Small College America - Chad Berry Vice President Berea College

Today, we’re honored to welcome Dr. Chad Berry, Vice President for Alumni, Communications, and Philanthropy—and a distinguished scholar—at Berea College, a private, coeducational liberal arts college located in Berea, Kentucky. Berea currently serves 1,513 undergraduate students. Berea is one of the most mission-driven small colleges in the country, known for offering a no-tuition education to students from Appalachia and beyond. Dr. Berry has served Berea for nearly two decades in roles including Academic Vice President, Dean of the Faculty, and Director of the Loyal Jones Appalachian Center. He holds a Ph.D. in History from Indiana University and is the author or editor of four books, including Southern Migrants and Northern Exiles. A passionate educator, he has led student learning trips to over 45 countries and is a past president of the Appalachian Studies Association. Dr. Berry is a committed advocate for the transformative power of small colleges, and we’re delighted to have him with us today.Q1: Chad, our audience may not know much about Berea. Can you share the story of its founding in the 1850s, its student demographic today, and how its mission continues to guide the college?Q2: Berea stopped charging tuition in 1892, but it also has a unique Labor Program where students earn a paycheck for campus work. Berea is one of only ten federally recognized Work Colleges—and the only one where every student is paid. Tell us more about how this program complements the academic experience and how it prepares students for life after college. Does it challenge the perception that liberal arts don’t equip students with practical skills?Q3: Berea’s endowment—currently between $1.5 and $2 billion—is extraordinary, especially for a small college located in a non-urban region. How did the college build such a significant endowment? What strategies or philosophies have driven its growth, and how do you ensure it continues to sustain Berea’s mission?Q4: In a time of growing skepticism toward higher education—particularly the liberal arts—what role do small colleges like Berea play in restoring public confidence in the value of a college degree?Q5: In your role working with alumni, what trends are you seeing in how younger generations connect with their alma maters? Are they engaging differently or expecting new forms of communication and involvement?Q6: If you could share one powerful story—perhaps about a student or alum—that really illustrates the life-changing impact of Berea’s mission, what would it be?