PARSONS TO HONOR SHEILA C. JOHNSON AND DONNA KARAN AT 2012 FASHION BENEFIT |
"Sheila and Donna have set an example for our students as women who have risen to the top of their chosen fields and have shaped contemporary culture. They also share Parsons' deep commitment to the future of design," said Parsons Executive Dean Joel Towers. "Both have been active voices here at Parsons, and continue to lend insight and support to important new initiatives at the school." Among the initiatives Johnson has championed at the school is the creation of the Sheila C. Johnson Design Center, an award-winning exhibition and public programming center that enables Parsons to connect its students and the general public to broader issues in the world of art and design. Through the endowed Donna Karan Professorship, Karan has enabled Parsons to develop an innovative new graduate program in Fashion Design and Society, where select designers are able to refine their craft while gaining a global understanding of the field. In addition, the endowed Stephan Weiss Design Strategies Dialogues brings to campus leading thinkers at the intersection of design and business. Beyond Parsons, Karan's Urban Zen Foundation has worked to preserve cultures, empower children and advance wellness in communities around the world. "Since I first set foot at Parsons, I have been amazed by the incredible talent of its students," said Johnson. "It is an honor to be recognized by the school, especially alongside Donna, who has become a great friend and inspiration to me." Said Karan: "Parsons gave me my start in the industry, and to be able to support future designers is incredibly important to me. I am particularly excited to be honored with Sheila, who has been so instrumental to the success of Parsons, as well as to celebrate the first graduating class of the new MFA in Fashion Design and Society." A highlight of the Fashion Benefit is the runway show of select collections by graduating students. This year, in addition to collections by graduates of the school's legendary BFA program, the show will also feature the first thesis collections by students in the new MFA in Fashion Design and Society, which launched in 2009. The Fashion Benefit, now in its 64th year, raises funds for scholarships at Parsons, a global leader in art and design education with programs that span the disciplines. Past honorees include Reed Krakoff, Vera Wang, Francisco Costa, Diane von Furstenberg, and Marc Jacobs. For more information, please visit www.newschool.edu/parsonsbenefit. About Sheila C. Johnson As CEO of Salamander Hotels & Resorts, LLC, a hospitality company she founded in 2005, Johnson oversees a growing portfolio of luxury properties. Grand Golf Resorts of Florida features three golf and family resorts reaching from the Gulf to the Atlantic; Grand Resorts at Cap Cana in the Dominican Republic also features three luxury properties. Ms. Johnson's portfolio also includes the Five Star Woodlands Inn near Charleston, South Carolina; and the ultra-luxurious Salamander Resort & Spa, currently being constructed in Middleburg, Virginia. Ms. Johnson has also long been a powerful influence in the entertainment industry, starting with her work as founding partner of Black Entertainment Television. She has served as executive director of four documentary films, including Kicking It, A Powerful Noise, She Is the Matador, and, The Other City, a critically acclaimed documentary about the HIV/AIDS crisis in Washington DC. In May, Ms. Johnson joined the AOL Huffington Post Media Group as Strategic Advisor for Multicultural and African-American Initiatives. A fervent supporter of the arts and education, Ms. Johnson was appointed by President Obama to the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities. In addition to serving as Chair of the Board of Governors of Parsons, she is a board member of the Sundance Institute, the Tiger Woods Foundation, the Jackie Robinson Foundation, ANNIKA Foundation, and the University of Illinois Foundation. In 2006, Ms. Johnson was named global ambassador for CARE, a leading aid organization that fights global poverty by empowering women. Since 2011, she has served as a member of Accordia Global Health Foundation's International Council, rallying support for its efforts to overcome the burden of infectious diseases in Africa. She is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. Throughout her long career, Karan's peers have acknowledged her achievements with numerous accolades. The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) has saluted her six times; and most recently in 2010 she was nominated for their Women's Wear Designer of the Year award. In 2003, Karan was the first American Designer to receive Fashion Group International's "Superstar Award." A year later, Parsons gave her an honorary doctorate to commemorate her contribution to the school and fashion industry, and in 2007, Glamour magazine named Karan one of their Women of the Year. A member of CFDA's board of directors, Karan conceived and spearheaded its Seventh on Sale benefits to raise funds for AIDS awareness and education. Karan co-chairs the annual New York "Kids for Kids" events for the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation since its 1993 inception, as well as underwrites "Super Saturday," an annual designer flea market and barbeque to benefit the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund. To facilitate her many ongoing philanthropic involvements, in 1999, Karan and Weiss established the Karan Weiss Foundation. Karan's Urban Zen Foundation, founded in 2007, is the culmination of Karan's philanthropic efforts. About Parsons The New School for Design # # # |
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