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.
Exercise science major Gretchen Reifenberger plans a career as a registered dietitian — having made the most of research opportunities at Berry.
Grace Eckstein ’22 knew she wanted to help others by pursuing a nursing career. Berry gave her the opportunity to learn and build leadership skills — especially in its cutting-edge nursing simulation lab.
Michelle Little has used the skills she learned as a head resident assistant to help her further excel in her field as a family medicine physician in Dalton, GA.
Biochemistry major Mason Hemstreet ’22 gets the coaching needed to enter medical school while competing on the soccer field.
Rich Morrison ’22, a political science and psychology major, is prepared for the rigors of law school. He says the humanities and on-campus jobs have equipped him to assess situations and understand human behavior.
Biochemistry major Will Bannister ’22 knew he wanted to go into healthcare before he came to Berry, but his decision was sealed after he learned about the One Health program that is strengthening his plans for a career in public health and medicine. Services opportunities cemented his commitment to underserved populations.
Vanessa Fowler ’22 is using her talents in writing, psychology, and forensics to create a career in coaching and communicating. Berry set her up to succeed.
With her sights set on a future in mechanical or aerospace engineering, Kya Wiggins ’22 tapped into a network of opportunities for undergraduate research, accelerated learning and practical experience that will give her a competitive edge.
Graduating with a degree in marketing and management, Breelan Baxter ’21 was prepared to take on a job in event planning thanks to the first-hand experiences and connections she garnered at Berry.
Excited about attending veterinary school, Raven Washington ’22 made the most of her final semester at Berry — completing research for her senior thesis as well as her final season on the women’s basketball team.