Category: Education

  • FIT: The MIT for the Fashion Industry?

    One of FIT’s founders, Morris Ritter, famously said, “What we need is an MIT for the fashion industry.” Seventy-seven years later, we are well on our way. There is, after all, the very successful, ongoing partnership we forged with MIT three years ago to see what could be developed in workshops which bring together their…

  • A Conversation with Hue Magazine

    As part of our 75th anniversary celebration, the editors of HUE, the college magazine, asked me to reflect on FIT through a small group of questions. Some of them will appear in the next edition of the magazine. Here is a sneak preview of the entire interview. 1. What was your vision for the college…

  • Bridging Cultures with Language

    About a dozen people seated in small separate groups, scattered throughout the room, were deep in conversation. There was occasional laughter—and if you listened closely, you heard a jumble of languages. This was a session of the Language Exchange and it was—happily—just as I imagined it might be. Presiding was Educational Skills Professor Charlotte Brown,…

  • Time Magazine Essay

    On the occasion of my 20th anniversary as president of FIT, Time.com asked if I would contribute my thoughts on leadership—which I was happy to do. My essay was posted recently and I am delighted to share it here with you.

  • Congratulations to FIT’s Class of 2018

    Commencement is my absolute favorite event of the year, and what a pleasure it was to return to Radio City Music Hall for the ceremonies this year. With its gorgeous art deco interior and sweeping scale, it is as elegant—and appropriate—a venue for these milestone celebrations as one can imagine. FIT last conducted commencement ceremonies…