October 25, 2025
NORTH ADAMS, MA – Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) is proud to announce that Associate Professor of Psychology Sara Steele has been named "Best Professor" in The Berkshire Eagle's Best of the Berkshires 2025 awards. The honor comes after a community voting campaign that saw just over 114,500 digital votes and over 1,700 print ballots submitted across all categories.
The Best of the Berkshires awards celebrate excellence across numerous categories throughout Berkshire County, recognizing businesses, services, and individuals who make significant contributions to the region.
"It is such an honor to win an award like this, and it was an honor to even be nominated," said Professor Steele. "I really do care about my teaching and my students, so to win an award related to this is really exciting. MCLA is THE place to teach and learn. I've worked at other schools and it's just not the same. The small class sizes here really let me do what I want to do in the classroom and allows me the opportunity to do demos or have deep discussions during class. The school is also set up well for student support. If you are struggling, there are lots of folks ready and willing to help."
"This recognition speaks to Professor Steele's dedication to her students and her ability to make a lasting impact both in the classroom and throughout the community," said MCLA President James Birge. "We are incredibly proud to have her as part of our faculty."
Mark Hayden, a 2024 MCLA graduate who majored in psychology and currently works as
a researcher at the Austen Riggs Center in Stockbridge, shared his experience as one
of Professor Steele's students. "Beyond being a gifted teacher, Dr. Steele was an
instrumental mentor in my decision to pursue a career in psychology and ultimately
a doctorate," said Hayden. "She cares deeply about her students, offering wise and
thoughtful guidance with an unparalleled level of passion and positivity that are
both reassuring and inspiring. Her encouragement and deep knowledge of the field have
had, and continue to have, a lasting impact on me. I feel incredibly fortunate to
have been one of her students."
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 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 130-year commitment to
public education, we have fortified our dedication to equitable academic excellence.
MCLA has appeared on U.S. News & World Report's list of Top Ten Public Colleges for
11 consecutive years, earning the No. 6 spot on the list of Top Public Liberal Arts
Schools in the nation for 2026. The College's focus on affordable education and economic
prosperity is reflected in additional 2026 U.S. News rankings: No. 6 for Top Performer
on Social Mobility for liberal arts colleges in the state and No. 4 for Top Performer
on Social Mobility for public liberal arts colleges in the country. These rankings
measure how well schools graduate students who receive Federal Pell Grants.
