Board of Trustees

Tom Bernard, Chair For more than 25 years, Tom Bernard has served as a communicator, fundraiser, and leader in the cultural, education, municipal, and nonprofit sectors. Based in the Berkshires and active across Massachusetts, he is passionate about mission-driven work, building community, and collaboration. He is the former President and CEO of Berkshire United Way and served two terms as mayor of North Adams. His past roles include director of special projects at Smith College, administrative positions at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA), and development officer at MASS MoCA. The son of public school teachers, Tom Bernard has long valued community service and civic engagement. In addition to his role at BART, he is a trustee of MCLA, past president of the Rotary Club of Pittsfield, and serves on the EforAll Berkshires advisory board. He has held numerous volunteer leadership positions throughout the region. Tom Bernard is a graduate of Williams College and Westfield State University, and he received an honorary Doctor of Public Service degree from MCLA in 2022. t[email protected]
Alison Bost, Vice Chair Alison Bost is the former Deputy General Counsel of Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP. She has over 23 years of experience as a lawyer representing clients in various matters, including litigation, appeals, labor and employment matters, and legal ethics and professional responsibility matters. She also served for many years on her firm’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee, including as Vice-Chair. Alison Bost currently also serves on the Board of Child Care of the Berkshires, Inc. She lives in Williamstown, MA.
Keith Finan, Treasurer Keith Finan is the former Head of Operations & Chief Financial Officer at Deerfield Academy following 25 years as Associate Provost at Williams College. He has extensive experience in finance, operations, and organizational planning at schools and non-profits. Keith Finan lives in Williamstown with his wife, Laurie.
Steve Simon, Secretary Steve Simon has over 30 years of experience in the magazine and newsstand industry. Serving as the first manager of the Newsstand Division of Borders Books and Music, he has gone on to create other business ventures inside of the magazine industry. Steve Simon also serves on other boards and committees in the Berkshires' community. He lives in Williamstown, MA.
George Ambriz George R. Ambriz is the Dean of Enrollment Services at Hudson Valley Community College. He has worked in higher education for nearly 20 years, spanning from the West Coast to the East Coast. George Ambriz has a wealth of knowledge in areas within Student Affairs and has worked at Hispanic-Serving Institutions and Minority Serving Institutions. He currently resides in Clifton Park, NY, and is fluent in Spanish.
Jordan DeGaetano Jordan DeGaetano is a higher education professional with experience advising and Success Coaching students of diverse backgrounds and complex needs. She specializes in serving students with documented disabilities, student athletes, first-generation college students, and nontraditional-aged college students. Jordan's areas of research and scholarly interest include holistic student support, educational leadership and management, Appreciative Advising, Universal Design, and Writing Center pedagogy.
Dr. Laurie Gordy Dr. Gordy is the Vice President of Academic Affairs at Berkshire Community College. She has 30 years of experience in higher education as a faculty member and as an academic administrator in both public and private institutions. Her research and scholarly interests focus on curriculum assessment, educational equity, and race, class, gender, and sexuality. Dr. Gordy has spent her career promoting college access, equity, and student success. She lives in Pittsfield with her spouse, Mike Hearn, and their dog, Clark.
Marcel Kouame Marcel Kouame is an experienced computer scientist and information security auditor within the financial services industry. She began her career at a New York City-based foreign exchange trading platform where she was charged with internal audit engagements and tending to the organization's yearly SAS-70 engagement. Since then and during the last 15 years, Marcel Kouame has worked as an information security auditor focused on databases, distributed ledger technologies, networking, and software development, with specialized expertise in cloud engineering, platform architecture, and systems administration. Ms. Kouame has served in AVP, managerial, and VP capacities primarily for financial institutions, including Thomson Reuters FX, NY Life, and BNY Mellon. Over the years, Marcel Kouame has been engaged in and fulfilled by volunteer work mentoring young professionals and underprivileged youth in the tri-state area. Marcel Kouame is a proud BART parent and lives in Pittsfield, MA.
Kelli Kozak Kelli Kozak is the Executive Assistant to the President at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) in North Adams. She has over 25 years of marketing and events management expertise as well as a deep commitment to her hometown in the Berkshires. She previously served as the VP of Community Engagement for MountainOne Bank. Kelli Kozak is a Corporator for MCLA, a long-time BART volunteer, and a proud BART parent. She holds a bachelor’s degree with a double major in History and American Studies from Skidmore College. She lives in Cheshire with her husband Brad and their two sons.
Dr. Catherine McKeen Dr. McKeen is a visiting faculty member in the Society, Culture & Thought department at Bennington College. She has over 20 years of teaching experience and has served in college administrative roles including as Associate Provost and Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning at Southern Vermont College and as Associate Dean at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA). Dr. McKeen is a published co-author of The Routledge Handbook of Women and Ancient Greek Philosophy. She lives in Williamstown, MA.
Gina Puc Gina Puc is the Special Assistant to the President, Director of Community Relations, and Secretary to the Board of Trustees at Williams College. She was previously the Vice-President for Strategic Initiatives at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA). She has worked for over a decade as a college admissions officer, promoting access to higher education. She also serves on other boards and committees in the community. Ms. Puc lives in North Adams, MA.