Renate Rohlfing (MA`21)
I've been fortunate to build a career that blends teaching, clinical work, and creative project development. I'm currently an Associate Professor in the Music Therapy Department at Berklee College of Music, where I teach courses at the intersection of music, health, and community.
This year, I was honored to receive the 2025 Dean’s Award for Global Presence and Engagement in recognition of my work developing music-based programs for healing and social impact—both through my consulting practice (Sounds That Carry) and my role at the Berklee Music and Health Institute. I also serve as a staff therapist at the Nordoff-Robbins Center for Music Therapy at NYU Steinhardt. Over the past few years, my work has been supported by organizations including the Wallace Foundation, Massachusetts Cultural Council, and Berklee Faculty Grants.
My experience at NYU shaped my path. The mentorship I received from teachers and supervisors gave me the foundation to pursue a wide range of opportunities in the field.
Jade Elliott (MA`22)
Since graduating, I've completed an advanced certification in a specialized approach, Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy. I've also been juggling a full-time career as a music therapist with a career as a jazz musician in New York.
As a licensed creative arts therapist in inpatient psychiatry, I work closely with psychiatrists and social workers on an interdisciplinary team to support patients. I recently played with the Diva Jazz Orchestra to celebrate their 32nd anniversary for four nights at Dizzy's Jazz Club in Lincoln Center. Music has truly become my entire world in ways I could not have imagined, and my experience at NYU helped make this possible.
Leilani Victor (MA`20)
Since graduating, Leilani’s career path has been filled with opportunities attained through the connections and relationships she made while in the Music Therapy department. Leilani’s career path has included work in various NYC settings: hospital inpatient settings, community-based settings, and currently, an outpatient mental health clinic as the primary therapist--providing music psychotherapy services to children and families throughout the five boroughs of New York City, at a child-welfare agency called New Alternatives for Children (NAC).
Leilani’s says her journey at NYU provided a foundational experience that paved the way for career opportunities post-graduation, along with the inspiration to pursue personal and creative pursuits. Significant to this, were the relationships and connections she built while at NYU, as well as the cultivation of fostering creativity in all aspects of life. In addition to her work as a music psychotherapist, Leilani performs in a female-fronted rock band, currently touring in NYC.
She noted that all of her professors made lasting impressions with a special shoutout to Barbara Hesser, Peter Jampel, and Diane Austin.
Jeff Angell (MA`12)
Upon graduating, Jeff immediately secured full-time employment as a music therapist in inpatient psychiatry at Kings County Hospital Center in Brooklyn, NY, where he worked for 3 years and obtained his NY state licensure as a Licensed Creative Arts Therapist. During that time, Jeff supervised music therapy interns from NYU, an occupational therapy student from SUNY Downstate, published in "Voices: A World Forum for Music Therapy," and presented at conferences and universities in the United States and Zimbabwe.
Jeff left Kings County Hospital in 2015 to live and work in Cameroon for 3 years, returning to the United States in 2018 to work at Rikers Island Correctional Facility as a music therapist. He now supervises other professional creative arts therapists at Rikers, supervises additional NYU music therapy interns, presents at conferences and universities, and in 2024 showcased his work at Carnegie Music Hall in both a panel discussion and in the documentary film, “Beautiful Humans.” Jeff is currently the Secretary of the Board of Directors for the American Music Therapy Association.
Jeff said his experience at NYU allowed him to find his calling and hone his unique skillset in the field of music therapy. His time at NYU gave him the tools to launch a successful career in the two areas he loves: serving people and playing music. He credits his professor, Peter Jampel for his encouragement and setting an example of how to work in the community. Peter continues to be a mentor of Jeff's today.