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Faculty

Neil Gilks

Executive Director / School of Fashion

For over 25 years, Neil Gilks has committed his career to design and its education.

As a fashion designer, Gilks worked through the ranks to Design Director for brands in London and New York. He thrives on building – whether working on launching new labels or recognizing the needs and areas for evolution in established companies.

Beyond creating menswear and womenswear collections for the global markets, a dedication to fashion design education has allowed Gilks to attain leadership roles with top-tiered fashion design programs globally. As Director of Educational Initiatives with the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), Gilks was charged with creating opportunities and mentorship for students and faculty within 21 design institutions domestically.

Gilks cites continuing his own artistic practice as crucial – allowing him to retain a creative outlet while further exploring the space where his art, commerce, and social commentary intersect.

Since his arrival as Executive Director of the School of Fashion at Academy of Art University in the Fall of 2022, Gilks has been learning how his experience and insight can best serve our community. The learning experience is of the utmost importance to Gilks, as he strives towards making it the most robust and successful time for faculty and students alike.

Our Faculty

Gary Miller
Director School of Fashion
Jinah Oh
Director of Fashion Merchandising School of Fashion
Iliana Ricketts
Online Director School of Fashion
Flore Morton
Associate Director School of Fashion
Yuko Fujishima
Associate Director of 3D Design, Construction, Draping & Flat Pattern School of Fashion
Russell Clower
Online Assistant Director of Fashion Merchandising School of Fashion
Rhona MacKenzie
Assistant Director of Textiles School of Fashion
Andrea Skillings
Fashion Product Development Program Coordinator School of Fashion
Elena Eberhard
Fashion Journalism Coordinator School of Fashion
Alina Bokovikova
Costume Design Coordinator School of Fashion

