Equity Partners Program
The Equity Partners (EP) Program began in 2018 as an initiative led by the ETUDE Faculty Scholars (login required), with support from the Center for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and is open to all faculty and staff at the Berklee campuses in Boston, New York City, and Valencia, Spain. Equity partners commit to ongoing professional development and agree to intentionally center values of diversity, equity, and belonging as professionals in the larger Berklee community. Being part of the program signals to students and colleagues that you have volunteered to create spaces of social justice with intentionality and active advocacy.
Equity partners sign an annual commitment letter and are expected to attend at least one workshop or training per semester, as a testament to their ongoing commitment to this work. At the end of the academic year, EPs are asked to complete a short reflection on the work they have done. Equity partners are expected to go through this process every year in order to maintain their affiliation with the Equity Partners Program.
Essential questions include the following:
- How do we address the inequities of race, gender, privilege, or class?
- How do we build classroom and workplace environments that are deliberate in their inclusiveness?
Professional Development
Berklee offers many opportunities/workshops (hereafter “event”) throughout the year that count towards equity partner development, including certain sessions at Opening Day and Berklee Teachers on Teaching (BTOT), as well as workshops offered through the Center for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), Human Resources, and by the ETUDE Faculty Scholars. Upcoming events are listed below. You can access a full list of diversity, equity, and inclusion events at Berklee by subscribing to the ETUDE calendar of DEI events for faculty and staff. Please be advised that not all calendar events count towards equity partners credit; eligible events will be indicated as such. Other activities may qualify, but should be submitted to etude@berklee.edu for consideration prior to attending the event should you wish to count it toward your equity partner commitment.
Equity Parter Foundations: This workshop is offered in the first seven weeks of the fall semester, in first seven weeks of the spring semester, and once during the summer semester.
Fall-Initiated Participation: If you become an equity partner in the fall semester, you will need to attend at least one event in the second half of the fall semester and at least one event in the spring semester; end-of-the-year reflection will address both events.
Spring-Initiated Participation: You will need to attend at least one event in the second half of the spring semester; end-of-the year reflection will address this event.
Summer-Initiated Participation: You will need to attend at least one event in the fall semester and at least one event in the spring semester; end-of-the-year reflection will address both events.
Maintaining Active Equity Partner Status: You will need to attend at least one event in both the fall and spring semesters; end-of-the year reflection will address both events.
Who can be an equity partner?
All College and Conservatory faculty and staff are invited to become equity partners. The larger the network, the more of an impact this group can make. No experience with discussing issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion is required; the only requirement is an interest in such conversations.
Neither ETUDE scholars nor equity partners claim to be experts in any topic around diversity, equity, and inclusion, and the EP Program does not certify anyone as such. The equity partners designation recognizes that you’ve chosen to be a part of this important conversation and set aside time to engage in (often challenging) dialogues with your colleagues. By purposefully focusing on the learning and working environments within Berklee, equity partners show their commitment to working together to make Berklee a safe place for all to learn, work, and play.
Equity partners:
- have questions;
- want to learn more from and about their colleagues and students;
- are open to examining their teaching practices; and
- are willing to make themselves known as agents of support and encouragement.
Becoming an equity partner entitles you to:
- receive a sticker to affix to a laptop or office door;
- add an equity partner icon to your email signature, syllabi, and online faculty bio page, which says, “This is a safe space. I am an ally.” to the community; and
- be added to a list of equity partners on campus, allowing you to make yourself known as an agent of support for students, faculty, and staff, and an ambassador of the EP Program and mission. Your use of the EP icon is contingent upon your yearly recommitment.
How do I become an equity partner?
To become an equity partner, you must attend a single, two-hour Equity Partner Foundations workshop. The sessions are facilitated by ETUDE Faculty Scholars and are offered at least twice in the first weeks of the semester in a virtual format. This session is not a formalized D&I training, but instead a workshop wherein you will engage in dialogue with colleagues on topics and questions central to equity in teaching and learning, as well as discuss and unpack terminology and vocabulary fundamental to our understanding of identity, belonging, and civil and human rights. This session is intended to provoke as many questions as it answers with the hope that attendees will want to further explore—and put into practice—pedagogical practices that enhance equity in teaching and learning.
