Open SUNY Online Teaching Ambassador 2018 – FIT: Todd Blumenthal

Todd Blumenthal is an instructor at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) teaching in the Fashion Business Management program (FBM). Over the last nine years he has engaged and connected at FIT in and outside the classroom. Currently he is the chair of the curriculum committee for the FBM program, advisor to FIT’s student run retail store The Style Shop, course coordinator for Product Development, and has committed his time to several college-wide committees. Outside of the college he continues to partner and work with brands and retail companies supporting and developing both their internal opportunities, as well as continuing to develop his own experiences to apply in the “classroom”.

Throughout his professional experience, he has focused on the special skills and competencies of merchandising, product development, retail, visual merchandising, marketing, leadership and the most importantly, brands and the consumer. Todd brings more than 30 years of experience from the fashion industry working at such great brands as Victoria’s Secret, Nike, The Gap, Ralph Lauren and Aeropostale. In the capacity of Assistant Professor, with a focus on being student centric, he is very pleased and excited to share his knowledge and passion with the students at FIT, as they begin and develop their journey into the fashion industry.

In 2016 Todd completed his Master’s in Education (M. Ed.) in Curriculum & Instruction specializing in Online Teaching and Learning. He has been able to apply this learning experience, along with his work in the classroom to create an opportunity for students to scaffold their learning and apply critical thinking within their own schedules and learning behaviors.

Online learning can leave the student with a sense of isolation. It is with this in mind that I consider all of the opportunities in guiding and supporting my students’ in their learning experiences.