Inclusive arts programs for people with disabilities
in Massachusetts. We’ re very proud of that history. I think Berkshire County is incredibly well-served, because these institutions genuinely work together. Students have so many different opportunities depending on their interests, their aspirations, and their goals. We want people to see BCC as a place where everyone belongs. I feel very fortunate to be here.
Dr. Rogers-Adkinson, any last comments you’ d like to share?
Rogers-Adkinson: For us at MCLA, I think the biggest thing is that we’ re one of the top public liberal arts colleges in the country. We’ re able to offer so much to both students and the community at a remarkably affordable price point. I still think we’ re a little bit of a hidden gem. We’ re small, but we’ re mighty. This year, I really hope I get the opportunity to help more people discover everything we have to offer— both as a college and
as a community partner. It’ s a difficult time in higher education, but I think we offer tremendous value, tremendous opportunity, and a very personal educational experience. I can’ t wait to help more students discover that.
Dr. Mandel?
Mandel: Diana mentioned that it’ s a difficult time for higher education. It really is. One of the things that’ s made me sad over the past several years is watching public appreciation for this extraordinary system we’ ve built in this country begin to erode. When you really step back and look at it, it’ s the mix of institutions that makes American higher education remarkable. Community colleges. Public liberal arts colleges. Private liberal arts colleges. State universities. Research universities. HBCUs. Each one plays an essential role. Listening to the people around this table today, I think you hear something very important. These institutions are led by people who care deeply about educating the next generation. That’ s what this is all about. We keep using the word“ mission.” Our mission is educating the next generation so that they can solve the problems we didn’ t solve, build the future, and prepare the generations that follow them. We’ re all in that business together. If I could leave readers with anything, it would simply be a reminder that these institutions are one of the great strengths of this country. They’ ve never been perfect. They weren’ t perfect in the past. They’ re not perfect now. There isn’ t some mythical golden age. They’ re made up of people. People doing their very best to educate the next generation. And they do it remarkably well. So, thank you for writing about higher education. Thank you for shining a light on it. That’ s certainly why I do this work, and my sense is that’ s why my colleagues do, as well. n
Inclusive arts programs for people with disabilities
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56 // BERKSHIRE MAGAZINE Fall 2026