Message from the Summer Pre-College Program Director

Message from the Faculty Directors: Developing your Fashion Design Portfolio

Welcome to Marist College and the Pre-College Summer Fashion Design course for high school students. If you are interested in the exciting and dynamic world of Fashion Design, then this program is an excellent opportunity for you to earn 3 college credits. As a Marist College Fashion Design Faculty, we guide students through the processes of building a Fashion Design portfolio of their own, how to explore designing a collection of apparel, and teach them the elements of fashion design sketching techniques and development. 

Program Director – Rebecca Brown

Rebecca Brown, Professional Lecturer of Fashion Merchandising, is the Summer Pre-College Director of Fashion Merchandising and Design for Summer 2024. Ms. Brown teaches the following courses in the Fashion Program at Marist College:  Retail Principles and Practices, Merchandise Planning and Control, Buying, Planning & Allocation, Global Merchandising Strategies, Retail Entrepreneurship (MPorium), and Senior Capstone Thesis. She is an innovative merchandising executive specializing in footwear, handbag, fashion accessory lines, merchandising and brand development. She spent 20 years building a career and reputation as a highly accomplished industry leader with expertise in translating concepts into effective merchandising, product development and brand campaigns. As the V.P. of merchandising for Nine West, she demonstrated the ability to successfully navigate a volatile retail climate. She holds a bachelor’s degree in apparel marketing from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. Rebecca received the 2021 SGA Communications and the Arts Faculty of the Year award and enjoys mentoring her to students in all aspects of Fashion Merchandising and Career Planning.  She is focused on diversity, equity and inclusion at Marist College and is a part of the Marist College Diversity Leadership Institute.   Ms. Brown is excited for the 2024 Summer Pre-College program and looks forward to working with the Fashion Program team to show the students the amazing experience the Marist College Fashion program offers. 

Session I Instructor, Sonia Roy

Sonia Roy is a Distinguished Professional Lecturer of Fashion Design who teaches core design classes  including Sophomore design, Junior design, senior thesis Portfolio development and Collection development.  She also teaches Textile design and Trend forecasting and Analysis.  Prior to coming to Marist she worked in the Intimate apparel market as a Lingerie, Sleepwear and Loungewear designer.

She holds a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Fashion Design from Parsons School of Design and a Masters of Fine Arts in Fashion Design from Academy of Art University.

Session II Instructor, Juan-Manuel Olivera-Silvera

Juan-Manuel Olivera-Silvera, Professional Lecturer of Fashion Design Director of Marist in Manhattan and The Silver needle Runway, is also the director of the Fashion Design Portfolio Pre-College Institute. Juan-Manuel teaches an array of courses at Marist Fashion, such as the fashion Design Creative Process foundation courses, Accessory design, Fashion Show productions, and Event Planning among others.