Cheers resounded through the Cage Center on April 10 as Dr. Sandeep Mazumder accepted the medallion symbolizing his official inauguration as Berry’s ninth president. The enthusiasm of students, alumni, faculty, staff, friends, board leaders and other dignitaries reflected the widespread confidence Mazumder inspired during his first year on the job.
The London-born economist assumed the title of Berry president on July 1, 2025, succeeding Dr. Steve Briggs. Since that time, he has immersed himself in such high-level responsibilities as leading a community-engaged strategic planning effort while simultaneously knitting himself into the life of the broader Berry community alongside wife Gretchen and their three children.
Steeped in centuries-old academic tradition, the inauguration featured remarks from a variety of speakers including those who gained great appreciation for Mazumder prior to his Berry appointment.
Praise for his “seriousness as a scholar” and commitment to maintaining and strengthening Berry’s culture of scholarship was voiced by Dr. Laurence Ball, professor of economics at Johns Hopkins University, who served as the primary advisor for Mazumder’s doctoral dissertation and later partnered with him as a research colleague.
The Rev. Derek Radney, pastor of Trinity Church in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, cited the new president’s humility while reflecting on holiday dinners, time spent watching World Cup matches together and Mazumder’s “excellent smoked brisket,” observing that his lack of self-absorption “enables him to focus on the work he’s been given in service to the people around him.”
Those trademark qualities were evident as the new president outlined a vision for Berry’s future evocative of the event’s theme: “Faithful to Our Roots, Bold for Tomorrow.”
“The work that God began here through Martha Berry is the work that we carry on, that we refine,” Mazumder remarked to the hundreds gathered in the Cage Center and others watching via livestream. “As we stand here in this moment in Berry’s story, we’re reminded that we do not inherit something completed. We inherit a calling, a challenge to which we rise each day. We seek solutions, wrestle with ideas, shape our character, practice our craft, pursue clarity and truth, lead with integrity, serve with humility, and dream boldly about what Berry can become for the next generation.”
The inauguration capped a week of activities, with events focused on student achievement, philanthropy, faith and shared purpose. These included the annual Symposium on Student Scholarship highlighting campus research; the college’s first-ever Day of Giving; the President’s Chapel Service; and a series of award ceremonies, receptions and art presentations.
Berry voices
Words spoken from the podium during the inauguration ceremony reflected the depth of respect many already share for the new president. Here are a few examples:
“We appreciate your gracious presence, your forethought in strategic planning, your love of culture and international experience, and your commitment to academic excellence. We are very glad that your path from London and Cambridge to Baltimore and Waco has at last led you here to Mount Berry.”
— Dr. Jonathan Parker, Faculty Assembly officer, referencing stops at such prestigious institutions as Cambridge, Johns Hopkins and Baylor during Mazumder’s academic journey to Berry
“Your presence has been both visible and impactful. Your genuine investment in students gives us great confidence in the future of Berry. We’re especially encouraged by your ability to look forward with vision while continuing to honor the traditions, values and sense of community that make this place so special.”
— Anna Yard (26C), then-president of the Student Government Association
“We’re an alumni body deeply rooted in Berry’s traditions, and we admire your vision to elevate the college’s future while remaining faithful to its mission, its history and its founder, Martha Berry. We want you to know that you are joining an extended family that could fill this arena 16 times over, an engaged and devoted community ready to support and encourage you in your leadership.”
— Meredith Lewallen Roberts (07C), then-president of the Berry Alumni Council
