Meet the Internship Studies Team

As Chair and Associate Professor of the Internship Studies department at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), Marjorie has the privilege of working with talented students every day as they prepare for successful careers, while leading an accomplished and diverse faculty dedicated to experiential learning and student success.

A central focus of her work is helping students to recognize, create and maximize opportunities for themselves, while empowering them to build strong professional networks that can take them wherever they would like to go.

Before joining FIT, Marjorie worked across a variety of industries and organizational cultures. She began her career as a junior copywriter at Sotheby’s, followed by work as a spokesperson for the New York Blood Center. For four years, she traveled internationally as a liaison between the U.S. military and the film industry in a role similar to Scarlett Johansson’s character in Fly Me to the Moon, with the military substituting for NASA. Marjorie also served as vice president and director of business development for two newswire organizations and as a management consultant across technology, fashion, finance, energy, and healthcare sectors.

An advocate for experiential learning, she has presented for the Association for Experiential Education and the National Society for Experiential Education.

MA Organizational Psychology – Columbia University; BS Communications/Educational Media Technology – Boston University

“Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” Arthur Ashe

Christopher Berger is an Assistant Professor of Internship Studies at the Fashion Institute of Technology, where he teaches career planning, professional development, and self-marketing while mentoring students through meaningful internship experiences. A recent FIT alum of the graduate Art Market Studies program, he also interned within the program itself, an experience he enjoys drawing upon for the benefit of his courses and students. Christopher’s professional background spans education, audiobook production, marketing, construction management, and the performing arts. He has produced award-winning audiobooks, managed affordable housing construction projects with Habitat for Humanity New York City, and worked extensively in fashion and luxury sales. A graduate of New York University with a BFA in Acting, he maintains enduring interests in art, architecture, theatre, and film. He is also a writer of sketch comedy and screenplays, bringing creativity, storytelling, and interdisciplinary perspective to both his artistic and academic work.

Rashad C. Dinkins, MPS, joined the Internsip Studies Dept at FIT in 2023 and has industry experience in product development and production across apparel, handbags, small leather goods, accessories, and footwear. With a strong background in managing the full product lifecycle, he has worked closely with both domestic and international vendors to deliver high-quality products while supporting efficient production and sourcing operations.

Rashad currently serves as an Associate Sourcing Manager at Ann Taylor, overseeing seasonal sourcing initiatives and manages production workflows. Prior to this role, he held positions with leading fashion and lifestyle brands including BCI Brands, 3.1 Phillip Lim, Ralph Lauren, and DKNY. He has partnered with major retailers including Bloomingdale’s, Nordstrom, Macy’s, Kohl’s, Ross, TJX, and Belk, while maintaining a strong focus on product integrity, operational efficiency, and collaborative leadership.

Rashad holds a MPS in Fashion Merchandising and Retail Management from LIM College and a BA in Journalism with a concentration in Advertising and a minor in Fashion Merchandising from Howard University.

Drawing from his industry experience in global fashion, Rashad brings real-world insight into the classroom, preparing students for careers in the evolving fashion and retail industries.

Ellen Gang is the principal of the eponymous Ellen Gang Design Studio. With more than 30 years of experience in the fashion industry and as an alumna of the Fashion Institute of Technology’s Fashion Design program, Ellen has taught FIT internship students for over 20 years.

Ellen’s work has been featured in the New York Times: Fashions of the Times, Women’s Wear Daily, Bridal Guide, and Westport Magazine. A three-time Earnie Award winner for Excellence in Children’s Wear, Ellen has also served as an Industry Critic for FIT’s Children’s Wear Specialization. Additional distinctions include Tommy Award nominee; past member of the FIT Industry Advisory Board and FIT Children’s Wear Advisory Board, and participation in the Waldorf Astoria & FIT, Celebration of New York and The New York Times.

Previously, Ellen served as Director of Design and Merchandising for Knitwaves, Inc. She holds an Associate in Applied Science degree, Fashion Design from FIT, a Bachelor of Arts degree, Brooklyn College, and a Master of Professional Studies degree, LIM College.

Dana Hansen is the Manager of Office Operations at TJX Companies and has been with the company for the past 10 years, beginning her journey as an intern while attending The Fashion Institute of Technology. Over the years, Dana has grown her career through progressive leadership opportunities in operations and team management, developing a strong passion for building collaborative teams, creating positive workplace environments, and driving thoughtful, people-focused solutions.

Her background includes experience across multiple areas of the business, helping shape her adaptable, collaborative, and people-first leadership style. Dana especially enjoys mentoring others, problem-solving, and taking on opportunities that encourage both personal and professional growth.

Dana is a proud Fashion Institute of Technology alum (FBM ’16) and former HD111 Career Planning and IC497 Senior Internship student.. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her dog, staying active, following sports, and embracing new challenges. One of her favorite quotes is, “Growth begins at the end of your comfort zone.”

Leesa Hubbell has worn many hats in the NYC design industry – from interior designer at MTV to textile design journalist, vintage trend forecaster and educator. Leesa collaborated with Javanese artisans in Bali to design a batik fabric & clothing collection and was guest curator of Batik Fashion/American Style at the American Textile History Museum in Lowell, MA. She has twice been invited by the Indonesian Embassy to judge contemporary batik designs to foster interest in that country’s virtuosic batik textiles. Since 2001, Leesa has shared her industry knowledge with internship students focusing on self-awareness, communication and soft skills along with developing effective job search skills and tools.
BFA Fine Arts/Textile Concentration – Edgecliff College/Xavier University

Neha Jain is the Founder & CEO of Texnova Ai, a sourcing and supply chain strategy firm helping U.S. fashion brands design resilient, AI-enabled manufacturing ecosystems across global markets with clients including Steve Madden, London Fog, and Smith. She also serves as an Adjunct Professor at FIT, teaching the Senior Internship class since Spring 2024, and as a Startegic Advisor and Board Member to three early stage startups in supply chain technology.

