MCLA Announces Four Finalists for Next President

NORTH ADAMS — Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) announced four finalists for the position of president, following a national search. The finalists were selected by the MCLA presidential search committee and will participate in on-campus visits scheduled for the weeks of April 6 and April 13.

The four finalists are David Jenemann, Michael Middleton, Sherri Givens Mylott, and Diana Rogers-Adkinson.

Jenemann is dean of the Patrick Leahy Honors College and professor of English and Film and Television Studies at the University of Vermont, where he oversees recruitment, retention, curricular innovation, and advancement for an interdisciplinary college serving undergraduates from across the university, including UVM’s campus-wide Office of Fellowships, Opportunities, and Undergraduate Research.

Middleton serves as provost and vice president for Teaching, Learning, and Growth at Ramapo College of New Jersey, where he provides strategic leadership for academic programs, faculty development, and institutional planning centered on inclusive excellence and student success.

Givens Mylott serves as vice president of University Advancement at the University of La Verne, a private, Hispanic-serving institution, and as adjunct faculty in the LaFetra College of Education, where she teaches doctoral-level courses on leadership ethics.

Rogers-Adkinson currently serves as senior vice chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs and chief academic officer for the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, providing system-level leadership for 10 universities serving approximately 80,000 students.

Each finalist will participate in open campus forums and meetings with students, faculty, staff, and community members. The board of trustees will take up the recommendation at a public meeting on Thursday, April 23, at 5:30 p.m. in M218. The appointment will then require approval by the Department of Higher Education. MCLA remains on track for a July 2026 start date.

“The presidential search committee is proud to present four exceptional finalists who each bring a distinctive vision and a deep commitment to the values that define MCLA,” said Brenda Burdick, co-chair of the presidential search committee. “This has been a truly collaborative effort, reflecting the best of who we are as an institution, and we are grateful to the many students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members who engaged so thoughtfully in this process.”

Yvonne Spicer, co-chair of the presidential search committee, added that “we designed this search to be as open and inclusive as possible, and the response from our campus community has been tremendous. MCLA is at an exciting moment in its history, and these finalists are more than ready to meet it. I encourage everyone to attend the open forums, meet the finalists, and share their feedback. Your voices matter in this decision.”

The presidential search was launched following the announcement of President James Birge’s retirement after approximately 10 years of service to MCLA. The presidential search committee is composed of trustees, faculty, staff, students, alumni, and external partners. The search was supported by executive search firm WittKieffer.