Who We Are

Joy Allen

Director, Berklee Music and Health Institute; Chair, Music Therapy Department

Joy Allen, PhD, MT-BC is an active clinician, researcher, and educator with extensive experience in psychological health, medical music therapy, and trauma informed education and supervision. She is a sought-after consultant with community and higher education leaders on music therapy and music and health program and curriculum development, including training programs in music and health, targeting musicians, healthcare workers, and community members looking to develop beginning knowledge and skills in research, program development, community engagement, and/or entrepreneurship within the music and health landscape. She has presented her work at several peer-reviewed conferences, including regional, national and international music therapy and music and health related conferences. In addition to serving as chair, music therapy, Dr. Allen is the founding director, Music and Health Institute, Berklee College of Music, where she curates programs and trainings; maintains a repository of music and health-related research, and designed a one-of-a-kind Music and Health Innovation Studio to incubate and accelerate the development of music informed, solution-focused resources for a wide range of healthcare challenges impacting our global communities.

Leeza Negelev

Program Manager

For over 15 years, Leeza Negelev has developed and led innovative programming for internationally recognized institutes, fellowships, nonprofits, and universities. She has taught art and theater-based classes for students of all ages in diverse settings such as family shelters, skilled nursing facilities, schools, and universities. Negelev has been a frequent presenter at international conferences and has served as a consultant for education-based nonprofits on issues of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in education. Beyond her roles as a program manager and educator, Negelev is a visual artist whose work has been exhibited in the United States and internationally. Her studio research explores how aesthetic experiences can foster relational and empathetic attention. She holds an MFA in studio art from the Welch School of Art and Design at Georgia State University and a B.A. in education from Evergreen State College.

Renate Tsuyako Rohlfing

Associate Professor

As a pianist and music psychotherapist, Renate Tsuyako Rohlfing (M.M; M.A.; MT-BC) is focused on researching the impact of music on intergenerational systems and neurodiverse populations. A cofounder of Sounds That Carry, she develops projects that empower communities to use musical and creative resources to solve challenges, process grief, and enhance connections. Her reflections on the therapeutic benefits of musical expression are available on her Psychology Today blog—Music on My Mind.

Rohlfing is an associate professor at Berklee College of Music, where she teaches classes on music psychology and the role of the arts in public health. She is a proud native of Hawaii, and a graduate of the Juilliard School and New York University.

Brenda Ross

Community and Partner Engagement Director

Brenda S. Ross is community and partner engagement director for the Music Therapy Department at Berklee College of Music. In her current role, Ross works in support of the three key areas of business within the Music Therapy Department: undergraduate education, the Center for Music Therapy, and the Music and Health Institute. Ross connects with key community stakeholders who share the vision of music as a resource for impacting health and wellness outcomes. She brings to her role training and work as a music therapist, as well as an advanced degree and career as a strategist.

Todd Gardner

Associate Professor

Todd Gardner has spent over 20 years as a musician, consultant, litigator, mediator, facilitator, lecturer, and problem-solver in contexts as varied as contracts, environmental and health law, entertainment law, after-school arts programs for at-risk youth, civil and criminal litigation, interagency negotiations, workplace and land-use conflicts, and business development. He has worked as an official non-governmental organization observer at the United Nations Framework Climate Change Convention in Copenhagen, Denmark. In addition, Gardner is the drummer for the JD Moffat Quartet.

Rachel Dizon

Marketing & Administrative Assistant

Rachel Dizon is a clarinetist and music therapy student at Berklee College of Music. She was inspired to pursue music therapy after completing her high school senior project, which measured the effect of over 140 hours of music listening on biometrics. In her role as administrative and marketing assistant, Dizon supports the Music and Health Institute’s marketing and communications efforts, as well as offering critical administrative support. She enjoys finding creative ways to promote music and health and hopes to one day offer music therapy at a hospital NICU.