Spotlights

Elena Dichiara is a psychology and criminal justice major who transferred to BCC from the Community College of Rhode Island. Life in Providence, RI had become tough with bills piling up, wages stagnant, and gun violence on the rise. With two young children in tow, she and her children ended up in a homeless shelter. The family car broke down forcing her husband out of work, which ultimately led to a loss of childcare funding. She and her husband decided it was time for a bold move. They packed up and settled in Williamstown, MA for its reputable public schools and safe atmosphere. 

If there's one word to describe Kate Lauzon, it's driven. A 2020 graduate of Berkshire Community College, Kate has had rocky points in her life, but she's overcome adversity and is on a mission to succeed. "It's always been me that has had to pick up the pieces, and I have always worked hard for everything I have," she says. That includes her five years at BCC, which involved plenty of soul-searching and switching majors.

Marsha Estabrook-Adams grew up in the bucolic town of Malden Bridge in Columbia County, NY and graduated from New Lebanon High School. After high school graduation, she spent a few years doing office work for engineering companies. But in the late 1980s, when she found herself unemployed, she used the opportunity to make a career change and enter the field of Health Information Management (HIM).

At Berkshire Community College, faculty, staff and students had to reimagine the ways they taught, or learned, or delivered incredible support services - remotely. Fortunately, the College had recently developed a division called Teaching and Learning Innovation, which was perfectly positioned to help its faculty, staff and students quickly adapt, not only to remote work and learning, but also to thrive long-term in a virtual and online environment.

When Kim Brookman began her employment at BCC as a work-study student in the Human Resources department, it became her "second family" -- but she could never have imagined herself becoming the assistant to the president. She slowly worked her way up, from a parking clerk position in 2004, to facilities clerk, assistant to the vice president of Administration & Finance, and finally as the assistant to the president. Now on the brink of retirement, Kim reflects on the many ways BCC has become part of her life.