J. William Berry
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VITA
Berry, James William
Education
Ph.D. History, Princeton University
Dissertation:
Growing up in the Old South: The Childhood of Charles
Colcock Jones, Jr. (Dissertation nominated by Princeton
University for the Allan Nevins Prize.)
Fields of specialization:
American Social History, History of the Family, and Southern
History
B. A. History/English, University of Arkansas-Fayetteville
Employment History
Faculty Appointments
2008-Present, Professor of American Studies, University of Dallas
2001-2008, Professor, Department of History, Butler University
1998-2001, Professor, Department of History, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
1989-1998, Associate Professor, Department of History, University of Central Arkansas
1989- Associate Professor, Department of History, Arkansas State University
1981-1989, Assistant Professor, Department of History, Arkansas State University
1978-1980, Instructor, Department of History, Princeton University
1974-1978, Instructor, Department of History, Mercer University
J. William Berry
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Administrative Experience
June 1, 2008 – December 31, 2008, Provost, University of Dallas; January 1, 2009 to present,
Executive Vice President and Provost, University of Dallas (responsibilities broadened to include
Student Affairs and Athletics in addition to Academic Affairs and Enrollment Management)
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Provided oversight to construction of new 300-bed residence hall
Conducted successful search for new dean of Enrollment Management
Conducted successful search for new dean of the College of Business
Conducted successful search for new dean of Student Life
Developed enthusiastic team of administrators across divisions
Led recruitment efforts that produced the largest undergraduate enrollment in UD’s
history (up from 1230-1350), with an improved academic profile and lower discount rate
Established and chaired university retention committee, which is developing data,
processes, and new programs that are producing an improvement in retention (freshman
to sophomore retention rate up by 3%; six-year graduation rate up 8%)
Led successful efforts to secure raise pools for faculty and staff in two years in which no
raises were predicted
Led effort to develop new university vision document and new fundraising priorities
flowing from that vision; nurtured development of new business plans for the College of
Business and the School of Ministry; supporting the effort to develop an integrated
marketing plan for UD
Led initiative to achieve accreditation by AACSB (site visit to occur September 2012)
Have better integrated academic and student life, thus improving learning community
Co-author and presenter to donor of successful $1.4 million proposal in support of
faculty
Designated by university president as lead contact with several recent and/or potential
seven-figure donors
Produced balanced budgets in Athletics, 2009-2010, the first year under my supervision
and since (following a decade of deficits). Athletics also recruited more and better
qualified athletes; attained membership in Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference, a
longstanding ambition for the university; and initiated lacrosse program and built a new
lacrosse field.
2001-2008, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, Butler University
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Successfully led efforts to achieve institutional re-accreditation by the Higher Learning
Commission for the full ten years
Oversaw successful efforts to obtain re-accreditation for teacher education programs by
NCATE, counselor education by CACREP, dance by NASD, and pharmacy by AACP;
also oversaw successful efforts to earn initial accreditation of the theatre program by
NAST and of the Physician Assistant program by ARC-PA
Provided academic leadership in the successful effort to eliminate a $9 million deficit
and bring Butler University its first balanced budgets in over a decade
Made the improvement of retention rates a major priority for academic affairs and
initiated measures that raised freshman to sophomore retention rates from 81 to 89% (a
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record for Butler University) and overall retention from 87.5% to 93% (also a record),
with a net annual benefit to budget of approximately $2.5 million
Successfully chaired the search for new VP of Enrollment Management
Reorganized office to achieve better coordination of the functions of planning,
budgeting, and evaluation, better tying them to the mission and progress of the university
Provided academic leadership in the development of the university’s new strategic plan
Commissioned ten-member faculty task force that proposed a thorough reform of
Butler’s core curriculum, which passed (spring 2005) with the support of the
overwhelming majority of the faculty. (The new core has been cited (May 2005) as a
model by AAC&U.)
