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Date(s)
- circa 1994-1995 (Creation)
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Biographical history
Carol Poll was a professor of sociology at FIT and interviewed members of the FIT community for the FIT 50th Anniversary oral history series.
Name of creator
Biographical history
Dr. Allan F. Hershfield, an academic administrator and professor at various colleges and universities, assumed the presidency of FIT in 1992. Dr. Hershfield had been dean of Boston University's Metropolitan College, which specializes in continuing education, since 1989 and before that held high posts at the University of Maryland, and the University of California, among other institutions.
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Allan Hershfield, who had been the president of FIT for 2.5 years at the time of this interview, elucidates the qualities that set the school apart from other higher education institutions by explaining the school’s direction and high placement percentages. He details close relationships with the industry via advisory councils such as the Fragrance Action Council and emphasizes the economic impact of the apparel industry on the city of New York. Hershfield talks a bit about the international nature of the workforce and describes a soon-to-be FIT design incubator. He also mentions the board of trustees and describes FIT’s advantageous status as both a SUNY school and community college. Hershfield then delves into the Educational Foundation and scholarships made possible by founders such as Morris Haft. He describes the bi-partisan legislative support FIT receives, and finally, discusses student projects and a particularly underestimated alum who became an extremely successful bridal designer.
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Access this recording on YouTube: https://youtu.be/L0qCw1ZVGos
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Legacy video file ID: VOH70
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Name access points
- Poll, Carol (Subject)
- Hershfield, Allan F. (Subject)