Berry’ s secret? A mission sturdy enough to last and flexible enough to grow.
Photos: Georgia’ s Rome Office of Tourism
Berry College ' s 27,000-acre campus includes more than 40 miles of hiking and biking trails( left) and a 42-foot wooden overshot waterwheel( above) donated to the school by the Republic Mining Company in 1930. commitment is both modern and consistent, and true to its long-standing ethos of service and community.
Building for the Future, Preserving the Past
In the last two decades, Berry has invested in a host of state-of-the-art facilities that support contemporary learning, including:
• McAllister Hall, which houses a museum and the School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences
• Cage Athletic and Recreation Center
• Sisters Theatre and Bell Recital Hall
• Briggs Hall, a dedicated animal sciences building
• Morgan-Bailey Hall, a three-story health sciences building that’ s home to the nursing program, exercise science program, and the new PA program
A New President and a New Chapter
In July 2025, Dr. Sandeep Mazumder stepped into the role of Berry’ s ninth president, a moment that signals both continuity and renewal. From the outset, Mazumder rooted himself in the college’ s mission.“ It is an honor to serve as the next president of Berry College,” he said upon his appointment.“ I adore Martha Berry’ s philosophy of teaching students‘ not to be ministered unto, but to minister,’ and I intend to share Berry’ s unique distinctives for the nation to see.”
Mazumder has described Berry as a“ secret” in higher education— one that he hopes to make more widely known. He advocates for global engagement, urging students to pursue study abroad.“ It’ s valuable training,” he said,“ as they’ re learning how to be global citizens.” President Mazumder’ s vision and leadership frame Berry as both deeply rooted and widely reaching, a college honoring local commitments while preparing students for an interconnected world.
A Legacy That Keeps Growing
Today, Berry College stands as solid proof that evolution and identity can coexist. Its history shows how a school can expand academically, culturally, and physically without losing the spirit that formed it.
From its humble 1902 beginnings to becoming a 21st-century liberal arts institution with research opportunities, inclusive programs, global aspirations, and nationally recognized experiential learning, Berry has found a way to move forward without drifting away. The secret? A mission sturdy enough to last and flexible enough to grow. As new generations of students arrive— studying under those same pine trees as their predecessors— they step into an educational tradition designed not just to prepare them for the world, but also to shape it.
For more information about Berry College, visit berry. edu.
Chris Reinolds Kozelle has been the director of public relations at Berry College for the last 15 years. Before moving to Rome, she was a journalist at CNN and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. When she ' s not writing or coaching her PR students, Chris and her husband like to hike and travel. nwgeorgialiving. com | 27