Joining Berry College's Board of Trustees

Twenty years ago, I first visited Berry College. I was a high school senior on a class retreat, and though I’d heard of the school, I didn’t know much about it. When I arrived through the Gate of Opportunity and saw the rolling hills, beautiful architecture, and serene places (like Frost Chapel), I was hooked. Once back home, I applied right away. And the next fall I drove from Columbus to Rome in a Jeep packed with all my belongings to a college I'd call home for the next four years.

I loved every minute of it. I lived, worked, and studied on campus. I made incredible friends. I was taught and mentored by extraordinary faculty. I tried out new interests—forensics, TV, the campus newspaper, student government, investing—and studied what I thought were the most fascinating topics imaginable. I even met my wife there...although neither of us realized it at the time. My classmates and I used to joke about the “Berry bubble”; but I was quietly grateful for it. I couldn’t believe I had four years to live, learn, and work in such a unique, transformative place.

Yesterday, I had the remarkable privilege of joining Berry's Board of Trustees. The school has an exceptional board who genuinely love the school, an extraordinary president who is dedicated to innovation and constant improvement, an engaged alumni base, and the best faculty and staff we've ever had. It’s a disruptive time in higher education—with shifting technology, demographics, economics, and modes of instruction—but Berry is well positioned for those challenges and I’m grateful to have the opportunity to consider them in partnership with the school as it perpetuates Ms. Berry's legacy.

If you’re an alum, I hope you’ll get involved! If you’re a parent, I hope you’ll consider Berry for your kids and explore what makes it so different from other colleges. And if you’re just curious, take a trip to Rome sometime and visit the 27,000 acre campus—the world’s biggest and most beautiful—to see what all the fuss is about. I’m personally grateful for the opportunity to spend more time at Berry, to learn about the school, and to play a small part in its future.