Kent State University celebrates 20 years of NYC fashion program

Kent State University is celebrating the 20th anniversary of its New York City Fashion program with a two-day event in Manhattan this June, highlighting two decades of immersive industry-focused education for fashion students in the heart of the Garment District.

The programme, operated through Kent State University School of Fashion, has provided approximately 150 students annually with semester-long study opportunities in New York City, where they combine academic coursework with internships, networking, and direct exposure to the fashion industry. University officials said the June 11–12 anniversary celebration will bring together alumni, faculty, students, donors, and industry partners to recognize the programme’s legacy and future development.

Based in Manhattan’s Garment District, the NYC Fashion program offers courses taught by faculty members who are active professionals within the fashion industry. Students also participate in internships, industry panels, networking events, and volunteer opportunities during New York Fashion Week.

Ann Mariko Walter, director of Kent State’s NYC Fashion program, described the initiative as “a strategic bridge between Kent State and the fashion industry,” adding that the city itself functions as “a living classroom” where students gain direct insight into professional practices and build industry connections.

The anniversary events will begin on June 11 with a Portfolio Showcase and Reception at The Joyce Public House in Manhattan. The open-house event will feature portfolios from recent graduates in fashion design and merchandising, alongside work by emerging alumni designers.

The following evening, the university will host “An Evening of Style and Support” at Queensyard in Hudson Yards. The fundraising dinner will support the NYC Fashion Housing Fund, a university initiative designed to offset the cost of housing for students participating in the semester-away programme in New York City.

Fashion executive Fern Mallis, often referred to as the “Godmother of Fashion” for her role in developing New York Fashion Week, is expected to attend the June 12 event. Mallis was recently inducted into the Kent State School of Fashion Hall of Fame during the university’s Fashion Week 2026 celebrations.

Mourad Krifa, director of Kent State’s School of Fashion, said the programme’s longevity reflects the school’s emphasis on combining academic instruction with real-world experience. The university reports that graduates from the fashion school have a 93 percent job placement rate and that more than 6,200 alumni now work throughout the fashion industry.

Founded in 1983 as the Shannon Rodgers and Jerry Silverman School of Fashion Design and Merchandising, Kent State’s fashion programme has expanded internationally with additional study-away opportunities in Florence, Paris, and Hong Kong. The New York City location remains one of its most prominent initiatives, placing students in close proximity to designers, brands, media organizations, and retailers operating throughout Manhattan.

The anniversary comes amid growing emphasis across fashion education on experiential learning and industry integration, as universities seek to prepare students for careers shaped by sustainability challenges, technological innovation, and changing global retail environments.