SCAD Names Dirk Standen Dean of SCAD School of Fashion
Monday, August 29th, 2022
Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) is proud to announce esteemed fashion industry veteran, writer, creative leader and educator Dirk Standen as Dean of the SCAD School of Fashion. As Dean, Standen will oversee SCAD’s top ranked undergraduate and graduate degree programs of fashion design, fashion marketing and management, fibers, accessory design and jewelry design at the university’s Savannah and Atlanta locations.
Standen first joined SCAD in fall 2021as a professor of fashion marketing and management, bringing years of experience and professional mentorship. In his newly appointed role as Dean of the School of Fashion, Standen will lead the department driving the academic curriculum with forward-thinking strategies, vision, and direction to navigate a rapidly changing industry and foster the next generation of creative leaders from SCAD.
"Since my first day as a professor at SCAD, I have been deeply impressed by the quality of our students' work and the caliber of our programs,” said Standen. “I'm delighted to take on a larger role in growing the School of Fashion and shining a light on the accomplishments of its students and faculty. SCAD offers a unique combination of technological and artistic innovation, global reach and a deep connection to two of the most dynamic, fast-growing cities in the U.S., and I'm excited to be part of that trajectory."
Dirk Standen is a highly respected industry figure known for his pioneering work at the intersection of fashion and technology in the publishing and luxury marketing space. During his decade-long tenure as editor in chief of Style.com, Standen guided the site's growth into the leading global online platform for fashion news and runway reporting. As the founding editor of 23 Stories, Conde Nast's creative agency, Standen launched innovative digital marketing campaigns for Gucci, Chanel, LVMH, Google, H&M, and many other best-in-class global brands. His writing has been published in numerous international fashion media outlets, including Vanity Fair, Vogue, Tatler, and GQ. He holds a Master of Fine Arts in film from Columbia University and a Bachelor of Arts in Drama and German from University of London.
“Dean Standen is a forward thinker who has a deep understanding of style and luxury as well as a clear vision for the future of high fashion and the potential of circular economies and virtual commerce,” said Jesus Rojas, SCAD’s Vice President of Academic Services. “SCAD is amongst the top ranked, leading fashion schools in the world and with the addition of our new dean, Dirk Standen, we will now take fashion to the next level.”
