At the Kent State University Fashion School, design and merchandising majors showcase their talent and innovation in real-world settings. This energized atmosphere has earned the school a consistent ranking among the best fashion programs nationally and globally. Students are required to complete both an approved internship and study-away experience before graduating, and more than 5,000 alumni can be found throughout the industry working for the world’s most recognized brands. Established in 1983 as the Shannon Rodgers and Jerry Silverman School of Fashion Design and Merchandising at Kent State University, the school was named an Ohio Center of Excellence by the state Board of Regents and is a member institution of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), International Foundation of Fashion Technology Institutes (IFFTI) and National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).