BS in Fashion Merchandising & Management

Amirah Hutchinson graduated with a BS in Fashion Merchandising & Management in 2021. Along with participating in the study away program in Paris and the New York Immersion program, Hutchinson worked at New York, Philadelphia and Capitol City Fashion Weeks while at Jefferson. These types of experiences—plus skills learned in the classroom and some hard work and hustle—landed her an internship at Gucci in the King of Prussia Mall. Hutchinson instantly impressed the managers, and they offered her a full-time position as a client advisor. Within the first three years of her career, she’s held the responsibilities of many roles which led to her current role as a Lead Client Advisor/Supervisor. She also serves as the Visual Merchandising and In-Store Training Ambassador. Some of her daily duties consist of providing supervision and guidance to Client Advisors on the selling floor to deliver the highest performance, driving sales as a Lead Client Advisor and partnering with the Team Manager to support real-time coaching and feedback to achieve business and product category goals. As a Visual Merchandising Ambassador, it is her daily duty to implement and maintain all visual directives and standards for interior merchandising, windows and in-store special events to ensure the consistency of all product categories in the store. As an In-Store Training Ambassador, she must facilitate weekly team meetings and educate on new product launches to ensure all client advisors are acclimated to product knowledge and craftsmanship to present before their Gucci clients. This is only the beginning of her journey ahead and we’re eager to see what Amirah’s future holds. 

Brianna Moyer is a dynamic professional who graduated from Thomas Jefferson University in May 2021 with a degree in Fashion Merchandising & Management, specializing in Fashion Product Development. Her journey in the fashion industry has been remarkable, with impressive roles and accomplishments. Starting as an intern in Boys Pre-Production at The Children's Place, Brianna quickly proved her talent and dedication, leading to her role as a Sourcing Assistant for Boys Pre-Production. Her expertise and hard work shone through, as she was promoted to Associate Sourcing Manager for Basics Pre-Production in less than a year. In her current role, Brianna oversees various categories including long-sleeve knits, short-sleeve knits, sleeveless knits, mix-and-match tops, mix-and-match bottoms, sweaters, polos and dresses. Brianna Moyer's commitment to the fashion industry, her rapid career progression and her diverse skill set make her a rising star in the world of fashion product development. With a passion for quality and innovation, she is on her way to leaving an indelible mark on the industry.

Myles Nicholls, better known by his artist’s name “Malo”, is the owner of Emotional Therapy under the MALOVISIONS, LLC, and resides in Philadelphia, PA. Malo started his entrepreneurial journey by customizing sneakers, specifically Nike Air Force 1s, while attending Philadelphia University (now Thomas Jefferson University) for Fashion Merchandising & Management. During this time, he was introduced to the vast world of design and fashion through his courses, as well as his out-of-class travels and experiences. While his family is originally from Barbados, Malo grew up in Philly and his style evolved through his love for skateboarding and influence from artists in the music industry. In his first year of college, Malo began customizing sneakers for celebrities (i.e. Rich the Kid, Pusha T), creating wearable art that told a story about them. By his junior year, he moved towards graphic design and started working with a Philly-based brand, known as Paradox.

After a personal experience with therapy, Malo started speaking out about mental health issues, creating a safe space for his friends and family to do the same. Emotional Therapy was not initially created to be a brand, the goal at the time was to be a personal outlet and create a conversation with others going through mental health issues of their own, but once he recognized the impact on the community, it emerged into a fully established brand with multiple pop-up shops in varying states. Emotional Therapy has expanded with a subdivision called MADGRILLZ, both encompassing the psychology of color and emotions, but MADGRILLZ keeps that inner child mindset alive. Through the success of MADGRILLZ, Malo has been able to achieve the success of an international pop-up shop in London in collaboration with our friends at MEA CULPA. As an entrepreneur, Malo focuses on his brand daily and loves to connect with people and bring ideas to life.

Miranda Braun is a Visual Merchandising leader specializing in creative strategies and global brand development. She has worked for many leaders in the industry, such as J. Crew, Anthropologie, Ralph Lauren and West Elm, through varying product categories and retail models within apparel and home. She is currently a Senior Global Visual Merchandiser at New Balance. She is most passionate about her experiences working internationally, which began at Thomas Jefferson University when she took part in the China Immersion program, a study abroad semester in Rome and a graduate product development program in Helsinki, Finland.

