BCC Announces Faculty, Staff Members, Title Changes

07:45AM / Saturday, February 14, 2026Print 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.

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Crane Park's Mini-Pitch is Open for Fun

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
05:18AM / Wednesday, October 21, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — City officials celebrated the opening of the new Crane Parks mini-pitch on Tuesday.

Players from several local soccer programs, community leaders, and project partners gathered to kick the ceremonial first pitch into the goal on the new facility.

Back in May, the Parks Commission endorsed a project to place a mini-pitch over the aging, cracked concrete surface of Crane Park's former rink. A mini-pitch is a compact, modular field typically used for soccer, and it can also accommodate inline skates.

"The mini-pitch system will create a space that encourages physical activity and welcomes play through teamwork. The space will serve as a location for the community to gather for outdoor fun and recreation for many years ahead. They'll be able to put their cell phones down for a few minutes and actually engage in some great outdoor entertainment," Mayor Peter Marchetti said.

The project was funded entirely by grants. In June, the City Council accepted the gift of the mini-pitch facility, valued at over $100,000, and $10,000 from the Mill Town Foundation to ready the site.

The facility has a galvanized steel border with built-in goals and a rubber plastic surface that is clicked together. Cleats are not allowed on the surface, but sneakers and other sports shoes are.

The mini-pitch system came with a light tower and two LED lamps, but Crane Park does not have power, so it won't be illuminated. That could change in the future, officials said.

The pitch is open for the community every day, but Parks, Open Space, and Natural Resources Manager James McGrath reminded users to be mindful as they play as well as to respect the pitch and the neighborhood it resides in.

McGrath said the idea grew out of conversations with Andy Wrba, program director for the Mill Town Foundation.

"There's been a deep, deep soccer community in Pittsfield and throughout the Berkshires for a long time. I've seen it as a multi-generational way for communities to connect and pass down lessons and connect families and everyone. And a big part of that has been the West State Soccer League," Wrba said.

He said the goal is to keep the space active and encourage outdoor recreation and youth engagement.

McGrath said that with the partnership from Mill Town and the city's park commission they were able to bring the pitch to the finish line.

"It's a testament to our ability to bring new and unique facilities into our city that accommodate youth sports. And it really, at the end of the day, is about promotion of soccer. And we are just so pleased that our partners all came together and that we were able to get this mini-pitch completed," McGrath said.

Other contributors as well were the U.S. Soccer Foundation, who provided the mini-pitch system, surface materials, and installation assistance at no cost to the city, as well as Massachusetts Youth Soccer who partnered with Pittsfield to bring the system to the city.

"All these contributions made this project possible, and highlights how our community continues through public and private partnerships to provide new facilities and amenities for all to enjoy," Marchetti said.

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