“North Adams is slowly becoming this kind of musical cultural hub. And it’s because of things like the Fresh Grass Institute. It’s because things like Wilco and people’s eyes are being turned to North Adams.”Joe KingEnglish & Music“If you’re a nature lover, this is truly the place for you. There’s so much beauty in this area, whether it’s the mountains, or the hiking trails, or the lakes…”Masyn LavariereEnglish“Here at MCLA, especially where this smaller institution is very much woven into the fabric of the Berkshires and Western Mass itself. You feel like, ironically, even though you’re part of a much smaller institution, you feel like you’re a part of a much bigger community.”Dr. Mohsen Danesh“Northern Berkshires is an interesting place, right? You have this small rural community with a massive art scene and just like amazing outdoor experiences. So those are some of the things that really set MCLA and the Northern Berkshires apart is that you get this small town feel but with a lot of big city amenities.”Dr. Kebra WardDepartment Chair, Physics“...Then that feeling across campus of how connected we can be because we’re a small campus, right? I know my colleagues in other departments. I know colleagues in Poli Sci and in anthropology, right, on a larger campus, that’s not gonna happen. And that opens up"Dr. Kebra WardDepartment Chair, Physics“Just the views of the mountains around the campus and just how calm it was here compared to being at home. I said, my dad and I had a conversation on the ride home and he was like, this is the school for you. He said, I know it. I feel it in my bones that you will succeed here. And I said I love it so… why not?”Kaiya CocliffInterdisciplinary Studies“So here you really do become a part of not only the college community, but typically the larger community of North Adams, the surrounding towns.”Dr. Ann BilletzBiology Professor“Some of my favorite hidden gems in the Berkshires, certainly one is Greylock Glen. So there is beautiful water, mountain views, there’s a lovely hiking path. So for me, I love to take my dog for a hike at the Greylock Glen.”Dr. Ann BilletzBiology Professor“I think that being here in this location surrounded by the beautiful landscape, it only helps support your work and helps you stay inspired. I think artists have been coming to the Berkshires for years, hundreds of years, I think. And it’s because getting out in nature really just helps you settle…”Prof. Laura StandleyProfessor, Theatre, Fine and Performing Arts“The community of friends that I have found here is so unique and specific because everybody’s from so far away yet somehow some of my best friends also grew up in the neighboring towns and I just happened to never meet them until now. So there’s a really great variety of people that I was able to meet here that really cemented. Sense of home.”Matthew LewellynEnglish & Philosophy“I actually learned about MCLA through a high school friend that graduated the year before me, who still goes here at the moment in the year above me. At one point and see the campus with them and see Mass MoCA with them and some friends. And it was just such a beautiful area.”William FlynnEnvironmental Science“I'm planning on making sure that I'm invested in this community, because the past two years of me living here, I've absolutely fallen in love. North Adams is up and coming. Main Street and Eagle Street are revitalizing. You have both colleges, MCLA here, and then the next town over, and they're bringing in more students.”Laurence WilsonInterdisciplinary Studies“I was taking a capstone class with Dr. Michael Dilthy. At that time, I was only an English major. And he presented me with the idea of, you know, there’s this great thing that combines writing and music, and it’s called songwriting. And if you became a music major, we could kind of pursue that songwriting goal together.”Joe KingEnglish & Music“The most tangible experience that has brought learning from the classroom into the outside world has been my internship at Studio Nine. I’m sitting in for recording sessions with artists from Nashville, Los Angeles, and I’m also getting to actually run and set up. Live performances like the open mic that happens regularly at Studio 9.”Joe KingEnglish & Music“I’ve definitely had, there’s two professors that I can think of, Rita Nodum and Hannah and they've challenged me to expand my ideas about what I know about, and they’ve really pushed me to engage in bigger spaces.”Laurence WilsonInterdisciplinary Studies“I think that everything I’ve gotten involved in on campus has been really helpful in building my resume and helping me to find more connections on campus.”Paige DufurSociology, SGA President“I found some incredible connections with some of my professors. One of them being my Intro to Philosophy class professor, Professor Nodim. He kind of encouraged me and helped like mentor me and ended up with me declaring philosophy as one of my majors.”Masyn