Sessions are capped at 12 participants each. Faculty and staff may view and sign up for upcoming Equity Partners Foundations sessions on the ETUDE Workshops and Events page (login required).
Upcoming Events for Equity Partners Credit
Expanding the Canon: A ProArts Faculty Development Series (Virtual)
- Friday, February 11, 12:30 p.m.–2:00 p.m. ET
- Friday, February 25, 12:30 p.m.–2:00 p.m. ET
- Friday, April 1, 12:30 p.m.–2:00 p.m. ET
While faculty are encouraged to attend the entire series, attendance at only one session will constitute spring 2022 equity partners credit.
Equity Partners 2 (in person, Boston campus)
Thursday, March 31, 3:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m. ET
This workshop is only open to those who have taken the Equity Partners Foundations session, with attendance capped at 12. The event will engage with scenario-based learning and provide an opportunity to deepen an exploration of trust and reactions.
For a full list of diversity, equity, and inclusion events at Berklee, subscribe to the ETUDE calendar of DEI events for faculty and staff. Please be advised that not all calendar events count towards equity partners credit. Eligible events will be indicated as such. Contact etude@berklee.edu if you have any questions regarding eligibility.
Current Faculty and Staff Equity Partners
| Name | Department |
| Lee Abe | Contemporary Writing and Production |
| Deborah Adams | Academic Affairs, Boston Conservatory at Berklee |
| Cecil Adderley | Music Education |
| Pooja Agarwal | Liberal Arts and Sciences |
| Enric Alberich | Study Abroad/Summer Programs, Berklee Valencia |
| Rachel Alina | Music Production and Engineering, Berklee Online |
| Libby Allison | Music Education |
| Joy Arcolano | Theater, Boston Conservatory at Berklee |
| Sheryl Bailey | Guitar |
| Micaela Basilici | Admissions |
| Tom Baskett | Voice |
| Gina Beck | Voice, Boston Conservatory at Berklee |
| Rhoda Bernard | Music Education |
| Amparo Edo Biol | Contemporary Writing and Production |
| Gaynor Blandford | Liberal Arts and Sciences |
| Sally Blazar | Liberal Arts and Sciences |
| Alicia Bower | Liberal Arts and Sciences |
| Janelle Browning | Marketing and Communications |
| Marilyn Bulli | Voice, Boston Conservatory at Berklee |
| George Case | Voice, Boston Conservatory at Berklee |
| Daniel Castelar | Music Production, Technology, and Innovation, Berklee Valencia |
| Rachel Catanzariti | Theater, Boston Conservatory at Berklee |
| Cristi Catt | Voice |
| Janet Chwalibog | Liberal Arts and Sciences |
| Kareem Clarke | Songwriting |
| Rebecca Cline | Ensembles |
| Patsy Collins Bandes | Theater, Boston Conservatory at Berklee |
| Kasey Cox | Berklee City Music Boston |
| Alex Crosett | Theater |
| Beth Denisch | Composition |
| Lee Denton-Smith | Student Affairs |
| Andrea DiCocco | Marketing |
| Jim Donahue | Music Production and Engineering |
| Jan Donley | Liberal Arts and Sciences |
| Joseph Dreeszen | Alumni Affairs |
| Laura Duncan | Theater, Boston Conservatory at Berklee |
| Emma Fernandez | Berklee Online |
| Dominick Ferrara | Music Education |
| Eunice Flanders | Liberal Arts and Sciences |
| Lacretia Flash | Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion |
| Ty-Juana Flores | Office of Innovation and Strategy |
| Jon Forsyth | Global Entertainment and Music Business, Berklee Valencia |
| Ryan Fossier | Core Music Studies, Boston Conservatory at Berklee |
| Laura Gatzkiewicz-Mangono | Berklee Valencia |
| Bradford Gleim | Voice |
| Maria Goldberg | Global Strategy and Innovation |
| Enrique Gonzalez Müller | Music Production and Engineering |
| Jazelynn Goudy | Dance, Boston Conservatory at Berklee |
| Cynthia Grammer | Music Education |
| Nate Greenslit | Liberal Arts and Sciences |
