Our Alumni

Fashion and Apparel Studies

Where can a UD fashion degree take you?

The Department of Fashion and Apparel Studies at the University of Delaware has produced a remarkable array of alumni who have left an indelible mark on the fashion industry. From renowned designers to influential entrepreneurs, these trailblazers have showcased their creativity, innovation, and passion for fashion on a global scale. Their accomplishments serve as a testament to the exceptional education and training provided by this esteemed program, which has consistently nurtured and empowered aspiring fashion professionals to reach new heights of success.

Felicia Bello

Degree: 2020, Apparel Design

Job Title: Softgoods Engineering Technologist at NASA Johnson Space Center

Felicia Bello graduated in 2020 with a B.S in Apparel Design and left UD with a strong passion for innovative product design. Problem solving and designing apparel based solutions is what launched her career from fashion to the aerospace industry. While at UD, Felicia served as the president of the Synergy Fashion Group and participated in the Paris study abroad program over winter session.

Learn more about Felicia Bello

In her senior year of college, Felicia enrolled in a fashion seminar course on product development. It was this class that introduced her to a world of possibilities outside of traditional apparel design. What if everything she had studied for the last four years could be applied to a completely different industry? After a field trip to a company in Delaware called ILC Dover, Felicia fell in love with the aerospace industry. After graduation, she began her career there as a space suit assembly operator. Felicia fabricated flight hardware for both the Boeing Starliner Launch Entry and Abort (AES) Space Suit as well as components for the Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) Space Suit used on the International Space Station (ISS).

Shortly after fabricating space suits, Felicia was promoted to a materials engineering technologist where she sourced and certified materials for the different space suits. After five years with ILC Dover, Felicia then relocated to Houston, Texas where she joined NASA Johnson Space Center as a softgoods engineering technologist. At NASA, she now develops new materials, designs and fabricates different space suit components, and participates in different suit test campaigns as the design liaison.

The key takeaway that Felicia would like every apparel design and merchandise student to know is that as cool as the fashion industry is, our skills and knowledge are universally applicable to many industries. Explore opportunities outside of your world and never give up on what makes you passionate!

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Faith Gaffney

Degree: 2026, Fashion Merchandising and Management

Job Title: Merchandise Assistant at Five Below Impulse Team

Faith graduated from the University of Delaware in May 2026 with a degree in fashion merchandising and management and minors in business administration and marketing. While at UD, she studied abroad in Paris, where she interned with Elie Saab and worked backstage as a dresser for multiple brands during Paris Fashion Week. Her campus involvement included the Fashion Merchandising Club and Gamma Phi Beta sorority.

The summer before her senior year, Faith interned at Five Below's corporate office in Philadelphia as a merchandise intern on the tech team. After graduating, she returned to Five Below and now works as a merchandise assistant on the Impulse team.

Callie Weldon

Degree: 2013, Fashion Merchandising

Job Title: Standards Engagement Lead, Textile Exchange

Callie Weldon has been passionate about sustainability for many years, including during her time at the University of Delaware, where she earned her bachelor's degree in fashion merchandising.

Currently, Callie leads standards engagement at Textile Exchange, where she works with brands, suppliers and materials producers to support the implementation and evolution of the organization's standards system. Her work focuses on translating complex standards and certification requirements into practical guidance and engagement. She also provides direction on Textile Exchange's transition to the Materials Matter Standard, alongside her work on certified supply chains, traceability, claims and standards communications.

Bridget Ednie

Degree: 2026, Fashion Merchandising and Management

Job Title: Assistant Merchant, The Jewelry Group

During my junior year, I studied abroad in Paris, France, through UD FASH, where I had the opportunity to work both backstage and front-of-house during Paris Fashion Week while studying in the heart of Haute Couture. This experience gave me a firsthand look at the global fashion industry and helped me understand how the concepts I was learning in the classroom translated into the real world. That summer, I joined Pandora as a Merchandising Intern in the company’s pilot intern cohort at its NYC office. I developed technical skills, including Excel, while gaining a deeper understanding of the jewelry business. Just as importantly, I gained confidence working in a professional environment.

Allison Stephenson

Degree: 2020, Fashion Merchandising and Management

Job Title: Associate Merchant, American Eagle

Allison Stephenson earned her degree in Fashion Merchandising and Management at the University of Delaware. Allie has held several positions in numerous companies across the fashion industry including internships with Lilly Pulitzer, Accessories Direct and QVC. After graduation, Allie continued at QVC as an assistant technical designer eventually joining American Eagle in technical design as well. In a pivotal move in her career, Allie “switched gears” and joined the buying office at American Eagle where she has flourished. Her merchant positions have been in Knit Tops, Graphics and Bare where she has been consistently promoted. Currently Allie is the Associate Merchant in Knit Tops and Graphics.

Rebecca Windsor

Degree: 2017, Fashion Merchandising and Management

Job Title: Senior Buyer, Burlington

Hi, I'm Rebecca! I'm a proud University of Delaware alumna originally from Maryland. Immediately after earning my undergraduate degree in fashion merchandising, I began my career in off-price buying as an assistant buyer at Burlington Stores. In just under a decade with the company, I've earned three promotions and five top sales achievement awards.

Today, I'm the senior buyer of ladies' branded apparel, buying tops and bottoms from brands such as Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger for all 1,300 Burlington brick-and-mortar stores across the United States.

Stephanie Gray

Degree: 2024, Fashion Merchandising and Management

Job Title: Assistant Buyer, Fanatics

While at the University of Delaware, Stephanie was the 2023 Student Ambassador for the National Retail Federation Foundation program. This program kickstarted her interest in the retail industry and how she can impact it through her career. Throughout her time at UD, Stephanie worked as an Atelier Stylist for Banana Republic where she was able to flex her creative and storytelling abilities through fashion while styling her clients. This set her up for success with building assortments and telling stories from the merchandising perspective.

Sydney Gayda Kehoe

Degree: 2015, Apparel Design

Job Title: Senior Apparel Designer, Nike

Sydney Gayda Kehoe is a seasoned apparel designer with over a decade of experience creating performance and lifestyle apparel for some of the world's leading athletes and teams. Sydney graduated from the University of Delaware with a B.S. in Fashion Design and later earned her M.A in Design Management from Savannah College of Art and Design. Her career includes more than 8 years at Nike, where she currently works as a Senior Apparel Designer. Her work has spanned international soccer kits, NFL uniforms and sideline apparel, global football training collections, and licensed team apparel spanning high school and NCAA athletics.