Matt Serletic, a two-time Grammy-winning producer and University of Miami alumnus, will become the Frost School of Music's sixth dean. He starts Oct. 19.

The university announced the appointment Monday, Sept. 14. Serletic succeeds Shelton G. "Shelly" Berg, who retired in spring 2026 after 18 years leading the school. Serletic has served on the Frost School's Dean's Advisory Committee since 2018.

Tech and AI background shapes his resume

Serletic holds 49 patents in artificial intelligence and music systems. He most recently served as director of AI innovation at Amazon Music, where he joined in 2024 to lead a global team in artificial intelligence and personalization. Before that, he was a director of product at Google, overseeing creative content for Search.

Deep family ties to the university

He earned a Bachelor of Music in 1992 and a master's in 1994, both in trombone performance, from the Frost School. His parents met at the University of Miami, and his daughter graduated from the school in December 2025.

Grammy-winning production credits span decades

His production credits span Matchbox Twenty, Santana, Aerosmith, Collective Soul and Willie Nelson, on records that sold more than 110 million copies. He won Record of the Year and Album of the Year Grammys for Santana's "Supernatural" and its single "Smooth." He also served as chairman and CEO of Virgin Records and founded Melisma Records, Emblem Music Group and Zya, a music-technology company he sold to Google in 2019.

"I want this school to be fearless, close to Miami and the industry, and serious about every student graduating with a career, not just a degree," Serletic told Billboard.

University of Miami Provost Joel H. Samuels said in the announcement that Serletic's background combining musical creation, performance, business, technology and leadership positions him to lead the Frost School into its next century.

School marks 100 years amid leadership change

The Frost School was established in 1926 and marked its 100th anniversary in April 2025. Berg's farewell at the school's All-Student Forum on April 24 drew emotional weight. "What I will miss is the ever-renewing spirit of your brilliance," Berg told students, according to Gables Gazette coverage of the event.

Serletic was one of 100 alumni to receive a Frost Centennial Medal for contributions to music artistry and the industry.