At MCLA, the spotlight often shines on the president and faculty, while the dedicated staff who help shape the campus experience tend to stay in the background. Yet, it’s these everyday heroes in the dining hall, academic buildings, and dorms who truly make a difference in students’ lives.
Though you might not see their names in official announcements or online profiles, students usually interact with them far more frequently than with the administration. It’s high time they receive their time in the sun to celebrate their invaluable warmth and support that create a vibrant and welcoming atmosphere at MCLA.
Elise Cross
Take Elise Cross, for example; with over 20 years in the dining hall, her genuine connections with students resonate far beyond the meals she has served, making her a cherished part of the MCLA community.
Jayna Schmohl, a junior at MCLA, recalled her freshman year as a time of profound struggle.
“I was having a really rough time after a traumatic incident,” she shared with the Beacon. The café, one of the only food options on campus, became a source of anxiety for her. “Every time I went to the café, I was terrified I would run into one of the people involved.”
It was in this vulnerable state that Cross noticed Schmohl’s distress. “She asked if I was okay and how I was doing. I didn’t open up right away, but because of her consistent kindness and the way she made an effort to distract me… I eventually told her about my fears.”
Cross’s response was not just a fleeting moment of concern; it was a commitment to Schmohl’s well-being.
“From then on, every morning, she made sure that whoever was at the register would let me know if those people were around or not. It gave me such a sense of safety.”
Feeling isolated from her campus community, Cross’s actions provided a lifeline for Schmohl. “Honestly, it’s one of the main reasons I was able to push through and stay at MCLA. Elise didn’t have to get involved, but she did. She chose to care, and it made all the difference.”
This dedication to her other students did not go unnoticed. Recently, Cross was honored with the Outstanding Service Award from the National Residence Hall Honorary (NRHH) at MCLA, a prestigious recognition presented by Vice President Faith Leblanc.
“This person has brightened the day of every student who passes through the café,” Leblanc proclaimed, highlighting Cross’s unwavering commitment to service. “Whether it’s preparing the perfect omelet or simply offering a friendly greeting, this individual’s positive energy has made a lasting impact on the entire student body.”
For Cross, MCLA isn’t just a job; she refers to it as somewhere that has shaped her whole life. She has worked—through Aramark—in the dining hall for 25 years, taking the bus every day to ensure she arrives on time for breakfast at 7:30 AM, five days a week. At 15 years old, she started as a part time catering assistant but then returned at 18 years old to a full-time dining hall job, working tirelessly ever since.
Her husband currently works on the MCLA Facilities staff, but they originally both met each other when he worked for Aramark. In addition, Cross’s mother, sister, brother, and more family and friends have all worked or work for Aramark’s MCLA branch. Behind the scenes, Elise balances her responsibilities as not only a confidant to MCLA students, but also as a mother to two young boys at home and a daughter who lives in Oklahoma.
It’s evident to students that her commitment is not just to her job but to the community she serves.
“Elise knows her regulars,” one student noted. “A lot of students come into a space like the dining hall and think these people don’t care, but she does, even if it’s just remembering my omelet order, and that makes my day so much better.”
In a world that often feels disconnected, Cross embodies the spirit of community. Her kindness ripples through the dining hall, creating a safe haven for students like Schmohl, who found solace in her unwavering support.
Denise Maselli
Denise Maselli, another beloved figure at MCLA and known as “the Bowman POD lady” to most students, is preparing to retire after 21 years of dedicated service. Her journey began with a simple cart, serving coffee and soup to students in both CSI and the halls of Bowman Hall, long before she made her home on Bowman’s lower level.
“I created this,” she said, pride evident in her voice.
Before her time at MCLA, Maselli spent 17 years at Williams College and 13 years at Friendly’s in Pittsfield. Her early life was marked by adventure, traveling across the U.S. and working in Texas.
“[We were] young and stayed wherever we could,” she reminisced, describing a nomadic lifestyle that included living in driveways in a station wagon.
Referring to herself affectionately as the “MCLA mom,” Maselli has nurtured countless students and faculty alike, always ready with a warm smile and a listening ear. With six grandchildren—both from her son and daughter—she embraces the role of caregiver at home and on campus.
“It’s not the coffee or the snacks, it’s a touch of Mom, while at MCLA,” Professor Jerry Smosky told the Beacon.
“She goes above and beyond with her decorations,” said senior Fallon Maloney, appreciating the way Maselli never fails to brighten up her section of Bowman Hall. “She does them all herself and always seems to take pride in her work”.
As she prepares for her last day on May 12th, Maselli acknowledged the vibrant community she helped foster. “I love my job,” she said. “I’ve had so much fun, I’ve seen so many different generations come through those gates.”
In talking with Maselli, she had nothing but positive memories from her time at MCLA; however, she does acknowledge a humorous generational gap when it comes to language.
