Dr. Deirdre Sato Named Dean of International Education at FIT

Dr. Deirdre Sato, whose degrees include an Associate in Applied Science in Fashion Design from the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), has returned to her alma mater as dean of International Education. Previously, Dr. Sato was director of International Programs and Services at Purchase College. FIT and Purchase are colleges in the State University of New York (SUNY) system.

Dr. Sato is filling a new position that supports the college’s strategic goals for a stronger global presence and an enhanced student-centered environment for international students attending FIT.

An academic administrator with more than 20 years of experience in international education, Dr. Sato’s areas of expertise include study abroad and exchange administration, student and scholar advisement, program development, internationalization, research, and training. At Purchase College, she was integral to the development of an internationalization plan that included the expansion of study-abroad options and faculty and institutional collaborations. She also created and supervised the office for immigration advisement, expanded community building within the international student body, and launched new student and scholar exchanges.

Prior to her tenure at Purchase College, Dr. Sato held senior positions in the field of international education at Pace University and Parsons The New School for Design. She is the secretary of the steering committee of the SUNY Council on International Education and has held leadership positions with NAFSA: Association of International Educators, as lead trainer for the NAFSA Academy, as a longtime member of the NAFSA Trainer Corps, and as chair of NAFSA Region X, after serving for several years in regional NAFSA leadership. She is the recipient of the 2014 NAFSA Region X James O’Driscoll Award for Distinguished Service for outstanding leadership in NAFSA and the field of international education.

Dr. Sato holds a PhD in international education and an MA in higher education administration from New York University. She has a BA in social relations from Cornell University. After receiving her AAS degree from FIT, she spent six years in the fashion industry as a designer and entrepreneur for her own fine lingerie company.

FIT is a leader in career education in art, design, business, and technology, with a wide range of programs that are affordable and relevant to today’s rapidly changing industries. The college offers nearly 50 majors leading to the AAS, BFA, BS, MA, MFA, and MPS degrees.