When alumni think back on their time at Berry, chances are the moments that shaped them most are the ones that happened beyond the syllabus. A professor who inspired deeper thinking. A project that took learning out of the classroom. A chance to present work, hear a new perspective or test ideas in the real world.
Those experiences remain at the heart of a Berry education today. When students are able to share their research, engage with visiting speakers, attend conferences or apply what they're learning in new contexts, academics come alive — and students begin to see themselves not just as learners, but as emerging professionals.
The Academic Funds highlighted during our inaugural Day of Giving help make those moments possible. By providing flexible support for opportunities that often fall outside traditional budgets, these funds ensure that every student — regardless of financial circumstance — can fully engage in the kind of academic experiences that deepen learning, build confidence and prepare them for life after Berry.
Investing in collaborative innovation
The President's Innovation Fund honors the inauguration of Dr. Sandeep Mazumder as Berry's ninth president by strengthening Berry's enduring commitment to hands-on learning through collaborative research with faculty and ensuring that students of all financial circumstances can fully engage in these opportunities. The goal? Empowering faculty and students to explore bold ideas together so students gain confidence and experience within their disciplines.
Campbell School of Business
The Campbell School of Business Dean's Opportunity Fund strengthens the real‑world learning that defines a Berry business education through support of student participation in conferences, academic competitions, research presentations, certifications, internships, study abroad and other signature experiences. These opportunities often become turning points where students gain confidence, expand their networks and begin to see themselves as emerging leaders in their fields.
The Entrepreneurship Fund nurtures the kind of creativity that flourishes when students are encouraged to imagine boldly, test ideas and learn through hands‑on challenges. By providing flexible resources that enrich Berry's Entrepreneurship Program, this fund creates space for innovation to take root. Gifts help support enhanced learning, innovation‑focused competitions and events that bring experienced entrepreneurs to campus, helping students develop the creativity, resilience and problem‑solving skills essential to launching new ideas.
Charter School of Education and Human Sciences
The Charter School of Education and Human Sciences prepares future teachers, counselors and health‑science professionals who serve their communities with head, heart and hands. The Charter School Dean's Fund supports this mission by providing flexible resources for small but meaningful needs — from enhancing student learning to hosting speakers, supporting faculty‑student activities and responding to opportunities that arise outside regular budgets. Donor support ensures that students entering these caring professions have access to the experiences that shape them into thoughtful, well‑prepared leaders.
Cultural immersion is a defining element of Berry's nursing program, giving students the chance to care for patients in Kenya or Ecuador, visit nursing schools and engage deeply with communities around the world. These experiences broaden perspectives, strengthen empathy and help students understand what it truly means to serve with head, heart and hands. The Nursing Immersion Fund partners with students to meet half of the estimated cost of these trips, ensuring that financial barriers do not stand in the way of transformational learning.
Berry nursing graduates enter the profession fully prepared — a fact reflected in the program's 100% licensure pass rate over the last three years and exceptional job‑placement outcomes. The Nursing Program Fund helps sustain this excellence by providing flexible support for enhanced learning, faculty‑student activities, guest speakers and other opportunities that fall outside regular operating budgets. Donor generosity ensures that nursing students receive an education that is both rigorous and deeply relational, equipping them to serve their communities with confidence and compassion.
Evans School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences
The Dean's Fund for the Evans School of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences strengthens the school's commitment to helping students think deeply, create boldly and engage meaningfully with the world around them. By providing flexible support for small but impactful needs — from enhanced learning experiences to faculty‑student activities and guest speakers — the fund allows the dean to respond to opportunities that arise throughout the year. Donor generosity ensures that students have access to the moments that enrich their studies and shape their growth as thoughtful, engaged citizens.
The Kevin Kleine Endowed Fund for Communication honors the remarkable 38‑year career of a faculty member who shaped generations of Berry graduates, whether they learned in his classroom, raced toward publication deadlines with him or benefited from his humor and steady mentorship. This fund supports the types of high‑impact learning experiences he championed, including attending media conferences, learning from industry professionals and participating in hands‑on projects that build confidence and professional readiness. Donor support ensures that future Communication students can access the same transformative experiences that defined so many alumni journeys.
School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences
The Dean's Fund for the School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences supports the kind of inquiry‑driven learning that defines the school. By providing flexible resources for enhanced learning experiences, faculty‑student activities, guest speakers and other needs that arise outside regular budgets, the fund allows the dean to respond quickly to strengthen academic engagement. Donor support ensures that students in math and the natural sciences have access to the hands‑on, curiosity‑shaping moments that deepen understanding and prepare them to solve real‑world problems with confidence.
