Expertise
Developing high-level performance skills through law, entrepreneurship and interdisciplinary practice
Education
- J.D., New England School of Law, Boston
- B.A. Philosophy, University of Massachusetts Amherst
Biosketch
Richard Kent Berger is an award-winning educator, attorney, entrepreneur, and performing artist who has taught at the University of Massachusetts Lowell since 2009. He currently teaches in both the Music and Political Science Departments. His areas of instruction include entertainment law, music publishing and copyright, entrepreneurship, intellectual property, legal writing and paralegal studies. In 2023, he received UMass Lowell’s Excellence in Teaching Award for Adjunct Faculty.
Berger is the author of "How Dare You: Master Business Planning Like a Boss" (privately distributed) and "The Perfect Brief: The Step-by-Step Guide to Case Briefing and 1L Success" (available on Amazon). Berger’s teaching emphasizes critical thinking and the development of skills that enable students to perform at their highest levels across disciplines. He integrates rigorous, applied problem-solving with concepts from law, entrepreneurship, and creative innovation, preparing students to address emerging challenges in contemporary professional environments.
His courses actively challenge students to analyze complex problems and refine their individual strengths, pushing them to elevate their performance while developing effective solutions to cutting-edge legal, business and societal issues. These issues impact creators, entrepreneurs, organizations, and professionals operating in rapidly evolving global landscapes.
Berger brings decades of professional and creative experience into the classroom. He studied Applied Performance at Berklee College of Music, earned a B.A. in Philosophy from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and received his J.D., magna cum laude, from New England Law, Boston. His interdisciplinary background informs a teaching approach that integrates philosophy, creativity, mindfulness, business strategy and legal analysis.
As a guitarist, composer, and performing under the name Nojen Ra, Berger has taught and performed professionally for more than four decades. His musical work draws from jazz, blues, rock, fusion and modal improvisation. In 2025, he released his debut solo jazz guitar vinyl album, "A Philosopher’s Monologue", mixed and mastered by Grammy Award–winning engineer Randy Roos of Berklee College of Music.
Throughout his career, Berger has remained deeply committed to mentoring students as developing professionals, artists, and entrepreneurs, helping them cultivate both technical excellence and creative independence.
Selected Awards and Honors
2023 Recipient of UMass Lowell’s Excellence in Teaching Award for Adjunct Faculty.Selected Publications
- "How Dare You: Master Business Planning Like a Boss" (privately distributed)
- "The Perfect Brief: The Step-by-Step Guide to Case Briefing and 1L Success" (available on Amazon).