AT THE HELM
A CONVERSATION WITH THE PRESIDENTS OF OUR BERKSHIRE COLLEGES
B y D r. J o s h u a S h e r m a n // P h o t o s b y G r e g o r y C h e r i n
IN AUGUST, prior to the start of the academic year, Berkshire Magazine invited the newly appointed Diana Rogers-Adkinson, President of Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts( MCLA); the newly arrived Hara D. Charlier, President of Berkshire Community College( BCC); and the established President of Williams College, Maud Mandel, to sit down for a conversation. It was the first time the three women had been in the same room. One might even call it an“ historic meeting,” since 2026 marks the first time that three simultaneous Berkshire college presidents are all female. The three women demonstrated warmth, humor, candor, collegiality, and intelligence throughout the conversation. After spending a short time with these three impressive leaders, I can assure you that we are very fortunate to have them at the helm of higher education in the Berkshires. The interview opened with an exploration of their core leadership approaches.
46 // BERKSHIRE MAGAZINE Fall 2026