Ann Mariko Walter, Ed.D.

Dr. Walter (she/hers) oversees a key study away location for the School of Fashion.  In this role, she engages in building relationships for the school and university in New York City, increasing programming and engagement with alumni and the fashion industry and supporting students during their study away experience.  Prior to her current role with the University, she taught online and face-to-face courses geared toward fashion and the creative disciplines as an adjunct instructor at Kent State University and Parsons School of Design.

Prior to her work in education, Dr. Walter had an extensive background in the fashion industry designing product and leading creative teams for a range of specialty and mass retailers including Gap, Old Navy, Liz Claiborne, Justice, Sears Holdings, Dots, Bonobos and Walmart. In these various roles, she demonstrated a proven aptitude as a cross-functional business partner capable of delivering a creative vision supporting organizational strategies and making substantial contributions to the long-term success of a business.  

Dr. Walter is an alumna of the Shannon Rodgers & Jerry Silverman School of Fashion Design and Merchandising at Kent State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Design. She received her Master of Education in Instructional Technology from Kent State University where she focused her work on the future of online education in the applied arts. She received her Doctor of Education in Interprofessional Leadership from Kent State University as well, where her research was focused on supporting historically marginalized and underserved fashion students.