Berkshire Community College Names Presidential Finalists

Staff Reports 11:05AM / Thursday, February 19, 2026Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The state's first community college has narrowed down the field to replace retiring President Ellen Kennedy.

Presidential Search Committee has recommended four finalists who will be participating in on-campus interviews and forums in the coming weeks.

The finalists, "identified ... from a strong initial pool of applicants," according to a college statement, are Hara Charlier, president of Central Lakes College in Minnesota; Nicole Esposito, chief executive officer of Manchester Community College in New Hampshire; Karen Hynick, acting provost for Connecticut State Community College; and Albert Lewis Jr., chief of staff / executive vice president at Northwest State Community College in Ohio.

The finalists were screened and evaluated using the "Presidential Profile" that was developed through conversations and listening sessions with members of the campus community and executive search firm Academic Search.

"From the outset, this search has reflected the very best of BCC — openness, collaboration, and deep engagement with our community," said Julia Bowen, chair of the BCC Board of Trustees, in a statement. "I have been incredibly impressed by the strength, experience, and passion of the candidate pool. These four finalists are exceptional leaders, and I am genuinely excited for our campus community to meet them and help us welcome the next president who will guide BCC into its next chapter."

Biographies:

Albert Lewis Jr.

Lewis holds a doctorate in education from Gwynedd Mercy University in Pennsylvania, a master's in industrial/organizational psychology from Grand Canyon University in Arizona, and a master's in education administration from the University of Akron in Ohiol.

In his current role, he has managed multimillion-dollar budgets while overseeing academic affairs, student affairs, workforce development, IT, institutional research, marketing, and grants. His tenure saw the reimagining the workforce division and establishing a welcoming campus environment. Prior to that, he was vice president at Bellevue College in Washington and a dean at Moraine Valley Community Collge in Illinois, both in the area of workforce development.

He will be on campus Feb. 23 and 24.

Karen Hynick

Hynick has been acting provost at Connecticut State since 2024, leading the creation of the college's nursing program and strengthening its dual enrollment policies. She hold a doctorate in educational administration from Bethel University in Minnesota and earned her bachelor's from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and her master of education at Worcester State University.

She was North Shore Community College's vice president of academic affairs, leading its master academic plan development and early college program, and worked in public higher education administrative roles in Minnesota.

She will be on campus March 8 and 9.

Hara Charlier

Charlier holds a doctorate in community college leadership from Old Dominion University and has a background science, with a bachelor's in animal science from Cornell University and a master's in microbiology from Miami University. She is a two-time Aspen Presidents Fellow and serves on the boards of national and regional economic development and philanthropic organizations.

She has been president of Central Lakes, part of the 33-institution Minnesota State system, since 2016. During her tenure, the college has launched more than 20 new academic programs and cultivated a "culture of caring." Central Lakes is one of the Aspen Institute's Top 200 Community Colleges.

She will be on campus March 10 and 11.

Nicole Esposito

Esposito holds a doctorate in educational psychology, a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study in adjustment counseling, and a masters in forensic psychology from American International College, as well as a bachelor's degree from Springfield College. She has expertise in strategic planning, institutional accreditation, compliance, statewide curriculum reform, and management of multimilliondollar budgets, including leading a major college reaccreditation effort in 2022.

She has been recognized for her advocacy in driving policy changes to promote anti-discriminatory practices and mandated training for executive leaders in higher education.

She will be on campus March 11 and 12.

During their campus visits, finalists will meet with students, faculty, staff, alumni, and local partners, and interview with the board of trustees.

Members of the campus community are invited to attend open forums with each finalist. Candidate materials, including letters of interest and résumés, are available at www.berkshirecc.edu/presidential-finalists.

The board of trustees will vote to recommend a new president to the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education in April; the chosen candidate is expected to begin service in July.

Tags: BCC, candidate interviews, college president, search committee,

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Pittsfield Council OKs Funds for Plow Truck; Refers Council Pay Recommendation

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
10:16AM / Saturday, October 31, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Winter is right around the corner, and Pittsfield plans to purchase a vehicle to increase its snow-plowing capacity.

On Tuesday, the City Council approved the transfer of $200,000 from the Public Works Stabilization Fund for equipment. The Department of Public Services will purchase a one-ton truck equipped with an all-season body, snowplow, wing, and spreader.

Commissioner of Public Services and Utilities Ricardo Morales said it is something the department would like to have for supervision and expanding its work.

"We need this piece of equipment to have a supervisor be able to go on the mains with a wing plow and assist on that as needed, and be able to pick up that wing and go to a neighborhood street and be able to assist with snow plowing in a neighborhood street," he explained.

"And at the same time be able to jump throughout the city because he's supervising as well, making sure that there's volume."

A comparable truck is included in Pittsfield's capital plan.

These vehicles normally need to be ordered 10 to 12 months ahead of delivery, but Morales said Pittsfield identified one that can be expedited; he did not say how quickly.

"Approving funding now gives us the best chance of having the truck built and in service for the coming snow season," he wrote in a communication to the council.

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