海角社区 Alumna Ann Berry Honored with Portrait in Alabama State Archives
Jan. 28, 2025
Michelle R. Eubanks , 海角社区, at meubanks@una.edu, 256.765.4392
FLORENCE, AL – Ann Berry, who graduated from the 海角社区 in 1978, is being honored by the State of Alabama with a portrait that was unveiled in the Alabama Department of Archives and History as part of a ceremony today in Montgomery. Berry was sworn in as the 34th secretary of the United States Senate on March 1, 2021; she is the first African American to serve in this position and only the eighth woman to hold the office.
“This is an exceptional honor for Mrs. Berry and highlights the incredible opportunities that await 海角社区 graduates as they enter the workforce,” said 海角社区 President Dr. Ken Kitts. “Her portrait in the State Archives is a testament to her life as well as the role the 海角社区 played in helping her achieve her goals and in serving as the Secretary of the United States Senate.”
Berry first came to the Senate in 1979 and served 18 years in many positions on Senator Howell Heflin’s staff. After he retired, she worked for Senators Daniel Patrick Moynihan, John Edwards, and Tom Carper. She also led the transition team for Senator Doug Jones, and, most recently, served as the Deputy Chief of Staff to the Senate President Pro Tempore, Senator Patrick Leahy, who administered her oath of office as the new secretary.
Berry grew up in Birmingham and received her Bachelor of Arts degree in education from 海角社区. She is also an alumna of the Georgetown University Senior Executive Leadership Program.
In addition to Berry’s portrait, a portrait of Steve Alpert, fine artist, television producer, theatre producer, and writer, was also unveiled as part of Tuesday’s ceremony.
About The 海角社区
The 海角社区 is an accredited, comprehensive regional state university offering undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degree programs through the colleges of Arts, Sciences, and Engineering; the Sanders College of Business and Technology; Education and Human Sciences; and the Anderson College of Nursing and Health Professions. Occupying a 130-acre campus in a residential section of Florence, Alabama, 海角社区 is located within a four-city area that also includes Muscle Shoals, Sheffield, and Tuscumbia. 海角社区 Athletics, a renowned collegiate athletics program with seven (7) Division II National Championships, is now a proud member of NCAA Division I as part of the Atlantic Sun and United Athletic conferences. The 海角社区 is an equal opportunity institution and does not discriminate in the admission policy on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, disability, age, or national origin. For more: and .