September 8, 2022
NORTH ADAMS, MA—Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts announces that Brenda Burdick, Director of Strategic Communications at General Dynamics Mission Systems, has been elected to the role of Chair of the Board of Trustees for the College. Governor Charlie Baker appointed Burdick to the Board in 2018. Burdick was reappointed for a second five-year appointment in July 2022.
Prior to her election, Burdick had served as Chair of the Student Affairs Committee and Academic Affairs Committee as well as Vice Chair of the Board. She succeeds Mohan Boodram as Chair of the Board.
Burdick started her career at General Dynamics in Pittsfield in 1995 before becoming the Marketing and Public Relations Manager in 2002, and later adopting the role of Senior Manager of Marketing and Public Relations in 2014.
“Serving as the Chair of the MCLA Board of Trustees is an honor and a privilege,” said Burdick. “I’ve had the opportunity to witness the positive impact that MCLA students have had on the success of Berkshire County. With the development of new academic programs, MCLA responds to the needs of our businesses and communities while assuring our students can make even greater impact on the Berkshires region and beyond.”
Before joining General Dynamics, Burdick was the Director of Sales and Marketing for Swift River Inn in Cummington and was both a Sales Manager and a Public Relations Assistant for Canyon Ranch in Lenox. She also served as a member of the Berkshire United Way Board of Directors from 2008-17 which included one two-year team as chairperson and two two-year terms as vice chairperson.
“I'm eager to continue working with Brenda in her new role as the Chair of the Board of Trustees,” said MCLA President James F. Birge. “Our students and graduates are crucial to the future workforce and are key players in the relationship of the largest engineering and manufacturing employer in the region.”
The new Board Chair holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration with a double major in Business Communications and Marketing from Bryant University and resides in Adams, Mass. Burdick also currently serves on 1Berkshire’s executive committee as the vice chair and has been with the organization since 2009.
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, as leaders, communicators, fully
empowered to make their impressions on the world. In addition to our 127-year commitment
to public education, we have fortified our commitment to equitable academic excellence.
For nine of the last 11 years, MCLA has been named a Top Ten College by U.S. News
and World Report. MCLA also appears on the organization’s list of top National Public
Liberal Arts Colleges. Since the list was created, MCLA has risen to #21 as a Top
Performer on Social Mobility and ranks first among all Massachusetts schools, which
measures how well schools graduate students who receive Federal Pell Grants.
Learn more at www.mcla.edu.
