Alumni Council

AAS Fashion Design '00

Commercial Real Estate Investment Specialist and Designer

Montrese Chandler’s career encompasses both commercial real estate and fashion design. Now working at KW Commercial Downtown Los Angeles (DTLA), she focuses on investment in the Los Angeles urban retail and multifamily markets. Before joining KW Commercial DTLA, Montrese was employed at JLL, where she specialized in the luxury commercial retail leasing market, drawing on her considerable experience in landlord and tenant representation in Beverly Hills and the surrounding area. She began her career in real estate managing family-owned properties in the Los Angeles market.

Before entering the real estate industry, Montrese worked in high-end fashion, managing nationwide operations for the Giorgio Armani Corporation’s major accounts, including Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Giorgio Armani stores. Trained as a designer, Montrese has developed, designed and distributed apparel collections and currently designs jewelry for select clients and special charitable events. She began her professional career working as a political appointee at the U.S. Department of Commerce.

In addition to being a Parsons School of Design alumna, Montrese holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Howard University in Washington, DC. She currently serves on the boards of Holman Community Development Corporation (chair), Mid-City West Neighborhood Council, Miracle Mile Residential Association, and the Physical and Mental Health committee of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. She was the inaugural chair of the New School Los Angeles Alumni Chapter and chairwoman of Open Your Heart for American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women Campaign.

As a lover of design and constant builder, Montrese continues to cultivate and grow her creative landscape.

BM Performance ’99
MM Music ’02

Alumni Council Secretary
Music Director, The Apollo Orchestra, and
Associate Conductor, York Symphony Orchestra

Maestro Stephen Czarkowski is in his tenth season as music director and conductor of The Apollo Orchestra, associate conductor of York Symphony Orchestra, and assistant conductor of Opera Camerata. He has guest-conducted Prince George’s Philharmonic, Charlottesville Symphony at the University of Virginia, Old Bridge Chamber Orchestra, Two Rivers Chamber Orchestra, Symphony of the Potomac, Washington Sinfonietta, Honolulu Symphony, and Virginia Symphony Orchestra. Stephen has also guest-conducted the National Symphony Orchestra through the National Conducting Institute under Leonard Slatkin. 

Stephen has worked with internationally renowned soloists including soprano Harolyn Blackwell, harpist Nancy Allen, violinist Cho-Liang Lin, trumpeter Chris Gekker, guitarist Ana Vidovic, and cellists Carter Brey, Jerry Grossman, and Amit Peled. He is in his fifth year as the director of strings at Norwood School, whose orchestra received a superior rating in festival; is the music director and conductor of Frederick Regional Youth Orchestra; serves as music director and conductor of The Symphonette at Landon School; and is resident conductor and cello faculty member at Luzerne Music Center. 

Stephen was a soloist with Two Rivers Chamber Orchestra, performing Haydn’s Cello Concerto in C Major and Bach’s Cello Suites at St. James Catholic Church in Charles Town, West Virginia. He was a special guest artist at the Library of Congress, at the White House, and in concerts honoring Pope Francis and President Obama and was elected to the board of directors of the Conductors Guild. Stephen holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from The Catholic University of America and Mannes School of Music at The New School. 

MA Fashion Studies ’16

Alumni Council Chair
Founder
CAF Consulting

Carly-Ann Fergus explores the intersection of entrepreneurship, fashion, and innovation. She builds ecosystems and programs that help entrepreneurs launch and grow their businesses. Carly-Ann most recently served as the director of Labs at XRC Labs, a retail tech accelerator launched out of Parsons School of Design. During her tenure at XRC, she supported and helped build a diverse ecosystem with a portfolio of 55 start-ups; more than 250 industry experts, including mentors, retailers, and investors; and a resource partner network of service providers for start-ups.

Before working at XRC, Carly-Ann received an MA in Fashion Studies (with a focus on Strategic Design and Management) from Parsons. Her thesis research centered on the rise of New York City as a global fashion capital and the way it functions as an ecosystem for emerging fashion designers. This research was inspired by her early experience working with emerging fashion brands, through which she gained a range of skills in brand strategy and operations.

Carly-Ann holds a BA in Visual Communications from SUNY Farmingdale. She serves on the Associate Board of Directors of the Opportunity Network, a nonprofit organization that fosters networks and opportunities for students from historically underrepresented communities, and the Advisory Board of the CFDA Elaine Gold Launch Pad program.