With over two decades of leadership in the global fashion and apparel industry, Neha has held executive roles at Amazon Fashion, Studio Ray, Onia, and Li & Fung, building expertise across global sourcing, product strategy, supply chain transformation, sustainability, and international business growth.
A proud FIT alum, Neha earned her B.S. in Fashion Merchandising Management (Dean’s List) right here at FIT where she was a former HD111 Career Planning student. She later earned her Executive MBA at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, and has since come full circle – bringing live industry case studies and real-world executive experience back into the FIT classroom.

Passionate about mentorship and the future of fashion sourcing, Neha is dedicated to helping students bridge the gap between classroom learning and industry leadership, equipping them with the skills, mindset, and networks to thrive.

“Success is where preparation and opportunity meet.” Bobby Unser

Kate English Mankoff is an adjunct instructor in FIT’s Internship Services department, where she has been mentoring and supporting students since 2019. A proud FIT alumna and former IC 297 internship student, Kate brings more than 20 years of experience in brand strategy, partnerships, media, and marketing to the classroom.

Kate is the co-founder of collab-it, a marketing agency specializing in brand collaborations and partnerships for companies including Domino, Field & Stream, and Scott Brothers Global. Prior to launching collab-it, she served as VP of Integrated Marketing at Hello Sunshine and held leadership roles across several Hearst brands, including Delish, Food Network Magazine, HGTV Magazine, Oprah Daily, and The Pioneer Woman.

She earned her AAS in Advertising and Marketing Communications from FIT through the SUNY Oneonta 3+1 program, a BS in Fashion and Textiles from SUNY Oneonta, and an MS in Marketing from Baruch College, where she also previously taught marketing courses.

Outside of work, Kate enjoys traveling with her husband and teenage son (over 50 countries!), working out, playing soccer, gardening, and mentoring students through iMentor.

Ramses Ovalles joined the Internship Studies faculty at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in 2026. He currently serves as a Campus Recruiter on the Talent Acquisition team at Burlington Stores, Inc., where he focuses on building and scaling early-career pipelines. Prior to Burlington, Ramses was a University & Diversity Recruiting Specialist at PVH Corp., the parent company of Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger, where he managed end-to-end early-career recruitment and diversity recruiting partnerships.

A proud native New Yorker, Ramses enjoys exploring the city’s restaurants and food scene as a vegetarian, traveling internationally, reading, and staying active.

Ramses holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and is completing a Master of Science in Organizational Development & Leadership, both from Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania.

“You’re never wrong for doing the right thing” – Mark Twain

Jessica Papi is currently on the Talent Acquisition and Development team at a private wealth firm in NYC. She manages a national training and professional development program. She stays connected to higher education and the College Community through her role as an Adjunct Instructor in the Internship Studies department, where she has taught since 2014. Jessica spent several incredibly fulfilling years as a full time Career and Internship Counselor in the Career and Internship Studies Department. In terms of education, she graduated from FIT with an Associates Degree in Fashion Merchandising Management before transferring to Cornell University for BS and MA degrees. Jessica also holds an MBA degree from Stony Brook University. She took HD 111 (Career Planning) during her time as an FIT student and loved it – and aims to create the type of supportive environment for her students that she experienced in the same course.

For almost 30 years, Jennifer Miller Peters has helped students prepare for, explore, and realize their career dreams. Jennifer is the co-author of Creating Career Success: A Flexible Plan for the World of Work, F. Fabricant, J. Miller & D. Stark (Cengage Learning). She is the principal of JMP Career Counseling and Consulting Services and is an adjunct associate professor for Internship Studies. Previously, Jennifer served as a FIT career and internship counselor from 2001 – 2023, where she counseled and advised thousands of students and alumni. She recently launched a dream of her own by starting Miller Peters Farm, LLC a small sustainable farm focusing on growing safe healthy food for her local community. In her spare time, she loves spending time with her family and friends. She also enjoys going thrifting, cooking, yoga, pilates, golf and taking long walks with her 2 dogs.

BA and MBA, Binghamton University; MSED, Guidance and Counseling, Hunter College

Rena Sussman Silverman is a proud FIT legacy whose connection to the college began in 1948, when her parents met at the Fashion Institute of Technology. She earned Associate degrees from FIT in Display and Exhibit Design and Textile Surface Design, later completing her Bachelor of Science degree at Empire State University.

For more than 47 years, Rena has been President of Rena Sussman Design, specializing in Textile Surface Design, styling, market research, and trend presentations, while recently transitioning her traditional design skills into fine art. Her expertise has also led to work as an expert witness in copyright-related cases.

An educator at FIT for over 40 years, Rena teaches Internship Studies in face-to-face, blended, and online formats, helping students connect academic learning with professional industry experience. Her teaching emphasizes professionalism, communication, critical thinking, creativity, and mentorship. She was awarded the title of Adjunct Associate Professor and received the 2018–2019 SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Adjunct Teaching.

Deeply committed to student growth and lifelong learning, Rena continues to inspire students to build meaningful and successful careers.

“Teaching is the one profession that creates all other professions.” — Unknown