Staff Experience

Why Missy Elliott’s Honorary Doctorate Means So Much

On June 10, 2019

By Darcie Nicole B.M. ’01

Missy Elliott at Berklee's 2019 commencement ceremony

Image by Dave Green

“Let me just soak it in… I don’t even know how I’m standing here…” The opening of the incomparable Missy Elliott’s humble, encouraging commencement address was devoid of egotism. Those who have been at Berklee long enough also needed to soak it in. Missy tapped into the ether. How she came to be standing there was a path forged by her musical bravery, compelling creativity, and groundbreaking innovation paralleled by a foundation that was built—sometimes against the grain—at the college for nearly two decades prior.

Building Homes and Connections: Reflections from New Mexico

Posted by Rachel Taravella

On June 18, 2018

In Faculty, Global Initiatives, Staff, Staff Experience

Continuing Berklee’s commitment to giving back to the community at large, the college’s Gracenotes Volunteer Committee sponsored its second annual trip to New Mexico. A group of nine staff and faculty members from the College and Conservatory traveled to Santa Fe to work in the Oshara Village, an ongoing Habitat for Humanity project to promote affordable home ownership for Santa Fe area residents by constructing simple, adequate, and safe houses through the efforts of volunteers, partner families, donors, and staff.

Ellen Thompson | Trip Leader, Staff, Berklee College of Music

“By trusting each other, being vulnerable, and sharing from our strengths, each of our group allowed for all the others to learn, contribute, and be contributed to.“

Music And Design Thinking – A Silicon Valley Memoir

Posted by Berklee Staff

On February 13, 2018

In BerkleeICE, Staff Experience

By Carla Calderon

This trip has helped me think differently on how I will approach my last semester at Berklee and how I will approach my future after graduation. Specifically, when we visited the D school at Stanford, they taught us how design thinking is important and some of the ways they set up the space to help their students be productive.

Building in Santa Fe

Posted by Adam Szetela

On May 24, 2017

In Faculty, Staff, Staff Experience

While my stay in Santa Fe was cut short by illness, I still had the amazing opportunity to dine, hike, build, and explore the city. I also had the opportunity to have great experiences with other Berklee staff and faculty who I did not previously know. Overall, it was an enjoyable trip that I would recommend to any of my peers at the college of music.

Tent Rocks and Sheetrock: Gracenotes Santa Fe 2017

Posted by Ellen Thompson

On May 19, 2017

In Faculty, Staff, Staff Experience

The outskirts of Santa Fe, as seen from a 15 passenger van on route 25

Hello from sunny and beautiful Santa Fe! I’m here with colleagues as part of the annual Berklee Gracenotes service trip.

Though I’ve been looking forward to this week for a while, I don’t think I was prepared for how downright expansive this journey would be. The wide open landscapes, the breadth of history culture and art of this area, the community impact through our volunteer work– it all has a far-reaching feel to it.

Berklee Blogs

First-hand accounts of the Berklee experience

Staff Experience (Page 1 of 7)

Why Missy Elliott’s Honorary Doctorate Means So Much

Building Homes and Connections: Reflections from New Mexico

Ellen Thompson | Trip Leader, Staff, Berklee College of Music

Music And Design Thinking – A Silicon Valley Memoir

Building in Santa Fe

Tent Rocks and Sheetrock: Gracenotes Santa Fe 2017

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