ADRIENNE BERRY-BURTON P’96,’04, TRUSTEE EMERITA

Lynn, MA Reverend GOVS

Govs is blessed to have a very talented faculty and sta who are invested in the children. I’ve appreciated the Board being willing to dream expansively to the bene t of our students, faculty, and sta , being prudent and making the school marketable. I’ve been pleased that when we invite a child to this campus, we have aimed to foster and honor the best of who they are in programming and hiring.

Passion

My children and family are my rst passion. Another passion is for people to understand how gifted they are, and that those gifts aren’t just for you. When we nd that something that makes us rejoice and gets put to good use, we often bene t the world. Every now and then someone reintroduces themselves to me and tells me what they’re doing now. To be part of somebody else becoming their best self is a gift and gets me so excited.

Challenge

Living in a world where people are intentionally detrimental to others. Our challenge is not succumbing to those destructive voices that intend to divisively harm and those voices that say nothing can ever get better. e challenge is working to build a more just world, and not letting the reality of what is not so beautiful shut down the beauty of everything else.

Community

I’ve been a chaplain at four colleges. Some at Govs know that I’m clergy. ey did bring me in once to work with the sta and faculty after some major losses on campus. I have done a Chapel Talk: Ditch the Doubt. at was fun. I have led several memorial services for Reunions. at has been an honor. I’ve had the honor in a variety of ways to be present that I hope have helped build this community.