Within weeks of launching #FragranceForwardTFF, a sweeping initiative to advance industry diversity, The Fragrance Foundation has announced a new scholarship program to benefit the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) and students of diverse backgrounds interested in pursuing a career in fragrance.

 

The Fragrance Foundation FIT Diversity Scholarship is a $100,000 academic award that will benefit FIT’s Cosmetics and Fragrance Marketing programs on the undergraduate and graduate levels. Scholarships for both programs will be awarded based on application criteria for the desired program. The first of its kind, The Fragrance Foundation FIT Diversity Scholarship serves as an ongoing investment in the future of the industry, as well as a pillar of support in creating opportunities for more diverse students to pursue their passion for fragrance through a rigorous, industry-focused education at FIT.

 

“The Fragrance Foundation FIT Diversity Scholarship signifies a collective commitment to diversity, and a natural next step in the advancement of our #FragranceForwardTFF initiative,” says Linda G. Levy, president, The Fragrance Foundation. “This is a groundbreaking moment for us all as we amplify our commitment to championing diversity in all of its forms, and strive towards a fully inclusive industry that is an accurate reflection of our world.”

 

The announcement of the scholarship was made at TFF’s Circle of Champions 2021event held at 583 Park Avenue, honoring Virginia Bonofiglio, assistant professor and head of the Bachelor of Science program in Cosmetics and Fragrance Marketing (CFM)and Stephan Kanlian, professor and head of the master’s degree program in Cosmetics and Fragrance Marketing and Management. 

 

The event – which this year marked the first time that educators have been honored and included FIT students – is an annual tradition of The Fragrance Foundation. Hosted by Linda G. Levy, president of The Fragrance Foundation, the event featured remarks by both honorees; Dr. Joyce F. Brown, president of FIT; and two FIT graduates: Tennille Kopiasz, global chief marketing officer, Fresh: LVMH, who received both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from FIT’s cosmetic and fragrance programs and Crystal Sai, executive director, chief of staff, global online, Estée Lauder Companies, who received her master’s degree from the CFMM program.  

 

 “We are absolutely delighted to recognize and celebrate the contributions and achievements of FIT’s Virginia Bonofiglio and Stephan Kanlian, whose dedication to training and instructing future leaders in the fragrance industry through academic purpose and innovation is truly unparalleled,” said Levy. 

 

Among the more than 175 attendees were renowned artist and designer Rebecca Moses, an FIT alumna, whose original drawings are being donated to FIT by The Fragrance Foundation; Dr. Brooke Carlson, Interim Dean, School of Graduate Studies at FIT; Shannon Maher, interim dean, Jay and Patty Baker School of Business and Technology; Chris Collins, owner World of Chris Collinsfragrance brand; Rob Smith, LGBTQ+ advocateand founder, The Phluid Project; Linda Song, senior perfumer, Givaudan; top editors Linda Wellsand Bridget Foley; designer Francisco Costa; NEST Fragrances CEO Laura Slatkin, and several board members of The Fragrance Foundation, including: Kate Oldham, Saks Fifth Avenue; Emily Bond,Givaudan; Ann Gottlieb; Julie Walsh, Macy’s Inc.; Denis Ferenc, IFF;Birgit Benayoun, Mane; Belinda Pickford; Estee Lauder Companies.;Ron Rolleston, Revlon; Julien Gommichon, Diptyque & Byredo; Maria Dempsey, NESTNew York; Pierre Wulff, Robertet; Nancy Berger, Hearst; and, Marc Blaison, Cosmo International Fragrances.

 

TheFragrance Foundation FIT Diversity Scholarship is just one facet of #FragranceForwardTFF, a focused initiative that was created to open the doors of the fragrance industry to everyone. Having launched in October2021 with an insightful webinar on Industry Perspectives on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion offering actionable next steps and best practices from pioneering industry leaders, the initiative also includes a series of career development workshops at colleges and universities nationwide. Spelman College, an Historically Black Institution in Atlanta, was the first in the workshop series. Other elements of #FragranceForwardTFF include dedicated resources towards education, mentorship, and recruitment, as well as a push for awareness and acceptance at all levels. TFF members have also committed to a signatory TFF DEI Pledge that calls for a commitment to being “fragrance forward” in hiring practices, advancement opportunities, mentorship, recruitment and inclusivity.