resources.

At the last meeting, he spent more than an hour querying the mayor and chief diversity officer about functions and effectiveness of the department, wanting more quantitative data. Cunningham proposed an ordinance that he says keeps Pittsfield's commitment to equity, access, and opportunity, "refocuses it on measurable results for our residents, and delivers it at a fraction of the current cost."

Under this petition, the equity, access, and opportunity coordinator would be a $60,000 to $80,000 per year position.

The DEI Office's fiscal year 2027 budget was about $200,000 after cuts during budget season; $106,700 for the chief diversity officer and $58,000 for the administrative assistant. The coordinator would be appointed by the director of community development and the mayor.

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