Chris Berg’s Journey

The Dominican tradition at Albertus Magnus College is built on four pillars: Study, Prayer, Community, and Service. For Dr. Chris Berg ‘06, ‘12 M.A., the Pillar of Study played a key role in his academic and professional growth. When Chris first came to Albertus, he had a curious mind and was eager to discover his own truth. He recalls, “The quest for the truth in all its dimensions always resonated with me.” While studying was an important part of his formal education, it also influenced how he viewed personal and professional growth. For Chris, the pillar of study was not just about learning, but about using education to guide his development both inside and outside of the classroom. After completing his B.A. in English Chris went on to earn his Master of Arts in Leadership. His journey was fueled by a desire to grow intellectually and reinforce his experience in learning and development. “I wanted to get back into learning. I love being a student. I love being in the classroom and just engaging with other professionals,” Chris expressed. 

Academic Achievement with Career Success

Chris has devoted his life to Study through his entire profession. As an entrepreneur, he co-founded a career services start-up that has since morphed into a tech platform with AI-enabled automated resume assessment and career coaching. “You can go into the career center and within 10 minutes have a graded resume and get logged into our network of over a hundred career coaches,” he says. His change to career services come from his belief in lifelong learning combined with an eagerness to explore new technologies. 

Besides his entrepreneurial side, Chris also works at ADP human capital management, taking care of next-generation products. He advises to assure that both the clients and associates are aware of the technology they are using and receive a maximum return on their investment. 

Overcoming Challenges Through Study

Balancing a busy job with schoolwork can feel overwhelming, but for Chris, it was a challenge that required more than just time, it needed a plan. Instead of letting the pressure get to him, he was determined to figure out how to succeed. By planning carefully and using time management strategies, Chris created a system that helped him handle both his work and school responsibilities. He often talks about how important it is to prioritize tasks to keep everything in balance. “Prioritizing was everything,” he says, knowing that without it, both parts of his life could have easily fallen apart.

Chris credits a lot of his success to Stephen Covey’s Time Management Matrix, also known as the Time Quadrants. “I fell in love with Stephen Covey’s time quadrants and still use them today,” he says, emphasizing how much this method helped him manage his many tasks. Covey’s system helps people sort tasks by how urgent and important they are, and it became a key tool for Chris as he learned how to tell which tasks needed immediate attention and which ones could be done later.

Why Albertus?

Chris chose Albertus for its small community and personal connections. He had the experience of having an older sister who attended college, and the childhood memories of being on campus made it feel like home. More than anything else, the faculty made a lasting impression on him. “I was really close with Ron Waite and Dr. Yeaman. They took me under their wings, mentored, guided, coached, and encouraged me.” 

His fondness for professors stems from their push for excellence without sympathy. The small learning environment provided engagement with faculty and peers at Albertus. “They never threw me a pity party. They never handed anything to me.” It was this brutal academic challenge that helped prepare him for the real world.

A Message for Future Falcons

Chris’s story proves something that many of us might question today, the importance of studying. From making his own school records and sneaking into classes when he had no money to building a successful career, Chris shows us that knowledge can change lives. “Anything’s possible, as long as you keep finding that truth,” he says. Students today and in the future should look to Chris as an example: the pursuit of knowledge doesn’t end when you graduate, it’s a lifelong journey filled with curiosity, new ideas, and personal growth. When we truly embrace studying, it becomes more than just an academic idea, it becomes the foundation of success.