Edward J. Lewis III has been appointed as senior vice president of institutional advancement at Berklee College of Music. He will begin on May 15 and will lead the college’s fundraising efforts as well as alumni relations, philanthropic initiative, and bolster Berklee’s mission to empower creative leaders through music and the performing arts.
“Ed has an incredible track record as a mission-focused, data-driven strategist and dedicated performing arts advocate. His extensive leadership and fundraising expertise, coupled with his community-focused approach, will help us realize our ambitious institutional advancement priorities across our campuses. We are honored to welcome Ed to the Berklee community,” said President Jim Lucchese.
With 20-plus years of experience in the nonprofit sector, Lewis will bring the skills he acquired in his previous roles to his new position to add both a fresh and seasoned perspective to Berklee’s Office of Institutional Advancement. He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he received his Bachelor of Arts in music before earning his master of music from the University of Texas at Austin.
Before joining the Berklee faculty, Lewis was president and CEO of the Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts in Katonah, New York, where he led the organization’s efforts to jumpstart programming initiatives, community partnerships, and philanthropic support.
Prior to that, Lewis held senior leadership positions at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. While at UNCSA, he stewarded the school’s first major gifts program and established a five-year strategic plan focused on navigating higher education during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. He also focused on reinvigorating the school’s staff recruitment program with an emphasis on diversifying not just the staff but Berklee’s Board of Trustees as well.
Additionally, Lewis has had a prodigious career as a professional violist and has performed with the Dallas Chamber Orchestra, Spoleto Festival Orchestra, Santa Fe Pro Musica, the Toledo Symphony and Aspen Chamber Symphony, to name a few.
“As a musician and lifelong advocate for the arts, I’m excited to join Berklee at such a dynamic time under President Lucchese’s leadership,” said Lewis. “Berklee’s mission to educate and empower the next generation of artists and creative leaders deeply resonates with me, both personally and professionally. I look forward to working with this entire community to build support for Berklee.”
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