Former Pittsfield mayor and current president of Westfield State College, Evan S. Dobelle, is no stranger to the Berkshires. However, in the interest of increasing awareness of Westfield State in this region, Dobelle has appointed Nancy Noonan Woitkowski of Pittsfield as Berkshire region liaison.
Woitkowski, already widely known in the Pittsfield area for her active community service, will work with the Alumni Relations office as a local resource for alumni, students or anyone wanting to learn more about Westfield State.
She is the former director of guidance at Taconic High School in Pittsfield, and served the Pittsfield school system as an educator for 39 years. She was longtime treasurer of the Berkshire County Guidance Association. Her work as a guidance counselor was recognized by the Massachusetts School Counselors Association (MASCA) and the Berkshire affiliate as Affiliate Counselor of the Year for 2002-2003.
In the community, Woitkowski is a board member of the Citizens Scholarship Foundation and the Adult Learning Center. She is a member of the Berkshire Museum and the Clark Art Institute and is a volunteer at the Soncini Animal Shelter.
“I’m both thrilled and honored that President Dobelle has tapped me for this position,” Woitkowski said. “I plan to enhance the presence of Westfield State College in the Berkshires. I’m looking forward to working with alumni and students, as well as prospective students and their parents.”
Berkshire residents can meet both the Westfield State president and Nancy Woitkowski at an event hosted by Dobelle at the Colonial Theatre, 11 South St. in Pittsfield, on Friday, April 18. The evening starts with a reception at 6:30 p.m. followed by the theatre’s guest presentation of the long-running off- Broadway hit Greater Tuna at 8 p.m.
“I look forward to seeing friends and college alumni, as well as making new acquaintances in the Pittsfield area,” Dobelle said. “This is the first in what we hope will be a series of events in the Berkshires involving partnerships with area organizations and Westfield State.”
Dobelle, who became Westfield State’s 19th president in January, is not only a Pittsfield resident, but was mayor from 1973 to 1976.
The current Pittsfield mayor, Jim Ruberto, said Dobelle’s continued presence is the region is good news.
“My congratulations go out to my good friend and mentor Evan Dobelle on his appointment as president of Westfield State College,” Ruberto said. “Evan’s energy and leadership is sure to strike a responsive cord with students, advance the educational excellence of the college, and have a positive impact not only on the city and residents of Westfield, but on Berkshire County as well.”
“It is only natural for President Dobelle to host an event at the Colonial Theatre as his wife, Kit, is a member of its board of directors,” said Kimberly Trudeau, director of Alumni Relations.
Greater Tuna , starting at 8 p.m., is the first in a trilogy of comedic plays each set in the fictional town of Tuna, Texas, the “third smallest town in the state.” The plays are at once an affectionate comment on small-town, Southern life and attitudes, but also a withering satire of same. Greater Tuna features two actors creating the entire population of Tuna — 20 characters in all.
After serving as mayor of Pittsfield, Dobelle went on to become treasurer and deputy chair of the Democratic National Committee and national chairman of the Carter-Mondale Presidential Exploratory Committee.
He was chief of protocol of the United States with the rank of ambassador in the late 70s. His state political career also included serving as commissioner of Environmental Management and Natural Resources and executive assistant to the former U.S. Sen. Edward W. Brooke (R-Massachusetts).
As a leader in education, Dobelle served as president of Middlesex Community College in Massachusetts, City College of San Francisco, Trinity College in Hartford and the University of Hawaii system. He was president and CEO of the New England Board of High Education, before becoming president of Westfield State.
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