LavariereEnglish“I am heavily involved in some of the work that professors do. So Professor Dan Shustak in the environmental department here on campus conducts bird banding research. Another independent research project that I’m very, very heavily involved in is a long-term population monitoring project of Eastern Redback salamanders here on-campus.”William FlynnEnvironmental Science“The professors here have really invested in me and challenged me. They’re not just here to say good job and pat you on the back. I’ve been challenged by my professors to reach my full potential, to do my best, and to keep exerting myself when they know that I have the potential to do so.”Eva BassalloPsychology“So I’ve had the opportunity to mentor a variety of different students. I’ve a couple of students that I’ve watched over the four years grow from being a very shy individual coming in and not willing to answer questions to becoming a very vocal individual in the classroom, participating in discussions, but also mentoring other younger students.”Dr. Justin GolubBiology Professor“We’ve been very, very successful with job placements, especially in the local community, in the Berkshires. We have a recent graduate who just got a full-time position in Pittsfield as an auditor, and it’s a terrific position for him and his family.”Dr. Mohsen Danesh“One of my favorite parts of being an instructor is watching the students throughout their college career, seeing them come in as freshmen. And... Kind of not knowing what even is physics, how do I do this, what is this about, and seeing them grow and develop the skills and build their physics toolbox is a tacky phrase that I like to use, but it’s true, because every class you’re gonna take, not just in physics, but whatever your major is, every class contributes to how you look at the world, how you approach problems, how you get from point A to point B. That’s why people choose MCLA, right? Get those connections at an affordable price.”Dr. Kebra WardDepartment Chair, Physics“Developing the Essential Needs Center is, I think it’s my proudest thing I’ve ever done on campus. It is the most rewarding experience, especially because of the impact that it has on every single person on this campus and how highly they talk of it. It’s like, I have so much gratitude for the students and I know they have so many gratitude for me.”Kaiya CocliffInterdisciplinary Studies“The education that MCLA itself has given me has already impacted me so much. It really has impacted the ways that I think. It’s impacted the way I perceive things, my thought processes. Asking questions, it’s made me more fearless and wanting to go out and do stuff.”Kaiya CocliffInterdisciplinary Studies“they come in as freshmen. Some of them come in very nervous. They’ve never had a college experience. They may not have parents who have ever gone to college. And so you see them come in very timid, not really sure about their place. And I get to watch them really kind of dive in.”Dr. Ann BilletzBiology“I am incredibly grateful because as an educator, I’ve been able to continue. To be curious about all of the things that I’m curious about in the field and expand my craft. I don’t feel like I have had to be still here. I’ve been able to grow as a teacher.”Prof. Laura StandleyProfessor, Theatre, Fine and Performing Arts“My transformation at MCLA has been... Yeah, whatever word you want to use, complete 180, night and day, wasn’t really a very kind of motivated or ambitious person before coming to MCLA. And it’s only been through going to these classes, talking to these students, talking to these professors, talking these professionals out in the community that I actually have a very concrete image of the future.”Joe KingEnglish & Music“I really feel like I have personal relationships with all my professors. I feel like they all actually care about me and they wanna talk to me and they want to engage with me.”Laurence WilsonInterdisciplinary Studies“If I was to describe MCLA to someone in one sentence, I would say small but mighty community, for sure. Even if you are a commuter, you can still get very involved on campus, so you don’t have to live here to enjoy the experience. And that was something I was really nervous about before coming here was, if I wasn’t gonna live on campus how was I going to get involved? And now into senior year, I’m the Student Government Association President. I’m an ambassador for the sociology department. I’m the secretary for the honors program council. I’m a peer mentor. I work in our essential needs center. I work as an assistant in the president’s office and you can find me basically anywhere else on campus.”Paige DufurSociology, SGA President“I think a lot of people would be surprised to realize how down to earth everyone on this campus is, including the professors. To them, you’re more than just like a number or a student that they have to teach. They care about you as a person. They care about your