BA Liberal Arts ’03/BFA Illustration ’03

Principal Designer, Google Doodle and UZX Writing
Google

The third of five children, Ryan Germick was born and raised as part of a creative family in the rural suburbs of northwestern Indiana. Following his glory days as high school senior class president, Ryan headed to New York City to study illustration and creative writing at Parsons School of Design and Eugene Lang College of Liberal Arts.

After two semesters apprenticing with sign painters and learning Tamil in South India (experiences chronicled on his first website), Ryan returned to NYC, where he interned for PBS and animation/interactive studio Funny Garbage.

Since graduating in 2003, Ryan has completed design, illustration, and multimedia projects for folks like Ze Frank, Salon, Sony Music, HBO Family, Comedy Central, and Cartoon Network, as well as many nonprofits, schools, musicians, and artists. Ryan has also taught the finer points of comics, design, and animation at 826NYC, Parsons School of Design, and Citizen Schools and in art workshops in India.

In 2006, Ryan began working as a full-time designer and illustrator for Google, where he co-designed the Street View Pegman and Gmail's emoticons. He now leads the Google Doodle team and was a driving creative force behind the Pac-Man, Sesame Street, Charlie Chaplin, Les Paul, Robert Moog, Star Trek, and 2012 London Olympics doodles and many dozens of others.

MS Human Resources Management ’03

Chief Human Resources Officer, New York Public Radio

Monique Jefferson is a results-oriented proven human resources executive with more than 20 years of diverse global experience in the financial services, legal, Insurance, professional services, and news media industries. She has led regional and global teams to deliver value-added human capital solutions to c-suite executives. Her primary areas of expertise are talent and performance management, compensation, leadership development, succession management, employee engagement, talent acquisition, diversity and inclusion, employee relations, and training.

Monique is the chief human resources officer at New York Public Radio. Before holding this position, Monique was head of HR for Business Services across the Americas region and head of the global HR business partner function for Hogan Lovells, an AmLaw 25 international law firm. She also served as vice president of Human Resources and senior HR business partner at New York Life Insurance Company. As a senior HR business partner, she led a team that provided HR client support to all corporate functions and was the strategic HR advisor to five executive management committee members, including the enterprise CFO, general counsel, chief risk officer, chief compliance officer and chief actuary.

Before joining New York Life Insurance in 2009, Monique spent more than seven years with Merrill Lynch in the Global Markets & Investment Banking division. She initially joined Merrill Lynch in 2002 as an HR associate in the U.S. Private Client and Global Research divisions. In 2008, she was promoted to director of Human Resources, a position in which she served as the senior HR relationship manager for Investment Banking, covering the domestic regional offices, Latin America, Canada, and the Financial Institutions group globally.

Before working at Merrill Lynch, Monique served as a sales staffing specialist and manager of leadership development at Bristol Myers Squibb pharmaceuticals. In 1998, she worked as a resource manager at PricewaterhouseCoopers, where she handled the internal mobility and career development of associates and interns in the assurance practice. Monique began her career as a financial auditor in the New York office of Ernst & Young LLP. 

Monique is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR and SHRM-SCP) and was an instructor at the New York Institute of Technology, where she taught the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) learning system course for the PHR/SPHR exam.

Monique graduated from Bentley University with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and holds a Master of Science in Human Resources Management from The New School. In 2012, she was recognized as a Harlem YMCA Black Achiever in Industry and received the Network Journal’s 40 Under Forty Achievement Award. She is an active member of the SHRM and the Brooklyn chapter of The Links, Incorporated; the president of the CALIBR Global Leadership Network; and a board member of the National Association of African Americans in Human Resources’ greater NY chapter. Additionally, Monique was on the board of trustees of the Lefferts Gardens Charter School, serving as board chair from 2011 to 2013. 

BBA Strategic Design and Management ’11

Founding Partner and Director of Strategy, L+R

Alex Levin is a business strategist, brand designer, and entrepreneur based in New York City. In 2012, after graduating from Parsons School of Design with a BBA in Design and Management, he founded L+R with his freshman-year roommate.

L+R is an international technology design studio and strategy consulting firm supporting Fortune 500 organizations and small businesses by integrating the design process and building digital technologies. Industry recognition for L+R includes a Red Dot Award, two Webby Awards, and placement on the Clutch 1000 list.

Alex spearheads L+R’s end-to-end consulting, which includes design research and analysis, brand strategy, and applied digital technology. He also leads the company’s luxury vertical business unit, Liquid Crystal. His specialization in luxury, branding, and customer experience has led to award-winning solutions for companies such as Amazon Web Services, Google, Global Citizen, NewsCorp, Louis Vuitton, the Estée Lauder Companies, Hilton Worldwide, BuzzFeed, Time Inc., Newell Brands, The Durst Organization, and Unilever.

