Virgil Burnside, a Berea city council member for 16 years, has accepted the interim vice president of labor and student life position at Berea College, effective January 2014. Burnside will replace Gail Wolford who is retiring at the end of the year.
Burnside received his undergraduate degree in political science from Berea College in 1974 and later a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Kentucky in 1992. He completed several courses in the Higher Education Policy Studies and Evaluation program while at UK. He is a member of the Phi Kappa Phi Society.
He began work at Berea College in 1980 as an admissions counselor and served in that position for 10 years before serving as a student development counselor and a residence hall director. While at Berea he has served as assistant to the vice president for labor and student life, Title IX and disability service coordinator and assistant to the president. He currently is director of residential life collegium.
During his tenure at Berea, Virgil has volunteered with many civic clubs and service organizations, such as the Berea Kiwanis Club (Past President), and on the boards of Big Brothers/Big Sisters of the Bluegrass, United Way of Madison County, Campus Child Care, Leadership Madison County (graduate of 1995 class), the Berea Hospital Auxiliary Benefit Committee (past Chair), and the City of Berea Board of Ethics.
In recognition of his contributions to the college and to the city, Burnside was awarded the Elizabeth Perry Miles Award for Community Service (2000), and the Distinguished Alumni Leadership of Madison County (2001). He is an elder and trustee of the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Berea.
