Gale Joins AI, Design School Launches New Degrees
Former Brooks College Fashion Chair Mary Ann Gale has been named the academic-department director for the Art Institute of California’s Orange County campus in Santa Ana, Calif.
Gale brings more than 25 years of experience to the college. Since 1988, she has been the fashion-department chair at Brooks in Long Beach, where she managed designer showcases and produced the school’s annual fashion show. She also helped to develop the school’s curriculum and assisted with job placement. Prior to her career as an educator, Gale worked as a fashion illustrator with Lloyds Fashion Advertising in Los Angeles and spent five years working with buying offices in the CaliforniaMart (now California Market Center), creating buyer boards and fashion catalogs. Last June, Brooks’ parent company, Chicago-based Career Education Corp., announced it will shutter Brooks’ Long Beach and Sunnyvale campuses in phases this year and in 2009.
“We conducted an extensive search to find someone that had both knowledge of the industry and experience as an educator,” said Melinda Lester, dean of academic affairs, in a statement. “Mary Ann Gale’s strong academic leadership skills and commitment to student achievement make her a valuable addition to the Art Institute.” Coinciding with Gale’s appointment is the March 31 launch of two new degree programs in fashion design and fashion marketing and management. Students who complete the design program receive a bachelor of fine arts degree, and those who complete the marketing and management program receive a bachelor of science degree.
“Both fashion programs will focus on integrating the creative, technical and theoretical elements of the industry,” Gale said. “As with all programs at the Art Institute, fashion courses will be taught by educators with diverse industry experience.
Gale is a member of Fashion Group International and is an affiliate of the Long Beach Arts Council, the Long Beach East Village Arts District and the Scripps Institute.
Aside from fashion programs, the Art Institute of Orange County offers programs in design, culinary arts and media arts. For more information, visit www.artinstitutes.edu.
—Robert McAllister