success, your career goals, your personal life. They care about you as a human being.”Masyn LavariereEnglish“If I were to have to sum up MCLA in one word, it would be family. So, even if you’re not quite sure if this would be the place for you. I can almost guarantee that you will find a home here at MCLA.”Masyn LavariereEnglish“MCLA is an incredibly close-knit community. It’s the kind of campus where you know everyone around you. And... It’s an incredibly warm place, an incredibly welcoming place, and somewhere that allows you to really be who you want to be and do the things that you want to do as long as you’re willing to put yourself out there.”William FlynnEnvironmental Science“I would describe the spirit of MCLA as being a very welcoming and exciting campus, an exciting place to be. There’s always a lot going on for students and there’s a lot of opportunity for students to interact with faculty and as a faculty member to get to work with a variety of different students that have very different interests”Dr. Justin GolubBiology Professor“I would describe MCLA as some places very strongly community based, where students are brought into this relatively small community, but they’re very much made to feel welcome in it and a part of it. The staff and the faculty very much engage with the students, not just inside the classroom, but outside the classroom as well, to make them feel like this is a place where they’re not just getting an education, they’re growing as people And setting forth the path of what they want to do for the future.”Dr. Mohsen Danesh“In terms of education, you will find an institution with faculty who get to know the students personally, they care, they put the time and effort in to make sure the students are successful, that they’re able to, not just complete their courses, but to be able to find the professional experience in order to go beyond MCLA and to... Have a successful career once they graduate from this institution.”Dr. Mohsen Danesh“We’re not in the classroom because we have to be. We’re in the class because we want to be. We are a community. We are not faculty, staff, students. We are community at MCLA. This is a tight community. This is like a caring community. We want you to do well. We want to succeed.”Dr. Kebra WardDepartment Chair, Physics“I met my support system via Inside the Classroom and it’s my professors. It’s honestly all of my professors in my entire department. And I found so much. I just felt very comfortable. I felt like I was able to be myself inside the classroom when I came here, that I can share my true thoughts that I wasn’t allowed to do at home.”Kaiya CocliffInterdisciplinary Studies“We know you, we know what you’re capable of, we share the same excitement, we feel when you struggle, we feel that too and I spent part of the reason I’m a faculty athletic representative is that I love seeing my students in the classroom, on the on the court and so they know that we care about them as people. And not just students in our class.”Dr. Ann BilletzBiology Professor“MCLA is a place where you can be who you are and be comfortable and safe. Again, I think part of it is that we’re small and some people think that might be a bad thing, but in reality, we know you and we care about you.”Dr. Ann BilletzBiology Professor“People don’t really understand just how tight- knit that allows MCLA to be, how close you can get with some of your faculty, how so many people can just easily become your mentor and how you fall into so many beautiful. Almost familial-like relationships with everybody here, from your classmates to faculty, to staff, to whomever you may come across.”Matthew LewellynEnglish & Philosophy“I am doing this because I want to teach, I want to be involved in students’ lives. And so because I’m teaching in a small environment, I’m able to actually get to know my students in a way that I would never be able to in a large school.”Prof. Laura StandleyProfessor, Theatre, Fine and Performing Arts“I was taking a capstone class with Dr. Michael Dilthy called Cantatas and Coffee. At that time, I was only an English major, and he presented me with the idea of, you know, there’s this great thing that combines writing and music, and it’s called songwriting. And if you became a music major, we could kind of pursue that songwriting goal together.”Joe KingEnglish & Music“Interdisciplinary Studies is crafting your own major. It’s pulling from other majors, interweaving a bunch of different kind of fields. And I came in with knowing that I wanted my concentration to be cultural studies. But since coming back to MCLA this past year, I have really, really been able to double down and pull in ideas from anthropology, sociology.”Laurence WilsonInterdisciplinary Studies“MCLA is a great place to figure out who you are and what you wanna do. You know, we have a good amount of majors and minors and plenty of professors and faculty and staff that will talk to you about, you know where