Abria Smith is New Community Affairs Liaison for Berklee College of Music

BOSTON, May 22, 2013 -- Abria Smith has been appointed associate director for community affairs and campus engagement in the president’s office of education outreach at Berklee College of Music. She previously served as the community partnerships manager. Smith will be the liaison between the college and city agencies that share Berklee’s commitment to cultural, artistic and educational development, including the Mayor's Office of Arts, Tourism and Special Events, and the Boston Parks and Recreation Department. 

Smith will also assist the vice president for real estate and serve as co-chair of the Neighborhood Improvement Committee maintaining and establishing relations with property-owners, businesses, resident associations, and organizations that abut the campus.

Residents might already be aware of Smith’s reach into neighborhoods. Her office produces the free summer concerts Swingin’ in the Fens, Tito Puente Latin Music Series, and Jazz at the Fort in Roxbury, the South End, the Fenway, East Boston, and Jamaica Plain.

Smith was born and raised in Boston, and has a bachelor of music degree from Berklee College and a master's of education from Cambridge College. She is a singer, songwriter, performer, and recording artist. She has written plays that have become staged productions, acted in theatre and films, and published a book of poetry. Her poetry book, Somebody Soup, is her most recent work.

Photo by Sian Wittke.