The Massachusetts Board of Higher Education confirmed the appointment of Ellen Kennedy as the next president of Berkshire Community College, effective July 1. Kennedy has been serving as interim president at the college since January, following the retirement of Paul Raverta. Kennedy previously served as the college's vice president for administration and finance.

Late last month, NEBHE senior fellow and Massachusetts Board of Higher Education Chair Charles Desmond and I launched a series of interviews with key leaders in New England philanthropy. Our goal was to paint a picture of what philanthropies see as the key issues and challenges facing higher education and how potential funders can have the most meaningful impacts on education in New England.

Our first quests were: George McCully, founder of the Catalogue for Philanthropy; Christine Green, president of the Trefler Foundation; and Meredith Jones, president of the Maine Community Foundation, who joined us by phone. Special thanks to NEBHE Coordinator of Technology and Programs Daren Follweiler, who edited the audio clips.

From left to right: Desmond, Green, McCully, and John O. Harney at NEBHE.

Here are some of the points the panelists made. (Click on each link below to hear an audio transcript.)

George McCully on ...

• The higher education and philanthropy paradigm shift

http://www.nebhe.org/info/audio/philanthropy_roundtable/mccully_on_higher_ed_and_philanthropy_paradigm_shifts.mp3

• Higher ed's business model

http://www.nebhe.org/info/audio/philanthropy_roundtable/mccully_on_higher_eds_business_model.mp3

•  Higher education as white-collar vocational training

http://www.nebhe.org/info/audio/philanthropy_roundtable/mccully_on_higher_ed_as_white-collar_vocational_school.mp3

•  New England vs. national foundations

http://www.nebhe.org/info/audio/philanthropy_roundtable/mccully_on_new_england_versus_national_foundations.mp3

• Improving education

http://www.nebhe.org/info/audio/philanthropy_roundtable/mccully_on_improving_education.mp3

• Skill development

http://www.nebhe.org/info/audio/philanthropy_roundtable/mccully_on_skill_development.mp3

• Liberal arts I

http://www.nebhe.org/info/audio/philanthropy_roundtable/mccully_on_liberal_arts.mp3

• Liberal arts II

http://www.nebhe.org/info/audio/philanthropy_roundtable/mccully_on_return_to_liberal_arts.mp3

• Faculty and tenure

http://www.nebhe.org/info/audio/philanthropy_roundtable/mccully_on_higher_ed_reforms.mp3

• Radical restructuring

http://www.nebhe.org/info/audio/philanthropy_roundtable/mccully_on_radical_restructuring.mp3

Christine Green on ...

• Re-branding the value of higher ed

green_on_being_a_learned_person.mp3

• Intellectual leadership

http://www.nebhe.org/info/audio/philanthropy_roundtable/green_on_intellectual_leadership.mp3

• Corporations abandoning higher ed

http://www.nebhe.org/info/audio/philanthropy_roundtable/green_on_corporations.mp3

• Centers of excellence concept

http://www.nebhe.org/info/audio/philanthropy_roundtable/green_on_center_of_excellence_concept.mp3

• Years to earn degree

http://www.nebhe.org/info/audio/philanthropy_roundtable/green_on_shortening_degree_programs.mp3

• Is there a system?

http://www.nebhe.org/info/audio/philanthropy_roundtable/green_on_should_there_be_a_system.mp3

• Thinking outside the box

http://www.nebhe.org/info/audio/philanthropy_roundtable/green_on_outside_the_box_thinking.mp3

Meredith Jones on ...

• A Cincinnati model for cooperation

http://www.nebhe.org/info/audio/philanthropy_roundtable/jones_on_a_cincinnati_model_for_cooperation.mp3

• Education philanthropy not just about money

http://www.nebhe.org/info/audio/philanthropy_roundtable/jones_on_higher_ed_philanthropy_not_just_about_money.mp3

Charles Desmond on ...

• Changed economic landscape

http://www.nebhe.org/info/audio/philanthropy_roundtable/desmond_on_changed_economy.mp3

• Spreading quality

http://www.nebhe.org/info/audio/philanthropy_roundtable/desmond_on_spreading_quality.mp3

• Higher ed tripping over itself

http://www.nebhe.org/info/audio/philanthropy_roundtable/desmond_on_higher_ed_tripping_over_itself.mp3