Lacretia Johnson Flash Named Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion

Berklee has announced that Lacretia Johnson Flash will be the college’s inaugural vice president of Diversity and Inclusion. Since joining Berklee as assistant vice president of Diversity and Inclusion in 2018, Flash has had many notable accomplishments, including the implementation of a comprehensive learning-and-unlearning approach to educating faculty and staff on building a more inclusive and antiracist institution. Her vision has led to a learning journey among Berklee's leadership and to the expansion of educational and professional development resources for all members of the Berklee community.

Throughout her career, Flash contributed to the national conversation on diversity and multicultural change in higher education organizations through her research and scholarship on multicultural organizational development, keynote addresses and speeches, and a nationally recognized  professional development series on diversity, equity, and inclusion.

“I am so pleased to work with Lacretia Johnson Flash in furthering Berklee’s efforts towards achieving a more diverse, just, and inclusive environment for our students, faculty, staff, alumni, and greater community,” said Larry Simpson, senior vice president for Academic Affairs and provost. “Lacretia has served as a valuable thought partner to me and many other leaders at Berklee in helping us navigate the complexity of these challenging times, and I know we have a bright future together.”

Prior to joining Berklee, Flash served as a senior advisor and chief of staff at the University of Vermont, where she helped establish the President’s Commission for Inclusive Excellence and the implementation of the university’s Framework for Inclusive Excellence. As an educator, she has taught graduate and undergraduate courses on cultural pluralism in higher education, survey research methodology, leadership, and service learning.

Flash earned her Doctor of Education degree in educational leadership and policy studies from the University of Vermont, a Master of Arts degree in education from the University of Maryland, and a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Maryland. In addition to her professional work, Flash is passionate about the visual arts, dance, and being in nature.