Background
Berte, Neal Richard was born on May 7, 1940. Son of Edward H. and Wenonah Maureen (Stevens) Berte.
Berte, Neal Richard was born on May 7, 1940. Son of Edward H. and Wenonah Maureen (Stevens) Berte.
Bachelor of Science in Political Science, University Cincinnati, 1962. Master of Science (Ford Foundation scholar), University Cincinnati, 1963. Doctor of Education, University Cincinnati, 1966.
Rockefeller Foundation fellow, Union Theological Seminary, New York City, 1963. Postgraduate, Garrett Theological Seminary, Evanston, Illinois, 1967. Postgraduate, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1966.
Doctor of Humane Letters (honorary), University Cincinnati, 1993.
Assistant director College Entrance Examination Board, Evanston, 1966-1968. Executive assistant to president, assistant professor Ottawa University, Kansas, 1968-1970. Dean New College; associate professor University Alabama, 1970-1974.
Vice president educational development, dean New College, 1974-1976. President Birmingham-Southern College, Alabama, since 1976, chancellor, since 2004, president emeritus, since 2004. Project director National Science Foundation grants, 1972.
Chairman session International Council on Education for Teaching World Assembly, Nairobi, Kenya, 1973. Faculty Danforth Foundation sponsored Community College Institute, Stephens College, 1973. Steering committee Carnegie Foundation funded project Cooperative Assessment of Experiential Learning, 1974-1977.
Member Commission on Educational Credit, American Council Education, 1975-1981, Danforth Foundation executive committee for Danforth Fellows Program, 1974-1975. National advisory council for career education Department of Health, Office Education, 1976-1979. Secretary-treasurer Southern University Conference, 1977-1980, vice president, 1984-1985, president, 1985-1986.
Visiting scholar Institute for Educational Management, Harvard Graduate Sch Education, 1990-1991. Co-chairman Region 2020, Alabama, since 1997. Board directors Alabama Center for Law and Civic Education, Robins and Morton Group, since 2008.
Member administrative board Canterbury United Methodist Church, Birmingham, since 1977, university senate United Methodist Church, 1986-1988. Chairman University United Fund campaign, 1973. Board directors, member executive committee United Fund, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, 1974-1975, chairman education division, 1975.
Chairman section for private educational institutes Jefferson-Shelby-Walker Counties United Appeal, 1977. Chairman public employees division United Way campaign, 1978. Vice president Council for Advancement Private Colleges in Alabama, 1977-1982, president, 1982-1983.
Chairman committee to select Man of Year in Birmingham, 1977. Chairman selection committee Rhodes Scholarships for Alabama, 1976-1981. Board directors Jefferson-Shelby Counties Lung Association, 1978-1979, Alabama Partners for Progress with Guatemala Program, since 1977, Carraway Methodist Hospital, 1977-1980, Brookwood Hospital, 1982-1990, Neighborhood Housing Service, Birmingham, 1977-1978, Birmingham Symphony Association, 1976-1980, 82-87, Community Affairs Committee, 1976-1987, Operation New Birmingham, 1976-1989, 2006-2009, Nature Conservancy of Alabama, 2007.
Board governors Relay House Club, Birmingham, 1983-1987, Circle S Industries, Selma, Alabama, since 1983, Parisian, Inc., Birmingham, 1983-1988. Board directors National Conference of Christians and Jews, since 1978, Birmingham Summerfest, since 1979, March of Dimes, 1979-1986, American Heart Association, 1980-1984, Southern Research Institute, since 1982, Leadership Birmingham, since 1981. Board directors, chairman long range planning committee, chairman program for Scout Exposition Jefferson County council Boy Scouts American, since 1977.
Executive committee Men's Committee, Birmingham Symphony Association, 1977-1984. Board directors Jefferson Federal Savings and Loan Association, Birmingham, 1978-1991, Birmingham Festival Arts, 1982-1989, board advisors, 1989, trustee, 1990, president, since 1981. Chairman Birmingham Area United Way, 1983.
Trustee Advent Episcopalian Day School, 1977-1987, Gorgas Scholarship Foundation, 1976-1988, New College-Sarasota, University South Florida, 1977-1979. Founding member, board directors Progressive Alliance, since 1986. Board directors Metropolitan Development Board, 1987-1988, Greater Birmingham Convention and Visitors Bureau, 1988.
Commission public relations National Association Indiana Colls and Universities, 1992-1994, board directors, 1994. Advisory board public Education Foundation Jefferson County Board Education, since 1999. Board directors Civil Rights Institute, 2000.
Co-chair Campaign for Restoration of Birmingham's Hist 16th St. Baptist Church, member foundation board, 2004^. Chairman steering committee McWane Community Advisory Panel, 2004^. Board directors University Alabama Health Services Foundation, 2004^.
Vice president Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, 2005, chairman 2005-2006. Member advisory board Community Grief Support Service, since 2005. Board directors Operation New Birmingham, 2006^, vice chairman 2007, chairman 2008.
National advisory committee Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, 2007. Board directors Community Foundation Greater Birmingham, 2008, co-chair 50th Anniversary Campaign, 2008. Member American Association University Administrators (president Alpha chapter 1978-1979), Greater Birmingham Area Chamber of Chamber (board directors, executive committee 1978-1980, vice president for governmental relations, policy committee 1986, president 1988, chairman executive committee 1989), American Association Colleges (president's advisory council 1977-1978), American Association for Higher Education (chairman Southeastern Regional Council 1973, chairman panel on three-year degree programs 1973, program chairman 1974, advisory board NEXUS Project 1974-1975), Association for Innovation in Higher Education (advisory board 1973), Kiwanis International (Distinguished President award 1992-1993, George F. Hixon fellow 1995), Phi Beta Kappa (president 1975), Phi Delta Kappa.
Clubs: The Redstone Club, The Jefferson Club, Downtown Birmingham Kiwanis (chairman Ministers Day 1977, chairman Youth-of-the-Year selection committee 1978, president 1992-1993, Distinguished President award, Kiwanian of Year 2007).
Married Anne; children: Becky, Julie, Mark, Scott.