Megan Reed, Campus Carrier News Editor

Michael McElveen began his new position as Berry’s director of recreation on April 7. He will be responsible for intramurals, outdoor recreation and the co-curricular components of the Berry Outdoor Leadership Program (BOLD).

McElveen is the first person to hold this position. The search for a director of recreation began last semester when Ricky McWilliams, former director of intramurals and outdoor recreation, left Berry. The decision to hire a director of recreation was part of the college’s Strategic Plan which is developed every year, and this year’s plan aimed to increase recreational opportunities for students, Debbie Heida, dean of students, said.

McElveen will be working with Mike King, who will remain director of BOLD, to allow for more opportunities for students to take advantage of the BOLD courses outside of an academic setting. He will also oversee other recreational opportunities at Berry, including disc golf, hiking trails and recreational trips.

A committee comprised of students, faculty and staff searched for a director of recreation and decided to hire McElveen, Kyle Stapleton, interim intramural and outdoor recreation director and Berry alumnus (13C), said. Stapleton supervised intramurals and outdoor recreation while the committee searched for a director of recreation. Stapleton will be working with McElveen to help familiarize him with Berry’s programs but will then be leaving his position at Berry.

McElveen said he wants to put an emphasis on student input for new programs which he may help start.

“I think I have some good ideas, but it’s not about me,” McElveen said. “It’s about what the students want, so I’m really going to look at what they want, what works well and what hasn’t worked well and try to move forward that way.”

McElveen previously worked at Florida Southern College as the associate director of wellness and recreation programs, but he is originally from Georgia and said one of the reasons he chose to come to Berry is because he wanted to return to the area.

McElveen said he also enjoys “the campus makeup of an institution like Berry.”

“There’s unique opportunities from a recreation standpoint side that you won’t find at any other campus because of the environment that this campus is with the acreage size,” McElveen said. “There seems to be a lot of support for these programs from students, faculty and staff.”