Meet the Alumni Association Board

The Alumni Association includes all of our alumni and is dedicated to our students, the College and the community it serves. Our mission is to reach out, engage and promote relationships between alumni and the College, through events, networking opportunities and programs that support BCC and our alumni community.

The Alumni Board meetings are open to all alumni and are being held bi-monthly on the third Wednesday from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.

Email us for more information on meeting locations and how to become a member of the board.

Lisa Jester, President

Lisa (she/her/hers) joined the BCC Alumni Association in January 2023. After earning her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, she continued her education by taking courses at Berkshire Community College. She values her state education and the doors it has opened for her and for so many other students.

Lisa has been in the Project Management field for over 20 years in various industries including healthcare, insurance, and nonprofits; she is currently the Senior Software Project Manager at General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT).

Lisa was a member of the Board of Directors at the Pittsfield/Berkshire Family YMCA for 17 years including roles as the Board President, Chair of the Annual Support Campaign, and led the Board to develop a new Strategic Plan. She was named the YMCA's Volunteer of the Year twice. She was also the Chairperson of the YMCA of the USA Northeast Association Assembly.

She is a graduate of the Berkshire Chamber of Commerce Leadership Program and was a Loaned Executive for the Berkshire United Way. Lisa was also an examiner for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Excellence Award.

Lisa enjoys working in her yard and going to the gym. She lives with her husband in Pittsfield, MA and has two grown boys.

Dylan Newell '23, Vice President

Dylan is the current Vice President of the BCC Alumni Board. Dylan graduated with honors from BCC in 2023 with his Associate Degree in Business Careers. While a student at BCC, Dylan was a member of TRIO, recipient of multiple BCC Foundation Scholarships, a member of Phi Theta Kappa, and the recipient of the Falconer Award for Business in Spring 2022. After graduation, Dylan accepted a position at BCC working for the TRIO program as the Program Assistant. A non-traditional student, Dylan decided that BCC was the best college for him thanks to BCC’s affordability, flexibility, and small class sizes. Dylan is a native of Danville, Alabama until 2018. He now lives in the Berkshires with his wife and son, and really enjoys the art of barbecue (not to be confused with grilling hamburgers and hot dogs), watching pro wrestling and NASCAR, going to Yankees baseball games, and cheering on his beloved Alabama Crimson Tide (Roll Tide)! Dylan is honored to be a part of the BCC Alumni Board and looks forward to furthering both the mission and values of BCC and the BCC Alumni Association.

Lauran Laurent '04, Secretary

Lauran joined the BCC Alumni Association in 2023 and is currently serving as Secretary. As a non-traditional part-time student, she spent nearly 8 years, one class a semester nights and summers earning a degree in Business Careers. During this time, she served as a Tutor for Accounting. At graduation she was selected as Co-Salutatorian for the Class of 2004.

Those years collaborating with students of all ages, walks of life, and from as far away as New Zealand, made a community college in the Berkshires a worldly experience. The diversity of both staff and students lends to lessons learned beyond the classroom.

Lauran currently works for Berkshire Bank as a Retail Loan Servicing Generalist. She serves as Chair of Berkshire Bank’s Abilities in Motion Employee Resource Group which strives to empower employees of varied abilities. As an advocate for disability inclusion in the workplace she was a featured alumni in BCC’s Breaking Barriers campaign.

She currently lives in Pittsfield with her husband Al, who also graduated from BCC with the Class of 2004. They are currently adjusting to being empty nesters as their daughter Riley has started her college career.

Melissa Myers '89, Alumni-elected Trustee

Melissa (she/her) joined the BCC Alumni Association in 2015 serving as Secretary, Vice President, and then President. She graduated from BCC in 1989 with a degree in Office Management and served in the Student Government Association (SGA) and as Student Trustee. She returned to BCC in 2019 and transferred to MCLA, subsequently graduating with a bachelor's degree in Business Administration and Sociology. During that time, she served as a tutor of many subjects and was voted Tutor of the Year. She is also currently the Alumni-Elected Trustee on the Board of Trustees where she serves as Vice Chair and Chair of the Student Success Committee.

Melissa currently works at Berkshire Bank as their Foundation Administrator. She is proud to be involved on the bank's Berkshire County Culture Council, and in multiple Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) including Power of Women, Pride (ally), and People of Color (ally). She is a 2018 recipient of Berkshire Bank's X-tra Mile volunteer award, and a 2019 recipient of the bank's Volunteer X-ellence Award for both corporate-sponsored and personal volunteer activities.

