New Staff for Visual Merchandising and Communications Program
Carol McEwen-Bergeman will lead the Visual Merchandising and Store Design Program within the
School of Fashion. She brings much experience from her current position as Visual
Merchandising Specialist at Ann Taylor and her 20 years of experience spans visual merchandising,
store display, designing, production and advertising for such companies as Macy’s, Levi Strauss
& Company, and Ogilvy & Mather Advertising.
President Dr. Elisa Stephens said the appointment “is a clear indication of our commitment to
expand the Visual Merchandising Program. McEwen-Bergeman is a natural leader in visual
merchandising and store display. She is a great complement to the talented faculty and
instructors in the School of Fashion.”
Courses are offered both online and onsite and introduce elements of visual merchandising and
display currently used in retail organizations. Field trips and hands-on projects are
incorporated into the program to prepare students to work effectively in a commercial
environment. Students work on projects with a wide range of retailers including the
InterContinental Mark Hopkins Hotel, San Francisco Giants Dugout Stores, Shreve and Co.’s fine
jewelry stores, and many others.
The students also collaborate with Fashion Merchandising students to create the actual set-up of
the Academy of Art University’s retail store at 79 New Montgomery Street called “The Gallery” where
student work is sold and money is raised for scholarships.
The School of Fashion is also pleased to announce the addition of Leisel “Q” Quamie to the
Communications Program who has created a styling course to be offered both online and onsite.
Q’s experience includes editorial, television, and celebrity dressing and has constructed the
course to cover all aspects of styling from wardrobe to food. She has styled fashion shows
for Oscar de la Renta, Nicole Miller, Betsey Johnson and dressed celebrities such as Hilary Duff,
Jesse L. Martin, Christie Brinkley, Angela Bassett, and Tyra Banks which led to her four season
stint at “America’s Next Top Model” and later “The Tyra Banks Show.”
"I met Q when she attended our
Academy Day
in Los Angeles this past February. Her editorial work and sense of style made me realize that
she would be a great addition to the School of Fashion," said Simon Ungless, Director of Graduate
Fashion. "The creation of new courses within our growing Communications Program is even more
exciting with involvement from industry pros like Q."
The School of Fashion houses five specialized areas: Fashion Design for Womenswear, Menswear,
and Childrenswear; Textile Design; Knitwear Design; Fashion Merchandising and Visual Merchandising;
and Fashion Communications. BFA degrees are offered online in all areas except knitwear and
textiles.
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