Betsy Newman Named Executive Vice President of Berklee
Berklee has named Betsy Newman, EdD, as executive vice president, effective January 1. Newman has served Berklee in various leadership roles for more than a decade, supporting students and the greater community. For the past year and a half, she was interim executive vice president, working closely with David Bogen, executive vice president for academic affairs and provost, to help move Berklee forward with strategic insight and collaborative leadership.
“I am honored to be working with President Lucchese as a part of Berklee’s leadership during this time of creativity, collaboration, and innovation,” said Newman. “Berklee is known around the world as one of the preeminent institutions for music and performing arts education, and I am certain we will continue to prepare our students for even more success, and lay the groundwork for Berklee’s bright future during this exciting time.”
In her new role, Newman will continue to work with Bogen and Berklee President Jim Lucchese as part of Berklee’s executive leadership team. She will shape and execute Berklee's strategic direction, taking a student-centric approach to foster innovation and position the institution for future growth—always keeping student success at the forefront.
“Betsy Newman brings a tremendous wealth of leadership experience to her role as executive vice president at Berklee,” said Lucchese. “Her commitment to Berklee and our students sets a standard for excellence. I look forward to collaborating with Betsy on empowering our students to live creative lives on their own terms.”
Newman’s leadership has consistently remained focused on delivering transformative results by recognizing and prioritizing students’ needs. As senior vice president for Student Enrollment and Engagement (SEE) at Berklee, she led an innovative expansion of programs, services, and experiences designed to advance student success, resulting in record recruitment, retention, and graduation outcomes. She will continue to lead and shape SEE, the organization she reimagined to comprehensively support students at every stage of their educational journey, from admissions to careers. With a committed team, Newman spearheaded the development of the Berklee Bridge, a transformational student success initiative that connects every student with a dedicated success advisor and team of specialized advisors. The Berklee Bridge received a $1.8 million grant last year to fund its implementation.
To foster belonging, connection, and community, Newman launched the inaugural Center for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, as well as several new student success programs, including the Black Scholars Initiative (BSI), SOMOS Latinx, and RISE, Berklee's first support program for first-generation students. During her tenure, the Berklee Career Center was redesigned with a distinctive career communities model, broadening students’ access to career paths, industries, resources, and programs. To advance Berklee’s commitment to affordability, Newman expanded need-based aid for entering students and designed the Thrive Scholarship program for continuing students, increasing financial aid support to the highest level in Berklee’s history.
Newman’s career in higher education spans more than 25 years and includes executive roles as dean, vice president, and senior vice president. Throughout her career, she has been dedicated to designing distinctively holistic, student-centered experiences that cultivate entrepreneurial leaders with creation-driven mindsets, empowering them to discover their identities and passions as artists, innovators, and changemakers. She is deeply committed to this kind of transformative education and its role in helping students thrive academically, artistically, and professionally.
Newman received her Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in finance from Babson College, master’s degree (EdM) in higher education administration from Harvard University, and doctorate degree (EdD) in higher education management from the University of Pennsylvania.
