Carson Bonner, Campus Carrier editor-in-chief

Eric Zuniga, Campus Carrier managing editor

After 37 years of shaping student journalists, mentoring students and guiding campus publications — Campus Carrier newspaper, lifestyle magazine Valkyrie and literary magazine Ramifications — Senior Lecturer of Communication and Student Publications Adviser Kevin Kleine is retiring from Berry College, closing a career that has influenced generations of students who now work in newsrooms and communication roles across the country.  

Kleine will step away following a final study abroad trip in Berlin this summer. His departure marks the end of an era for Berry’s communication program, one defined by hands-on learning, long nights in the newsroom and a commitment to helping students find their voice.  

For Curt Hersey (93C), associate professor of communication and former student of Kleine, Kleine’s influence began early and never faded. 

“Kevin was very caring, and so as the advisee for the Carrier, he saw my writing and he asked me if I wanted to get involved,” Hersey said. “That meant a lot to me at the time because I was still figuring out what I wanted to do. He was so beloved and so easygoing, but at the same time he took the work seriously. He ran interference for students when needed and made sure we were protected while still pushing us to grow as journalists.” 

Hersey said that mentorship continued even after he returned to Berry as a faculty member, describing Kleine as someone who treats colleagues with the same respect he gives students. 

“When I came back as a professor, Kevin just immediately accepted me as a colleague and valued my input in a way that made the transition much easier,” Hersey said. “He is somebody you can depend on in every situation, and he always has the best interests of students and the department at heart. That consistency is part of what has made him so important to this place for so long.” 

That balance between mentorship and independence is something alumni say defined Kleine’s approach to student media. Senior Contributing Writer and Editor for Berry Magazine Rick Woodall (93C), who was a former Campus Carrier staff member, said Kleine’s presence in the newsroom helped students take ownership of their work while still feeling supported. 

“Kevin was always present with the Carrier, and even though he was the adviser, he never tried to run the paper for us,” Woodall said. “He made it very clear that it was our publication and our responsibility, but he was always there with advice and guidance whenever we needed it. That balance gave us confidence and allowed us to make mistakes and learn from them in a meaningful way.” 

Woodall said Kleine’s professional background also shaped the way he taught and mentored students. 

“He had real experience as a photographer and journalist, and you could tell that he still had that passion for the work,” Woodall said. “He created opportunities for students that went beyond the classroom and encouraged us to take our work seriously. That kind of mentorship sticks with you long after you leave college and start your career.” 

Kleine’s influence extends beyond individual students and into the broader Berry community, according to campus leadership. Berry President Sandeep Mazumder said Kleine’s decades of teaching and mentorship have left a lasting mark on both students and faculty. 

“He has done such an amazing job as a professor for so many years, teaching and mentoring not only students but also supporting faculty across the institution,” Mazumder said. “His dedication to Berry and to the people here is something that really stands out, and it is why we hope he will continue to stay connected to the college even after retirement. His impact is not something that just ends when he leaves the classroom.” 

Provost David Slade (97C) took Kleine’s photography classes while he was at Berry and initially planned to pursue a career in photojournalism after college. He later pursued a PhD in Spanish and became a professor of the subject at Berry in 2007. Slade said that his teaching was influenced by Kleine’s ability to hold high standards while being supportive.

“I think that Kevin was just a good model for what it looks like to have high standards and high support,” Slade said. “Sometimes people have high standards and it’s hard to see what the support looks like. Sometimes they might be very supportive, but their standards aren’t as high. I think at Berry, it’s more common for people to have higher standards and also be supportive. We’re all on a different spectrum on that, but Kevin modeled that really well.”

For many former students, Kleine’s teaching translated directly into career opportunities after graduation. Alexis Stevens (97C), a journalist who worked at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, said the technical and practical skills she gained under Kleine gave her an advantage in the 
job market. 

“At the time that I graduated, a lot of journalism students from other schools did not have the same level of hands-on experience that we had at Berry,” Stevens said. “We were required to learn page design and newsroom production, and I had all of those skills from Kevin’s class and from working on the Carrier. That preparation is what helped me get a job within a few weeks of graduating.” 

Stevens said those experiences also prepared her for the realities of professional journalism, especially during high-pressure situations. 

“I came out of Berry with so much real experience, and every late night we spent working on the newspaper ended up being worth it,” Stevens said. “When I started working in a professional newsroom, I already understood what busy news days felt like and how to handle them. That confidence came directly from the environment Kevin created.” 

For Kleine, the focus on real-world experience has always been rooted in his own introduction to journalism from his father while  he was growing up in Kentucky. 

“My first actual experience in journalism was in first grade when my father came to my class and helped us create a classroom newspaper,” Kleine said. “I remember having my first published story, which was only two sentences long, but it made an impression on me. From that point on, I was always interested in storytelling and in the idea of sharing information with other people.” 

That early interest developed into a lifelong passion for the field, one that he carried into both his professional work and his teaching. 

“What I always loved about journalism is that you are never covering the same thing twice, and you are constantly meeting new people and learning new things,” Kleine said. “There is an energy to it, especially with breaking news, where you feel like you are discovering something and then sharing it with others. That sense of purpose is something I always tried to pass on to my students.” 

Over the course of 37 years at Berry, Kleine said watching students grow has been the most rewarding part of his career. 

“To see students develop their skills and find their passion over time is incredibly meaningful,” Kleine said. “You watch them come in unsure of themselves and then leave with confidence in their abilities and their voice. That kind of growth is what makes teaching so fulfilling for me.” 

According to Hersey, Kleine’s dedication has helped shape the communication department into what it is today. 

“Kevin is somebody who came in and really helped build student media into something that students could take pride in,” Hersey said. “His legacy is reflected in the lives of the students he has impacted and in the standards he set for the program. That influence will continue long after his retirement.” 

Woodall said Kleine’s legacy is both professional and personal, extending beyond the newsroom and into the lives of the people he mentored. 

“His legacy is one of effective communicators who have gone on to do meaningful work in their fields,” Woodall said. “But just as important is the way he supported people on a personal level and helped them grow into who they wanted to be. That combination is what makes his impact so lasting.” 

As he prepares to step away, Kleine said it is the daily interactions with students and colleagues that he will miss the most. 

“I will miss the everyday moments that come with being on campus and working with students and colleagues,” Kleine said. “Those small interactions are what make up your days and your weeks, and they are what make the experience so meaningful. That is what I will carry with me as I move into this next chapter.” 

Even as Kleine retires, those who know him say his influence will continue through the students he has taught and the program he helped build, ensuring that his legacy at Berry College will endure for years to come.