Sapers is the daughter of Fred Berman, founding chair of the Berklee Brass Department. She has been part of the Berklee community virtually since its inception. Sapers and her family have established an endowed fund for entering brass students, and have been members of the Berklee Board of Visitors.

An accomplished former nurse and educator, Sapers worked at the Beth Israel Hospital as a nurse and supervisor. She also taught at the Beth Israel School of Nursing and worked in educational administration, planning educational programs. After leaving the hospital to raise a family, she returned to Beth Israel from 1980 until 1998, working on the nursing administrative staff. She has a Bachelor of Science and a Masters of Science in Nursing from Boston University.

"My dad and mom's friendship with Berklee founder Larry Berk and his wife Alma Berk, and the frequent jam sessions at our home will always be a cherished memory," Sapers said. "It was my father who came to Larry with the idea naming of Berklee after Larry's son Lee. Now my memories have come full circle, and I am delighted to be able to take an active role in helping to maintain the school's excellence and fulfill its dreams for the future."

In addition to her distinguished work in nursing, Sapers has extensive community leadership experience. She is currently serving on the board of trustees for Facing History and Ourselves. She also serves on the advisory boards of the Brandeis Adult Learning Institute and the National Center on Women and Aging.

Berklee President Lee Eliot Berk welcomed Sapers to the Berklee community, commenting, "The Berklee legacy owes much to Fred Berman, and now our present and future owes much to the commitment of his daughter Rhoda. This reflects the special identity of the Berklee community, as it extends through the generations. We are very pleased that Rhoda Sapers is a Berklee trustee."

Founded in 1945, Berklee College of Music has been advancing careers in contemporary music for more than 50 years. The world's largest independent college of music, Berklee has a multicultural enrollment of more than 3,400 students, more than 30 percent of whom are international. The college's alumni include some of the most respected figures in contemporary music, including many multi-Grammy award winners.

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Media, for further information, contact:

Sarah Godcher
Berklee College of Music
617-747-2658
sgodcher@berklee.edu