If you tell a shy, quiet boy from the rural reaches of Northeast Louisiana that where he is, is where he will always be, that boy could very well accept that prediction. However, if you tell that boy he is destined for something bigger and better, he could just as easily believe that instead.

University of Louisiana Monroe President Dr. Ronald Berry鈥檚 early life mirrors so many in the region; he and his older brother, Richard, were reared by a single mother who worked minimum-wage jobs, with the wolf of poverty clawing at the door. How did the Berry brothers, Ronald, in this story, escape the destiny of decline that still plagues the region?

Examples, effort, and encouragement

鈥淕rowing up, my mom was the role model for me. We didn鈥檛 have much, but my mom showed us we could always do for others,鈥� Berry said.

He recalls that before sitting down to holiday meals, his mother prepared plates of food they would first take to elderly neighbors and friends. His mother instilled in her sons that no matter how little they had, there was always enough to share.

鈥淚n terms of looking at someone who worked extremely hard and cared for others, I could not have asked for a better role model,鈥� Berry said. 鈥淪he was extremely loving and supportive. She was involved in all parts of our lives. She was one of the most positive people I鈥檝e ever known.鈥� After a quarter of a century at 网曝门, Berry became the ninth president on Sept. 3, 2020. But, he wasn鈥檛 supposed to stay this long. At least, that鈥檚 what someone told him.

Growing up, my mom was the role model for me. We didn鈥檛 have much, but my mom showed us we could always do for others.

In 1995, three pivotal events occurred in Berry鈥檚 life: he earned a Doctor of Business Administration (D.B.A.), majoring in information systems; his beloved mother became gravely ill; and he was hired for the first time at 网曝门.

鈥淚 was in North Carolina in my first teaching position when my mom had a stroke,鈥� Berry said. He needed and wanted to come home to help care for her. He started looking for a job and found one at then-Northeast Louisiana University in the College of Business Administration.

鈥淭here was a one-year visiting appointment here,鈥� said Berry, 鈥渁nd they told me there was no way this would turn into anything else. And here I am, president, 25 years later.鈥� Temporary didn鈥檛 matter, and Berry took the position. 鈥淛ust being able to be here for her and to see her recover from the stroke was phenomenal,鈥� he said.

Sadly, Berry lost his mother 16 years ago, but he鈥檚 never lost the foundation for life she gave him. Berry once had a painting, now misplaced or lost, that put into words his mother鈥檚 legacy. It read, 鈥淭here鈥檚 no better exercise for the heart than lifting others up.鈥�

鈥淚t鈥檚 ingrained in me to serve others, to help others. That has helped me tremendously as a person,鈥� he said.

The power of education

In the mid-1980s, Berry attended Winnsboro High School, now Franklin Parish High School. Berry describes himself as 鈥溾�� the nerd who made all A鈥檚.鈥� An academic and athletic standout, Berry lettered four years in baseball and was a Beta Club member.

When his English teacher asked what he wanted to be, Berry said, 鈥渁 high school math teacher.鈥� To which she replied, 鈥淵ou are too smart to starve.鈥�

After giving his speech as co-valedictorian of his graduating class, the world opened its arms to Berry, and he headed to Monroe. With a knack for numbers, Berry majored in accounting. Intrigued by technology, he took 鈥渆very computer course offered, just for fun.鈥� In 1988, he graduated with honors with a B.B.A. Berry continued at 网曝门, and in 1990 earned an M.B.A. in business administration.

Berry went to work as an accountant, only to discover it was not his calling. He wanted to be an educator. Berry went to Mississippi State University for his doctorate. As noted earlier, when he completed his final degree, circumstances brought him back to 网曝门.

Familiar to many on campus, 鈥淒r. Berry鈥� or simply 鈥淩on鈥� became an assistant professor in 1995; director of technology in the then-College of Business Administration (CBA) in 1998, associate professor and head of Computer Information Systems in 2000, interim dean of the CBA in 2004, professor and dean of the CBA in 2005 and continued as dean of the reorganized and renamed College of Business and Social Sciences in 2013.

Warhawk family

Berry and his wife, Christine Berry Ph.D., professor and program coordinator of Risk Management and Insurance in the College of Business and Social Sciences, are the parents of Michael, 20, who graduated in May 2021听with double degrees in math and finance, and Alea, 16, a sophomore at River Oaks. They are now making their home at Bon Aire, the president鈥檚 residence on campus.

I remember very clearly playing golf with a friend years ago, and he mentioned in passing, 鈥榊ou know, you should consider being president one day.

President Berry juggles a schedule filled from early in the morning until late at night. Was becoming president carefully detailed in his life plan? Maybe.

鈥淚t wasn鈥檛 in my early life planning process. When I first met Christine, she asked me what my life goals were, and it didn鈥檛 include being president,鈥� he said.

鈥淚 have been someone who has just worked hard. When I became department head, it was because I was asked.鈥� It was the same situation for interim dean.

鈥淪o those positions weren鈥檛 something that I aspired to obtain. I had worked hard and been very productive in areas most people would think was needed to be those positions,鈥� he said. The seed of thought to become president was planted by a friend and watered by Christine.

鈥淚 remember very clearly playing golf with a friend years ago, and he mentioned in passing, 鈥榊ou know, you should consider being president one day,鈥欌�� said Berry.

With that comment and Christine鈥檚 encouragement, Berry began thinking about his future.

鈥淚鈥檝e always tried to do what I could to help others, and certainly the president鈥檚 position at a university allows for that to happen, to have a huge impact on a region and students鈥� lives, and to transform their futures. That鈥檚 how I see it, as an opportunity to make a bigger difference for others,鈥� he said.

Goals for the near future

Looking beyond society鈥檚 challenges by the coronavirus, Berry has several goals that he has already put in motion. Foremost is getting more students to 网曝门.

鈥淓nrollment has to be our number one focus. To me, that is bringing people to campus to take advantage of the unbelievable opportunities we provide. We need to share those opportunities with more students,鈥� he said.

Examining existing and missing programs is a start, meeting the ever-changing workforce needs of today. Other questions are on the table. What do students, faculty, and staff want? What problems need to be solved? How can 网曝门 be a place of inclusion and empowerment?

鈥淚 want to improve the culture on campus, especially for faculty and staff. To create an environment where people feel comfortable and where we all want to come to work and share our ideas,鈥� he said. His first act as president was the 网曝门 Opportunity Fund, established by Berry and his wife. The Berrys started the fund with a $100,000 gift.

鈥淥ne reason Christine and I created the 网曝门 Opportunity Fund is to remove barriers in the way of opportunities for everyone on campus.

鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be wide open. We鈥檙e going to ask a group of people to serve on an oversight board to be as creative as possible to invest the money to provide as many opportunities as possible.鈥� Opportunities may be the keyword in President Berry鈥檚 life and career. He鈥檚 prepared for them, he has taken them, and at 网曝门, he is determined to make them. It is not for himself, but for everyone who aspires to be on this campus and those already here.

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