Wrote successful proposal to AAC&U to become one of 16 schools selected (October
2005) to develop model core curricula for preparing students for citizenship in a world of
global change and interdependence
Initiated Butler’s successful proposal to become one of 19 institutions selected to
participate in the first National Study of Liberal Arts Education (2006-10)
Encouraged efforts to reduce the hours required for earning the baccalaureate degree,
with all programs now being between 120 and 128 hours (requirements previously had
ranged as high as 146 hours)
Supported the transformation of the physician assistant program from a baccalaureate to
a master’s degree program.
Led efforts to leverage technology to improve services: appointed and chaired the task
force that developed and successfully implemented self-service registration; supported
and helped secure funding for the installation of a new library on-line system; supported
and helped secure funding for the development of a series of wireless classrooms; and
advocated and secured funding for the implementation for on-line placement exams
Developed and implemented new, clearer guidelines for tenure and promotion
Advanced existing staff and faculty in order to foster new leadership and broaden
Butler’s pool of talented administrators, including the promotion of a greater number of
women to positions of academic leadership. The ratio of female to male academic
administrators went from 1:4 to 1:2
Led effort that produced a 60% increase in number of minority and international faculty
Provided leadership in the reorganization and invigoration of the university’s effort to
increase external grant funding, including a successful grant that provided $700,000 for
faculty development and $300,000 for student research and creative activity
Co-author of a proposal to create an experiential learning, “Business Accelerator,”
funded at $22 million, which was then the largest gift or grant in the university’s history
Secondary author and primary liaison with the funder for a successful $25 million
proposal in support of Butler’s pharmacy program
Helped develop proposal and served as liaison with donor for a $5 million gift for
science programs
Helped create new program in visual art; initiated two new centers, one for Urban
Ecology, the other for Global Studies
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1998-2001, Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, University of Tennessee at
Chattanooga
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Appointed and chaired an across-divisions university recruitment, retention, and
graduation rates committee; subsequently reorganized admissions for more effective
recruitment
Developed and implemented an equity pay plan for faculty
Reduced costs of academic administration by $60,000, with savings used to supplement
funds available for faculty equity adjustments
Improved openness of communication with deans, department heads, and faculty, with a
resulting improvement in campus morale
Successfully implemented, with majority faculty vote, a trustees-mandated post-tenure
review policy; in connection with the new policy, established clearer disciplinary criteria
and procedures for awarding tenure and promotion
Oversaw re-accreditations of Art (NASAD), Engineering (ABET), Nursing (NUR),
Teacher Education (NCATE), Social Work (CSWE), and Physical Therapy (PTA)
programs
Actively worked with a campus planning firm to enhance the built environment of the
campus, with particular regard to its academic function and aesthetics
Led the development of the university technology plan
Contributed to campus diversity through strategic targeting of faculty and staff needs
Provided leadership to efforts that led to a three-fold increase in UTC’s grant funding
Raised all funds necessary to host a major festival of autobiography on the UTC campus
Helped plan and assisted in the conduct of annual and capital fund-raising initiatives
Supported the teacher education program in its participation in systemic reform of the
Hamilton County Schools. The reform effort has won national attention
Provided leadership in the development of a doctoral program in educational leadership
1989-1998, Provost and Dean of Faculty, University of Central Arkansas, a campus that grew
from 6,700 students and 300 faculty to 9,000 students and over 400 faculty.
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Encouraged and built support for raising admission and retention standards at both
undergraduate and graduate levels, while increasing diversity of the student body (ACT
scores rose to become the highest of any public university in the state. Minority
enrollment rose from 920 to 1,236; international enrollment from 40 to 400.).
Recruited over 100 new faculty, creating a more ethnically and intellectually diverse and
better qualified faculty
Substantially enhanced the university’s programs in the fine and performing arts.
Established the university’s creative writing program
Initiated and raised the funds for a series of autobiography conferences (details, p.8)
Co-author of $5.6 million grant that funded construction of the Reynolds Performance
Hall. This was the largest grant or gift in UCA’s history. (This new hall, along with the
three preceding items, were the foundations of the university’s becoming a center for the
arts, as reported in the Chronicle of Higher Education on 2/20/09.)
