Peter Arnold Promoted to President of Fashion Scholarship Fund

by · WWD
Peter ArnoldSarah Shatz

The Fashion Scholarship Fund Board of Governors has promoted Peter Arnold to president of the nonprofit organization, effective immediately. He has been FSF’s executive director since November 2018.

Under Arnold’s leadership the FSF has navigated a period of significant change across both the organization and the fashion industry. During his tenure the FSF’s scholarship giving has doubled to nearly $2 million from $1 million. In 2020, Arnold worked closely with Virgil Abloh to establish the Virgil Abloh “Post-Modern” Scholarship Fund (which is administered by the FSF), expanding access and opportunity for students who identify as Black or African American.

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Arnold has also worked to ensure the FSF prepares students for careers across the full breadth of the fashion industry, including business strategy, design and product development, marketing and merchandising. Today the organization reaches students across its network of 75 member colleges and universities, including 14 Historically Black Colleges and Universities and six Hispanic-Serving Institutions.

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During Arnold’s tenure, the FSF has expanded its impact through programs designed to broaden access and support students. These include the Community College Scholars program; FSF University, a comprehensive online course that makes the organization’s annual scholarship competition more accessible to students nationwide, and the “Future Forward” Scholarship Program, which provides continued support to FSF and Virgil Abloh “Post-Modern” Scholars who began their FSF journeys as college sophomores, and the Summer Scholar Series, featuring 10 weeks of virtual programming and training.

“Peter has brought extraordinary leadership, vision and energy to the FSF,” said Amanda Smith, president of the FSF board and chief executive officer of Fairchild Media Group, parent of WWD. “His deep understanding of the fashion industry and commitment to developing young talent have positioned FSF for an exciting next chapter. We are thrilled to recognize his contributions with this well-deserved promotion and look forward to all that he will accomplish as president.”

Nata Dvir, vice president of the FSF board and chief merchandising officer of Macy’s Inc., said, “Peter has been the driving force behind FSF’s transformation into the fashion industry’s most comprehensive workforce development and talent pipeline. Under his leadership FSF is creating even more pathways for talented students from all backgrounds to build successful careers across the industry.”

Prior to joining the FSF, Arnold served as executive director of the Council of Fashion Designers of America, CEO of Cynthia Rowley and Cuisine et Ochs, and president of John Varvatos Enterprises. He holds a J.D. from New York University School of Law and a B.A. in history from Wesleyan University. He is also an adjunct professor at Fordham University School of Law’s Fashion Law Institute.

Founded in 1937, the Fashion Scholarship Fund is the fashion industry’s foremost education and workforce development nonprofit. FSF awards more than $1.9 million annually to 160 scholars — spanning design, merchandising, marketing and business strategy — across a network of 75 colleges and universities and has supported more than 3,100 alumni across the industry. Beyond scholarships, FSF provides internships, mentorship, professional development and direct access to the industry’s leading companies and executives.