Boston Conservatory at Berklee Announces New Dean

Singer-songwriter and higher education administrator Kevin Haden will step into the role

The Boston Conservatory at Berklee announced that Kevin Haden will be its new Dean of Music, and he will begin his time in the role on July 1, 2025.

Haden was previously the Senior Associate Dean of Strategic Engagement and Institutional Excellence at the Curtis Institute of Music. During his time there, he focused on enhancing the school's educational programming, while also leading initiatives that focused on community values, access, and inclusion.

He has had an extensive career in management roles at universities, having also been Dean of the School of Music and Associate Professor at University of the Arts (UArts) for two years.

Prior to this, Haden spent 22 years at New York University (NYU), including as Director of Academic Operations for the Department of Music and Performing Arts Professions at NYU’s Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development.

A singer, songwriter, recording artist, arranger, and music director, Haden's work as a performer encompasses a range of styles, including pop, folk, soul, and EDM. He also completed classical training as a composer and music theorist, and holds degrees in these subjects from NYU.

"It is an honor to announce that Kevin Haden will be joining our Boston Conservatory community as the next dean of music starting in July," said Michael Shinn, executive director for Boston Conservatory at Berklee. "Kevin’s experience in the performing arts is tremendous, and his care for his students and community resonates in all that he does. Kevin is a phenomenal artist, educator, and administrator, and he brings a tremendous amount of artistic versatility and dynamism to his professional work."