Dates
-
Existence:
1993 November 26 (date of death)
Biography
Marvin Feldman was the President of the Fashion Institute of Technology from 1971 until his retirement in 1992. During his tenure, the College's enrollment rose to 12,000 from 5,000, the selection of courses increased greatly, and the number of buildings went from two to eight. Under his direction, FIT began awarding bachelor's and master's degrees, in addition to its associate's degree. FIT also set up the Advanced Apparel Manufacturing Technology Demonstration Facility, which includes a large collection of computer-driven equipment. A small business center that provides services and support for entrepreneurs was opened in 1983. Early in his career, Mr. Feldman was a secondary school educator and administrator in California, and from 1964 to 1969 he was an officer of the Ford Foundation's Division of International Education and Research. He also served in a variety of capacities in Washington DC in the Office of Education and the Office of Economic Opportunity.
Found in 5 Collections and/or Records:
Item
Identifier: SC.FITA.3.20.4.9.4.12
Scope and Contents
Annette Piecora joined FIT in 1977 as a clerical assistant under Gladys Marcus and Jean-Ellen Gibson, the chair of the social science department. Piecora would work in both the personnel department and faculty services department before finding a long-term position in the president’s office. Piecora mentions meeting her husband, Professor Steve Harrington of the social services department, through FIT. Piecora worked with Marvin Feldman and Allan Herschfield, and discusses how she began...
Dates:
1994 December 1
Item
Identifier: SC.FITA.3.20.4.9.4.13
Scope and Contents
This is an interview with David Zeigler who began at FIT’s continuing education division in 1956 following a transfer from the Board of Education. At the time, the school was still based in the Central Needle Trades High School. Zeigler discusses contentions within the English department, the formation of a union in response, and how he came to be elected as the first faculty president of FIT. Zeigler mentions various faculty in his department and emphasizes how deeply he became entrenched...
Dates:
1994 November 11
Item
Identifier: SC.FITA.3.20.4.9.4.4
Scope and Contents
This is an interview with four executive members of the Union of United College Employees (UCE) at FIT: Joseph Garofalo, Judy Wood, Juliette Romano, and Arthur Levinson. The four begin by explaining their backgrounds and initial involvement with FIT in the 1960s and 1970s. They discuss how difficult it was to get promotions under the administration of Lawrence Bethel, and how the union had to fight for many rights such as faculty status for “non-classroom faculty.” They also discuss the...
Dates:
1994 November 14
Item
Identifier: SC.FITA.3.20.4.9.4.17
Scope and Contents
Jean Ellen Giblin, the Vice President of Academic Affairs at the time of this interview, explains how she came to FIT as an economics professor in 1970. She was later Chair of the Social Science Department as well as the curriculum committee. After a time, she was asked to work on the development of the new upper division program which had a marketing option in international trade. She talks fondly of that creative work and how it led her to become the acting Dean of the Business and...
Dates:
1994 November 21
Item
Identifier: SC.FITA.3.20.4.9.4.20
Scope and Contents
Judith Parkas, the Executive Vice President of FIT’s union, discusses her many roles at FIT. In addition to her union work, Parkas was a professor of Biology and Physical Anthropology as well as the project director of the Tech Prep Grant. Over the years, she helped develop and evolve FIT’s curriculum. She discusses the inception of the union and their early contentions with the Board of Trustees. There were also initial difficulties in unifying adjunct and full-time faculty, but Parkas...
Dates:
1994 November 10
