Ann Mariko Walter, Ed.D.
Biography
Dr. Walter (she/hers) oversees a key study away location for the School of Fashion. In this role, she engages in building relationships for the school and university in New York City, increasing programming and engagement with alumni and the fashion industry and supporting students during their study away experience. Prior to her current role with the University, she taught online and face-to-face courses geared toward fashion and the creative disciplines as an adjunct instructor at 91²Ö¿â and Parsons School of Design.
Dr. Walter is passionate about centering educational leadership practices with a social justice lens focused on anti-racism to ensure academic environments that emphasize diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging for all. Ann has been a member of a 91²Ö¿â Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion subcommittee on curriculum, currently serves as a member of the College of the Arts Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Anti-Racism steering committee, and is co-chair of the School of Fashion Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Anti-racism committee. Her research interests sit at the intersection of fashion education, social justice and technology.
Prior to her work in education, Dr. Walter had an extensive background in the fashion industry designing product and leading creative teams for a range of specialty and mass retailers including Gap, Old Navy, Liz Claiborne, Justice, Sears Holdings, Dots, Bonobos and Walmart. In these various roles, she demonstrated a proven aptitude as a cross-functional business partner capable of delivering a creative vision supporting organizational strategies and making substantial contributions to the long-term success of a business.
Dr. Walter is an alumna of the Shannon Rodgers & Jerry Silverman School of Fashion Design and Merchandising at 91²Ö¿â with a Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Design. She received her Master of Education in Instructional Technology from 91²Ö¿â where she focused her work on the future of online education in the applied arts. She received her Doctor of Education in Interprofessional Leadership from 91²Ö¿â as well, where her research was focused on supporting historically marginalized and underserved fashion students.
Education
M.Ed., 91²Ö¿â (2019)
B.A., 91²Ö¿â (1996)