Inspired by a beloved animal companion, Handley Owens started her healthy dog treat business, Southern Belle Naturals, and grew it into a line of products. Her determination and ability to tell her story with wit and warmth powered her early success.
Weaver Ellard ’17 used his experience working full-time as a Berry student to launch his career in digital marketing. His marketing expertise is integral to running two companies.
Aleeya Thornton ’23 is a determined pre-med student who gained unique perspective while helping run Berry’s health center. As she reflects on the most valuable parts of her college career, she expresses gratitude for how she was challenged in her campus job and supported by her mentor and the alumni network.
Sydney Nelson ’22 works in a prestigious biochemistry lab and has her sights set on a career characterizing the molecular origins of disease subtypes. But she says she wouldn’t have gotten there without a Berry mentor who invited her to train in his research lab during her first semester.
Building on formative Berry experiences, Monica Phelps-Pineda ’13 is completing her doctorate in education at the University of Missouri–St. Louis. She received the National Board of Certified Counselors Minority Fellowship in 2022.
Bertha Nibigira ’18 used an undergraduate internship to launch her path into youth empowerment and peacebuilding. She received a graduate degree in international development from American University.
Jazzy Innis ’24 is having a banner junior year — studying abroad in Galway, Ireland, working with the Center for Personal and Professional Development at Berry and attending the 2023 NCAA Convention in San Antonio.
A smart combination of academics and an innovative approach to learning prepared this student for real-world practice.
Thanks to a multidisciplinary track, internships and student work through the Berry Information Technology Students (BITS) program, senior Kalista Shields is ready for life after Berry.
Attorney Toqeer Chouhan (01) has packed a lot into his career — founding a boutique law firm, serving as a county magistrate judge in the Atlanta area and leading in his community. He explains how small classes and insightful mentors influenced his professional choices.
For Alex Rakestraw (18), working as a general manager for Berry College Student Enterprises was foundational in cultivating the transferable skills that landed him a job at Delta Air Lines.
Dillon Yost, with joint direction from his chemistry and math professors, discovered a field of research he never knew existed. Now he works at the prestigious Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
Richards Science Scholar Savannah Cecchini is growing a native milkweed species from seed in the biology department’s teaching greenhouse and studying seed viability and germination rates, with the goal of efficiently rehabilitating the plant on Berry’s campus and in nearby areas.
Leroy Hite ’08, a luxury firewood business owner and entrepreneur, started at Berry College with grit and a strong work ethic but left with an entrepreneurial idea that led to a premium firewood business.
With the support of Berry’s entrepreneurship program, Cecilia Kolbash ’25 built a nonprofit — Cecilia’s Community Closet — which combines her love of fashion with her desire to serve the community.
Listed in Adweek’s top 100 most innovative and inspiring individuals of 2022, Louie Spivak ’16 is catching a lot of attention in the advertising world. Thinking back on his growth, he is indebted to his professors and the Berry network.
During college, there are numerous opportunities available to students. How do students choose? Reese Chatman ’25, a current communication major and a Gate Scholar, shares his internship experience and how he made it all work.
Once upon a time, Emily Treon ’22 wanted to be a vet. However, after hands-on experiences and courses in animal nutrition, she discovered there was more to animal science than she ever imagined.
When asked why she wants a doctorate, Christy Waters ’16 has a clear answer. She believes in the power of mentoring relationships in college, which has influenced her desire to teach.
Luke Steel ’21 is putting his creative technologies experiences to work in his position as the makerspace specialist at the Georgia Cyber Center. He attributes his success to his campus job, his undergraduate mentor and the tight-knit Berry community.
Vanessa Belanger ’22, who majored in political science and religion, found a community and home playing with the Berry Women’s Soccer team. She also discovered her passion to make the world a better place in the nonprofit sector.
Now a technology strategy consultant at Deloitte Consulting, Togoryamba (Togor) Nunghe ’16 took full advantage of Berry connections to advance her career. For students looking to chart a similar path, Togor emphasizes the power of the Berry alumni network.
Graduate student Jake Weitkamp ’22 came to Berry to play football and earn an excellent education — but along the way, he grew leadership skills and a commitment to serving students.
Well equipped with his computer science degree and critical thinking skills, alumnus Cal Supik ’14 finds himself at the forefront of the software industry and in a career that he enjoys each day.
Spending the summer conducting research with a team in the Democratic Republic of Congo, alumnus Daniel Hanberry ’21 tapped into Berry experiences while investigating Ebola diagnosis methods and assessing social media activity to ascertain public opinion of COVID-19.
Ross McDuffie ’07 became president of Madison Media Partners, a multimedia company in Madison, Wisconsin. He attributes the foundation of his success to the communication department’s forward-thinking coursework and opportunities to work with faculty.
Studying international affairs and participating in Model UN provided Michael Howard ’14 with valuable skills he uses as a logistician with Operation Christmas Child, an initiative of Samaritan’s Purse.
Nancy Belle Hansford ’21 fell into her winemaking on a whim, and now she’s using her communication degree and Berry connections to grow her business.
Before Anna Helton ’16 attended Berry College, she never dreamed of becoming a software engineer. But thanks to the guidance of a professor, she is building creative solutions for clients and thriving in her career.
Derek Detweiler ’03 is designing video games he dreamed of building as kid. But as a double major in computer science and math, he never realized how influential his professor’s teaching style or his campus job experience would be.
Jess Ramos ’19 loves all things data — and is thrilled to see Berry launch a data science major.
As an undergraduate, Bailey Merlin ’15 learned how to use creative writing as a therapeutic tool in working with communities. This training set her on a previously unimagined path.
Berry’s latest Goldwater Scholar — the fourth in five years — looks forward to a promising career in medical research.
Vanessa Rice ’23 is packing her bags for a once-in-a-lifetime experience abroad. A recipient of the Critical Language Scholarship, she will travel to Ankara, Turkey, for nine weeks to study the Turkish language.
Terrell Clark ’03, a key player in portfolio management for a global sports brand, attributes professional success to an understanding of international culture and politics plus the values that Berry instilled.
Berry alumnus John Mbaku ’77 — a professor of economics, international scholar and attorney — utilizes the value system instilled in him at Berry to leave the world a better place than he found it, like Martha Berry, our founder.
Hester Parks ’95 leverages her accounting and finance majors and Berry work experiences in running her award-winning business, Park Avenue Events.