BCC Announces Faculty, Staff Members, Title Changes

Print Story | Email Story
PITTSFIELD, Mass — Berkshire Community College (BCC) announces the addition of five new staff members and two title changes. 
 
New faculty/staff
 
Dr. Thomas Burton-Steele joins Berkshire Community College as Assistant Professor of Engineering in the Division of Science and Business. He holds a Ph.D. in Materials Science from The University of Alabama and a B.S. in Materials Science and Engineering from Virginia Tech. His teaching and research interests span applied physics, electronics and materials engineering, with a focus on hands-on, student-centered learning. Outside the classroom, he enjoys biking, traveling, cooking, caring for his cats and playing video games. 
 
Steven Carvalho, Ed.D. joins Berkshire Community College as Coordinator of Disability Services.  He earned his Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership and Supervision from American International College. Carvalho has held numerous roles in the Connecticut public school system, including school psychologist, Director of Pupil and Special Education Services, and Supervisor of Special Education. Additionally, he served as an adjunct instructor at Southern Connecticut State University’s Counseling and School Psychology Department, where he taught courses on assessments and behavioral intervention techniques. Originally from Connecticut, he and his husband reside in Becket, MA. They have two sons and a daughter-in-law. He is also a grandfather of three-month-old twin boys. In his spare time, Carvalho likes to go on hikes with his family, take Max (his English bulldog) on walks or enjoy a quiet evening at home. 
 
Stacie Klinowski joins Berkshire Community College as the Coordinator of Writing Across the Curriculum in the Division of Teaching and Learning Innovation. Klinowski’s background is in Writing Studies, and she has worked recently as the Assistant Director and Writing Across the Curriculum Coordinator of the University of Massachusetts Amherst Writing Center. Her hobbies include watercolor painting, hiking and hanging out with her cats.  
 
Kennedy Piper joins Berkshire Community College as Administrative Assistant I, One Stop. She brings six years of extensive administrative and clerical expertise to the department. Originally from upstate New York, she is now a resident of Lee, Massachusetts and is currently pursuing her degree in community and human services. Piper says she is eager to apply her organizational skills and passion for service to help students navigate and be successful in their academic journeys. 
Outside of the office, she stays busy spending quality time with her pup, Bentley, and beloved family and friends. She enjoys crafting, shopping, catching the latest movies, planning her next vacation and looking for new adventures.  
 
Esra ?ahin joins Berkshire Community College as Assistant Professor of Psychology. Originally from Türkiye, she received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in psychology in her home country and doctorate in Human Development and Family Studies from the University of Illinois. In addition to gaining 10 years of teaching experience at various institutions, she recently worked as a postdoctoral researcher at Utah State University. Coming from a background combining teaching and research, ?ahin has extensive experience in areas related to adolescent wellbeing, cross-cultural psychology and interpersonal relationships. In her free time, she enjoys traveling the world with her husband, playing videogames, hiking and camping. 
 
Title Changes
 
Kolumbia Granger is now the Manager, One Stop Enrollment Operations.  She had been the Associate Director of Admissions since she joined BCC in October 2023. 
 
Georgina Riley is now Assistant Professor of Nursing. She had been adjunct faculty for the Nursing, Health and Wellness Division. She joined BCC in August 2023. 

Tags: BCC,   

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Pittsfield Council Reviews Public Safety Budget, Keeps SpotShotter

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — On the fourth day of budget deliberations, the City Council preliminarily approved public safety and public service budgets. 

See the first two days of budget review here; and the third day here.

Councilors deliberated the Pittsfield Police Department's $16,439,421 spending plan for more than 90 minutes. Ward 1 Councilor Kenneth Warren unsuccessfully motioned to cut $220,000 for ShotSpotter services. 

He said the acoustic gunshot detection technology is not well used throughout the country, citing other communities that have opted out or are exploring it. 

Pittsfield has two more years on its contract; while councilors voted down the budget reduction several were willing to explore the impact data and see if those funds could be used elsewhere. 

Police Chief Marc Maddalena reported that there has been a significant decrease in shots fired calls, and attributed it to the surveillance technology assisting enforcement. He said it also comes in faster than 911 calls. 

"If people know that just by that noise alone that we're responding within seconds, that's preventing them from utilizing that weapon," he said. 

"So that in of itself is saving lives." 

It has an about 20 percent accuracy rate, and police respond to every activation. 

On Sunday, at least two homes in the area of Memorial Drive and Doyle Drive were struck by gunfire and investigators located 17 shell casings on scene. This was brought up during conversation; it was reported that there were 13 impulses on ShotSpotter during the incident. 

View Full Story

More Pittsfield Stories