BCC Announces Faculty, Staff Members, Title Changes

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PITTSFIELD, Mass — Berkshire Community College (BCC) announces the addition of five new staff members and two title changes. 
 
New faculty/staff
 
Dr. Thomas Burton-Steele joins Berkshire Community College as Assistant Professor of Engineering in the Division of Science and Business. He holds a Ph.D. in Materials Science from The University of Alabama and a B.S. in Materials Science and Engineering from Virginia Tech. His teaching and research interests span applied physics, electronics and materials engineering, with a focus on hands-on, student-centered learning. Outside the classroom, he enjoys biking, traveling, cooking, caring for his cats and playing video games. 
 
Steven Carvalho, Ed.D. joins Berkshire Community College as Coordinator of Disability Services.  He earned his Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership and Supervision from American International College. Carvalho has held numerous roles in the Connecticut public school system, including school psychologist, Director of Pupil and Special Education Services, and Supervisor of Special Education. Additionally, he served as an adjunct instructor at Southern Connecticut State University’s Counseling and School Psychology Department, where he taught courses on assessments and behavioral intervention techniques. Originally from Connecticut, he and his husband reside in Becket, MA. They have two sons and a daughter-in-law. He is also a grandfather of three-month-old twin boys. In his spare time, Carvalho likes to go on hikes with his family, take Max (his English bulldog) on walks or enjoy a quiet evening at home. 
 
Stacie Klinowski joins Berkshire Community College as the Coordinator of Writing Across the Curriculum in the Division of Teaching and Learning Innovation. Klinowski’s background is in Writing Studies, and she has worked recently as the Assistant Director and Writing Across the Curriculum Coordinator of the University of Massachusetts Amherst Writing Center. Her hobbies include watercolor painting, hiking and hanging out with her cats.  
 
Kennedy Piper joins Berkshire Community College as Administrative Assistant I, One Stop. She brings six years of extensive administrative and clerical expertise to the department. Originally from upstate New York, she is now a resident of Lee, Massachusetts and is currently pursuing her degree in community and human services. Piper says she is eager to apply her organizational skills and passion for service to help students navigate and be successful in their academic journeys. 
Outside of the office, she stays busy spending quality time with her pup, Bentley, and beloved family and friends. She enjoys crafting, shopping, catching the latest movies, planning her next vacation and looking for new adventures.  
 
Esra ?ahin joins Berkshire Community College as Assistant Professor of Psychology. Originally from Türkiye, she received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in psychology in her home country and doctorate in Human Development and Family Studies from the University of Illinois. In addition to gaining 10 years of teaching experience at various institutions, she recently worked as a postdoctoral researcher at Utah State University. Coming from a background combining teaching and research, ?ahin has extensive experience in areas related to adolescent wellbeing, cross-cultural psychology and interpersonal relationships. In her free time, she enjoys traveling the world with her husband, playing videogames, hiking and camping. 
 
Title Changes
 
Kolumbia Granger is now the Manager, One Stop Enrollment Operations.  She had been the Associate Director of Admissions since she joined BCC in October 2023. 
 
Georgina Riley is now Assistant Professor of Nursing. She had been adjunct faculty for the Nursing, Health and Wellness Division. She joined BCC in August 2023. 

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BCC Sees Another $1M for New Trades Program

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College was allocated more than $1 million from the state for an HVAC and heat pump trades program.

This will help BCC renovate an existing space into a lab and classroom, with the hope of welcoming the program’s first students in early 2027. Executive Director of Workforce and Community Education Linda Clairmont said there is "clearly" an interest, a lot of momentum, and demand for the skilled trades.

"We are beyond excited about this opportunity, not only for the college, but for the region, to be able to create a skilled trades program for adults, and it's a complement to what is already happening at the college," she said. 

The $1,188,635 award was announced on Tuesday as part of $13.4 million to 13 state community colleges through the Mass Clean Energy Center’s new Heat Pump and HVAC Training Network.  Between state and federal funding, the college has recently been allocated more than $2 million to diversify its educational offerings. 

Earlier this month, U.S. Rep. Richard Neal visited the college to highlight the $995,000 he secured through congressionally directed spending for a Trades Academy

The nearly $1.2 million in state funds will support a renovation on the first floor of the field administration building for an HVAC heat pump and lab classroom, along with two cohorts of ten students. 

"We have made a lot of progress," Clairmont reported. 

"We've identified a location, right on campus. We are working with architects and engineers right now to design the space, along with some expertise in what is state-of-the-art for HVAC training in real-world environments." 

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