Colorado State University Graduate Presents Life of a Product in the Global Marketplace

Design and Merchandising graduate Elizabeth Steed will be speaking on her extensive experience within the fashion apparel field at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 10 in room A103 of the Chemistry Building.

“Elizabeth has an impressive background in product development with companies such as Tory Burch and Juicy Couture and technical design experience from Tracy Reese and DKNY,” said Kendra Allen, CSU Apparel and Merchandising director of academic and administrative operations.

With experience from such well-known brands, Wednesday’s event, “Life of a Product in the Global Marketplace,” is something you won’t want to miss.

Steed’s presentation is only one aspect of her two-day stay as the Executive in Residence, or EIR, sponsored by CSU’s Department of Design and Merchandising.

“In those two days we carefully craft a schedule that allows the EIRs time within our classes where their expertise will provide insight into our apparel and merchandising and interior design classes,” Allen said.

When asked why Steed chose to be a part of the EIR program she said, “I would have liked to have been spoken to by someone in the industry when I was in school so it didn’t seem so scary or unknown. There is a lot that you learn from job experience that you can never get in the classroom.”

This idea of job experience is one that Steed emphasizes when giving advice to current apparel and merchandising students.

“Do an internship if you can — it was what got my foot in the door. Don’t be above any job or task you are given, and aspire to learn, ask questions and do anything,” Steed said.

With the job placement rate at 80 percent to 90 percent for apparel and merchandising students after graduation, Allen attributes this success to internships as well.

“Like Elizabeth, the opportunities that our students are having in their internship placements are a reflection of our strong curriculum,” Allen said. “Many of our students continue working full time at their placement after their internships end.”

This on-campus event is open to the public and a great opportunity for students and community members alike to learn from an experienced alumna.

“We are thrilled to have Elizabeth Steed coming to visit as our Executive in Residence this year,” Allen said. “From past Executive in Residence visits, we know that having alumni here to talk with our students and community about the industry has proven to be a valuable experience for our students, our programs and the community.”

The Executive in Residence is supported by the Kotsiopulos Education Enhancement Fund. The Department of Design and Merchandising is in the College of Health and Human Sciences, formerly Applied Human Sciences, at Colorado State University.
For more information about Steed or her presentation “Life of a Product in the Global Marketplace” on Wednesday, April 10, contact Kendra Allen at Kendra.Allen@colostate.edu.

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