Student and Alumni Sustainability Profiles

​​Fair Labor Association, Accreditation Associate​

As the Accreditation Associate, I assist with due diligence activities for FLA affiliates, including Participating Companies, Participating Suppliers, and Category B Licensees. The Accreditation Department is responsible for evaluating companies’ compliance programs. The department conducts company assessments and headquarters visits to examine compliance programs and provides feedback to assist companies in maturing their programs. Day to day, I can be doing anything from reviewing company’s self assessments, assisting in webinars to guide companies on how to prepare for a FLA visit, working with companies on any concerns they may have in regards to FLA procedures, or writing assessments of company’s compliance programs. It’s an exciting time to be at the FLA right now, as we are expanding into industries beyond apparel and receiving interest from other well-known brands.

As an undergraduate at UD, I was exposed to various labor issues in apparel factories that stuck with me as I pursued my dream of becoming a fashion designer. After a few years of working in New York, it became evident to me that I needed to go beyond working with clothing and dive deeper into the labor and social issues of the apparel industry. The Masters of Fashion and Apparel Studies at UD prepared me for working at the FLA by greatly exposing me to the world of corporate social responsibility in the Social Responsibility and Sustainability in Apparel Business Certificate program. Not only did the certificate expose me to the background of CSR, but it also showed me the challenges in motivating factories and companies to commit to due diligence. I was also lucky enough to be able to intern with the American Apparel and Footwear Association that not only exposed me to real world problems, but gave me introductions to some of the CSR colleagues I would work with in my role at the FLA. While I have a great deal to learn in my role in the Accreditation Department, I feel prepared in taking on the challenges of the role with the concrete amount of knowledge I absorbed during my masters program at UD.

Graduated in 2014: Masters of Science in Fashion and Apparel Studies and Graduate Certificate in Socially Responsible and Sustainable Apparel Business. Graduated in 2005: Bachelor of Science in Apparel Design.​

Nike, Inc., Director – Road 2 Zero

I lead and coordinate Nike Inc.’s initiative to achieve zero discharge of hazardous chemicals in the supply chain by 2020. This includes working on internal and external commitments and projects that will help the company advance towards its goal and promote engagement with suppliers at all tiers of the supply chain.

The UD Certificate program provided me with industry knowledge and know how related to social responsibility and environmental impacts in apparel and footwear supply chains. I was able to take my skills from previous experience and learn how to apply them to the specific issues in the apparel industry around social and environmental issues. In addition, the professors provided their personal industry knowledge and insights and have a vested interest in making sure the students are successful in achieving their career goals.

Graduated in 2012, Graduate Certificate in Socially Responsible and Sustainable Apparel Business

MIT, MBA Student

After receiving my undergraduate degree, I worked for four years as a strategy consultant, ultimately planning to apply this business experience to a role in socially responsible and sustainable apparel business.  While working on the graduate certificate in socially responsible and sustainable apparel business, I began my career shift.  With the help of UD faculty and staff, I won a Fulbright Scholarship to study artisan-based textile businesses in India.  I worked primarily with women entrepreneurs, gaining insight into their lives and experiencing my UD course content in action.  Now that I am back in the US, I am pursuing an MBA at MIT. 

Thanks to UD’s certificate program, I better understand the opportunities for me to drive social and environmental responsibility in the apparel industry through business initiatives.  The certificate program inspired me to apply for a Fulbright Scholarship to explore artisan businesses, and the course content helped me to write a compelling and informed proposal.  I still regularly refer back to my course materials and class discussions for insights!

2012 Graduate Certificate in Socially Responsible and Sustainable Apparel Business