Having led the Fashion Institute of Technology since 1998, it is only fitting that exiting president Joyce Brown be honored at its annual gala next month.
Last summer the longtime educator announced that this academic year will be her last at FIT. Given that, she will be the guest of honor at the April 1 event at the Glasshouse in New York City. Two of the school’s high-profile alums, Michael Kors and Nina Garcia, will host the fundraising event. In addition to the fashion designer and Elle’s editor in chief, there will be other notables celebrating Brown’s achievements. Another internationally renowned fashion designer, Tommy Hilfiger, will be serving up a special tribute, as will model and FIT sustainability ambassador Amber Valletta and ABC News’ “20/20” co-anchor Deborah Roberts. Nearly 500 guests are expected, and special presentations will be held throughout the evening. There will also be FIT alumni and faculty doing live fashion illustrations.
When Brown first took on the top job at FIT, which is a part of the State University of New York, in 1998, she became FIT’s first female and first African American president. In a statement, Hilfiger said that Brown’s “visionary leadership has made FIT a powerful force for change, shaping the future of fashion by championing inclusion, opportunity, and innovation. Her legacy ensures that every voice is heard, and every dream has the chance to become a reality.”
He also expressed his gratitude for her support in creating a path for Elmira College students from his hometown of Elmira, N.Y. “to potentially advance their education” through FIT’s Global Fashion Management Master’s in Professional Studies program. “Her partnership empowers talent in the college’s Tommy Hilfiger Fashion Business School to grow, excel, and impact the industry,” said Hilfiger.
The New York City-born Brown earned a bachelor of arts degree in psychology from Marymount College, and then earned a master’s degree in counseling psychology and a Ph.D. from New York University. Prior to joining FIT, she held jobs at the Borough of Manhattan Community College and Bernard M. Baruch College of The City University of New York. In 1993, she was appointed deputy mayor for public and community affairs by then-Mayor David Dinkins during his reelection. After Dinkins’ mayoral loss in 1994, Brown became a professor of clinical psychology at the Graduate School for The City University of New York, where she worked until 1998.
In an interview last summer with WWD, Brown said she had made the decision to exit during a convocation with the faculty, and she had shared her belief that “you should leave while everyone is still laughing. Everyone is feeling positive about the program, the strategic plan and the new [West 28th Street academic] building and ways that I have made faculty to do research and cutting-edge types of breakthroughs for the intersection of education and industry,” she said. ”It’s a logical moment. It’s not like I had to do it.”
One of Brown’s achievements was the execution of the new 10-story academic building on West 28th Street, which includes energy-efficient facilities and flexible learning spaces. In last summer’s interview, Brown, who does not plan to retire, also singled out “advancements in curriculum and technology, as well as creating a new platform from which FIT competes with the best in the world in terms of product design, emerging technologies and creative designs.”
In a statement, Kors said he “still remembers fondly” his time at FIT and “the incredible work and dedication of the faculty, and the school’s impact on its students, and the industry at large has only grown since then. I’m honored to be able to support them throughout the year.”
Garcia, who many know from “Project Runway,” credited Brown for having “shaped FIT into a hub of creativity and progress…and empowered countless students, leaving an indelible mark on fashion, the creative industries, and beyond.”
FIT has another major event slated for this spring. The school’s annual “Future of Fashion” runway show, which will feature the work of graduating students from its BFA Fashion Design program, will be held on campus on May 8 at a Macy’s-sponsored event.
