Who

Karen Brooks Hopkins is the president of Brooklyn Academy of Music, an institution that provides one of the few reasons for culture-obsessed Manhattanites to take the subway across the East River.

Backstory

University of Maryland graduate Hopkins volunteered in Israel's 1973 Yom Kippur War and lived on a Jerusalem kibbutz for a year before earning an MFA from George Washington University. In 1979, she joined BAM as a development officer. She's been with the arts institution ever since, taking over as president in 1999 when Harvey Lichtenstein stepped down. Hopkins had big shoes to fill upon his departure: Lichtenstein was the driving force behind BAM's rise to cultural prominence in the 1970s and 1980s and an enormously influential cultural figure over more than three decades. Despite some early challenges—funding dipped following Sept. 11th and BAM was forced to cut its budget—Hopkins has largely prevailed. BAM is now larger ever, with some 300 employees and a $35 million annual budget, thanks to ticket sales and private donations. And more than 450,000 people attend BAM events annually.

Since taking over, Hopkins has introduced a number of new programs, including educational programs for kids, underprivileged teens and senior citizens. In 2004, she unveiled a a $8.6 million restoration that returned the neo-Classical building to its former glory. Most recently, Hopkins partnered with Robert Redford to establish the Creative Latitude festival, which brings Sundance Film Festival winners to BAM. And having proven herself to be an adept fundraiser, she's written the book on the subject: Successful Fundraising for Arts & Cultural Organizations.

On the job

As BAM's president, Hopkins works closely with Joseph Melillo, BAM's executive producer. She also works very closely with the institution's board, whose members include City Opera chair Susan Baker, socialite Beth Rudin DeWoody, PR guru Dan Klores and real estate developer, Bruce Ratner.

Trophy case

Foreign governments seem to love Hopkins. In 2006, France awarded her the Chevalier de L'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres for promoting French artists through BAM, and she's won similar awards from the governments of Sweden and Norway.

Personal

An "unabashed Brooklyn chauvinist," she lives with her husband, Antonious Hopkins, in Park Slope.