The CMIT building, pronounced “commit” in reference to the Great Commitments of Berea College, opened April 25, 2025. The dedication of the Communications, Media, Information Technology building, attended by 160 people from 22 states, recognized the generosity of donors who made this building possible. The building is the first half of the Technology Like No Other campaign. It has enabled campus areas such as the Computer Science major and Berea College News and Radio to expand their space and offerings. For the latter, the new building provides more space for producing radio shows and starting podcasts.
The Information Technology Department has also found a new home that considers student needs, with increased accessibility to the help desk. It features two behind-the-scenes workspaces for student-certified Dell technicians. Another key space in the CMIT building is the Makerspace, which encourages interdisciplinary collaboration for students to complete projects. This space is open not only to students whose majors align with the building’s academic and work programs but also to students from other disciplines to collaborate, experiment and work in innovative ways.
Computer Science major, Rebeccah H. Hunter ʼ17, spoke about her experience as a computer science student at Berea and how a building like this will transform the learning opportunities for the next generation of Berea students in the field. Photo by Crystal Wylie ’05 The CMIT Building is the new home of Berea College News and Radio, featuring three television sets, a news anchor desk and an on-air studio to highlight original online programming from students, faculty, staff and community members. One stop on the CMIT building tours was on this set, where a student filmed friends and alumni talk about the reasons they supported the Technology Like No Other campaign. Photo by Brooklynn KenneyBerea students provide live demonstrations of projects on which they worked to the first-time visitors touring the building. Photo by Sonam Tsering ’27Alexandra Yuhas ʼ18 signs a banner at the dedication ceremony, marking her attendance. Yuhas, a computer science major, also gifted an office space in the CMIT building. Photo by Sonam Tsering ’27 Berea students were placed in various locations throughout the CMIT building to display their work, demonstrate aspects of the new spaces and welcome first-time visitors to the building. Photo by Crystal Wylie ’05President Cheryl Nixon welcomed 160+ guests who attended the dedication ceremony on April 25 from 22 states, including Berea College Board of Trustees members; campaign donors (alumni, non-alumni donors and representatives from corporations and foundations); and Berea faculty, staff, students and retirees. Photo by Sonam Tsering ’27 Libby Faulk Jones, retired English professor, snaps a picture of an interesting robotics demonstration during her tour of the CMIT building. Photo by Zack ThompsonDr. Esfandiar Lohrasbpour ʼ74 (right) talks with IT staff member Billy Lakes and others in one of the new IT spaces in the CMIT building. Photo by Brooklynn Kenney Left to right: Former President Lyle Roelofs, Hon. ʼ22, Board of Trustees Past President Stephanie Zeigler, Chief Strategy Officer Teri Thompson, and Laurie Roelofs, Hon. ʼ22 share a laugh as they catch up at the CMIT building dedication. The plans and fundraising campaign for the building began under Dr. Roelofsʼ tenure. Photo by Crystal Wylie ’05
