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NEW
YORK, Aug. 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The
Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT),
a part of the State University of New
York (SUNY), today announced
President Joyce F. Brown will be
stepping down at the end of the 2024–2025 academic school year,
concluding nearly 26 years of transformative service to the
institution. Appointed in 1998, Dr. Brown is the first female and
first African American president of FIT.
"Dr. Joyce Brown's vision has
transformed FIT, and her tenure has been one of the most
significant periods of leadership in the college's
history," said Board of Trustees Chair Robin Burns-McNeill. "Her commitment to
technology, innovation, and DEI modernized the college, while also
deepening its commitment to our mission and to graduate success.
The college will have the benefit of her strong leadership over the
next year as we embark on a search for the next visionary to become
the president of FIT."
Highlights of Dr. Brown's presidency include:
- During her tenure, FIT awarded 82,389 degrees and certificates,
with the number of bachelor's degrees climbing by 348%.
- Created 33 new degree and credit certificate programs at both
the graduate and undergraduate levels, both in-person and
online.
- Expanded degree programs in the areas of Computer Animation and
Interactive Media, Cosmetics and Fragrance Marketing and
Management, Fashion Design, Footwear and Accessories Design,
Liberal Arts and Sciences, and Toy Design.
- Created a culture of flexible learning, built faculty ranks,
added new programs and interdisciplinary minors, and raised the
profile of liberal arts.
- Established the Social Justice Center at FIT, an initiative
focused on increasing the number of Black, Indigenous, and People
of Color (BIPOC) in roles across the creative industries.
- Increased technology and incorporated it throughout every
aspect of the college; most notably, working with faculty to infuse
technology into their teaching and curriculum over recent
years.
- Launched the Center for Innovation at FIT, an off-campus center
for faculty to pursue research, and the DTech Lab, FIT's on-campus
innovation lab merging design thinking with emerging
technologies.
- Most recently, developed a new Academic Building at 220 West
28th Street – the first to be built on the campus in more than 40
years – that will create a state-of-the-art learning
environment.
Notably, Dr. Brown's years encompassed unprecedented national
and international upheaval, including the COVID-19 pandemic,
refugee and immigration crises, Black Lives Matter and #MeToo
movements, and most recently, the widespread protests throughout
New York City.
"Serving as FIT's president has been my honor and privilege,"
added Dr. Brown. "Much has been accomplished over the past two
decades, including establishing FIT as a higher education community
that is committed to inclusivity, sustainability, and cutting-edge
technology. I will spend the next year continuing to move the
institution forward while working to find FIT's next leader who
will build on our strengths and take the college to even greater
heights."
About FIT
FIT, a part of the State University of New York, is an internationally
recognized leader in career education in design, fashion, business,
and technology. Providing an uncommon blend of practical experience
and theory on a foundation of arts and sciences, FIT offers a wide
range of affordable programs that foster innovation,
sustainability, entrepreneurship, and a global perspective. FIT
draws on its New York City
location to provide a vibrant, diverse environment for learning,
exploration, and research. The college offers nearly 50 degree
programs and grants AAS, BFA, BS, MA, MFA, and MPS degrees,
preparing students for professional success and leadership in the
creative economy.
Contact: Alexandra Mann,
alexandra_mann@fitnyc.edu
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SOURCE Fashion Institute of
Technology