MUMBAI: The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation today announced the appointment ofKaren Brooks Hopkins as Senior Fellow in Residence, a newly created position. Hopkins, the former president of the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM), will serve as Senior Fellow in Residence from September 2015 through September 2016.

During her 36-year tenure at BAM, Hopkins transformed the organisation into one of the world's preeminent cultural institutions. She helped revitalize Brooklyn, playing an integral role in the creation of the Brooklyn Cultural District surrounding BAM. As a senior fellow, Hopkins will share her deep knowledge of leadership, fundraising, and arts administration in the cultural sector, write a book about the field, including her experiences at BAM, and work with Foundation staff to explore one of her core interests: the critical role of the arts as source of urban revitalisation.

"We are delighted to partner with Karen in the coming year. Her experience, insights, and interests icely align with our goals and priorities, and we should prove a valuable setting for her as she finishes a long anticipated book,” said Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, president, Earl Lewis.

"For many years, Karen has been deeply engaged with the Foundation's priorities in arts and cultural heritage. As our first Senior Fellow in Residence, she will inform several of our strategic directions, including new work at the intersection of performing and visual arts and an increasing commitment to public arts and humanities, especially in underserved communities," said Foundation, Vice President Mariët Westermann.

Stated Hopkins, "I am thrilled after my 36 years at BAM to have this unique opportunity to explore issues in the cultural field through this wonderful position at The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Mellon has never wavered in its commitment to the arts, and therefore is the perfect setting to initiate projects that hopefully raise the profile and value of our sector and its impact on humanity.