“I hear students drop the F-bomb quite a bit,” she chuckled, “but I appreciate them anyway; they’re always respectful to me, even if their choice of words sometimes makes me want to cover my ears!”
Her impact has not gone unnoticed; professors, who have relied on her support for so long, will miss her just as much.
“Denise is the first person I see when I come in. [She’s] always smiling and it’s nice to have somebody there to greet you as you’re coming in the door,” said Professor Paul LeSage, who spends almost all his time in classes within Bowman Hall.
“She creates decorations, she argues with people about getting more soup, etc, for the students and us,” added Professor LeSage, “I’m going to miss her a lot – we’ve worked together for over 20 years.”
She made sure to emphasize to the Beacon that these interactions are just another day to her. “I tell everyone, if there were no professors, there’d be no students.”
Even interacting with commuter students on a daily basis like Esha Zahid, Maselli’s “regular moments” are important: “I always know I can go to Bowman for a snack or morning coffee, and Ms. Denise will be there before everyone to make sure she’s all set up for the day, and for me, that shows how much she cares about us,” said Zahid.
After retiring, Maselli looks forward to new adventures with her husband, who has been retired for four years. They plan to explore the New England coast in their newly purchased pop-up camper.
“He’s been waiting,” she laughed, excited for the journey ahead.
As she steps into this new chapter, Maselli leaves behind big shoes to fill and a legacy of kindness and dedication that will resonate within the halls of MCLA for years to come.
Frederick Ferris
While food might be the quickest way to a hungry student’s heart, the spirit of community at MCLA extends beyond the dining hall. One such member of the maintenance team whose commitment to excellence and care for the campus is equally inspiring.
Frederick Ferris, known around campus as the “Campus Superhero,” is also nearing retirement after 36 years of service at MCLA. He began his career in 1989 as a maintainer working night shifts in Eldridge Hall, a building formerly used as the president’s residence.
At the time, Ferris was close in age to the students he served, and through connections with resident assistants, he met his now-wife; they have been married for 32 years. Ferris has lived in Williamstown for 30 years, establishing deep roots in the community.
At age 61, Ferris plans to retire in 2026, though he has expressed reluctance to leave the institution. “The college is one of the best jobs I’ve ever had,” he stated, noting his competitive benefits and purposeful work.
“When I look at the college and what we’re doing here, we’re helping students go out into the world and expand their knowledge – maybe even go as far as saying save the world.”
Ferris has a 26-year-old son and anticipates spending more time with his wife and their two boxers upon retirement, whom he considers his “two other kids.”
Ella Staffier, a junior at MCLA, noted, “He always has time to come say hi to Mocha [my dog] and me, and to tell us about his dogs.”
Known for his enthusiasm, Ferris also enjoys discussing Marvel superheroes with students and maintains a Batmobile collection, “I’m a kid at heart,” he admitted.
From 1995 to 2004, Ferris worked in residence hall trades, eventually becoming a Carpenter I for over a decade. While working, he earned a sports medicine degree at MCLA. Around 2014, he briefly moved into facilities management, but returned to the Carpenter II position in 2022, where he plans to remain until retirement.
“He is always everywhere on this campus,” junior Emily Castle remarked. “I see him fixing something in the laundry room, and then the next day he’s fixing the fridge in my townhouse, and then he’s carrying tables across the quad.”
“Fred has kinda been my hero this year,” shared Kate Zelkowitz, a junior at the college. “My townhouse has no shortage of crazy problems this year, from broken heaters to milk leaching from our ceiling. Every time, he’s been there for us with a smile and a solution.”
When asked what his favorite moments at MCLA have been, Ferris struggled to place them all into one thing. For example, interactions with students’ emotional support animals have become a favorite part of Ferris’s current role. He knows many of them by name, including Bean and Mocha, a bulldog and pit mix who live in the townhouses.
In addition, early on in his tenure, Ferris was tasked with washing the car of then-President Thomas Aceto, who encouraged him to take the vehicle—a Taurus SHO—out for a spin during work hours.
“It’s the little things that make a big deal,” Ferris recalls, a story he has shared for more than thirty years.
Reflecting on his time here, Ferris described the campus community as his “second family.” He has consistently emphasized to his team that they are an “integral” part of facilities and a “valued part of the MCLA family.”
As Ferris prepares for retirement, he leaves behind a legacy of nearly four decades of dedicated service and commitment to the college’s mission.
As we celebrate the remarkable contributions of individuals like Elise Cross, Denise Maselli, and Frederick Ferris, it becomes clear that the spirit of community at MCLA is woven through the everyday interactions and support that define the campus experience. As they step into new chapters of their lives, their legacies of kindness and commitment will continue to resonate within the MCLA community, and we hope that they know they are never invisible to us.