Melissa has served on several boards and has volunteered with a variety of nonprofits in the Berkshires. She also sang with a handful of variety shows in the area, most notably for 11 years with the Earth Angels, helping to raise almost $1 million for local nonprofits. In addition, she serves as Church Council clerk at the First Congregational Church of Lee, plays in a handbell choir, and is involved with UCP. She is also a 2007 graduate of the Berkshire Leadership Program. In 2020, she was named an Honoree for her volunteer efforts by the Berkshire Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires.

Melissa lives in Pittsfield with her husband, Karl, and together they take great joy in spending time with their two granddaughters.

Deb Belland '75

Deb Belland: "I was born and raised in Pittsfield. After high school I enrolled at BCC in the pilot Human Services program. I enjoyed "college life" at BCC and always liked the classes I was taking. Then, life happened, and I took time off from college and higher education and found employment in all sorts of jobs.

When I did return to school, it was to pursue a degree in teaching, first at North Adams State (MCLA), then my Master's Degree from Cambridge College. While both schools served me well, I held a special place in my heart for BCC.

I have been a teacher for over thirty years. I started at St. Mark Middle School, then on to both Reid and Herberg Middle Schools,only to retire and as luck would have it, I ended up at Saint Agnes Academy. I have taught everything from science to Social Studies to ELA.

I am married and have four grown children, three sons and a daughter. I enjoy spending time with my family and their loved ones. I currently share my home with my husband, my mother and my dog, Hazel. In the early evenings, I can be found walking Hazel. I also enjoy reading, weekend trips, spending time with family and friends and shopping. I love to plan events and celebrations.

One reason I enjoyed the Alumni Board was to help spread the word that BCC is not "just" BCC. As a teacher I would run into former students who would tell me they were "just going to BCC" and it started to bother me that they thought they were settling. I want to spread the word that it's not just BCC, it is a lot of other things as well.

Josh Brilliant '17

Josh Brilliant (he/they): "I am currently working at GDMS as a Systems Engineer and leading the Pittsfield Diversity and Inclusion Committee. I graduated from BCC back in 2017 and moved on to MCLA to finish my Bachelor’s in Engineering. Recently, I was awarded the Berkshire’s 40 Under 40 Award which was how I learned about the BCC Alumni Association.

I’m a huge advocate for community college, especially if you’re just starting out and need a foot in the door. I was fortunate enough to spend my time at BCC long enough to move on and complete my degree. With the addition of free college for MA residents, I think now is as good a time for anyone to start their college experience at BCC.

I’ve been living in Pittsfield my whole life and recently bought my first house in this wonderful city in 2020. I’m still learning every day what it takes to be a new homeowner! Meanwhile, I spend most of my free time either volunteering, golfing, or spending time with my wonder cat, Yuna."

Crystal Garneau '07

Crystal joined the BCC Alumni Association in September 2024. She first attended Berkshire Community College in 1995 for a year, returning in 2005 to complete her Liberal Arts degree, which she earned in 2007. Following her time at BCC, she transferred to MCLA, where she obtained a BS in Business. Most recently, she graduated from Southern New Hampshire University with an MBA in 2023. Crystal attributes her educational achievements to the strong foundation and support she received from Berkshire Community College, which has also positively impacted her family. Her mother graduated from BCC, and her son achieved salutatorian honors upon his graduation in 2023.

Currently, Crystal serves as the Branch Manager of the West Street Branch of Greylock Federal Credit Union. She has also served on the board of Berkshire Fund Inc. since 2011. She is a strong advocate for Berkshire Community College, particularly with the recent initiative to provide free community college in Massachusetts. She believes BCC plays a crucial role in helping individuals enhance their skills, increasing employability, and supporting local businesses by developing a more skilled workforce.

A lifelong resident of the Berkshires, Crystal resides in Pittsfield with her son when he is not away at UMass Amherst. In her spare time, Crystal enjoys hiking and exploring the natural beauty of the Berkshires.

Kathaleen Mogul '25

Kathaleen Mogul: "Hi, my name is Kathaleen. I started attending college in January 2020 for an associate degree. This year I also am working towards a Tech Certificate so when I graduate, I will have an associate degree and a Tech Certificate.

I am a young 60-year-old. I was born and raised in Pittsfield, MA. I came to college in 2020 to become a better Drama teacher. I taught at the time at Berkshire Dream Center — two plays and a special sing along with the kids. I also was in a bible study, prayer group, and played in the band. I started with 12-string guitar and went to six strings then learned to play the piano because Pastor needed a piano player. Then later moved to bass playing.

I had a house fire on Dec. 28, 2019. I still pursued school. Thanks to financial aid I am able to be at BCC and am grateful and thankful. Later on in the year, Oct. 1, 2022, I was homeless till Feb. 1, 2023. I now have a home and back on track with my schoolwork. All through this mess, I hope it will be a powerful message someday.

