Dr. Steve Briggs, Berry College’s president since 2006, is a champion for educational pathways and experiences that advance the personal and professional development of students.
Under his leadership, Berry has renewed its emphasis on a model of education that unites challenging intellectual inquiry with practical learning in a culture that values mentoring. The goal is for students to graduate with a sense of direction, conviction about what matters and confidence as they move forward.
To achieve this goal, the college has established a number of innovative programs. Most students engage in eight semesters of progressively responsible, paid work experiences on campus. An endowed scholarship program enables more than a hundred students to work their way through college, graduating with professional experience rather than debt. Another hundred students participate in a mentoring program with respected leaders in the local community as they consider together how to live and lead with integrity.
In recent years, Berry has increased its academic offerings. Sciences are the largest area of study, but there are strong programs in the humanities and arts as well as business, education, nursing and creative technologies.
During this period, the college opened or renovated a dozen buildings and strategically enhanced the beauty of its campus. Berry made a winning transition to NCAA-Division III, added six new varsity sports, upgraded its athletic facilities and became a founding member of the Southern Athletic Association. Utilizing its incomparable campus, the college recently collaborated with the city of Rome to establish the Rome Tennis Center at Berry College, one of the largest facilities in the country, and is sponsoring the development of a retirement community with continuing care facilities, The Spires at Berry.
Briggs is a creative and principled leader with more than 30 years of leadership experience at colleges in Oklahoma, Florida and New Jersey. He serves on the board of a number of professional organizations and is active in church and community endeavors.
A personality psychologist by training, Briggs earned his PhD from the University of Texas at Austin. He and his wife Brenda are both graduates of Wake Forest University; they have three grown daughters.