Helped plan and supervised an additional $70 million in capital construction projects
Led the development of the university technology plan
Initiated revision of faculty evaluation plans, leading to more systematic measures of
teaching, scholarship, and service
Created faculty task force with responsibility to develop university’s mechanism for
correcting equity pay issues. The mechanism was used in 1993, 1994, and 1995
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Created and charged faculty committees with tasks of reviewing and revising the general
education program; enriching the freshman experience; and improving graduation rates.
The latter two efforts subsequently won national awards
Instituted the University Writing Program and created the position of Director of Writing.
Students’ scores on standardized writing exams (which had been mandated by the state)
dramatically improved and have remained at high levels
Increased funds for faculty development and helped secure special state funding to
establish an Instructional Development Center. Approximately 150 faculty participated in
the center’s activities during 1996-1997 alone
Created positions of Director and Associate Director of Sponsored Programs and
supported efforts that led to a five-fold increase in annual external awards
Helped develop and implement new master’s program in occupational therapy
Provided leadership in the development of doctoral programs in physical therapy and
school psychology. Helped write the documents and successfully advocated the case to
the Department of Higher Education and its board
Represented UCA to committees of the state legislature in connection with a series of
accountability measures
Oversaw and took an active role in the following self-studies and successful
accreditations/re-accreditations: 1996 National Association of Schools of Theatre
(accreditation of theatre program); 1995 National Association of Schools of Art and
Design (accreditation of art program); 1995 American Chemical Society (approval of
chemistry program); 1993 National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education
(re-accreditation of bachelors, masters, and specialist degree programs); 1993
Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education of the American Physical
Therapy Association (re-accreditation of physical therapist associate’s and bachelor’s
degree programs, accreditation of master’s); 1990 North Central Association of Colleges
and Secondary Schools (re-accreditation of the university for full ten-year period); 1990
American Association of Collegiate Schools of Business (accreditation of master’s
program and re-accreditation of bachelor’s program); 1990 American Medical
Association’s Committee on Allied Health Education and Accreditation (re-accreditation
of occupational therapy program)
1989, Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs, Arkansas State University (ASU). Offered
permanent position
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Implemented university’s first equity pay plan for faculty
Helped recruit excellent new faculty who added to the diversity of ASU
Made progress in improving trust between academic affairs and other parts of the
university
De-politicized the distribution of equipment funds and other discretionary monies
1981-1989, Director, Honors Program, ASU
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Initiated program and developed standards and operating procedures; recruited students
and maintained supervision of a university-wide program that ultimately served 200
students, making ASU’s program the largest in the state; established Honors Advisory
Council and worked to develop wide faculty support and involvement; initiated
scholarship fund; established Honors Student Association
J. William Berry
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Additional duties during the period I led the honors program included:
 Member, Faculty of Arkansas Governor’s School (1983, 1984)
 President’s Staff (1981-1984) advised president on a wide range of issues and
handled special assignments, including writing speeches and representing the
president to various on-campus and off-campus groups
 Founding Director, International Programs (1982-1983) managed a program where
enrollments rose from 33 to 300 in that one year; worked with faculty and staff to
build cooperation and support for international programs; organized and established
basic operating procedures; initiated host family program
1980-1981, Center for Rural Studies, Director, Arkadelphia, Arkansas
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Supervised extensive oral history project that compiled a library of several hundred tapes;
planned budget and secured funding; organized series of nine conferences on subjects that
ranged from Southern politics to health care to the environment to economic development
 Helped promote cooperation among the members of a consortium that linked a private
liberal arts college with a public university and a private foundation
Consulting
Consultant to PBS documentary, “Highway 61,” which first aired on PBS stations on
February 1, 1996
Books
Berry, ed. and contributor, Home Ground, Southern Autobiography, University of Missouri
Press, fall 1991.
