Students at The Ohio State University participated in the Fashion Retail Exchange event on May 19, where they met and learned from professionals in the fashion and retail industries. The event was organized by Ohio State’s College of Education and Human Ecology in partnership with nonprofit CBUS Retail and took place at Vitria on the Square on the Columbus campus.
The gathering aimed to provide students majoring in Fashion and Retail Studies, as well as related fields, with opportunities to network directly with more than 100 industry professionals. Kristin Paulus, senior lecturer at the College of Education and Human Ecology and director of the Fashion and Retail Studies Industry Advisory Board, said, “By participating in the event, students get hands-on experience to talk directly on a very personal level with people in our industry. Whether it’s supply chain or merchandising, they get the opportunity to meet them in person.”
Steve Morris, founder of CBUS Retail, described how networking is crucial for success: “Retail, it’s a high turnover industry. The more people you know, the better off you are. You can get such a different perspective, the more people you talk to.” Erik Porfeli, interim dean of EHE at Ohio State University said: “This event represents the remarkable community that is the fashion and retail industry in Columbus and how it extends out across the world. And that community represents a powerful opportunity for our students. Those that are progressing through our Fashion and Retail Studies program, it grants them access and career opportunities.”
During poster presentations at the Exchange event, student ambassadors shared skills developed through organizing job fairs, speaker series events and company site visits throughout their academic year. Lizzie Garver said being an ambassador “gives us those real-life skills that we can translate into the real world… We work closely with the FRS Industry Advisory Board. It gives us experience connecting with different sorts of people and putting on these great events for everyone to enjoy.” Riley Cruea called serving as an ambassador “a great way to meet people” while gaining leadership experience.
Graduating seniors spoke about internships leading directly to full-time employment after graduation this spring; Gabrielle Condo will join Dick’s Sporting Goods’ merchandise training program while Kylie Kane will be an assistant merchandiser at Victoria’s Secret. Kane credited her studies for developing leadership skills: “I definitely have developed leadership skills through Fashion and Retail Studies… It’s through Fisher College of Business but it’s in partnership with FRS.”
The inaugural Jeff Bradshaw Impact Award was presented during this year’s Exchange event to Josie Dzierwa for outstanding leadership among student ambassadors; she reflected: “It has taught me so much about delegation and working with a big team…” The award honors Jeff Bradshaw—an alumnus who led Discount Fashion Warehouse—and was presented alongside his family.
The Ohio State University operates six campuses statewide—including its main campus where this event occurred—and maintains 88 Extension offices across every county while supporting academics through facilities like Wexner Center for Arts according to the official website.
