VP Berg to leave college

By Campus Editor

In a Feb. 27 collegewide email, President and CEO Kwang-Wu Kim announced that Alicia Berg, the vice president of Campus Environment responsible for a multitude of projects including the construction of the Media Production Center and the renovations of the eighth and ninth floors of the 623 S. Wabash Ave. Building for the Art + Design Department, will leave Columbia March 13.

Berg accepted the position of assistant vice president of Campus Planning + Sustainability at the University of Chicago, where she will report to the university architect to enhance the university’s history focus, encourage neighborhood revitalization and develop collegewide sustainability initiatives.

“At this point in my career, I think about what I really love to do, and that is to manage projects that improve the built environment for people,” Berg said. “There is so much capital development that’s going on at the University of Chicago, and I am excited to be a part of such an ambitious program that will improve the campus and learning environment for years to come.”

Berg first joined Columbia in March of 2004. She has served the college community for 11 years, contributing the college’s signature aesthetic and managing various development projects throughout this period.

“During her tenure at Columbia, Alicia has been a force for change,” Kim said in the email. “Under her leadership, our campus acquired a distinctive look and feel, building safety and code issues were successfully addressed and many of our key teaching and learning environments were significantly enhanced and improved.”

Berg said she is leaving Columbia with many memories of her work and colleagues whom she will miss.

“I think my biggest accomplishment [at Columbia] is forming the incredible team that we now have in Campus Environment, facilities and security,” Berg said. “We are proactive and effective, and that’s entirely because of the great people I was able to assemble.”

According to the email, a reception in honor of Berg’s service to Columbia and in celebration of her new position at the University of Chicago will be announced soon.