Berry, ed., Located Lives: Place and Idea in Southern Autobiography, University of Georgia
Press, fall 1989.
Essays
Contributed the entry on Southern autobiography for the Companion to Southern Literature,
spring 2000
“The Southern Autobiographical Impulse,” Southern Cultures, spring 2000. Cited in Best
American Essays 2000
“Personal Politics: American Autobiography,” The Virginia Quarterly Review, 1998. Cited
in Best American Essays 1998
“Class Southerner,” The Virginia Quarterly Review, Spring 1989
Essay Reviews and Book Reviews
My book reviews and essay reviews have appeared in Sewanee Review, The Journal of
Southern History, state historical quarterlies, newspapers, etc.
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Papers and Talks
“More Difficult than Moving a Graveyard: Core Curricular Reform,” presented at the
AAC&U Conference, January 25-29, 2006.
I have given papers and talks and chaired symposia on a wide variety of topics including
Southern autobiography, liberal education, and publishing in the 19th century South.
Fellowships, Honors, and Awards
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Elected Fellow of the Dallas Institute, 2010
Apple for the Teacher Award (from the Butler Student Government Association, 20012002, 2003-2004, 2004-2005, 2006-2007)
Outstanding University Service Award, UTC, 2001
President, ASU Chapter of Phi Kappa Phi, 1986-1987
Vice President, ASU Chapter of Phi Kappa Phi, 1985-1986
Dissertation nominated by Princeton University for the Allan Nevins Prize
Princeton University Fellow
National Defense Education Act Fellowship
Woodrow Wilson Fellowship
Graduated number one in class, University of Arkansas
Phi Beta Kappa
Courses Taught
I have taught a wide variety of American History/American Studies courses.
At Princeton, I supervised a number of senior theses on a variety of topics. I was one of two
graduate students in history invited to develop a “satellite” seminar. All 15 of the students in
the seminar ranked it as one of the best classes they had taken in Princeton, with my overall
student evaluations being among the five highest of all faculty at the university.
During my years at Mercer University, I taught more special studies courses than any other
member of the faculty. At UCA, I taught a writing workshop in personal narrative.
I am currently teaching with a colleague a “special readings” course to major donors and
potential donors.
Autobiography Conferences
Between 1987 and 2001, I originated, organized, and led a series of eleven conferences on
the subject of autobiography. Each conference brought to campus a dozen or more
outstanding writers and artists for a two and a half day program that featured previously
unpublished work and involved faculty, students and the general public. Scholars who have
participated include James Olney, James M. Cox, George Core, Frances Foster, John Shelton
Reed, Cecilia Tichi, William Andrews, and John Blassingame. Prize-winning writers of
fiction and poetry include Charles Wright, Kelly Cherry, Dave Smith, Mary Lee Settle,
George Garrett, Henry Taylor, Al Young, C. D. Wright, Ishmael Reed and Andrei Codrescu.
(The names above are intended to provide a representative sample.)
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I raised through private gifts and grants from individuals and foundations (Kennedy
Foundation, Lyndhurst Foundation, Arkansas Humanities Council, Arkansas Arts Council,
Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation, and the Arnold Foundation) the majority or all of the
monies required to support each conference.
