Pathways To Opportunity Series: Careers in International Trade, Textiles, Fashion, and Apparel

The WITA Academy Pathways to Opportunity program consists of a series of career pathways sessions hosted by trade professionals from the Washington D.C. policy community. The curriculum, divided between the public and private sector, utilizes the expertise of our members to highlight different roles and career paths that are available in Washington D.C. and around the world.

This one-and-a-half hour online event is open to ALL students from the University of Delaware, Fashion Institute of Technology, and all other Fashion Scholarship Fund (FSF) Member Schools (undergraduates and graduate students). Other students interested in learning about careers in international trade, textiles, fashion, and apparel are welcome to register too. Registration is free for students and faculty with their university email – students must use university email to register.

Students gain insight from trade professionals, pose questions to policymakers, and learn about exciting career opportunities in international affairs, political science, business, fashion, apparel, and trade. Students come away with an understanding of the trade policy-making community, the role of its key players, and the opportunities for internships and careers available to them.

For questions about the event, please contact the WITA Staff events@wita.org.

Session Hosted by: 

University Outreach:

AGENDA

Additional Speaker to be Announced!

All times below US/Eastern 

2:15 PM – 2:20 PM ET: Welcome & Introduction

2:20 PM – 3:00 PM ET: Opportunities in the U.S. Public Sector

Felicia Pullam, Executive Director, Office of Trade Relations, Office of the Commissioner, U.S. Customs and Border Protection;

former Director of Strategy, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service; former Regional Manager, East Asia, Maryland Department of Commerce; former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Textiles, Consumer Goods, and Materials, U.S. Department of Commerce, former Deputy Director, International Trade and Development, State of Delaware; former Practice Head, Asia, Corporate Responsibility, APCO Worldwide (A.B. Politics, East Asian Studies, Princeton University)

Katherine White, Chief Textiles and Apparel Negotiator, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative;

former International Trade Policy Advisor, Committee on Ways and Means, U.S. House of Representatives; former Management and Program Analyst, International Trade Administration; former Policy Advisor, National Economic Council at the White House (M.A. Public Policy, Duke University – B.A. Political Science & International Studies, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)

Moderator: Nate Herman, Senior Vice President, Policy, American Apparel & Footwear Association;

former International Trade Specialist, U.S. Department of Commerce (MPIA, University of Pittsburgh, B.A. in International Relations and Economics, University of Delaware)

3:00 PM – 3:40 PM ET: Opportunities in the Private Sector

Maristella Iacobello, Vice President, Global Customs & Trade Governance, PVH Corp (Fordham University)

Stephanie Lester, Vice President, Head of Government Affairs, Gap Inc.;

former Professional Staff, House Ways and Means Committee, Subcommittee on Trade (B.S. Multinational Business from Florida State University, M.A. US Foreign Policy from American University)

Sarah Thorn, Senior Director, Global Government Affairs, Walmart; former Senior Director, International Trade, Grocery Manufacturers Association;

former Consultant, PwC; former Washington Representative, International Relations, Public Affairs, AMP Incorporated; former Presidential Management Fellow, CTC/US Department of State (M.A. in International Relations and Affairs, The Fletcher School at Tufts University, B.A. in Comparative Literature, Duke University)

Moderator: Sheng Lu, Associate Professor & Director of Graduate Studies, Department of Fashion and Apparel Studies, University of Delaware;

former Consultant, International Trade Centre (Ph.D. in Textiles & Apparel Management, University of Missouri- Columbia – M.S. & B.SC in International Economics & Trade, Donghua University)

3:40 PM – 3:45 PM ET: Closing Remarks

The mission of the WITA Academy™ is to make trade education and career opportunities in international trade accessible to communities in the United States and around the world, and to make the trade community itself more diverse, equitable and inclusive.

The WITA Academy works with trade leaders in businesses, law, academia, NGOs, embassies and the U.S. Government to help stakeholders, students, and others to better understand and navigate the U.S. and global trade policy apparatus.

Thank you to our WITA Academy Sponsors

Law Partner Sponsor