MCLA to Host Inauguration of 13th President on Oct. 3

10:21AM / Monday, September 28, 2026Print Story | Email Story

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) will formally install Diana L. Rogers-Adkinson, Ph.D. as its 13th president on Saturday, Oct. 3, at 1 p.m., in the Amsler Campus Center Gymnasium.

The ceremony is a culmination of the presidential search that concluded in April, when the MCLA Board of Trustees selected Rogers-Adkinson to lead the state's designated public liberal arts college. She began her tenure July 1.

"We are excited and honored to officially install Dr. Rogers-Adkinson as MCLA’s 13th president," said Buffy Lord, chair of the MCLA Board of Trustees. "The search for MCLA’s next leader was rigorous and far-reaching, and Dr. Rogers-Adkinson’s deep commitment to public liberal arts education shone through. We are grateful and confident she will serve our students and this institution well."

A processional of faculty, trustees, and delegates from colleges and universities around the region will open the event at 12:45 p.m., followed by the ceremony. During it, Rogers-Adkinson will receive MCLA's Presidential Chain of Office.

Rogers-Adkinson comes to MCLA from the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, where she served as senior vice chancellor for academic and student affairs and chief academic officer across the system's 10 universities and roughly 80,000 students. She previously held senior academic affairs posts at Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania and Bloomsburg University, and was a dean at Southeast Missouri State University.

"A liberal arts education unlocks in people their ability to think, to create, and to use that knowledge in ways that aren't always obvious when they start their journey," said President Rogers-Adkinson. "Graduates go on to forge unique paths, broaden horizons for themselves and others, and work to better the world, all results that go beyond simply earning a degree. The power of higher education has the ability to change lives; I know it changed mine. My vision for this institution is to continue offering these opportunities to students while honoring our roots in the liberal arts."

A public reception follows the ceremony from 3 to 5 p.m. on the Amsler Campus Center patio.

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North Adams Water Line Break Shuts Off Service on Ashland; McCann Dismisses Classes Early

Staff Reports iBerkshires
10:52AM / Friday, October 30, 2026

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — A water main that broke Friday morning has affected water service south of Main Street along Ashland and Church streets and caused McCann Technical School to close early.

The break occurred shortly before 9 a.m. near the Roots Teen Center; Ashland Street between Summer Street and American Legion Drive was closed to traffic to allow crews to work on repairs.

"The way it was coming out, we were hoping it was a sprinkler line for the old Nassif's, but there's no sprinkler line in there, so it's a main line," said Commissioner of Public Services Timothy Lescarbeau. "We're trying to get it isolated. Once we get isolated, everything's coming back."

This break is causing areas of the city to have little to no water pressure.

McCann Technical posted that its Tea Room would be closed and then announced early dismissal for 11:15 a.m. Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts has cancelled all classes.

The Water Department was opening connections around the affected area to close off the gates and redirect the flow until the line could be repaired. Water was flowing out of a hydrant past the post office and streaming down American Legion Drive.

American Legion Drive is open but the work crews are now in the intersection of Ashland and Summer Street and traffic will be disrupted. The city is asking that motorists and pedestrians avoid the affected area whenever possible "to allow our crews to work safely and efficiently."

For questions or concerns, contact the Water Department at 413-662-3157. In the event of an emergency, contact the Dispatch Center at 413-664-4944, Ext. 1.

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