Faculty Spotlights

Some students start with mechatronics but excel in math and earn engineering degrees, says Jose Colmenares, Engineering. "One good thing about being an engineer is that you’re always going to have a job. Once you get knowledgeable about what you’re doing, once you become an expert in your field, you will be making really good money."

"I think a community college education is the best thing ever. It is a way that anyone can try it," says Professor of Sociology Stacy Evans. "We have no entrance requirements except for a high school degree or its equivalency. We want everybody. That, to me, is the beauty of a community college. Everybody gets to try."

"What students get out of Berkshire Community College might be a lot more than what they get out of a four-year school," says Charles Park, Professor of English at BCC. "And it's not just the cost. It's the attention and the support we provide. Each student matters to us. It's our mandate."

When Gina Foley, BCC Associate Professor of Life Sciences, grew up on the Long Island town of Bay Shore, New York, hiking and outdoor exploration were not part of her everyday life. She likely didn't envision herself one day living in the green surrounds of Berkshire County, and even less likely pictured herself teaching biology.

When Laurie Vilord decided to change course in her career, she tackled it with gusto, earning a Medical Coding Certificate and a Health Information Management (HIM) Certificate from BCC in just one year. "I don't really recommend that, but I'm kind of an overachiever," she laughs.