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: 

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.