Bearkat Q&A: Jalon Berry Receives Houston Emerging 100 Civic Leader Award

Bearkat Q&A: Jalon Berry Receives Houston Emerging 100 Civic Leader Award

Jalon Berry leads numerous efforts at Sam Houston State University to shape the Bearkat experience for students and their supporters in his role as executive director of Strategic Retention Initiatives.

In early June, Berry won the Houston Emerging 100 Civic Leader Award — an honor presented to professionals, educators and community advocates who have made profound, purposeful impact.

Congratulations on receiving the Civic Leader Award from the Houston chapter of Emerging 100. What does this recognition mean to you personally and professionally?

It was an honor to be nominated for the Civic Leader Award from Emerging 100, and the fact that I won the recognition is not something that I take lightly. I have always been passionate and intentional about ensuring that the work that I do in higher education provides light, guidance and opportunities to others.

How were you nominated for this award, and what aspects of your service or leadership do you believe contributed to your selection?

I discovered that a higher education colleague I met at the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators’ Aspiring Vice President for Student Affairs Institute in January nominated me for the award. During our time at the institute, we built a great friendship and discussed our passion for higher education and the work we conduct through mentorship and service.

Community engagement and civic leadership are often closely tied to student development. How do you encourage students to become active and engaged leaders in their communities?

For the past several years, I have had the opportunity to teach UNIV 1101, SHSU’s first-year seminar course, and this past fall I had the privilege of having my course recognized as an Academic Community Engagement (ACE) course. Through these experiences, I have seen firsthand how important it is to introduce students to civic leadership early in their college journey. When students understand that their education extends beyond the classroom, they begin to approach learning with greater purpose and intentionality.

Throughout your career, what experiences have most shaped your commitment to service, mentorship and leadership?

My commitment to service, mentorship and leadership was originally shaped during my undergraduate years at SHSU, where I became actively involved in fraternity and sorority life. Through my involvement with the Theta Rho Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., I served in several leadership capacities, including chapter president. Additionally, because Phi Beta Sigma is a service-based organization, community service is a core principle.

Today, I continue to carry those lessons forward professionally, working collaboratively with the incredible people on my team, along with colleagues across campus. Every day I get the opportunity to reshape my commitment to these three areas through my work. 

Is there anyone you would like to acknowledge or thank for supporting your leadership journey and helping you achieve this recognition?

First, I am grateful that God has provided me with these opportunities. My parents continue to be my biggest supporters, along with my grandparents, family and friends. I have to give special thanks to Dannie Moore, Jeanine Bias, my team, colleagues and students at SHSU.

Jalon Berry serves as the executive director of Strategic Retention Initiatives at Sam Houston State University (SHSU), where he leads transformative initiatives to enhance student success. He oversees four departments, including the Office of Student Experience & Retention, Access & Retention Programs, Student & Family Experience and the First-Generation Center. He is a two-time SHSU graduate, with a Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice. He is currently pursuing his third degree from SHSU and is enrolled in the higher education leadership doctoral program. 

Bearkat Q&A is a series of stories highlighting the achievements of Bearkats in their own words. Refer outstanding Bearkats for a Bearkat Q&A through this form.