Dr. Brian Berry

Dr. Brian Berry is a distinguished academic leader whose career is grounded in his deep-rooted commitment to the growth and success of his home state. Born in the Arkansas Delta and raised in central Arkansas, Dr. Berry is a proud alumnus of UA Little Rock, where he earned both his B.A. and Ph.D. in chemistry. His academic journey has come full circle: he now dedicates his professional life at UA Little Rock to fostering the same environment of innovation and excellence that shaped his own career. As Vice Provost for Research and Dean of the Graduate School at UA Little Rock, he guides the university’s graduate school and research enterprise, overseeing critical offices including Graduate Admissions, Research and Sponsored Programs, Tech Launch, the Center for Integrative Nanotechnology Sciences, and the Emerging Analytics Center.

In his many leadership roles, Dr. Berry has been a dedicated mentor to his colleagues, empowering faculty and staff to pursue novel ideas and marshaling support for initiatives that enhanced student success. In his current role as Vice Provost, he has spearheaded initiatives that have helped reverse a multi-year decline in graduate enrollment and has developed the university’s first-ever Strategic Research Plan. Under his direction, external research funding has nearly doubled in the past five years.

Beyond his administrative duties, Dr. Berry is a passionate educator and an accomplished scientist specializing in the design and self-assembly of soft materials for next-generation technologies. His dedication to teaching and mentorship has been recognized with numerous accolades, including the university-wide Faculty Excellence Award in Teaching and the Central Arkansas ACS Professor of the Year. His commitment to mentorship extends into the community, where he has served as an ACS Science Coach for an instructor at the Arkansas School for the Deaf and has mentored several high school students in research.

Dr. Berry also serves in a variety of state and local capacities, including the Arkansas Research Alliance (ARA) Academy, the state’s Science Advisory Committee, and the Little Rock Tech Park board. This background provides him with a unique understanding of the state’s challenges and opportunities, particularly regarding how higher education can serve as a powerful engine for economic growth and innovation. He now hopes to apply this experience on a broader scale, collaborating with fellow leaders through the Leadership Arkansas program to forge innovative solutions and help build a more prosperous future for the state.