Edward J. Lewis III Named Senior Vice President of Institutional Advancement

Berklee has announced Edward J. Lewis III as its new senior vice president of institutional advancement, effective May 15. Lewis brings over 20 years of experience in higher education and the performing arts to the position, having led major fundraising initiatives and long-term financial strategies in a multitude of roles. He will work closely with Berklee’s senior leadership team on strengthening and achieving institutional advancement goals while ensuring the success of a cohesive global fundraising and engagement program.

"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."

Since 2021, Lewis has served as president and CEO of the Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts in Katonah, New York. In his four-year tenure, he established the first major gifts program in the center's 79-year history, successfully implemented an ambitious five-year strategic plan that helped the center navigate COVID-19, and revamped recruitment practices to diversify staff and board membership while creating a more inclusive representation of artists across all presented genres.

“Ed has an incredible track record as a mission-focused, data-driven strategist and dedicated performing arts advocate,” said President Jim Lucchese. “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.”

Prior to Caramoor, Lewis served as vice chancellor for advancement at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA), where he implemented a multi-award-winning fundraising initiative that raised over $75 million for new programs, student scholarships, faculty endowments, facilities improvements, and community engagement initiatives. He also led fundraising efforts that grew the school’s endowment from $35 million in 2015 to over $70 million in 2021. Before UNCSA, Lewis served in development leadership roles at the University of Maryland’s Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center and College of Arts and Humanities in College Park.

Lewis has extensive experience as a professional violist, performing with the Dallas Chamber Orchestra, Spoleto Festival Orchestra, Santa Fe Pro Musica, the Toledo Symphony, and Aspen Chamber Symphony, among other ensembles. He holds a Master of Music from the University of Michigan, a Bachelor of Music from Northwestern University, and completed his doctoral program postgraduate studies at the University of Maryland School of Music.