Other Grant-Supported Conferences
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Co-author of a grant that funded a lecture, “The Theaters of Shakespeare’s England,” by
O. B. Hardison, presented at the Arkansas State University Renaissance Fair, 1984
(funded by the Arkansas Endowment for the Humanities)
Arkansas State University Lecture-Concert Series for 1984-1985, funded in part by the
Arkansas Endowment for the Humanities
Planning grant, “Today in the Humanities,” December 1983, co-author, funded by the
Arkansas Endowment for Humanities
“Arkadelphia 2000,” September 1981-June 1982, co-author, funded by the Arkansas
Endowment for the Humanities
Two grants in support of “Stewardship of the Earth” conference, April 6, 1981, funded
by the Arkansas Endowment for the Humanities
Memberships in Professional Organizations
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Association of American Colleges and Universities
Association of New American Colleges
Society for College and University Planning
Arkansas Deans Association 1992-1998, President 1994-1995
American Historical Association
Southern Historical Association
National Collegiate Honors Council, 1980-1990
o Constitution and Bylaws Committee, 1987-1988
o Executive Committee, Education of the Pre-College Gifted, 1988-1990
Southern Regional Honors Council, 1980-1990
Committee Service
Butler University
 Search Committee, Vice President for Enrollment Management, Chair
 University Assessment Committee, Chair
 Position Review Committee
 Task Force on the Core Curriculum (Invited by the Committee to become a member)
 Task Force on Study Abroad
 Committee on Self-Registration, Chair
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
 University Budget, Planning and Evaluation Committee, 1998-2001
 Evaluation Subcommittee, Chair, 1998-2001
 University Technology Committee, Chair, 1998-2001
 University Recruitment, Retention, and Graduation Rates Committee, Chair, 1999-2001
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Arkansas State University
 Council of Academic Deans, 1981-1989
 University Honors Council, Chair, 1981-1989
 Lecture-Concert Committee, Member 1981-1983, Chair, 1983-1989
 Scholarship Committee, 1981-1989
 Convocation of Scholars Committee, 1981-1989
 University Development Committee, 1985-1989
 Representative for Rhodes and Marshall Scholarship Program, 1985-1989
 Who’s Who Committee, 1984-1989
 Commencement Planning Committee, 1987-1989
 Honorary Doctoral Degree Committee, 1985-1989
 International Students Advisory Council, 1981-1988
 Human Relations Committee, 1983-1986
 Athletics Committee, 1981-1984
 Ambience Committee, 1981-1984
 President’s Committee on Institutional Mission and Curriculum Review, 1981-1983
College
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Public Humanities Committee, 1988-1989
Clarence Darrow-Upton Sinclair Prize Committee, 1986-1989
ASU Oral History Committee, 1983-1985
Renaissance Fair Committee, Chair, Sub-committee, 1983-1984
Department
 History Department Search Committee, 1988-1989
 History Department Faculty Colloquium Committee, 1987-1988
 History Department Committee on Standards, 1984-1986
The above, combined with my community service (see below), was generally regarded as the
heaviest service load of any faculty member at ASU; and in 1988, faculty nominated me for the
faculty Burlington Northern Service Award.
Mercer University
 Athletics Committee, 1976-78
Student Organization Sponsor
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Arkansas State University Honors Association, 1984-1989
Students Against Multiple Sclerosis, 1985-1987
Politics Club, 1982-1984
International Students Association, 1981-1984
Community Service
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Member, Board of the Irving Symphony Orchestra, 2011 -; Elected Vice President, 2012Member, Board of Directors of the Indianapolis International Center, 2007-2008
Member, Board of Directors of the Maple Street Development Association, 2007-2008
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Vice Chair, SACS Accreditation Team, McCallie School, Chattanooga, TN, January 2001
Member, Chattanooga Symphony and Opera Board, 2000-2001
Member, Conway Noon Rotary, 1993-1997
Board of Arkansas Endowment for the Humanities, 1985-1991; officer 1987-91 (Was
asked to extend my term by a year to serve as president but had to decline owing to new
job duties.)
Governor’s Advisory Council for the Education of Gifted and Talented Children,
Arkansas Department of Education, 1984-1991; (Executive Committee, 1986-1991)
Member, Faculty Interview Team, Arkansas Governor’s School, 1989
Board of Arkansas Artists Registry, 1989-1991
Board of Arkansas Writers Association, 1984-1986
Land Stewardship Project of Arkansas Advisory Board, 1984-1985
Board of Advisers, Meadow Creek Project, 1981-1984 (This was David W. Orr’s first
and pioneering project in sustainability.)
Board of Advisers, Institute of Cultural Affairs, Memphis, TN 1982-1983