The Carrier editorial reflects a consensus of the editorial board.

Campus Carrier editorial board

On Friday morning, the Berry community learned that we would be losing two of our most respected and admired faculty members. Provost Kathy Richardson will be the new president of Westminster College in Pennsylvania beginning in July, and her husband Randy Richardson, communication lecturer and forensics director, will take a position on the faculty at Westminster. 

Westminster College likely knows that they have chosen to hire two qualified scholars who will help lead the college for many years to come. The Richardsons are leaders in the field of communication and have taught countless students about communication theory, media law and public speaking. However, they have also proven that kindness, integrity and a sense of humor are just as valuable as intellect in truly being an effective leader.

The Richardsons, who many students affectionately refer to as “Lady” and “Sir,” are no strangers to leadership. 

Kathy Richardson arrived at Berry in 1986 and has been provost since 2013. Even while serving as provost, she has continued to teach communication courses, including a senior seminar and media law. She has taught several generations of students how to be ethical and successful professionals in their chosen careers. 

She teaches her students to write thank you notes after job interviews, treat their colleagues with kindness and stand up for what they know is right, even when it’s difficult. She is honest about the challenges ahead for her students, yet she often believes in  them more than they believe in themselves.

Randy Richardson has been at Berry for 26 years, and his impressive knowledge on rhetoric and speaking,  his quick wit and his wholehearted dedication to the Berry community have made him an influential figure in the lives of both his students and his colleagues.

In his role as director of forensics, he has traveled the country with students from various academic disciplines, mentoring them in public speaking and debate. Under his leadership, the Berry College Forensics Union has won 20 consecutive state championships and several national awards. He has devoted countless hours to helping his students craft a persuasive speech or conquer their fear of public speaking, but he also knows that no college experience is complete without a few good laughs. 

He is not just respected by students in the forensics union, however. His courses in the communication department are known for being challenging yet rewarding, and his positive influence on the Berry community is immeasurable.

Berry has truly been blessed to have benefited from the Richardsons’ wisdom, dedication and generosity. They embody Berry’s mission of servant leadership, and this college, its students and its faculty would not be the same without their commitment to Martha Berry’s vision.

Westminster College is about to discover just how lucky they are.