Alumna Spotlight
Get to know Erika Berry
Why did you decide to major in political science?
What were some highlights from your undergraduate years?
There are two highlights from my undergraduate years that stand out, even 14-18 years later. As for an academic highlight, before taking Marvin King’s African American Politics class I sadly never felt the need or encouragement to ask myself questions about why racism still exists or even why pockets of poverty still exist, especially in communities of color. His class gave me the lens needed to see that poverty often exists because of systemic oppression. This lens is what has consistently helped me view various issues in my career. For example, when students are assigned to schools based on their home address, it makes logical sense that low-income students will be more likely to attend a school that has greater challenges than a school in a wealthier neighborhood, yet the way we fund schools is based on property values. In other words, the schools that need the most funding are often the ones that can raise the least funding.
As for an experience highlight, I am often reminded of the phenomenal support team of faculty and staff that exist at Ole Miss. I don’t have enough fingers to count the staff at the university who made a positive and lasting impression on my time at Ole Miss. They truly make the University feel like a family.