Fall 2023 Part-Time Faculty

Faculty MemberEducational Background
Andrew HagenbuchIthaca College, Ithaca, New York (Bachelor of Fine Arts, Film, Photography, Visual Arts)
Anya ZuyevaAcademy of Art University, San Francisco, California (Master of Fine Arts, Fashion)
Arijana KajdicAcademy of Art University, San Francisco, California (Master of Fine Arts, Fashion Design and Construction)
Briana CorcoranAcademy of Art University, San Francisco, California (Bachelor of Fine Arts, Graphic Illustration)
Camelia SkikosGeorghe Enescu Arts Academy, Iasi, Romania (Master of Fine Arts, Fashion Design)
Candace Hynson7+ years of experience as a fashion stylist
Christian McGuiganAngelo State University, San Angelo, Texas (Bachelor of Arts, Marketing Art)
Cory LondonSavannah College Art Design, Savannah, Georgia (Bachelor of Fine Arts, Fashion Design)
Dan MaguireState University of New York, University at Albany, Albany, New York (Bachelor of Arts, Business)
Danielle WallisAcademy of Art University, San Francisco, California (Bachelor of Fine Arts, Visual Merchandising)
David McGrane28+ yrs. experience in Advertising/Marketing.
Diane Dorrans SaeksCanterbury University, Manchester, United Kingdom (Bachelor of Arts, English and French Literature)
Dina MeoliNorth Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina (Master of Science, Textile and Apparel Technology and Management)
Edwin MohneyUniversity of the Arts London, London, United Kingdom (Master of Arts, Womenswear )
Elena SlivnyakAcademy of Art University, San Francisco, California (Bachelor of Fine Arts, Fashion Design)
Flora TsapovskyHebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel (Master of Arts, Journalism/Media Studies )
Geetika GuptaArgosy University, Alameda, California (Master of Business Admin, Business Administration)
Hanbit KuAcademy of Art University, San Francisco, California (Master of Fine Arts, Fashion)
Hao FangSavannah College Art Design, Savannah, Georgia (Master of Arts, Accessory Design)
Hersha SteinbockPortland State University, Portland, Oregon (Master of Arts, English)
Jackson RikerCalifornia State University, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California (Master of Fine Arts, Studio Arts)
Jacqueline PhelanFashion Institute Technology, New York, New York (Master of Arts, Fashion and Textiles)
Jill SiefertFashion Institute Technology, New York, New York (Bachelor of Science, Fashion Marketing and Merchandising)
Joanne WatersNorthumbria University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom (Bachelor of Arts, Fashion Design )
John SunUniveristy of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California (Bachelor of Arts, Design)
Julie EngelbrechtOhio State University, Columbus, Ohio (Master of Fine Arts, Theatre)
Karen HookSan Francisco State University, San Francisco, California (Bachelor of Arts, Business Administration)
Kari LantinCalifornia State University, Chico, Chico, California (Bachelor of Arts, Fashion Merchandising)
Kate BonDurantIndiana University, Bloomington, Indiana (Bachelor of Arts, Fashion Design)
Kelliane Parker20+ yrs of exp in sales and marketing management in Japan and U.S.
Kim Data18+ yrs. exp. as a designer, consultant, design instructor and an AA from FIDM
Kristine OsgoodUniversity of Minnesota Morris, Morris, Minnesota (Bachelor of Arts, New Editorial and Advertising)
Leonid SolodukhaTashkent State Technical University, Uzbekistan (Bachelor of Science, Civil Engineering )
Lia LarreaSan Francisco Art Institute, San Francisco, California (Bachelor of Fine Arts, Fashion Design)
Linda ButlerOral Roberts University, Tulsa, Oklahoma (Bachelor of Science, Marketing and Communications)
Lindie Wilhelm42+ yrs exp fashion design and merchandising and an AA in fashion design from Parson's
Lynn Falconer PelzmanUniversity of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California (Bachelor of Arts, English Literature)
Maggie KoenigUniversity of South Carolina, Aiken, South Carolina (Bachelor of Science, Marketing and Management)
Maggie WhitakerUniversity of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California (Master of Fine Arts, Costume Design)
Margot UrbanowiczAcademy of Art University, San Francisco, California (Bachelor of Fine Arts, Fashion)
Martin NunezAcademy of Art University, San Francisco, California (Bachelor of Fine Arts, Fashion)
Mary SylvesThomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Bachelor of Science, Fashion Design)
Michael CarbaughAcademy of Art University, San Francisco, California (Bachelor of Fine Arts, Fashion)
Midori Sargent31+ years of designing and producing knitwear
Namrita GuptaUniversity of Mysore, Karntaka, India (Bachelor of Science, Computer Science/Engineering )
Nancy SommerUniversity of Missouri, St. Louis, St Louis, Missouri (Bachelor of Science, Clothing and Textiles)
Nicolas GutierrezAcademy of Art University, San Francisco, California (Master of Fine Arts, Photography)
Renata LindroosAcademy of Art University, San Francisco, California (Bachelor of Fine Arts, Fashion)
Ricardo SisonSan Francisco State University, San Francisco, California (Master of Arts, International Relations)
Sandra ParentiTemple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Bachelor of Arts, Sociology)
Sara LaneAcademy of Art University, San Francisco, California (Bachelor of Fine Arts, Fashion Styling)
Sara ShepherdAcademy of Art University, San Francisco, California (Bachelor of Arts, Fashion)
Sarah BirdwellCalifornia College of the Arts, Oakland, California (Bachelor of Fine Arts, Graphic Design)
Sarah Dean17+ yrs experience as a makeup artist and hair stylist
Sarah SchwennsenColorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado (Bachelor of Science, Apparel & Merchandising)
Sharon MurphyOhio State University, Columbus, Ohio (Bachelor of Arts, English)
Sherelle WilliamsAcademy of Art University, San Francisco, California (Bachelor of Fine Arts, Fashion Styling)
Suzanne ChancyAcademy of Art University, San Francisco, California (Bachelor of Fine Arts, Fashion Merchandising)
Svetlana BulyzhkinaAcademy of Art University, San Francisco, California (Master of Fine Arts, Fashion and Textile Design)
Tria ConnellUniversity of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio (Bachelor of Arts, Fashion Design)
Alexey Timbul BulokhovCollege of New Rochelle, New Rochelle, New York (Master of Science, Communications)
Chun-Ming YangAcademy of Art University, San Francisco, California (Bachelor of Fine Arts, Traditional Illustration)
Jodey SimmondsKingston University, Surrey, United Kingdom (Bachelor of Arts, Fashion )
Josh WalkerLondon College Fashion, London, United Kingdom (Bachelor of Arts, Fashion Journalism )
Ranhee KimFashion Institute Technology, New York, New York (Bachelor of Fine Arts, Fashion Design)

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