Berry College’s Office of Diversity and Belonging Director Haley Smith has been named a recipient of the Exceptional 7 award.
The Rome Floyd Chamber and Advertising Dynamics Inc., annually honor seven individuals for their success and drive in their chosen fields and for making a significant contribution in advocacy for the Rome and Floyd County community.
In her role as the director of the Office of Diversity and Belonging, Smith collaborates with the president’s office to implement Berry ’s culture of belonging for all students. The Office of Diversity and Belonging and Smith’s role is new this year. Throughout the year, she and her team sponsor events which supply training and resources for Berry students, faculty and staff to become educated on diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Smith also recently announced a partnership with the King Center in Atlanta in an effort to create programs with Martin Luther King Jr.'s vision for communities of love, justice, and inclusion.
Smith has more than a decade of experience in community organizing and reconciliation in rural contexts. She has shared the stage with Bernice King, Latasha Morrison, Andy Stanley and Bob Goff, speaking to thousands of leaders about mobilizing students and cultivating more inclusive communities. She is finishing her master’s degree in transformational leadership with a concentration in peace studies and restorative justice. She is also a gifted musician and part of the local band, Kindred Fire.
For more information on Berry’s Office of Diversity and Belonging, please visit
Office of Public Relations
