Almost three years into his practice, this alum says Berry’s nursing program offered the clinical and paid job experiences that positioned him for the job market and the realities of a demanding yet rewarding career.
From an early age, political science major Brandin Carter ’25 knew he wanted to practice law and dreamed of one day holding public office. Now a junior preparing for the LSAT, he says formative Berry experiences and his summer internship with a district attorney are steppingstones to achieving his goals.
Physics major Brenden Smothers built a cloud-computing system during his internship and was then hired as the company’s webmaster. He reflects on how Berry encouraged him to pursue his interests and credits his support network for much of his success.
Jamie Jang started college on a different degree path, but with the guidance of faculty, she charted a course to physician assistant school. Now she’s thriving in her major, volunteer work and on-campus jobs related to health care.
Abby Hilliard, a marketing and management double major, encourages students not to wait until junior or senior year for an internship. After working as a Harbin Clinic marketing intern, she has new direction and drive to start her junior year.
As an ambitious student with a variety of interests, Makhia Williams says an internship at Mohawk Industries, an international leader in flooring, is helping her focus career goals.
Hunter Perez ’23 transferred to Berry and quickly became a leader: research and teaching assistant, dairy shift supervisor and student director of orientation. Now he’s enrolled in graduate school with eyes firmly set on teaching animal science.
Mathewson Parks ’23 relocated to LA after graduation when he secured a highly sought after internship with the Television Academy Foundation. After a summer in Hollywood, he is now an active producer on two documentaries with the Emmy-nominated studio Elysium Media.
Kylie Hamilton-Lord has made a name for herself teaching students to love music. Tripling the middle school band size where she was recently employed, she sees the impact her Berry education plays in how she builds community and teaches music.
Ryan Segall ’23 had a software developer job in hand when he walked across the stage at graduation. Reflecting on his college experience, he expresses the value of small classes, individualized learning and practical application of computer science skills in his on-campus work and internship.
Lirio Morales Ibarra ’23, who majored in sociology and anthropology, capped off her senior year with an acceptance to Harvard’s Educational Leadership, Organizations and Entrepreneurship Program housed in the Graduate School of Education. She says Berry experiences — especially the opportunity to serve — played a crucial part in her success.
Initially struggling to find a major that catered to her career aspirations, Dasha Schaaf ’23 decided to pursue an individually designed major in organizational leadership development.
The combination of academics and practical training in Berry’s nursing program paired with a four-year service scholarship prepared this nurse to deliver care with compassion and empathy.
Majoring in economics and Spanish plus minoring in mathematics and physics, this business student embraced activities at Berry with energy and determination — including her position as technical director of Berry Outdoor Leadership Development (BOLD).
Carly Robinson ’23 came to Berry specifically for the applied behavior analysis (ABA) minor housed in the psychology department. ABA classes and relevant internships prepared her for graduate studies at Augusta University.
Alex Ruble ’23, a communication major and business minor, shares how he started a successful photography and videography business during his time at Berry.
Amy Solana ’23 plans a career in recreational therapy. To achieve her goal, she personalized her major with a combination of work, academic and research experiences — and even won the admiration of some honorary grandparents along the way.
Future veterinarian Brooke Appelbaum ’23 accumulated meaningful hours caring for animals, from the cattle and sheep on Berry’s campus farm to beloved pets at a specialty veterinary clinic. She also conducted research that could lead to new ways of protecting livestock from disease. Accepted to four veterinary schools, she chose the University of Georgia.
Entering college undecided about your major can open you to new possibilities and career options, as Kate Gray ’23 learned at Berry. Taking Spanish enriched her life and set her on a path to use her language skills in service to others.
Studies in the humanities positioned Vanessa Rice ’23 to receive a coveted Fulbright Scholarship as well as two Critical Language Scholarships from the U.S. Department of State.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Berry College’s student-run multimedia website was named “Best Independent Online Student Publication” by the Society of Professional Journalists Region 3 Mark of Excellence Awards for the third consecutive year and for the fourth time overall.
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.