Caryn Doktor
Director of Human Resources

Born in Los Angeles, Caryn Doktor moved with her family to New York as a baby and grew up in Brooklyn. She earned a B.A. in speech from Brooklyn College, with a minor in music. After graduation, she taught music for one semester, worked in an advertising agency for a few months, and then began at Juilliard.

Caryn Doktor

How long have you worked at Juilliard, and what do you recall about your first days here?

I began working in the Business Office in November 1970. I left for a few months in 1974, and then again in 1978 for six years, and returned in August 1984 as personnel and benefits manager. Although my first days here were a very long time ago, I do remember how excited I was to be working at Juilliard. I realized early on in my musical training that I would never be a professional musician and have the opportunity to study at Juilliard, so working there was a pretty close second.

What are the most striking differences between Juilliard now and when you first started?

One striking difference is that there were not many student support services. There was no Office of Student Affairs, no Counseling Service, no Juilliard Journal, and of course, no residence hall. The Juilliard of 2006 strives to make all students feel valued and provides the support needed for them to succeed both as artists and as human beings.

What about Juilliard in the "old days" would current students find quaint or surprising?

There were no computers. Correspondence was prepared on typewriters, and carbon paper was used to make copies. Seems hard to believe!

What is one of your favorite memories from your years here?

Attending my first Juilliard Orchestra concert back in 1970 is one. I don't remember what the program was, but I do remember how amazing the students were. Working in the Business Office collecting tuition payments, my interactions with students didn't always bring out their best qualities. But as I sat in the audience listening to the glorious music they made, all I could think of was "everything is forgiven."

Of course, my very favorite memory is meeting my husband, Paul Doktor, who taught viola from 1971 until his death in 1989.

What is the most rewarding part of your work at Juilliard?

My colleagues, both staff and faculty. Working with a group of dedicated professionals who are bright, energetic, and focused on making Juilliard the best it can be makes coming to work a joy. It is an honor to be part of an institution that holds itself to such high standards, and succeeds at surpassing them.

What is the strangest or most memorable job you've ever had, and what made it so?

One of the strangest jobs I've had was being an assistant to a dentist while I was in college. I lasted in the job until a patient took out his dentures, handed them to me, and asked me to wash them. That was it—I never went back!

Many Juilliard staff members pursue artistic interests outside work. Do you?

I studied voice in college, but knew very quickly that there were loads of more talented singers than I was. I currently sing in a couple of choruses, which is great fun.

What was the best vacation you've had and what made that trip so special? Or where would you most like to travel and what draws you to that place?

I had planned a vacation in Tuscany for early October 2001, but cancelled it after 9/11 because the world seemed too uncertain to travel to Europe at that point. I've not had the opportunity since to take that trip, but would love to see the parts of Tuscany I've not been to.