Beth Wallace '80

Meet Beth: BCC Legend and Retired Dean of Students

Beth was born and raised in Pittsfield and graduated from Taconic High School. She entered BCC in 1978 wanting to become a Secretary. After graduating from BCC's Office Administration program in 1980, she started at a local law firm and worked as a secretary for eight years. Through the whole time, Beth stayed in touch with her professors at BCC and when she saw an ad in the newspaper about a job opening as a Clerk III in the Office of Student Life, she applied for the job. On August 1st, 1988, her professional career at BCC found its beginning. A few years later, Beth became the Assistant Director of Student Life, then the Director, the Interim Dean, and eventually the Dean of Students at BCC. "I've always been in student life and I've always worked on the ground with students, one on one. I think that has been the best part of my job, including the people I have met and the friends I have made. It's been an amazing 32 years!" After her eight years at a law firm, Beth noticed a different kind of work atmosphere at BCC, which she loved. "Everybody listened. People wanted to hear what I had to say. That typical secretary-boss relationship was completely gone. Everybody was on a level plain field. And I thought to myself, this is a great environment within which to work."

During her time at BCC, Beth recognized many changes, but one in particular. "When I started at BCC, it was pre cell phone era. We were still serving mostly traditional age students, who stayed on campus and were super engaged in everything that the Office of Student Life did. We used to have card games and foosball tables, and all kinds of really cool things. Student Government has always been part of my job and they would plan events and dances. Over the years, the biggest change that I is the amount of time students spend on campus. Students today have multiple challenges including additional responsibilities outside of school." When Beth first started working at the college, there was a group called "Alumni and Friends". She remembers that Helen Kimpel was the chair of the board and several other staff members and their friends were a part of it. "One thing they did every year was host a quilt show. The student lounge was transformed into this amazing cozy area for two days. Busloads of people came to go through this amazing exhibit. The proceeds went to scholarships, which were given to students every year. The quilt show was a time that brought together the college community."

When Hellen retired, Beth became the chair of the Alumni Board and shortly after that former Director of Development and Alumni Relations, Jennifer Kerwood was hired at the college, the Alumni Board transitioned into its most current iteration. "We worked hard to figure out what the role of the alumni was at BCC. At that time, the role of the Alumni Association wasn't to engage and reach out to alumni and potential donors. Jenn and I sat down and decided we needed to reach out, just like you would at a four-year institution, and slowly build that momentum. I think that now, we have really strong people on the alumni board and I am proud of where we are today." "No matter where you go in Berkshire county, there is an alum. I think it is really important to bring the pride, that people have for their four-year institutions to BCC. The alumni that we capture and talk to, exhibit pride for BCC."

Beth always joked that she is as old as the college and in BCC's 60th year, she decided that it was time for her to retire. "I have always held myself to the standard that when you think you're ready to go, you should go. I think that there is still good work that I could do at the college and I hope that people will still call me to do that work. Someone said to me 'someday you'll see the college from 30,000 foot.' This expression means so much to me because I was able to achieve that 30,000 foot view before retirement." Before Beth retired, she wanted to say thank you. Thank you to the students that have impacted her life for the last over 30 years, and for everything they have taught her. "Thank you to the students that have impacted my life for the last 30 years. Those students that have turned into alumni, I want to say thank you to my colleagues for encouraging me and for pushing me out of my comfort zone. I think that is what got me to where I am today. It gave me the ability to listen, the ability to have an open mind. Thank you, because I could not have done any of it without the students and the learning that has taken place in my life over the last 32 year." And we want to say thank you, Beth. You have been an inspiration for our students, our alumni, and to all of us at BCC that were lucky to have the opportunity to work with and learn from you!

No matter where you go in Berkshire county, there is an alum. I think it is really important to bring the pride, that people have for their four-year institutions to BCC. The alumni that we capture and talk to, exhibit pride for BCC.