Fashion Scholarship Fund Appoints Five Women to Board
The nonprofit added leaders from LVMH, Timberland, Ralph Lauren, Fanatics and KCD to its board of governors.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Scholarships
The Fashion Scholarship Fund, a nonprofit that awards scholarships to students pursuing careers in design, merchandising, marketing and business, appointed five women to its board of governors. The appointees include Paula Fallowfield of LVMH Americas, Nina Flood of Timberland, Joy Herfel-Cronin of Ralph Lauren, Toretha McGuire of Fanatics and Rachna Shah of KCD.
Why it matters
The appointments bring senior industry executives into the fund's governance at a time when it supports students across a network of 75 colleges and universities. The board additions add corporate expertise to the fund's efforts to prepare students for careers in the American fashion and business sectors.
The Fashion Scholarship Fund provides more than $1.9 million annually to 160 students selected from 75 colleges and universities. The fund has supported more than 3,100 alumni since it was established in 1937, and the source does not specify the board's term lengths or voting roles.
The players
Fashion Scholarship Fund
A nonprofit organization founded in 1937 that awards scholarships to students pursuing careers in design, merchandising, marketing and business.
Paula Fallowfield
Chief human resources officer of LVMH Americas, appointed to the Fashion Scholarship Fund board.
Nina Flood
Executive vice president and global brand president of Timberland, appointed to the Fashion Scholarship Fund board.
Joy Herfel-Cronin
Group president of wholesale North America at Ralph Lauren, appointed to the Fashion Scholarship Fund board.
Toretha McGuire
Chief people officer of Fanatics, appointed to the Fashion Scholarship Fund board.
The details
The five new board members will provide career advice, mentorship and internship opportunities to current students, and will support scholars and alumni in the fund's community. The appointees hold senior roles including chief human resources officer, executive vice president, group president, chief people officer and global chief executive officer.
Timeline
November 4, 2026: Five women announced as appointees to the Fashion Scholarship Fund board of governors.
1937: Fashion Scholarship Fund established.
Industry Pipeline
The fund's model of pairing scholarships with senior industry executives on its board reflects a broader effort to link students in design and merchandising directly to American fashion and retail employers. The five new appointees come from luxury, footwear, apparel, sportswear and digital commerce companies, spanning the sectors that hire graduates from the fund's 75-school network.
Students interested in fashion, merchandising or marketing careers can apply for the Fashion Scholarship Fund's awards through its partner network of 75 colleges and universities. The board's mentorship and internship support is directed at current scholars and alumni rather than the general public.
The takeaway
Students in fashion and business programs gain the most from scholarship funds that combine financial aid with direct access to industry leaders. Checking whether your school belongs to a partner network can open doors to mentorship and internships.
Further reading
Explore more on Scholarships to see how industry mentorship programs support students in fashion and business careers.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WWD.
