Message from the President
We are living through a remarkable moment for creativity, and for the people who dedicate their lives to it. Creative industries added $1.2 trillion to the U.S. economy in 2023, growing at twice the rate of the broader economy; fashion alone employs 1.8 million Americans. The demand for human imagination, cultural fluency, and original thinking has never been greater.
That is exactly the kind of work FIT was made for. FIT is the largest public investment in creative talent globally. Our impact extends across a wide range of creative industries—from fashion and business to fragrance and beauty, toy design, interiors, film, fine arts, and emerging fields that continue to shape culture. FIT is committed to providing a world-class education that is both affordable and accessible, helping talented students from all backgrounds pursue their ambitions. As the newly appointed president of this extraordinary institution, I can think of no better time to act.
In Fast Company, I share why I believe this is a moment of genuine possibility, not fear, and why the partnership between human creativity and new technology is something worth investing in together. The numbers reflect something important: 80% of Americans believe that careers in creative fields are often undervalued. That's not just a statistic. It's a signal that people understand what's at stake, and what's possible.
I want to invite you on a journey with me.
That is why I am proud to launch FIT Future//Forward, our collective vision for how
we open more doors together. This is a conversation created with our students, faculty,
staff, alumni, industry partners, and friends. Your experiences, your ideas, and your
hopes for what FIT can become will shape where we go from here.
Stay tuned to this page for updates as our journey unfolds.
Jason S. Schupbach
President of FIT
Future//Forward
Grounded in FIT's mission and values, our strategic planning process leverages our existing strengths and unique position. We are committed to an inclusive process that actively seeks out diverse internal and external perspectives.
Objectives
FIT's strategic plan will be designed to ensure our continued excellence and relevance by addressing both current and future industry trends that benefit our community and industry partners. The plan will feature actionable, measurable goals and include clear structures for accountability. Further, we aim for flexibility that will allow us to quickly adapt to new priorities upon implementation.
Foundation
- Compliant with SUNY and our accreditors
- Firmly rooted in FIT's mission and values
- Considers our unique offerings and position
Inclusivity
- Prioritizes collection of different perspectives
- Internal and external voices
Prioritization
- Addresses current and future industry trends
- Keeps student success and equity center stage
Agility and Flexibility
- Ability to address emerging priorities promptly
- Actionable, measurable, and accountable
Timeline
The Future//Forward planning process is underway and is expected to take about a year to complete. Nominations are being collected for the steering committee and the request for proposals (RFP) has been released to hire a strategic planning firm. Once the firm is hired, the following phases will occur:
- discovery and assessment
- drafting of goals and strategies
- finalization of the plan
The Board of Trustees is scheduled to approve the final plan in late spring 2027.
April–June 2026
Pre-Planning
June–October 2026
Discovery
and Assessment
October 2026–February 2027
Strategy Formation
and Action Planning
February-April 2027
Finalize Plan
and Launch
Get Involved
For more information, contact futureforward@fitnyc.edu
or complete the interest form.
*Survey was conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of FIT of over 2,000 U.S. consumers in April 2026.