Alex is also the founder of Desgin Gin, a modern American gin. He created the brand with the mission of uniting the design community with the spirit industry.

He is a mentor at XRC Labs, supports the New York Garment Center Suppliers Association (NYGCSA), and is an alumnus of the Luxury Education Foundation and a member of the Ad Council’s UX Advisory Board. In 2019, Alex was featured on the Forbes 30 Under 30 List.

Alex enjoys philosophy, travel, and antiques and is an aspiring audiophile.

BFA Fashion Design ’16

Founder and CEO, ADIFF

Angela Luna, BFA Fashion Design ’16, is the founder of ADIFF, a design label that creates statement accessories and outerwear for the city dweller and modern-day traveler while addressing global issues and promoting circularity and sustainability in the fashion industry.

As a senior at Parsons, Angela won the 2016 Womenswear Designer of the Year for Design for Difference award for her collection of outerwear pieces that serve different functions for refugees. The motto for her brand reflects her mission: “design intervention for global issues.”

In 2017, after graduating, Angela made the prestigious Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list for her innovative design thinking and efforts to play a lifesaving role for displaced people.

BFA Communication Design ’17

Senior Creative Designer

Sara Pena is a senior creative designer based in New York City, currently working at the New York Times. Before joining the Commerce team, she focused on book design and branding as a designer for Javas Lehn Studio. Sara also interned at Rational Beauty and assisted Juliette Cezzar while completing her BFA in Communication Design and minor in Printmaking at Parsons School of Design.

AAS Fashion Marketing ’07

Luxury Product Specialist and Stylist

Priyanka Sen Kundu is a product leader and stylist with more than ten years’ experience leading global multidisciplinary teams in developing and executing product strategy in the fashion/luxury industry. Her portfolio includes product launches, brand transformation, global operational expansion, product styling, and special projects. She draws on her broad experience in design, development, production, merchandising, and marketing to achieve and surpass business goals. Sen Kundu has helped companies transform their business operations and reduce costs by enhancing team cohesiveness and implementing cutting-edge business processes. She has worked with brands including Prada, COACH, Michael Kors, American Eagle Outfitters, Peach, Inc., Khaore, and Raymond India. From 2011 to 2015, she served as co-chair of the New School Alumni Association’s board of directors, and she is a proud member of the inaugural class of NYC Fashion Fellows, a program of the New York City Economic Development Corporation. In addition, she has designed costumes for vocational short films and is an avid mentor, music lover, traveler, painter, reader, and event planner.

BA Culture and Media/BFA Jazz and Contemporary Music ’09

Alumni Council Vice Chair
Senior Counsel, Labor and Employee Relations, New York City Housing Authority

Alexander Yellen currently serves as Senior Counsel of Employee and Labor Relations at the New York City Housing Authority. Before obtaining his JD from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, he was a student at the School of Jazz and Contemporary Music, where he earned a BFA in Jazz with a focus in Composition and a BA in Culture and Media.

Alexander thoroughly enjoyed life as a music student, studying with such jazz greats as Sy Johnson, Bill Kirchner, Kirk Nurock, Gerry Hemingway, and David Schnitter. He was able to apply much of what he learned at The New School as he transitioned to a career as a lawyer. After receiving his JD, he managed his own practice, in which he worked with young entrepreneurs and creative professionals on issues such as copyright and trademark registration and licensing, contract negotiations, business entity formation, and other small business transactions. He was also an independent public radio producer.

In his free time, Alexander enjoys watching This Old House and spending time on the Upper West Side of Manhattan with his wife, son, and two cats.

Global Executive MS Strategic Design and Management ’18

Founder and Creative Director, Sync
Lifestyle Entrepreneur and Freelance Journalist

Suh-young Yun is a lifestyle entrepreneur who runs a creative content and consulting agency, Sync, applying design thinking to help clients innovate in business and life. Before starting her own business, she had a long career as a newspaper journalist at the Korea Times, a national daily where she reported mainly on lifestyle and culture. Suh-young continues to write as a freelancer for various publications, such as the London-based design magazine Wallpaper* and the Hong Kong-based daily news publication South China Morning Post. 

Suh-young was also a regular guest on a current affairs program on TBS eFM radio in Seoul and served as a local producer of a documentary exploring North Korean food in Seoul broadcast by Al Jazeera network. 

Suh-young is a graduate of the inaugural class of the Global Executive Master of Science (GEMS) in Strategic Design and Management and will lead Global Studio Week, an event to be held by The New School in Seoul.