Message from the Summer Pre-College Program Director

Message from the Fashion Summer Pre-College Director

Welcome to Marist University and the Summer Pre-College Fashion Design – Portfolio Development 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 learn more about fashion design while earning three college credits. As Marist University Fashion Design faculty, we guide students through the processes of building a fashion design portfolio of their own and how to explore designing a collection of apparel.  Over the two-week course, students will learn various techniques of fashion design sketching and development in our state-of-the-art Steel Plant Studios.  

Program Director – Stephanie Conover

Stephanie Conover, Senior Professional Lecturer of Fashion, is the Summer Pre-College Director of Fashion Merchandising and Design. Ms. Conover teaches the following courses in the Fashion Department at Marist: Fashion in Culture and Commerce, Retail Principles and Practices, Digital Merchandising and Marketing, Fashion Social Media, and Fashion Merchandising Senior Capstone.  She also teaches a First Year Seminar on the synergies between fashion and rock & roll and Digital Marketing for Fashion in the Integrated Marketing Communications Masters Program. Ms. Conover serves as the faculty advisor for the Marist Fashion social media accounts and Kappa Omicron Nu Honor Society. With over 20 years of experience in the retail industry, Ms. Conover has worked for Saks Fifth Avenue, Valentino, Giorgio Armani, Tory Burch, and Derek Lam. This background has provided her with a vast knowledge of retail buying, planning, and merchandising from both the perspectives of a department store and vertical retailer.  She also has experience in launching and managing an e-commerce business, including digital marketing and social media, as well as overseeing all aspects of brick-and-mortar retail boutiques, including visual merchandising, operations, staffing, and customer service. She holds a MBA from Fordham University and a BS in Family and Consumer Sciences from Western Illinois University. Ms. Conover is excited for the Summer Pre-College program and looks forward to working with the Fashion Department team to show the students the amazing experience the Marist Fashion Department offers.

Session I Instructor – Juan-Manuel Olivera-Silvera

Juan-Manuel Olivera-Silvera, Senior Professional Lecturer of Fashion, is the instructor of Fashion Design – Portfolio Development Session I. Mr. Olivera-Silvera teaches the following design courses in the Fashion Department at Marist:  Creative Process, Fashion Design I: Drawing & Color, and Accessory Design. In addition, he teaches the Fashion Show Production courses that culminate in the annual Silver Needle Runway Show. Prior to Marist, Juan-Manuel has worked for the House of Courréges, Carven Haute-Couture, Vivienne Tam, Liz Claiborne, Kenneth Cole, Overtsock.com, The Doneger Group, and Ugo Luxury. He holds a BFA equiv., from École Supérieure des Arts Appliqués Duperré in Paris France and a MANAA in Art Appliqués from Leonard De Vinci in Villefontaine, France.

Session II Instructor – DooRi Chung

DooRi Chung, Senior Professional Lecturer of Fashion Design & Merchandising, is the instructor of Fashion Design – Portfolio Development Session II. Ms. Chung teaches the following courses in the Fashion Department at Marist:  Branding and Licensing, Creative Process, Fashion Design III, Fashion Design Capstone Portfolio Development and Fashion Design Capstone Collection Development.  Ms. Chung is a member of the Council of Fashion Designers of America.  Prior to coming to Marist, she was the head designer for Mr. Geoffrey Beene.  In 2001, she launched her eponymous line for which she won the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund award in 2006 and designed former First Lady Michelle Obama’s state dinner gown. She holds a BFA in Fashion Design from Parsons School of Design.