
A nationally recognized author and scholar of Southern food history will speak at Berry College next week in an event that is open to the public.

A nationally recognized author and scholar of Southern food history will speak at Berry College next week in an event that is open to the public.

Families from across Northwest Georgia are invited to Oak Hill and The Martha Berry Museum in Rome next month for a free morning of hands-on history, activities and family learning.

Berry College has earned top honors in the latest U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings, including two No. 1 rankings among regional universities in the South.
The Rome college was ranked No. 1 for Best Value and No. 1 for Best Undergraduate Teaching. Berry also placed second overall among regional universities in the South, a category covering institutions across 13 states and territories.
Berry says its Best Value ranking reflects affordability efforts along with its LifeWorks program, which guarantees students up to eight semesters of paid, hands-on professional development experience. The college reports awarding more than $60 million in financial aid, with all undergraduate students receiving some form of financial assistance.
Berry’s undergraduate teaching recognition comes as the college maintains a 12-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio, which the school says allows for greater individual attention and mentoring.
Berry also received national recognition, ranking eighth in the country for service learning and remaining among the nation’s top 40 schools for first-year experience.
The rankings represent an improvement from previous years. In the 2024 U.S. News rankings, Berry was No. 2 for both Best Value and Undergraduate Teaching and fourth overall among regional universities in the South.
U.S. News says its rankings consider factors including graduation and retention rates, social mobility, graduate debt, earnings, faculty information and admissions data. Peer assessments from academics account for 20 percent of the methodology.

Private landowners and others interested in forestry, wildlife habitat and prescribed burning are invited to a free land-management meeting at Berry College on Monday, October 19.

The American Red Cross is asking Northwest Georgia residents to help maintain the nation’s blood supply by donating blood this week at Berry College.
A Red Cross blood drive will be held Thursday, September 17, from 2 until 7 PM at the Krannert Center, located at 2277 Martha Berry Boulevard in Mount Berry.
The Red Cross says the nation’s blood supply remains vulnerable following critically low levels during a summer blood shortage. Donors of all blood types are needed to help ensure hospitals have blood products available for patients.
Berry College has a long history of supporting blood donations. The college’s Blood Donor Program was started by students in 1974, and Berry says Red Cross and Blood Assurance visits typically collect more than 450 units of blood annually. The Berry College Red Cross Club assists with blood drives on campus.
There’s also an incentive for Thursday’s donors. Those who give blood through September 20 can receive an exclusive Red Cross x Hello Kitty plush mascot clip and surprise sticker pack, while supplies last.
Appointments can be made through the Red Cross Blood Donor App, by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or through the Red Cross website.

A former Berry College student was found dead on the college campus Tuesday afternoon following a search that brought a large law enforcement presence to the area.
According to information provided to WZQZ News, the victim was a former Berry student who attended the college more than 10 years ago and was visiting the campus Tuesday.
The Floyd County Police Department SWAT Team was conducting training in the area when officers received the call concerning the missing person at around noon Tuesday.
Officers began searching for the individual and located the victim at approximately 2 PM. The victim was found with what authorities described as a self-inflicted wound.
The incident explains the significant law enforcement presence reported at Berry College during the afternoon.
The victim’s identity has not been released.

The American Red Cross is asking Northwest Georgia residents to roll up their sleeves this September as the organization works to protect the nation’s blood supply heading into fall.

Berry College is one of just seven Georgia colleges and universities included in The Princeton Review’s newly released list of the nation’s best colleges for 2027.

Berry College has again earned national recognition as one of the country’s best institutions for undergraduate education, according to the latest college guide from The Princeton Review.

Adults age 55 and older will have an opportunity to continue learning, explore new interests and connect with others through the Fall 2026 Senior Scholars program at Oak Hill & The Martha Berry Museum.
The continuing education program, established in 1994, offers a variety of courses, lectures and special tours led by Berry College faculty and local experts.
This fall’s semester will feature more than 30 offerings covering history, literature, technology, the arts, wellness and local culture.
Participants will be able to explore topics ranging from the Declaration of Independence and the global response to the Holocaust to ballroom dancing, pickleball, mindfulness, creative writing and digital design using Canva.
Senior Scholars is designed to provide lifelong learning opportunities while also encouraging personal enrichment and community connections among participants.
The program is offered through Oak Hill & The Martha Berry Museum and Berry College.
Those interested in participating can contact Oak Hill & The Martha Berry Museum or visit its website for additional information about Fall 2026 courses, registration and scheduling.