It didn’t take long for Tasha Toy to make an impression as the new director of multicultural and international student programs at Berry College.

Within a few days of arriving on Berry’s campus, Toy found herself engulfed in the festivities of the Mountain Day Olympics, a tongue-in-cheek competition between residence halls that is one of the highlights of Berry’s annual homecoming celebration.

“Dr. Toy always has a smile on her face,” said Kisha Bryant, a student worker in the Office of Multicultural and International Student Programs. “I am excited and really happy about her arrival. We have made a great connection. She really listens to my input and finds the best way to achieve our goal.”

A native of Augusta, Toy most recently served as assistant director of student life at Brevard College in North Carolina. She said she is “most passionate about becoming engaged with all of the Berry College students, not just the ones involved in the multicultural programs.”

She earned her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees from North Carolina Central University and her Ph.D. from Seton Hall University, where she later managed the AmeriCorps program.

Her past experience includes developing and coordinating support programs for multicultural and international students, creating opportunities for cultural exchange dialogues and teaching first-year seminars.  Toy says she’s excited about working closely with students and infusing multicultural programs with other initiatives across campus and throughout the community.

Toy and the Office of Multicultural and International Student Programs team work in collaboration with the admissions office to assist multicultural students as they acclimate to college life. They continue to provide support and assistance in the years to follow to ensure retention and success. Efforts beyond the Berry campus include the PLUS program for multicultural high school students and other initiatives that are meant to inform and enlighten the community at-large about the diverse needs of all Berry College students.