these majors could potentially bring you in life.”Laurence WilsonInterdisciplinary Studies“I think my piece of advice to someone considering MCLA as their top option would be not to be completely set on one thing and think that you can’t change your mind. I was super sure that I wouldn’t change my mind and I changed it about eight times. So be open to the experience and just try new things. Don’t stay in your room. Get involved.”Paige DufurSociology, SGA President“So I came in undeclared. I started taking some core classes and I found some incredible connections with some of my professors. One of them being my intro to philosophy class, Professor Nodine. He kind of encouraged me and helped mentor me and ended up with me declaring philosophy as one of my majors.”Masyn LavariereEnglish“some of my favorite moments for this entire past year have been sitting after class with some of my peers and Professor Engelson, and just having some incredible discussions about writing, about life, about anything. I found just such a connection. I knew I was in the right place, surrounded by the right people.”Masyn LavariereEnglish“I’m an environmental studies major, concentration in science. However, I am one class away from having a creative writing minor. And that’s just personal interest. I just enjoy taking those classes and it’s an opportunity because here I am at a liberal arts school.”William FlynnEnvironmental Science“I did go in undeclared just to fully scope out the options as a liberal arts school here. There’s so many amazing options to explore, so I wanted to fully experience that. But the psych department. I took an intro to psych course in it. Had the final hook on me.”Eva BassalloPsychology“I’m part of SGA. I’m a soccer player here. I’ve taken advantage of the travel courses here. I’ve traveled the south of the U.S. And I have gone to South Africa. Both of those trips were sponsored by donors and I went completely free. And that was because I looked for it so the opportunities are here, the resources are here. You just have to look for it”Eva BassalloPsychology“By developing that liberal arts way of thinking, students are better problem solvers in their careers. So going into a career in biology or health science, you have a different way of thinking from people who come from a more rigid type of program. And this makes you, in many cases, a stronger candidate for positions, and often happier and more successful in those different career opportunities.”Dr. Justin GolubBiology Professor“Last year I taught a travel course to South Africa based on microscopy, and that was a general course. The students didn’t have to be physics majors to take it, but the students were so curious and engaged and interested in not only learning about South Africa, but also the microscopy aspect of it. And so we got to spend three days in the largest microscopy lab in sub-Saharan Africa. And those students who were bio-students and sociology students, right, like not physics majors, learning how to take these detailed, high-tech, super high- resolution images on the electron scale.”Dr. Kebra WardDepartment Chair, Physics“We have our new degree, Music Industry and Production, with which we send students through all typical music courses that one might find at another institution, but then we also send them through the arts management courses where they learn how to put on concerts and how to understand. Marketing and how to understand all things in the front end of the music business.”Dr. Michael DiltheyProfessor, Music, Fine and Performing Arts“I make my own degree plan. My junior year, senior year, you make your own degree plan and you pick the classes over your few years that you’ve been here. You pick the classes that you think apply to what you want to do and you do it and you write, I think this is why I want to do what I want to do. This is why I’m doing it. And you propose it to your advisor and they most likely approve it. They help you get it perfect.”Kaiya CocliffInterdisciplinary Studies“My freshman year, I had the opportunity to go to Cape Town, South Africa with Professor Anna J. Saint-Dar. My sophomore year, I got to go on the Civil Rights Bus Tour with Professor Eli Janis. And this past year I've got to go to Japan with Professor Kailai Huang.”Kaiya CocliffInterdisciplinary Studies“It really helps having those small class sizes. You’re able to get really intimate comments on your work. You’re really able to dive deeper with those faculty members and see what makes up the work that you want to create. And Dr. Engelson has also been super, super amazing in that regard.”Matthew LewellynEnglish & Philosophy“They want you to be here as much as you want to be here. And having that transparency and them constantly giving scholarship opportunities, sending me personally emails of like, hey, I think this scholarship would really fit well with what you’re trying to do on campus.”Joe KingEnglish & Music“When I first came