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Release date: Nov. 28, 2005 Emory Senior Named 2006-08 Marshall Scholar
Competition for Marshall Scholarships is extremely rigorous, and more than 800 candidates in the United States are interviewed each year for the exclusive awards. The scholarships finance young Americans of high ability to study for a degree in the United Kingdom for two years. "I'm still having a hard time believing it's real; I don't think it will really sink in until a year from now, when I'm on a plane to England," says Berry. "I'm deeply honored by the fact that as a Marshall scholar, I play a quasi-ambassadorial role, in both representing the United States to the United Kingdom, and in bringing that experience back home once I return. It's been both a humbling and thrilling experience, and I expect that the next two years in Birmingham and Oxford will be no less exciting." Berry has maintained a perfect 4.0 grade point average while pursuing a double major in political science and Middle Eastern studies, with minors in Arabic, linguistics and Persian. He plans to use his scholarship the first year to earn a master of arts in applied corpus linguistics at the University of Birmingham, followed by a year of study at Oxford University to pursue a master of studies degree in modern Middle Eastern studies with a concentration on Iran. He intends to study specifically the impact of technology on democracy and discourse within Iran, and develop a more detailed understanding of the social and political power structures as a result. He later plans to get a doctorate in the field and teach or work in public policy. "On behalf of Emory University, I congratulate Adam on this distinctive recognition of his academic achievements. Adam embodies the ideal of an engaged citizen-scholar. His keen intellect, compassionate commitment to building community, and outstanding leadership abilities will serve him well in England and beyond," says Emory President James Wagner. Many faculty who have worked with him say Berry is among the most dedicated and intellectually gifted students they have ever encountered. "Adam is a brilliant linguist and could easily be the top Arabist of his generation. We in Middle Eastern Studies are thrilled that a young scholar of his talents has chosen this field. I have no doubt he will bring new life to Iranian studies in the United States," says Kristen Brustad, associate professor of Middle Eastern and South Asian Studies at Emory and a renowned scholar of Arabic. Berry's linguistic talents were fostered while growing up in an international household (his mother is from the Czech Republic) and extensive travel with his family in Eastern Europe. Berry says that when he started college he initially had carefully mapped out plans that included a degree in political science and philosophy, and then law school. "I fell in to this field by accident. I took a couple of courses in Middle Eastern studies my freshman year and it was amazing. It sucked me in and wouldn't let me go," he says. "What has most attracted me to Middle Eastern Studies is the sheer dynamism of the field. Perhaps more so than any other region in the world, the Middle East is a constantly shifting mix of cross-cultural influences, where religion, politics, language and all other facets of society interact and affect each other, irrespective of borders. There's simply an endlessly complex body of knowledge to examine in a host of different ways -- it's a field which never gets boring." Berry's academic pursuits also spurred him into activism on campus. He is the founder of the Emory chapter of Americans for an Informed Democracy (AID), a nonprofit, non-partisan organization that promotes global understanding. He was motivated to bring the organization to Emory after studying abroad in Europe last year and witnessing first hand the strain in relations between Europe and the United States. "While certainly not a panacea, a little knowledge and perspective in my personal interactions often went a long way toward alleviating tensions and misunderstandings. I felt it was important to find an approach that would work for the larger body politic," Berry says. This past year, he has helped AID at Emory organize several lectures, debates and town hall meetings on a variety of international issues, including U.S.-Islamic relations. Berry has been heavily involved in residence life at Emory as well. Interested in mentoring and supporting other students, he has served as a resident advisor for the past three years in a freshman dorm. He is also currently vice president of Emory's Young Democrats, and worked with College Republicans earlier this fall on a membership drive for both organizations. "While I've been at Emory, the most profound thing I've learned, whether it's been through politics or residence life, is that you can make a positive difference and change people's lives," Berry says. "Going to college is not about just getting a degree and moving on with your life, but also about making a difference in the community while you are here." In addition to the Marshall Scholarship, Berry's academic accolades are numerous. Last year, a paper he wrote as a sophomore was published in the peer-reviewed journal "International Social Science Review," a rare achievement for an undergraduate. He also is a member of the Emory Scholars Program and recipient of the full-tuition David M. Potter Scholarship. He was a Phi Beta Kappa inductee his junior year, and is a member of the Pi Sigma Alpha, Phi Eta Sigma and Phi Sigma Iota honor societies as well as the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. Berry also has completed internships at the Middle East Institute in Washington, D.C., and at a law firm in Maryland researching immigration and labor law. He has been involved with the Emory Fencing Club as well, helping others to learn the sport. "I simply couldn't have made it here without the encouragement of my parents, teachers and a few close friends," Berry says. "They've always believed I could accomplish this, even when I haven't. This is as much their accomplishment as it is mine. I'm just honored to represent both Emory and the good people of Salisbury, and I hope that I can live up to their expectations." Berry is the son of Robert and Dagmar Berry of Salisbury, Md., both of whom are professors at Salisbury University. He graduated from Parkside High School in 2002. His brother, Steve Berry, graduated from Emory in 1995. The British Parliament instituted the Marshall Scholarship program in 1953, named in honor of Gen. George C. Marshall, as a thank you to the American people for the assistance given to Europe in the aftermath of World War II. At least 40 scholars are selected each year to study either at the graduate or occasionally undergraduate level at any U.K. institution in any field of study. Each scholarship is held for two years. The selection process in the U.S. is managed by the British Council, on behalf of the British Embassy in Washington, D.C., and the regional Consulates-General in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco. Berry was selected by the committee in the Atlanta Region, and the committee is comprised of four former Marshall Scholars together with Her Majesty's Consul-General. Funds for the scholarships, which are provided by the British Government, include university fees, cost of living expenses, annual book grant, thesis grant, research and daily travel grants, fares to and from the United States and, where applicable, a contribution toward the support of a dependent spouse. For more on the Marshall Scholarship, go to www.marshallscholarship.org. * NOTE TO EDITORS: An electronic photo of Berry is available. ### Emory University is known for its demanding academics, outstanding undergraduate college of arts and sciences, highly ranked professional schools and state-of-the-art research facilities. For nearly two decades Emory has been named one of the country's top 25 national universities by U.S. News & World Report. In addition to its nine schools, the university encompasses The Carter Center, Yerkes National Primate Research Center and Emory Healthcare, the state's largest and most comprehensive health care system. 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