PETER ARNOLD NAMED EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF YMA FASHION SCHOLARSHIP FUND
The YMA Fashion Scholarship Fund (FSF), a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting education and career placement in the fashion arts and business, has announced that it has named Peter Arnold as executive director. Arnold previously served as executive director of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) and as CEO of fashion brands Cynthia Rowley and Cushnie et Ochs. The premier educational nonprofit in the United States, FSF grants the largest amount and number of scholarships to the fashion community annually.
Arnold has spent much of his career in senior management positions in the fashion space, having also served as president at John Varvatos. He has dedicated significant time in service to various nonprofit organizations throughout his career. After receiving his JD from the New York University School of Law, he spent five years volunteering and, as a Board and Executive Committee member, leading initiatives for GMHC, the nation’s leading provider of HIV/AIDS services, while working as a corporate transactional partner for law firm Sidley Austin.
“Peter is a proven champion of the next generation of leaders in fashion, and we’re thrilled to have him join our organization,” said William Susman, president of FSF. “His dedication to philanthropic organizations, combined with his deep knowledge and experience at the helm of major fashion brands as well as of the CFDA, make him the ideal leader to execute our mission.”
Marc Mastronardi, vice president of FSF, added, “While at the CFDA, Peter led the organization’s charitable arm, working closely with leading design schools and companies to provide substantive support to young designers. His broad experience across fashion and philanthropy will be key to his success in guiding FSF’s initiatives.”
“I’m honored to join the nation’s preeminent fashion educational nonprofit,” commented Arnold. “I’ve long been attracted to FSF’s mission of supporting students studying not just design, but all aspects of fashion commerce, and I’m thrilled to bring my knowledge and experience to a team focused on funding and supporting emerging talent in the fashion space.”
FSF will host its 82nd Annual Scholarship Awards dinner on January 10, 2019, at the New York Hilton Midtown. The event will honor Martha Stewart, Ryan Seacrest and Macy’s president Hal Lawton, and the organization expects to award scholarships to over 200 students representing 65 different schools across the country.