On January 15, the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), a globally renowned institution for creative education under the State University of New York (SUNY), announced the appointment of Jason S. Schupbach as its new president. Schupbach’s appointment, which brings together leadership in art and design within higher education alongside government-level arts advocacy, was unanimously approved by the SUNY Board of Trustees following an eight-month nationwide search process.
End of a 30-Year Era, Dawn of a New Chapter
Schupbach succeeds Dr. Joyce F. Brown, who led FIT for nearly three decades. While carrying forward the legacy of academic excellence and commitment to broad student access established by President Brown, he aims to drive new developments for the institution.
On his first day in office, President Schupbach shared his vision:
“I believe that FIT, as a laboratory for creative careers for the 21st century, finds its greatest opportunities in collaboration across disciplines, across schools, and through building meaningful partnerships with industry. I look forward to working with the FIT community to build on that incredible foundation and open even more pathways for academic rigor, entrepreneurship, innovation, and student success.”
SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. stated, “FIT is a powerhouse in higher education, and we are thrilled to welcome President Schupbach as he takes the helm and leads this renowned SUNY institution,” adding, “His dedication to academic excellence and drive to support our students’ success make him well positioned to take FIT to new heights.”
Robin Burns-McNeill, Chair of the FIT Board of Trustees, also offered words of welcome:
“I am delighted to officially welcome Jason Schupbach as the new president of FIT. With a distinguished background in both higher education and creative and cultural entities, and as a recognized leader in managing complex organizations and advocating for the arts, President Schupbach will be an invaluable asset in advancing the mission of this world-class institution.”
A Career Built on Industry-Academia Collaboration
Prior to joining FIT, Schupbach served as dean of the Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts and Design at Drexel University. There, he achieved remarkable results in fundraising, rankings improvement, scholarly output, enrollment growth, and support for faculty, staff, and students. Particularly noteworthy was his launch of an innovative apprenticeship-based education model in collaboration with apparel company URBN. He is also known as co-editor of The Routledge Handbook of Urban Cultural Planning, published in 2025.
Before Drexel, Schupbach served as director of The Design School at Arizona State University (ASU), where he led the ambitious ReDesign. School project to fundamentally reimagine design education for the 21st century. He also served as a key advisor on diverse ASU projects, including contemporary artist James Turrell’s large-scale land artwork Roden Crater.
A defining feature of Schupbach’s career is his extensive experience in government-level arts support. At the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), he served as director of Design and Creative Placemaking programs, overseeing grant-making and partnerships. He supervised a wide range of initiatives, including grant programs such as Our Town and Design Art Works, the Mayors’ Institute on City Design, and the Citizens’ Institute on Rural Design.
He also directed the production of Creativity Connects, the first report in a decade analyzing conditions affecting U.S. artists and designers, and launched a new grant program supporting collaborative projects between creative professionals and other fields.
Going further back, from 2008 to 2010, Schupbach served as Creative Economy Director under Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, responsible for supporting creative industries and technology companies within the state. As director of ArtistLink, funded by the Ford Foundation, he worked to support creative professionals and revitalize communities through the creation of affordable spaces.
Additionally, he has work experience with the mayor of Chicago and New York City’s Department of Cultural Affairs, and has written extensively on supporting creative professionals and the role of art and design in communities. His writing has been selected as an Aspen Institute “Best Idea of the Day.”
Academic Background
Academically, Schupbach earned a Master’s in City Planning degree and a graduate-level urban design certificate from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 2003. During his undergraduate years, he earned a Bachelor of Science in Public Health from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1997.
Nationally recognized as an expert in support systems for creative professionals and comprehensive community development centered on creativity, Schupbach’s wealth of experience and achievements will serve as a driving force to unlock new possibilities for FIT, an institution that has established a global position as a leader in fashion and design education.
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