The Berry Alumni Council:
Helping Berry to Reach Toward the
next 125
Alumni Council President
The Berry Alumni Council met in August for its first meeting of the academic year, and I was grateful to welcome both returning and new members.
This is a critical time for colleges and universities to stay on the right path, and I believe Berry is doing many things right. As Alumni Council president, I see our council's role as helping Berry celebrate its first 125 years while preparing to be an integral part of the next 125. During the council's meeting, we talked about our purpose and how it connects to all that we do.
Strategic Purpose
For the Berry Alumni Council, the vision is: To promote and foster a mutually beneficial and indispensable relationship between Berry and its alumni. Our mission is: To align the work of the Alumni Association with Berry's strategic plan; to provide opportunities for alumni to connect through meaningful Association programs and activities; and to create and sustain a vibrant and engaged alumni community. All Berry alumni are members of the association by virtue of attending Berry for at least one year. Dues are not required.
This purpose drives our work and links directly to Berry College's mission: We educate the head, heart and hands to inspire leaders of integrity who cultivate thriving communities. It also ties our work to the college's recently released strategic plan. I want the council to continue aligning its efforts with Berry's vision, mission and strategic priorities.
To support that alignment, I have collaborated with President Sandeep Mazumder, Trustee Chairman John Coleman and other stakeholders to meet at least once before each council meeting and help facilitate communication.
Major Topics
I was pleased to welcome Dr. Andrew Bressette, Berry's vice president for enrollment management, who shared an encouraging enrollment update. Berry met its new student and transfer goals and has a waiting list larger than the freshman class, even as many institutions face enrollment challenges.
Bressette also shared that opportunities are being explored for alumni to help host events for prospective students and families, giving them a chance to hear directly from alumni and their Berry experience.
We also heard from Buster Wright (73C), Board of Trustees member, and Brian Erb, chief operating officer and vice president for finance, about renovation and preservation efforts across campus. Wright noted that Berry's Board of Trustees is structured with a majority of alumni, bringing strong institutional knowledge and alumni perspective to discussions about how resources are used to renovate and restore campus buildings and structures.
I also want to share a few highlights from our committee work this year.
Awards Committee
The Alumni Awards Committee continues to honor alumni who embody Martha Berry's call "not to be ministered unto, but to minister." This year, the committee will recognize five accomplished alumni at the Nov. 7 awards luncheon. The committee also is seeking nominations for future honorees in the Distinguished Achievement, Distinguished Service, Entrepreneurial Spirit and Outstanding Young Alumni categories. Nomination forms can be submitted online.
Culture and Heritage Committee
The Culture and Heritage Committee is supporting Berry's mission of educating the head, heart and hands by deepening members' knowledge of Berry history, staying connected to preservation efforts and volunteering with student-centered traditions.
This year's work includes book discussions, visits to historic sites, updates on projects such as Louise Cottage and support for Mountain Day, Alumni Work Week and History Week.
The committee also is helping with a project to record 125 oral histories in honor of Berry's 125th anniversary.
Alumni Engagement Committee
The Alumni Engagement Committee is focusing on both continuity and innovation: strengthening the best initiatives from past years while exploring new ways to connect with Berry's alumni family. New ideas under consideration include an Alumni Family Day, campus visit kits for alumni and expanded networking opportunities, including the annual Viking Connections event.
Alumni Giving Committee
The Alumni Giving Committee is exploring ways to share giving opportunities with alumni, including support for completing funding for the newly refurbished Evans Hall doors. The doors honor the mothers of the original donors in the wing once known as the Mothers Memorial Building.
The committee also discussed ways to support Berry's second
annual Day of Giving on March 30, 2027.
