"I chose to study in New York City because of the opportunities and experience. I think it is very inspiring that my studio professor worked at Anthropologie as a designer and as that being a brand that I would love to work for, it was cool to have her guidance and hearing about her experiences. I had 2 internships at Jussara Lee and Treffort Shirts...both were amazing opportunities and showed me two different parts of the industry. Jussara taught me how sustainability plays such a factor in fashion, and now that is something that I really value as a designer. I got to see the technical side at Treffort shirts and to see how it is executed in the industry, was amazing. I also attended the Sherri Hill New York Fashion Week show. In high school, I wore 2 Sherri Hill dresses and to see her newest collection come down the runway was like a dream. I also volunteered and checked the VIP people into a show in Brooklyn and attended a WWD sponsored talk with current designers, influencers, and industry professionals. I got to have so many experiences that you can’t get in Kent, Ohio."

Mattney Yates
Major: Fashion Design
Minor: Sustainability and Entrepreneurship