BCC Announces Staff Members, Title Changes

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College (BCC) announced the addition of five new staff members and three title changes. 
 
New faculty/staff 
 
Meghan Bone joins BCC as Special Programs Coordinator, Bridge to College, bringing over a decade of experience leading college readiness programs for high school and first-year college students. Before joining the BCC team, she worked as the Eureka! Director at Girls Inc. of the Valley and as the STEM Starter Academy Director at Springfield Technical Community College (STCC). Outside of work, she enjoys playing ultimate frisbee, digging in her garden and making joyful drumming music. 
 
Andrew Liebenow joins BCC as HVAC Mechanic II. He holds an associate degree in Environmental Science from BCC and a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science from Broward College. Most recently, he served as a senior maintenance technician for the Florida Department of Transportation. When not working, he enjoys home improvement projects, walking/hiking, attending live concert events, playing the drums and antique car restoration. 
 
Dr. Anna Mester joins BCC as Coordinator of Instructional Design. Most recently, she served as Program Manager of Public Engagement and Research Impacts at the University of Michigan. She has also served as an instructional consultant at the Center for Research on Learning and Teaching/ Dr. Mester began her career as a faculty of Spanish and Portuguese at UMass-Boston. She holds a B.A. in Romance Languages and Cultures and Critical Social Thought from Mount Holyoke College, and a Ph.D. in Romance Languages and Literatures with an African Studies concentration from the University of Michigan. She enjoys reading, sewing, and folk embroidery and cycling. 
 
Jane Singer joins BCC as Executive Director of Human Resources. She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from New York University and brings more than a decade of HR leadership experience across diverse industries, including hospitality, retail and multi-state operations. Most recently, she served as Director of HR Strategy for Resort Operations at Holiday Inn Club Vacations, where she led organizational redesign efforts, enhanced HR data systems and partnered closely with business leaders to strengthen engagement, retention and succession planning. A Berkshire native, Singer lives in Lenox with her husband and two children. 
 
Joshua Visser joins BCC as a Graphic Designer. Having grown up in western Canada, he moved to the United States as a teenager. He attended the State University of New York at Plattsburgh, studying Digital Media Production, Television Production, and Graphic Design. After university, Visser participated in the Disney College Program, where he drove the WDW Monorail. Following his time at Disney, he began his career in digital media — first in educational publishing, and later in the music industry. His favorite hobbies are writing songs and playing bass with his punk-rock band. 
 
 
Title Changes 
 
Dana Buxton is now Disabilities Counselor. She had been the Special Programs Coordinator- Academic Success/Disability Resource Center Coach. Buxton joined BCC in September 2022. 
 
Katherine Elliot is now Assistant Professor of Nursing. She had been Adjunct Faculty for the Nursing, Health and Wellness Division. Elliot joined BCC in May 2022. 
 
Erin Morris is now Sr. Special Program Coordinator & Mentor - EEC Career Pathways Grant. She had been Special Program Coordinator- HRSA Grant Mentor. Morris joined BCC in January 2023. 

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Pittsfield Accepts Grant for Domestic Violence Services

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Pittsfield Police Department received more than $66,000 from the state to assist survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault in collaboration with the Elizabeth Freeman Center. 

On Tuesday, the City Council accepted a $66,826.52 Violence Against Women's Act STOP Grant from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security. The longtime Civilian Advocate Program is described as "the critical bridge between victims and law enforcement." 

"The Civilian Advocate Program brings law enforcement and victim services together to reach survivors sooner and respond more effectively to domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking. Through a collaboration between the Pittsfield Police Department and Elizabeth Freeman Center, this program bridges critical service gaps in our rural community, increasing safety and recovery for victims," the program summary reads. 

Founded in 2009, the program focuses on creating an integrated and trauma-informed response, ensuring access that meets the needs of vulnerable and marginalized populations, cross-training, and making a community impact.  

The Freeman Center has received more than 3,500 hotline calls in fiscal year 2025 and served nearly 950 Pittsfield survivors. In the past year, 135 clients came through the program, but there was limited capacity and reach, with only part-time hours for the civilian advocate. 

According to court reports, Berkshire County's rate of protection order filings is 42 percent higher than the state average. 

"Violence against women is an incredibly important topic, and when you read through the packet, it highlights that here in Berkshire County, our protection rates are 40 percent higher than the national rate," Ward 6 Councilor Dina Lampiasi said. 

Divya Chaturvedi, executive director of the Freeman Center, said there is a "crying need" for these services in Berkshire County. 

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