Brandon Edelman (commonly known as Bran Flakezz) is a full-time social media content creator and influencer. Bran received both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Thomas Jefferson University in Fashion Merchandising & Management. Bran’s studies at Jefferson prepared him perfectly for building a brand online as a social media personality who understands, relates, entertains and engages with his audience. Bran has worked with some of the largest brands in the world such as Amazon, Spotify and McDonald's. He was most recently awarded the 2023 Philadelphia Influencer of the Year by Philly Magazine.

Jeneene Bailey-Allen is an accomplished alumna of Philadelphia University, now Thomas Jefferson University, having graduated with top honors (summa cum laude) from the Fashion Merchandising & Management program in 2015. With a rich background in the retail industry, she has held key management roles at renowned establishments such as Kohl's, Macy's and various other retailers. 

A passionate entrepreneur, Jeneene is the proud founder of ASGNMT, where she takes pride in championing women in streetwear and sneakers. Her brand reflects her commitment to empowering women in the world of fashion and culture.

Currently, Jeneene contributes her expertise to the Fashion Merchandising & Management department at Thomas Jefferson University. In her role, she oversees the logistics of the New York Fashion Immersion course for sophomores, ensuring a comprehensive and enriching experience for the students. Jeneene’s dedication to education and her impactful presence in both the corporate and entrepreneurial spheres showcase her as a dynamic professional shaping the future of the fashion industry.

Emily Balton is currently the Buyer for Adaptive Apparel & Accessories at QVC. Emily graduated from Philadelphia University in 2013, with a Fashion Industry Management degree. Emily credits her involvement in the honors program, as well as various clubs and organizations, for her success both as a student and in finding her career. While at school, Emily won the Student Government Association’s Distinguished Leader Award and the Joel Sternberg Outstanding Fashion Management Student Award. Through the support of her professors, Emily had the opportunity to shadow various leaders at QVC, which inspired her to apply for a summer internship. Prior to graduation, Emily had a full-time offer from QVC and remains with the company. 

Emily has advanced through the buying organization by always being open to a new challenge. She started in the Home Textiles office, then specialized in Handbags & Luggage, Cookware & Tabletop, Food and most recently, the newly created Adaptive Apparel & Accessories. Adaptive and accessible fashion technology includes using hook & loop closures for people with limited dexterity or changing the fit point in pants for a wheelchair user. Her most recent position has allowed Emily to start a new office from the ground up, developing both short- and long-term strategies. Her responsibilities include bringing new adaptive brands to QVC customers, as well as developing private label collections. The most recent collaboration between celebrity Selma Blair and designer Isaac Mizrahi was featured on the Today Show and People Magazine.

Wendy West Santana is an ’83 alumna of Philadelphia College of Textiles and Science (now Thomas Jefferson University) where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Apparel Management. Wendy was also honored to speak as the Alumni Welcome at the Thomas Jefferson University 195^th Commencement in 2019.

Wendy started her fashion career in intimate apparel, working in the industry for 15 years until 1999 when she was offered the opportunity to work in New York City with Oxford Industries, later acquired by Li & Fung. Over the next 20+ years, she worked her way up in the company, ultimately becoming the Executive Vice President of Sales where she oversaw Women’s Collections and Collaborations.

In 2005, Wendy helped launch the Designer Collaboration business model with Target, working on their Designer International (limited time only) partnerships with more than 75 designers including Zac Posen, Karl Lagerfeld, Jason Wu, Victoria Beckhem, Prabal Gurung and Tracee Ellis Ross. She was then able to take this model to other retailers including Macys, Walmart and JC Penney, where she is currently the Vice President of Business Development and Partnerships. 

Wendy joined JC Penny in 2020, making the big move from New Jersey to Frisco, Texas. While trying to figure out Texas life, she and her husband try to get back to her forever home of New Jersey whenever she can. As a prior Jefferson student mentor, the best advice that she gave students was to “take all the opportunities that come your way….even if it is not the perfect job. Learn what you can from it and then move on. Gather as much experience in your life basket as you can. One day the path will end where you were meant to be, you just didn’t know the road you were going to take to get there.”