Faculty

Francesca Sammaritano

Professor Emeritus & Adjunct Professor, Parsons School of Design

Francesca Sammaritano is an educator, designer, and academic leader who has shaped fashion education at Parsons School of Design for over three decades. A Parsons alumna (BFA Fashion Design, 1989) , she has been a vital part of the faculty since 1992, eventually stepping into the highest levels of academic leadership. Most recently serving as the Interim Dean of the School of Fashion (2020–2021) , she provided strategic direction for over 1,200 students and 200 faculty members across undergraduate and graduate programs.

Professor Sammaritano is a passionate advocate for merging sustainable fashion practices with cutting-edge technical design. Believing that the industry must grow responsibly without discouraging innovation, she pioneered the integration of 3D virtual garment visualization (CLO3D) into the curriculum. By teaching the inaugural BFA Specialized Studio courses focused on CLO3D in 2019, she played a crucial role in making course deliverables accessible and maintaining rigorous educational outcomes during the university's transition to online learning amidst the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

Her academic career is also marked by prestigious global partnerships. She led the highly successful Cristóbal Balenciaga: The Revolution of the Silhouette project, culminating in multiple student exhibitions at the Cristóbal Balenciaga Museum in Getaria, Spain, spanning from 2017 through 2028. This collaboration led to her presenting a joint paper on the educational function of fashion university museums at the 2019 International Council of Museums (ICOM) Conference in Kyoto, Japan. Furthermore, her deep research into the children's market is captured in her publication, Fashion Design for Children’s Wear (Bloomsbury, 2027).

Bringing a wealth of industry expertise to her pedagogical approach, Professor Sammaritano’s professional background spans design, product development, and creative direction. She has held prominent roles at major fashion houses and lifestyle brands, including Donna Karan Company, Calvin Klein, London Fog, Halston Baby, and Rock Star Baby.