Berry College has hired Marc Hunsaker to lead the newly formed Center for Personal and Professional Development. 

Hunsaker, who is the Purpose and Career Design Consultant for Michigan State University’s Career Services Network, will begin at Berry in late October. As Dean, he will create and oversee a new Center for Personal and Professional Development, guiding a four-year planning and goal-setting process for all students.

“Dr. Hunsaker is an expert in helping people find purpose in their lives and in the workplace; that makes him an ideal architect for the program here at Berry,” said President Steve Briggs.

The Dean is responsible for integrating and strengthening existing programs related to professional learning experiences, career advising, internships and mentoring. Hunsaker will lead the LifeWorksprogram, Berry’s distinctive student work experience program that offers all students eight semesters of paid professional development. The dean also oversees career center programs including internship and employer development, alumni career connections, and a campus/community work partnership.

Hunsaker will establish a process by which every student will develop an intentional and goal-oriented plan for their Berry experience and their life and work beyond. The Dean will partner with faculty and staff to enhance mentoring across the college.

“Throughout my career, I have helped college students explore and express their purpose through their academic, career, and community engagement experiences,” Hunsaker said. “I often say ‘my purpose is to help young adults develop theirs’. My passion for helping college students weave together their personal and professional development has been the primary driver within my career journey, and I am very excited to continue this work at Berry College.”

Hunsaker has a doctorate in higher, adult, and lifelong education from Michigan State University, a master of arts in education degree and a master of divinity degree from Covenant Theological Seminary and a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of South Carolina.

He has more than 16 years of experience coaching college students and staff on issues related to developing a deeper, more integrated understanding of their personal identity, vocational purpose, and professional goals. He also brings deep academic knowledge and professional expertise in the areas of vocational formation, meaningful work, transformative learning, young adult faith/career development, and life design. He was recently endorsed as a “Life Design Facilitator and Trailblazer” by Stanford University.

Hunsaker previously served as Program/Communications Manager for the MSU Center for Service Learning & Civic Engagement and as Community Liaison Assistant for MSU University-Community Relations from 2013 to 2017.

His Georgia ties include his work as Director of Marketing and Communications for Outdoor Lighting Perspectives in Augusta, Ga. In his previous career, he also served as Director of College and Vocational Formation, Director of Family and Students Ministries, Director of College Ministries and Campus Minister for Washington University for Central Presbyterian Church in St. Louis for eight years.