Simone Pilon Appointed Executive Director at Berklee Valencia

Simone Pilon, dean of academic affairs at Berklee’s campus in Valencia, Spain, has been appointed executive director of Berklee Valencia, effective immediately. 

Pilon, who has served as Berklee Valencia’s interim executive director since March 2023, has an extensive background in higher education, both as an administrator and a faculty member.

“It is an honor to announce Simone Pilon’s appointment as executive director of Berklee Valencia,” said David Bogen, interim president and provost for Berklee. “She has done amazing work for Berklee as the interim executive director, and her leadership will continue to inspire and support our incredible community in Valencia in a number of ways, including through new partnerships and programs for our students.”

In her new role, Pilon is responsible for the vision, strategic direction, and day-to-day operations of all areas of the Valencia campus. She will lead the Valencia campus expansion project and will support the development and execution of Berklee Valencia’s academic strategy, including new programs and partnerships, career development and student success efforts, and community outreach. 

"It is a privilege to be part of Berklee’s global community and to work with Berklee Valencia’s faculty and staff to support and design existing and new programs and initiatives that contribute to the educational and professional development of our students,” said Pilon. “It is a pleasure to lead a campus located in Valencia, a dynamic city with a long musical tradition. We are particularly fortunate to be located in the spectacular City of Arts and Sciences, and appreciate the collaborative relationships we hold with its various entities.” 

Pilon joined Berklee Valencia in 2020, playing a leading role in academic strategy, overseeing the graduate and undergraduate programs, academic records and services, library, and technology. As dean, she led the successful Spanish reaccreditation of two graduate programs and created the post-master’s program. 

Before joining Berklee Valencia in 2020, Pilon was chair of Berklee’s Liberal Arts Department in Boston, where she led the merger of the Liberal Arts departments at Berklee College of Music and Boston Conservatory at Berklee. Prior to Berklee, Pilon was a professor at Franklin College, where she also served as director of international studies. She has led study abroad programs in Austria, Canada, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Norway, Senegal, Sweden, and Uganda. In 2011 she was a Fulbright-Hays scholar to Morocco and Tunisia. Originally from Canada, Pilon holds a PhD from Université Laval and an MA from McGill University.