in 2016, I got the Sanghas Presidential Scholarship. So that paid for my entire tuition at first. And that was a huge factor in me first, in choosing here. Affordability was, you know, one of the top three factors of me going to school.”Laurence WilsonInterdisciplinary Studies“The financial aid department was actually very, very helpful and helping me become, emancipated. They’ve always been amazing about answering questions and I’ve definitely like built a relationship with them a little bit.”Laurence WilsonInterdisciplinary Studies“Affordability was really important when deciding about college. I’m a first generation college student. So I didn’t know a whole lot about finding scholarships or any of the financial aid. So. When I got the full scholarship and my acceptance letter, that was really important.”Paige DufurSociology, SGA President“I wasn’t completely considering college as one of my options for many reasons, one of them being financial. Their financial aid department was super helpful, being able to allot money and help me through the long process. I’m also a first generation college student. So I didn’t know what college was all about, but MCLA has been super supportive in helping me.”Masyn LavariereEnglish“The ultimate deciding factor was affordability. MCLA was just a lot more affordable. They gave me a lot of more assistance. And I am so incredibly glad that this is where I ended up.”Willian FlynnEnvironmental Science“MCLA, provides a lot of great opportunities for students at a very affordable price. So I don’t think that a student loses out on any of the opportunities they may have gotten at another institution, at a peer institution, by coming to MCLA because we are a more affordable institution.”Dr. Justin GolubBiology Professor“Our smaller size is an actual advantage for us because we can work more closely with our students to help them. We can adjust to that to help our students find that path. Also the fact that we’re so intertwined with the local community helps us to place our students into internships, into jobs when they’re graduating. So our students will have a more secure place economically.”Dr. Mohsen Danesh“You’re going to learn the same physics here at MCLA that you would somewhere else, but what you get from MCLA in addition to that like small community, those interconnections with the faculty is the affordability.”Dr. Kebra WardDepartment Chair, Physics“Your physics classes at MCLA, they’re going to be top-notch because, and this is coming directly from students because we survey them every year, our faculty are what make the difference in physics. So coming to MCLA and having that lower bill, but still getting that high quality education that’s going to prepare you for post- MCLA.”Dr. Kebra WardDepartment Chair, Physics“The fact that we offer tuition that is affordable to our students is giving students a chance to come to college that may not otherwise do so.”Dr. Ann BilletzBiology Professor“The financial aid office was so, so supportive and so, willing to work with me and meet with me whenever I had a concern and so willing to help me iron out. This process and go on this crazy ride with me.”Matthew LewellynEnglish & Philosophy/_images/_academics/_academic-programs/nursing/paige-dufure.jpgPaige Dufur"Each day brings new lessons that directly apply to the clinical environment."Paige Pouliot ’27/mcla-in-the-community/mcla-news/2025-10/from-classroom-to-clinic-mcla-nursing-student-thrives-at-berkshire-health-systems.php/_images/_academics/_academic-programs/english/mcla-quinn-daugherty.jpgQuinn Daugherty"The internship gave me the opportunity to practice my research skills, learn the basic tenets of business writing, and generate fundraising and marketing strategies. Interning at Tupelo was an immersive exploration of the inner workings of independent literary presses. I’ve cultivated administrative, technical, and literary skills that will serve me in the professional world."Quinn Daugherty '26/_images/_mcla-in-the-community/our-stories/2026-april/mcla-justin-daniels-baseball-stadium.jpgJustin Daniels"I loved the idea of being able to go to professors to ask for help and having more one-on-one time. I was a kid in high school that always went for extra help, so to still have that ability in college, that was a big plus for me."Justin Daniels '21/mcla-in-the-community/mcla-news/2026-May/church-street-story-helping-the-mets-give-back.phpAmazin' Mets Foundation/_images/_academics/_academic-programs/english/mcla-allison-okeefe.jpgAllison OKeefe"I am most grateful for the faculty I met at MCLA, all of whom were thoughtful, experienced, and highly influential to me not only as a student, but also as an artist. My professors were knowledgeable and connected in the field, providing me opportunities for internships, extra-curriculars, and conference trips that gave me real-world experience and a life-long bond with my collaborators."Allison O’Keefe, ’20/_images/_quotes/mcla-marc-matkovsky.jpgMarc