Curtis Announces Further Staff Appointments

President Roberto Díaz and Curtis are pleased to shared updates related to the administrative restructuring work announced in early August. Six more staff appointments were announced to the Curtis community on October 14, all of which are effective immediately.

Patricia Carpino: Senior Associate Dean of Student Affairs

Working under the direction of the dean and in partnership with faculty department chairs, the senior associate dean of student affairs will have significant responsibility in planning, organizing, and managing services and compliance associated with student and academic affairs. Ms. Carpino will collaborate with and supervise members of the musician life cycle team—including the registrar, associate dean of student life and international student affairs, director of residence life, and the director of student financial assistance—to develop, revise, and ensure the successful operation of multiple functional areas within student services.

Nicholas Lewis: Senior Associate Dean and Special Advisor to the President for Strategic Engagement

Dean Lewis’s position is responsible for advancing Curtis’s strategic initiative on Community Equity and Belonging, as articulated in the recent reorganization plan. The plan rests on three pillars—teaching, touring, and technology—all in service of the educational mission of the school, and strategic decisions for the institution are made through the dual lenses of artistic and inclusive excellence. This position enjoys broad authority in working collaboratively with all constituents of the Curtis community (student, faculty, staff, alumni, and other constituent communities). This position will report directly to the dean and will collaborate closely with the president.

Colleen Hood: Senior Director of Production

In her role as senior director of production, Ms. Hood will be responsible for the strategic and administrative oversight of all operational and production elements of the instrumental performance program at the Curtis Institute of Music, including chamber music, master classes, student recitals, and orchestral activities. She will also serve as chair of the concert and production cross-departmental working group to ensure effective communication and collaboration in the production of all instrumental and opera/vocal rehearsals and performances across the institution—off campus, on campus, on tour, and online. This position is also responsible for the inventory, distribution, and maintenance of the Curtis instrument collection. This position will report directly to the dean.

Patricia K. Johnson: Senior Director of Communications and Public Affairs

As senior director of communications and public affairs, Ms. Johnson will guide the strategy for and implementation of messaging for a range of internal and external Curtis constituencies. This position will collaborate across departments to identify key messages that convey the full story of Curtis and its people, strategically employ a multifaceted set of communications channels and voices, work to deepen brand affinity, and act as the school’s primary press liaison. This position will report directly to the president.

Ali King: Director, Marketing and Business Development

As director, marketing and business development, Ms. King will oversee growth strategies for Curtis’s digital marketing, including e-mail, social media, and the Curtis.edu website. Reporting to the to-be-hired head of the new digital strategy and innovation department, she will also serve as product owner and build partnerships for the Performance Innovation Lab. Key goals of this role are to broaden access to and perception of Curtis through existing and new channels, identify and pursue revenue-generating opportunities, and outfit Curtis with the digital tools and training to effectively reach, engage with, and invest in its community.

Kayla Dredden: Payroll and Benefits Coordinator

Ms. Dredden will be maintaining needed confidential benefit and payroll records for Curtis employees, and will also administer Curtis’s employee benefits. This position will work closely with the business office and report to the senior controller.

Curtis congratulates these colleagues on their new positions as they work together to shape the future of Curtis.