September 6, 2024
In an effort to understand and move past the era of polarized politics, MCLA will host an Inclusive Democracy Election Panel this September that invites students and community members to explore ways to engage and improve our democracy.
The panel will take place on Sept. 26 at 5 p.m. in Murdock Hall Room 218 and will
be moderated by A.J. Enchill, president and executive director of the Berkshire Black
Economic Council. Featured panelists include Dr. Samantha Pettey, MCLA’s associate
professor for history and political science, Joe Donahue, WAMC’s host of The Roundtable
and The Bookshow, and Dr. Mason Williams, Williams College’s associate professor of
political science and leadership studies.
About the Panelists and Moderator
A.J. Enchill, Berkshire Black Economic Council
Born to immigrants from Ghana, A.J. Enchill is a native of Pittsfield and the eldest
of four brothers. Enchill is a graduate of The Governor’s Academy, where he was a
dorm proctor and lacrosse captain. He went on to play varsity lacrosse at Tufts University,
where he was also a BLAST scholar, a Latin Tutor, and he earned a B.A. in American
Studies. Enchill is a two-time National champion and facilitated class discussion
for an American Studies prerequisite course called “Race in America.”
From 2017 through 2022, Enchill performed constituent services and community outreach
as the District Aide for State Senator Adam G. Hinds. He was formerly the board co-chair
for Multicultural BRIDGE. Enchill is a past board member of Berkshire Community Action
Council and Community Health Programs. He also served on the C4 Arts Initiative. Enchill
is on The Executive Committee of the Berkshire County Branch of The NAACP where he
serves as the Economic Development and Justice Chair. Enchill is the founder and President
of the Berkshire Black Economic Council. Enchill is now participating in the Boston
Fed’s Leaders for Equitable Local Economies where he and his brother Auric, support
BIPOC businesses in The City of Pittsfield by working with city and key institutions
to shift approaches to small business support and purchasing.
In 2022, Enchill was awarded the Non Sibi Sed Aliis Award by The Alumni Council of
The Governors Academy and he was named Berkshire 25 by Berkshire Magazine. The Healy-Driscoll
Transition Policy Committee appointed Enchill to serve as a Co-Chair for The Jobs
and Flourishing Economies Transition Committee for Governor Maura Healy’s administration.
Enchill has since been appointed by Governor Healy to serve on The Governor’s Advisory
Committee on Black Empowerment for The Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Enchill returned to his hometown to impact his community in a way that inspires young
folks to return to the Berkshires to strengthen the place that raised them.
Dr. Samantha Pettey, MCLA
Originally from southeastern Massachusetts, Dr. Samantha Pettey has been interested
in politics since a young age and has worked in the History and Political Science
Department at MCLA since Fall 2016. Dr. Pettey teaches a range of courses on American
government but is most passionate about teaching and researching Congress, state and
local politics and women in politics.
Dr. Pettey’s current research focuses broadly on female candidates. She is particularly
interested in the impact institutional features and demographic characteristics have
on state-level candidate emergence and success. Click here to listen to Dr. Pettey’s
latest research on the NPR Academic Minute.
Joe Donahue, WAMC
For over 35 years, Joe Donahue - the award-winning host of WAMC/ Northeast Public
Radio’s The Roundtable - has been widely recognized for fostering insightful, thought-provoking
conversation. Donahue offers his listeners some of the world's most fascinating people
and subjects. He is a lifelong advocate of reading and writers and hosts the nationally
syndicated, The Book Show.
Donahue is the Senior Director of News and Programming for WAMC and has been with
the station since 1994. He is best known for his continuing work as a talk show host
and interviewer on the daily talk program, The Roundtable. Mix a roster of amazing
guests and intelligent questions and you get interviews Metroland described as “in
a category by themselves” and “distinguished by a blend of warmth and empathy, genuine
curiosity, and sharp intelligence.” The Roundtable's hallmark is interviews by host
and executive producer Donahue and his unique approach. The daily award-winning Roundtable
program airs daily from 9-12 AM on the WAMC/Northeast Public Radio network, where
Donahue has dedicated his career to the excellence of radio broadcasting. He also
hosts the nationally syndicated half hour chat with renowned authors, The Book Show.
Donahue has been honored with over 50 national and local awards for his interviewing
achievements, including the prestigious Scripps-Howard Excellence in Electronic Journalism
Award and several Edward R. Murrow awards. He is also an adjunct professor at his
alma mater, The College of St. Rose, teaching interviewing and radio production. His
voice has been used for major exhibits at museums, including at the Franklin D. Roosevelt
Presidential Library and Museum and in the award-winning documentary, Indian Point.
Donahue was a visiting faculty member at Bennington from Fall 2021 - Fall 2022, and
Spring 2024.
Dr. Mason B. Williams, Williams College
Dr. Mason B. Williams is the chair of leadership studies and an associate professor
of leadership studies and political science at Williams College. He has been with
Williams College since 2014. Dr. Williams holds a B.A. in History from Princeton University
(2006), and an M.A. in History from Columbia University (2009), where he later received
his doctorate in 2012.
His areas of expertise include U.S. political history, 20th-century U.S. history,
American political development, the politics of historical memory, and the history
of New York. Dr. Williams has authored several books, including “City of Ambition:
FDR, La Guardia, and the Making of Modern New York” and co-edited works such as “Shaped
by the State: Toward a New Political History of the Twentieth Century.”
He teaches various courses at Williams College, such as “Visionaries, Pragmatists,
and Demagogues: An Introduction to Leadership Studies” and “Race and Inequality in
the American City.”
About MCLA
At MCLA, we’re here for all — and focused on each — of our students. Classes are taught
by educators who care deeply about teaching, and about seeing their students thrive
on every level of their lives. In nearly every way possible, the experience at MCLA
is designed to elevate our students as individuals, leaders, and communicators, fully
empowered to make their impressions on the world. In addition to our 129-year commitment
to public education, we have fortified our commitment to equitable academic excellence.
MCLA has appeared on U.S. News’ list of Top Ten Public Colleges for nine consecutive
years, ranking No. 7 for Liberal Arts Schools in the nation for a third year. The
College's continued commitment to affordable education and economic prosperity is
reflected in its inclusion on U.S. News' list of National Liberal Arts Colleges for
Social Mobility since the organization adopted this ranking in 2019; MCLA is No. 1
in the state, No. 2 in the country, and No. 22 for National Liberal Arts Colleges.
These rankings measure how well schools graduate students who receive Federal Pell
Grants. Learn more at www.mcla.edu.