Maktovsky"The curriculum is fine-tuned to a way where we can learn at a fast pace within the semester and still be successful when it ends."Marc Matkovsky '27/_images/_mcla-in-the-community/our-stories/images-2021-09/mcmillan.jpgJessie McMillan“I highly recommend MCLA's educational programs to anyone interested in being encouraged to think deeply and critically about the practice, challenging their own ideas about what it means to serve as an effective teacher and leader.”Jesse McMillan '18/mcla-in-the-community/mcla-news/2021-08/ed-grad-returns-to-teach.php/_images/_academics/_graduate/med/mcla-heidi-alle.jpgHeidi Allen"MCLA provided the 'missing pieces' of my professional toolkit while never losing sight of the most important part: keeping social justice at the heart of every decision."Heidi Allenhttps://mcla.edu/mcla-in-the-community/mcla-news/2026-February/learning-to-lead-for-equity-how-mclas-leadership-academy-transformed-an-advocate-into-a-systemic-change-agent.php/_images/_mcla-in-the-community/press-releases/melanie-mowinski.jpgMelanie Mowinski"In a world where convenience and consumption rule, living lightly can be difficult. As an artist and educator, I actively resist that tide."Melanie Mowinski/mcla-in-the-community/press-release/2025September/mcla-professor-of-art-receives-prestigious-national-guild-of-book-workers-mid-career-award.phpProfessor, Art/_images/_academics/_graduate/mba/paul-paradiso-speaking.jpgPaul Paradiso“The program pushed me to think more strategically, apply classroom learning to real-world business problems, and collaborate with a diverse group of peers who brought fresh perspectives. It struck a great balance between academic rigor and practical application.”Paul Paradiso '25/mcla-in-the-community/mcla-news/2025-10/mcla-2025-mba-graduate-paul-paradiso-reflects-on-growth-leadership-and-community.php/_images/_academics/_academic-programs/environmental-studies/mcla-abby-abrahamson.jpgAbby Abrahamson"When I first transferred to MCLA, I felt torn about choosing a major because I wanted to study both Sociology and Environmental Studies, but thought I could only do one. My advisors were very supportive and encouraged me to double major. Their support throughout my time at MCLA was super impactful to me because they worked together to help me follow an academic path that matched my passions."Abby Abrahamson ’22/academics/academic-departments/environmental-studies/stories-from-the-field/abby-abrahamson-bio4climate.php/_images/_mcla-in-the-community/our-stories/2026-may/naiera-robinson-smile.jpgNaiera Robinson"There's something about a smaller liberal arts school that gives you more of a niche community feel that sets you up for the real world in a way that a larger school may not give you. All of my closest friends and my long-term friends came from MCLA, and I will never take that for granted."Naiera Robinson '19/mcla-in-the-community/mcla-news/2026-May/finding-her-purpose.phpBillboard Power Player '24/_images/_academics/_academic-programs/english/mcla-emily.jpgEmily "During my time at MCLA, I received amazing one-on-one support from dedicated professors who are passionate about their work as writers, scholars, and educators. Their guidance, mentorship, and encouragement are the reasons I am now pursuing my MA"Emily Sienkiewicz ’21https://mcla.edu/mcla-in-the-community/mcla-news/2020-08/preserving-history-as-a-library-of-congress-junior-fellow.php/_images/_mcla-in-the-community/our-stories/2026-may/jen-thomas.jpgJen Thomas"I was becoming someone who could contribute across the board in a lot of different ways, and it made me very adaptable. MCLA made me a much more well-rounded person."Jen Thomas '07/mcla-in-the-community/mcla-news/2026-May/finding-her-purpose.phpThe New York Times/_images/_academics/_academic-programs/nursing/mcla-gracie-lohnes.jpgGracie Lohnes"I’m so grateful I chose MCLA for my nursing journey. It’s the kind of place where you’re known and supported from day one. Having that personal connection with professors and peers gave me a massive head start, not just in terms of clinical skills, but in the confidence, I’m carrying with me into the field."Gracie Lohnes ’27/_images/_admission-aid/mcla-karina-matter.jpgKarina M"MCLA has some of the best resources available. Going to a small school in a small town sometimes gives you more opportunities than a larger school. It’s a unique place that should not be taken for granted."Karina Mattera '19/mcla-in-the-community/mcla-news/2026-March/producing-stories-at-espn.phpESPN/_images/_administration/_mcla-foundation/content.pngPlaceholder“I love helping the future generation of leaders achieve their dreams and am especially inspired to support first-generation college students in their quest for success. Giving back to MCLA/NASC which helped me get to where I am today is a special privilege.”Kim Boyden-Briones ’89Chief Human Resource Officer at Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance