On Tuesday, April 1, FIT held its Annual Awards Gala, celebrating President Joyce F. Brown’s 27 years of transformative leadership, at The Glasshouse in New York City. Combined, the gala and the newly established Dr. Joyce F. Brown Legacy Fund raised $2.4 million. These funds will go toward nurturing the next generation of FIT students by providing scholarships, developing new initiatives, and launching groundbreaking programs that push the boundaries of creativity.
Appointed in 1998, Dr. Brown is FIT’s longest-serving president, as well as its first female and first African American president. “My career has really been devoted to public service,” she said when accepting her honor. “My inspiration and my vision has been fueled by the absolute transformative power of education.”
The event was hosted by designer Michael Kors, and Nina Garcia, editor-in-chief of ELLE, and Project Runway judge, both FIT alumni. “Dr. Joyce F. Brown has built an institution where dreams become careers, where innovation thrives, and where students from all backgrounds find their place in the world of fashion, design, and business,” Kors said.
Attended by 500 guests, the event opened with a video tribute from New York State Governor Kathy Hochul and included star-studded salutes celebrating Dr. Brown’s extraordinary achievements across three pillars: Innovation, Sustainability, and Social Impact. Presenters included Tommy Hilfiger, founder and principal designer of Tommy Hilfiger Global (Innovation); Deborah Roberts, 20/20 co-anchor and award-winning ABC News correspondent (Social Impact), and FIT alumnus and designer Francisco Costa, who gave the Sustainability speech on behalf of Amber Valletta, model, actress, activist, and FIT Sustainability Ambassador.
“Her legacy is one of empowerment and turning bold dreams into real-world impact, Hilfiger said. “She’s built an institution that doesn’t just keep up with the future—it helps define it. The global fashion community is more dynamic, inspired, and inclusive because of her enduring vision.”
Samantha Barnes, president of the FIT Student Government Association, shared a letter featuring sentiments on behalf of students, past and present, to express the depth of what Dr. Brown’s leadership has meant to the college.
“To us, FIT is more than just a college. It is a dream maker, a launchpad, a force of transformation in the lives of every student who steps onto the campus,” Barnes said.
Entertainment icon LL Cool J also delivered a heartfelt video message, and the spirit of FIT creativity could also be felt offstage: Students, faculty, and alumni provided guests with live fashion sketches and painted murals that were later auctioned off as part of the evening’s fundraising efforts.
Guests included (alumni noted with an asterisk): Max Alexander, content creator and designer; designer Dennis Basso*; Isaac Boots, trainer and choreographer; Katherine Gage Boulud, philanthropist; Teddy Charles, hair stylist; designer Grace Chen*; designer Kenneth Cole; designer Francisco Costa*; Brandice Daniel*, founder and chief executive officer, Harlem’s Fashion Row; designer Randy Fenoli*; designer and stylist Zaldy Goco*; Tamron Hall, television host, actress, and philanthropist; designer Kobi Halperin; Candice Huffine, model; Steven Kolb; Fern Mallis, entrepreneur and philanthropist; designer B Michael*; Christian Siriano; Jean Shafiroff, philanthropist; and Ron Thurston, author. Singer-songwriter Rachel Brown performed throughout the evening; she is the daughter of Neil Brown and the late Amsale Aberra, renowned fashion designer and FIT alumna and trustee.
During her remarks about the Legacy Fund, Dr. Brown expressed the desire to build a state-of-the-art-science laboratory so that students no longer have to lean on partner institutions’ facilities. That is just one example of how the fund could benefit students for decades to come.
“Our work is making a difference in the world far beyond the beauty, glamour and craftsmanship of the products we design and produce,” she said. “I want our creative, analytic, academic, and intellectual environment to have all the necessary tools to continue to be a major influence on the global economy and our industries in New York.”