Stephen F. Austin State University

NACOGDOCHES, Texas -- Dr. Richard Berry, associate provost and vice president for academic affairs of Stephen F. Austin State University, has been named interim provost and vice president for academic affairs by President Dr. Baker Pattillo. The appointment is effective immediately.

“Dr. Berry is an exceptional academic leader with a proven record as a long-term faculty member and dean of the College of Fine Arts, which experienced growth in enrollment and recognition under his leadership,” President Pattillo said. “I have great confidence that Dr. Berry will do an outstanding job.”

Berry commented that the university can look forward to a positive future as two new deans, several department chairs and three new Board of Regent members join SFA in the near future.

“I see enormous opportunities ahead for this university,” Berry said. “I anticipate building on the remarkable strength of our faculty and staff, and look forward to encouraging and supporting their talents to achieve the great potential of SFA.”

Berry currently is coordinating the SFA 2013 Strategic Planning Committee, the preparation for the reaffirmation of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) accreditation, and the search for the university’s first chief technology officer.

In 2006, Berry was named associate provost and vice president for academic affairs after serving as dean of the College of Fine Arts since 1999. Under his leadership that began when he was appointed interim dean of the college in 1998, enrollment in the college grew by more than 20 percent, and the departments of art, music and theatre within the college became schools following approval from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

As dean, Berry saw the downtown Nacogdoches Art Center, located in a historic building constructed during the 1880s, added to the SFA gallery system. The study-abroad program that began in 1995 with London’s Rose Bruford College grew in strength and enrollment. A similar relationship with LASALLE College of the Arts in Singapore was being established. The College of Fine Arts also expanded into Italy with summer photography and drawing courses and into Dublin with an Irish theatre course, while the A Cappella Choir and Chamber Orchestra performed two summer tours in Europe.

In 1987, Berry joined SFA as an assistant professor of music and served as coordinator of undergraduate studies in music for 10 years. He was a member of the graduate faculty and served as chair of the Faculty Senate in 1995-96.

Prior to his work at SFA, Berry was lecturer in music at the University of Texas at San Antonio in 1986-87 and assistant professor of music at the Lamont School of Music at the University of Denver in 1981-86. Other academic positions he held were at the University of Kansas in Lawrence and Wayland Baptist University in Plainview, Texas.

Berry earned a bachelor of music degree from SFA in 1975 and completed a master of arts degree a year later. In 1985, he was awarded a doctor of musical arts in voice performance from the Conservatory of Music at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

During 10 years of directing SFA Opera, Berry produced more than two dozen performances, and he has performed as guest soloist with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, San Antonio Symphony Orchestra and Denver Chamber Orchestra.

Community service for Berry includes membership on the boards of the Nacogdoches Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Lamp-lite Theatre.

Berry’s appointment will be presented to the Board of Regents for approval at the July meeting.