BCC Begins Search for New President
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College has begun its search for a new president as Ellen Kennedy prepares to retire at the end of the school year.
Led by a Presidential Search Committee and a search firm, candidates will be interviewed in early 2026, and the college’s new leader is set to begin work in July.
"The new President will strengthen and expand partnerships with regional businesses, industries, and community organizations that create pathways to student success and workforce development," the job profile reads.
"With a sincere commitment to fostering an environment of care for students, employees, and the broader community, the President will work alongside dedicated faculty and staff, community partners, and elected officials to advance the College's regional prominence. In an era of rapid technological, demographic, and educational change, this leader will champion innovative approaches to teaching and learning while maintaining the College's historic commitment to access and opportunity."
Kennedy announced her intent to retire a few months ago, feeling that BCC is in a good place to welcome new leadership. Her last term will end in the spring, after more than 17 years with the college, 14 of which she spent as president. She looks back on the students, faculty, and campus as a whole with pride.
In 2025, BCC was designated as a Leader College by Achieving the Dream, a national non-profit focused on student success and community economic mobility. The college's enrollment is up 20 percent this year, and, in an interview with iBerkshires, Kennedy said the state's tuition coverage for all 15 community colleges has been a game-changer for Berkshire County. BCC's nursing program has also doubled in size.
The college is seeking a "visionary, collaborative leader" to lead the institution’s mission of providing equitable, accessible, and transformative learning opportunities that meet the current and evolving needs of Berkshire County's diverse community.
The next president will earn between $240,000 to $300,000, a salary established by the Board of Higher Education, and candidates are asked to submit application materials by Jan. 26.
The search committee is seeking candidates with executive presence, genuine compassion, and exceptional communication skills, "someone who can inspire confidence, build consensus, and tell the compelling story of BCC's impact." The role also demands skills in strategic planning, programmatic leadership, relationship building across diverse constituencies, and fundraising and financial stewardship.
The search began in October with the selection of a partner firm, Academic Search, followed by the position being advertised in December. Interviews will be conducted throughout the first few months of the new year, and a recommendation will be made to the trustees and the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education around April so that the new president can start in July.
All applicants will be preliminarily screened by the search committee, which will then recommend three to five finalists for further vetting by the college's Board of Trustees and the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education. The presidential profile explains that the panel is committed to a transparent and collaborative search process.
Listening sessions were held in November for students and faculty.
The trustees approved the presidential profile in early December. Chair Julia Bowen reported that they were able to form a 16-member search committee, two of whom are ex officio non-voting members.
"We have 14 other members, that includes two students, that represent all different parts of the campus and all different experiences with BCC," she said to the board.
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