MCLA Welcomes Three New Faculty Members

11:58AM / Sunday, August 31, 2025Print Story | Email Story

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) announced that three new faculty members will be joining the Trailblazer community for the College's fall semester: Dr. Amr (Elkabbany) Ibrahim, Dr. Muge Karabag, and Professor Amanda Davis.

Read more about the new faculty members:

Amr (Elkabbany) Ibrahim, Ph.D., Pharm.D. joins MCLA's Chemistry Department as a visiting assistant professor. A medicinal chemist, his research focuses on the design and synthesis of small-molecule antivirals and the use of structure-based drug design to interrogate host–virus interactions, including V-ATPase modulation and TIM-1–mediated entry. His expertise spans organic synthesis, SAR, computational modeling, and ADME profiling, and he is committed to mentoring undergraduates through research that bridges chemistry and biology. At MCLA, he will teach biochemistry and related courses while building collaborations that provide hands-on, publication-quality experiences for students.

Dr. Muge Karabag joins MCLA as a visiting assistant professor of multimedia journalism. She is a media scholar and practitioner with a background in broadcast journalism and digital communication. Dr. Karabag previously worked as a reporter and news anchor for television channels in Istanbul and served as an assistant university professor in the Department of New Media and Communication in Turkey. Her research interests include artificial intelligence, interspecies communication, AI and society, technology and society, and the impact of digital applications on social behavior. Dr. Karabag is also developing a digital services start-up focused on home-based solutions in the U.S., exploring the intersection of technology, user experience, and everyday life.

Amanda Davis is a part of MCLA's Nursing Department, where she combines her love for teaching with her years of hands-on nursing experience as a visiting assistant professor of health professions. She earned her master's in nursing education and has served as the Simulation Coordinator for the MCLA Nursing Program, Nurse Leader for the North Adams Public School System, and as a medical-surgical nurse. Passionate about end-of-life care, oncology, and school nursing, she strives to prepare future nurses through engaging, realistic simulations and a focus on compassionate, evidence-based practice. In both lecture and clinical settings, she emphasizes hands-on learning, critical thinking, and strong clinical judgment to help students develop both the skills and the heart needed to provide exceptional patient care.

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North Adams Housing Authority Director Steps Down

Staff Reports09:16AM / Friday, October 09, 2026

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Jennifer Hohn, the longtime executive director of the North Adams Housing Authority (NAHA), has stepped down after 24 years with the agency.

The Berkshire Eagle reported that Hohn resigned from her position on Thursday. The NAHA Board of Commissioners is currently developing a transition plan.

Her resignation follows rising tension between Hohn and the tenants association. Residents—particularly at the Spring and Ashland Park apartments—have raised specific concerns regarding building security, drug activity, and trespassers.

This summer, Tenants Association President Corey Fortin posted a video on social media demonstrating that door alarms in some of the buildings were not functioning.

Shortly after the video was posted, the tenants association's office was locked. Members alleged Hohn locked the space in retaliation, while Hohn maintained it was a matter of tenant safety. Hohn also stated that NAHA does not officially recognize the association because it has yet to go through official channels for certification—a claim the tenants association disputes.

The dispute culminated in plans for a formal grievance hearing between Hohn and the association. Both sides agreed to hold a meeting on Oct. 3, but the hearing had not yet been scheduled at the time of her resignation.
During her tenure as director, Hohn oversaw significant changes at NAHA, including expansion and the dissolution of Housing Opportunities Incorporated, a program founded over 30 years ago to assist first-time homebuyers. Most recently, she led efforts to transition NAHA properties from traditional public housing models to the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) program. She also directed the rebuilding of a Greylock Valley Apartments building after it was severely damaged by a fire.

The NAHA Board of Commissioners meets monthly, typically on Mondays.

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