James Canavan and Mary Grant bid farewell to friends, colleagues, students and partners at the Amsler Campus Center on Thursday night.
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Mary Grant lingered at the podium, delaying another step that would take her away from the college she's loved so much.
"I don't exactly know how to wrap up," she said to a who's who of community and educational leaders who gave her a standing ovation at the MCLA Amsler Campus Center on Thursday night. "I'm never really at a loss for words. Maybe it's just hard to think about about leaving this stage and this place.
"And it is."
The crowd was there to bid farewell to MCLA's president and her husband, James Canavan, who have both carved out a large niche in the community over their dozen years in the area. The two will depart at the end of the year for the University of North Carolina at Asheville, where Grant will take up her new post as chancellor.
"She has literally and figuratively changed the face of this campus," said Tyler Fairbank, chairman of the board of trustees at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, referring to the significant renovations of the campus during Grant's tenure and the college's top 10 liberal arts ranking.
Those efforts in large part were capped with Grant's crowning glory: The Feigenbaum Center for Science and Innovation, the first new building on campus in nearly 40 years and a blocklong statement to MCLA's renewed commitment to STEM education.
But Fairbank was the first of a host of speakers who testified that Grant is much more than the two words "science center."
She was a new president who called a new representative in the 4th District to make sure he understood MCLA was a Berkshire County institution that he represented, too, and she consistently reached out to the entire Berkshire delegation.
"I would not want to be the person who is going to take your place," said state Rep. William "Smitty" Pignatelli. "Because no one can your place."
State Sen. Benjamin B. Downing, in presenting her with a resolution from the Legislature, described her as an extension of the delegation.
"And a member of the family that is the Berkshires," he said.
She sat with students in the Quad raising awareness of homelessness on the "coldest and wettest night" in November, said Spencer Moser, director of civic engagement.
For students, she is "PMG," a mentor, a cheerleader, an adviser and a willing listener.
"Our president is visible, dependable and approachable," senior Alyson Stoltz said. Mikaelle Olivier, also a senior, thanked the Grant for "being our No. 1 fan."
"She is a fierce advocate for this college. I can tell you that from experience," said Commissioner for Higher Education Richard Freeland, who recalled how he and Grant had been in Washington, D.C., when news broke of the closure of North Adams Regional Hospital. She'd immediately reached out to the state's congressional delegation to advocate for its reopening.
"Mary Grant is an all-in president. She has given this place heart and soul," he said. "I will do everything I can to support this college as tribute to President Grant."
There was a line to speak with Grant and Canavan. See more photos here.
She has been an economic and educational leader through her efforts with the Partnership for North Adams, the development of the Berkshire Cultural Resource Center and its Gallery 51 and Downstreet Art, and partnerships with a host of organizations including Williams College.
"I'm mad at you," said Mayor Richard Alcombright, bemoaning the loss of a "power couple" who have become good friends and key advisers.
"If you were really committed," he joked, Grant would stay until MCLA was No. 1, not just a top 10 school. "True commitment would be to stay until you can make a cell phone call from [the science center]," he said to laughter over the notorious dead zone.
Jokes aside, he said the city has received other grants, but "immeasurable benefits have come from this Mary 'Grant.'"
Professor Frances Jones-Sneed, the only faculty member speaking, thanked Grant "for allowing us to be ourselves, innovators, entrepreneurs going out and doing those things that we really believe in and that we are really passionate about."
Describing Grant as a cowboy, Jones-Sneed, referring to the large MCLA mascot on the wall, said, "she is a trailblazer. She actually exemplifies that mountain lion behind us."
Attorney John DeRosa lauded Grant's tenure as exemplary leadership. "I want to thank you for 12 extraordinary years not just to MCLA, but to your community and for always including us all the time in the MCLA family."
Also speaking were 2014 graduate Jake Powers, Vincent Pedone of the Massachusetts State Universities Council of Presidents, senior Brendan Peltier, Williams College provost, professor and MCLA Trustee William Dudley, Norman Rockwell Museum Director Laurie Norton-Moffatt and MCLA Foundation board member Anthony Dolan.
The MCLA Allegrettos suitably sang "Stay With Me."
Canavan, who has worked with Northern Berkshire United Way and Soldier On, among other groups, and Grant thanked those gathered.
"Institutions that are strong carry on because of the peoplewho are there and the people who have helped to grow it," Grant said. "This is a magnificent team at this institution that will continue to lead and to advance and to innovate."
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James Canavan and Mary Grant bid farewell to friends, colleagues, students and partners at the Amsler Campus Center on Thursday night.
There was a line to speak with Grant and Canavan. See 