I am also a Producer at Pittsfield Community Television since 2019. The name of my show is "The Kathaleen Show." The show is mainly animals and a reminder that God loves us. I also do Special Editions, for example. Thank you, PCTV. Thank you, BCC. To date, I have done 75 shows and growing.

My goal is to one day make a movie with Melissa McCarthy and then come back and help my community. I help as many as I can whether it is just listening or handing out supplies, whatever may be needed. I would like to reach as many people as possible to encourage that we all have value. Please feel free to ask any questions that would be of help to you. I hope all of you have a peaceful day."

Fadia Rostom Makdisi '19

Fadia Rostom Makdisi: "I relocated to Berkshire County in 2005 with my husband, Tony Makdisi. In 2006, I enrolled at BCC, a decision that has proven to be one of the best I have ever made. My experience at BCC was exhilarating and meaningful, with fun and exciting classes that helped me meet the prerequisites for a bachelor's program at MCLA.

Having moved from Syria with a degree in computer science and experience as a college teacher's assistant, I was wondering if returning to school would be a thrilling experience. However, with the guidance and support of the excellent staff at BCC, I landed a great job as the principal of Saint Agnes Academy in Dalton, MA.

Community college is an excellent place to start if you are unsure about your future, have specific goals, or require a supportive and nurturing community to assist you in navigating the challenges. I believe in education and community service and strive to give back to the community. As the principal of Saint Agnes Academy, it brings me joy to see students and instructors achieve their goals. Many neighbors and friends have graduated from BCC and led successful lives, careers, and families.

I am a proud mother of three daughters who highly prioritizes education and community involvement. Being a first-generation immigrant who experienced the life-changing benefits of education, I am privileged to serve as a member of the BCC Alumni Board. I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the BCC alumni board, the BCC community, and the broader Berkshire Community for years to come."

Janice Bates '92

Janice Bates: "My name is Janice Bates. My husband and I have lived in Dalton Ma. for the past 45 years. We have two sons who went through the Central Berkshire Regional School system and then on to college. We are blessed with six grandchildren. We love going to our grandkids' sports games. I have just started to take an interest in plants and flowers.

I am a non-traditional student. I enrolled at BCC after I had my children and was working part time. I found BCC an incredible college . I continued my education at MCLA (North Adams at the time). I have a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of ScienceI both in 1995. I went on to Cambridge College for my Masters in Education graduating in 1996. I have continued my education through various classes and certifications.

I taught for 30 yrs in the Pittsfield School system. My first four years were at Conte Elementary. The rest of my time I spent in middle school math. I retired from the Pittsfield School System in 2018. I then went back to teaching at Saint Agnes Academy in 2019 as the middle school math teacher and most recently as the Check and Connect person for students.

My hope for being on this board is to recruit new people who have come through BCC, and I'd like to get more involved in the on goings of BCC."

Jacob Gaylord '12

Jacob joined the BCC Alumni Board in the winter of 2025. He earned his Associate Degree in Criminal Justice in 2012 after a break from college due to enlisting in the military. Jacob also completed his Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justine in 2025 from Southern New Hampshire University.

He has been with the Berkshire County Sheriff’s Office since 2013, currently holding the rank of Lieutenant, serving as the Community Engagement, Public Relations and Recruitment and Retention Officer. He also serves as the County Coordinator for the Law Enforcement Torch Run, an organization that assists with raising money and awareness for the many Special Olympic athletes throughout the state. Jacob also oversees the Security Threat Group Unit, which oversees individuals that associate themselves with gangs or gang activities. He also oversees the social media platforms for the Sheriff’s Office, as well the Berkshire County Sheriffs’ Charitable Foundation Inc. Jacob also closely works with senior citizens throughout Berkshire County, recently presenting on scams and fraud with the DA’s Office.

Jacob is also a Post Certified Police Officer with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts He currently serves on the Berkshire County Special Response Team (SWAT) Operator for seven years, which is a regional team comprised of law enforcement officers who are specially trained to handle situations outside the control of normal patrol procedures. In 2019, Jacob was awarded Law Enforcement Officer of the Year by EMS of Berkshire County. He is also a Combat Veteran having served in Afghanistan in 2009.

Living in Pittsfield, Jacob is a proud husband of an amazing wife who works for Berkshire Medical Center as a Registered Nurse and is also a father to three amazing boys, Gage, Gavin and Keegan. Jacob has joined the BCC Alumni Board in hopes of growing the BCC community which in turn will help grow our community of Berkshire County.