| Jessica Halton | Institutional Advancement |
| Brendan Higgins | Library |
| Zach Hodges | Technology Support |
| Lucy Holstedt | Harmony |
| Shannon Jacob | Faculty Development |
| Dana James | Alumni Affairs |
| Alexis Jasek | Institutional Research and Assessment |
| Andrea Johnson | Music Business/Management |
| Michael Johnson | Contemporary Writing and Production |
| Ryan Jones | Concert Operations |
| Pam Kerensky | Music Business |
| Erica Knowles | Liberal Arts and Sciences |
| Theresa Lang | Theater, Boston Conservatory at Berklee |
| Stefani Langol | Music Education |
| Victoria Large | Liberal Arts and Sciences |
| Geneviève LeClair | Composition |
| Shannon LeClaire | Woodwinds |
| Yoon-Ji Lee | Composition |
| Sharan Leventhal | Strings |
| Allen LeVines | Composition |
| Christian Li | Piano |
| Claire Marie Lim | Electronic Production and Design |
| Reggie Lofton | Video Services |
| Alex Ludwig | Liberal Arts and Sciences |
| Faith Lueth | Music Education |
| Ron Mahdi | Ensembles |
| Mike Maieli | Academic Affairs (Institutional Assessment) |
| Rebecca Marchand | Core Music, Boston Conservatory at Berklee |
| Kaimy Masse | Ensembles |
| Margaret McAllister | Composition |
| Clare McLeod | Voice |
| Brian McGinnis | Dance, Boston Conservatory at Berklee |
| Emily McInerney | Enrollment Marketing |
| Sean McMahon | Film Scoring |
| Maureen McMullan | External Affairs |
| Rekha Menon | Liberal Arts and Sciences |
| Catalina Millan (Scheiding) | Berklee Valencia |
| Nicole Mlynczak | Career Center |
| George Monseur | Composition |
| Nichelle Mungo | Voice |
| Bridget Murphy | Music Education |
| Kera Murphy | Academic Advising |
| JK Lynn Nash | Berklee Online |
| Matthew Nicholl | Professional Writing and Music Technology |
| Gabe Nichols | Technology Training and Support |
| Liza Nichols | Technology Resources |
| Paul Pacifico | Contemporary Performance, Berklee Valencia |
| Jasmine Parker | Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion |
| Sarah Patrick | Strategic Initiatives |
| Walter Pavasaris | Professional Music |
| Anne Peckham | Voice |
| Andrea Pejrolo | Contemporary Writing and Production |
| Jeff Perry | Contemporary Writing and Production |
| Jes Perry | Professional Music |
| Rene Pfister | Voice |
| Viktorija Pilatovic | Contemporary Performance (Production Concentration), Berklee Valencia |
| Nicholas Poche | International Student Services |
| Nedelka Prescod | Ensembles |
| Becky Prior | Institutional Research and Assessment |
| Ruth Ristich | Ear Training |
| Marcus Rojas | Brass |
| Rachel Rome | Electronic Production and Design |
| Mischa Salkind-Pearl | Core Music, Boston Conservatory at Berklee |
| Joe Santerre | Bass |
| Joel Schwindt | Core Music, Boston Conservatory at Berklee |
| Queen D. Scott | Ensembles |
| Susan Scotti | Concert Operations |
| Elizabeth Seitz | Core Music, Boston Conservatory at Berklee |
| Jarritt Sheel | Music Education |
| Eunmi Shim | Harmony |
| Harry Skoler | Woodwinds |
| Abria Smith | Community and Government Relations |
| Stacey Snyder | Libraries and Learning Resources |
| Loudon Stearns | Live Experience Design, Berklee NYC |
| Michelle Sterling | Liberal Arts and Sciences |
| Yamil Suarez | Library Systems and Web Development |
| Jeri Sykes | Contemporary Writing and Production |
| Dan Thompson | Music Production and Engineering |
| Chrissy Tignor | Berklee Online |
| Ilona Tipp | Voice |
| Eirini Tornesaki | Ensemble |
| Dennis Trainor | Theater, Boston Conservatory at Berklee |
| Pablo Vargas | Libraries and Learning Resources |
| Marta Verde (Baquiero) | Music Production, Technology, and Innovation, Berklee Valencia |
| Wayne Ward | Music Education |
| Jessica Webb | Theater, Boston Conservatory at Berklee |
| Kaoruko Yoshida-Pilkington | Voice |