MCLA Foundation, Inc.

“I enjoy serving on the Foundation because it provides an opportunity to participate in decisions that impact the student body. This is especially important to me because, as a mom of two daughters who attended and graduated college, I know firsthand the value of having access and resources to a quality education. Through the Foundation, we are able to contribute to our students’ academic journeys in ways great and small, and this is tremendously fulfilling to me.” 

JamieEllen is the Senior Vice President & Chief Administrative Officer at Greylock Federal Credit Union. She began her career at Greylock more than 30 years ago, serving in an entry-level position and moving on to various roles in lending, retail, and administration.  

Today, JamieEllen is responsible for shaping and managing the brand and organizational culture at Greylock, overseeing human resources, marketing, community support initiatives, and learning and development, and is actively involved with board governance. She served on the Success by 6 committee, a program of the Berkshire United Way. This initiative provided programs and services to at-risk children under the age of 6. Through Sapphire Dimension, JamieEllen provided 1-to-1 Women Mentorship, addressing the stigmas of racism and feminism around African American culture and, most recently, served on the gala committee for BRIDGE. 

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"MCLA is genuinely committed to providing a quality education at an affordable cost. As a graduate of MCLA, being on the Foundation Board provides an opportunity to give back to the College."

A graduate of America’s Community Bankers National School of Banking, Mike is vice president and manager of business banking at Greylock Federal Credit Union. Having strong ties to MCLA both as an alum and a previous Foundation Board Director from 2013-2022 (Board Chair 2018-2020), Mike has dedicated many years to the MCLA community. As a committee member, he supported the Endowment and Trust Committee, Executive Committee, and, most recently, the Internal Audit and Finance Committee.  

Mike’s additional volunteer roles include serving as vice-chair and nominating committee member for Berkshire Housing and as a member of the Berkshire United Way board for nine years. 

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Benjamin is the vice president of economic development at 1Berkshire, where he works to support a broad range of rural businesses and industries across the region. His local leadership roles include serving as a trustee of MASS MoCA, board vice chair for the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition, clerk of the board of the North Adams Partnership, and co-founder of the NAMAzing Initiative, a community group committed to creative placemaking and grassroots economic development in North Adams. Benjamin also served four terms as a North Adams City Councilor.

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“MCLA has a long history of providing an affordable, high-quality education to all. It is also a vital part of the economy of the Northern Berkshires and of North Adams in particular. The Foundation allows me to participate with others in providing support to the College.” 

Born in Bombay (now Mumbai, India), Stephen attended Williams College and Boston College Law School. He has been practicing law in Berkshire County since 1981 and has been with Donovan O’Connor & Dodig, LLP for the past 25 years. From 2019 through 2025, he was the Solicitor for the City of Pittsfield. Stephen has also been a member of several boards, including Help Line, Visiting Nurses Association of Northern Berkshire, Northern Berkshire Healthcare, North Adams Regional Hospital, Williamstown House of Local History, Faith Scarborough Community Service Award Committee, Taconic Golf Club, Turner House, Williamstown Rural Lands Foundation, and Adams Community Bank. Stephen is married to Jean Culver. 

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