Dr. Karen R. Pearson CHAIR, SUSTAINABILITY COUNCIL, CHAIR, SCIENCE AND MATH
Karen Pearson, PhD, is a professor of Science and Math at FIT and is the co-chair of the college’s
Sustainability Council. She has won a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching,
has been noted as one of the 100 Most Inspiring Women in STEM, and is a recipient
of FIT’s President’s Award for Excellence. Pearson has done extensive work in the
development of interdisciplinary STEAM curricula and programming at FIT and is the
recipient of multiple research and program awards, including those from the National
Science Foundation and the National Endowment of the Arts. Her research outside of
the classroom is focused on the design, synthesis, and application of new materials
that have potential in low-energy devices, such as thin-film transistors (TFTs) and
light-emitting diodes (LEDs).
Presenters and Panelists
Amy Curtis
Head of Programs, The All We Can Save Project
Amy Curtis is a program director, learning experience designer, and community builder whose
work centers on creating a more joyful, just, and ecologically harmonious world. Before
joining The All We Can Save Project, she was the director of learning experiences
at Terra.do. She has also led learning and community-building at Minerva University,
Coursera, and General Assembly. Curtis holds a BA in history from the University of
Virginia and an MSc in urban studies from University College London. She lives with
her partner in a leafy corner of Queens, New York.
Alex Helander
Director of Business Development, Bluesign
Alex Helander is director of business development at Bluesign, a global leader in sustainable textile
production. He works with brands, retailers, and manufacturers to drive responsible
business practices and strengthen sustainability strategies across the fashion value
chain. With a career spanning executive roles in sustainability, production, product
development, and sales, Helander has held leadership positions at Polo Ralph Lauren,
The Limited, and Sunrise Brands; and he launched his own private-label manufacturing
company. He also led the first incubator at TerraCycle LLC, advancing circular economy
solutions; and through the consulting firm Fashion Mentorship, he has advised startups
in fashion and consumer products on growth and innovation. He also serves on the board
of Fashion Mingle and is an active member of American Apparel & Footwear Association
(AAFA) and Americas Apparel Producers’ Network (AAPN).
Josh Koury
Associate Professor of Film and Media at FIT
Josh Koury, associate professor of Film and Media at FIT, is an award-winning director and producer
with 20 years of filmmaking experience. Most recently, he served on the directorial
team of the six-part HBO series I’ll Be Gone in the Dark, exploring Michelle McNamara’s investigation into the world of the Golden State Killer.
Koury co-directed Voyeur (2017), a Netflix Original documentary following famed author Gay Talese as he unravels
the story of Gerald Foos, who owned and operated a motel for the express purpose of
spying on his guests. Khoury’s additional directorial credits include the feature-length
films Journey to Planet X (2012), We Are Wizards (2008), and Standing by Yourself (2002); as well as the short films An Immortal Man (2014) for ESPN Films’ “30 for 30” documentary series and We Will Live Again (2012). Koury’s films have screened at festivals around the world, including the
NYFF, Toronto Int’l Film Festival, SXSW, Tribeca, and Slamdance.
Devon Rufo
Sustainable Transformation Strategist
Devon Rufo is a sustainability expert with a technical and creative background across fashion,
footwear, and beauty. Holding an MS from Columbia University and a BS from FIT, they
specialize in applying life cycle assessment (LCA), corporate footprinting, and circularity
principles to drive science-based product and supply-chain transformation—bridging
design, product development, and sustainability to empower direct action. Rufo is
a founding partner of Reframe Partners, strategic advisor to The Footwear Collective, and resident LCA expert at Impact Decoded. They have supported sustainability strategies for global leaders including Disney,
Lululemon, Victoria’s Secret, Ralph Lauren, and Levi’s, building on earlier design
and product development roles at Ralph Lauren, Rag & Bone, Levi’s, and Everlane.
Julian Silverman
Assistant Professor, Science and Math
Julian Silverman is an assistant professor in the Department of Science and Math at the Fashion Institute
of Technology. His teaching focuses on developing hands-on activities to have students
learn and practice skills relating chemistry, materials science, and sustainability.
His research focuses on designing functional soft materials from waste-derived feedstocks,
such as plastics from lignin and dyes from yard waste. Silverman is a current research
fellow at the Center for Book Arts, where he is exploring the relationship between
waste and artist objects.
Jake Sumner
Documentary Filmmaker
Jake Sumner is the award-winning documentary director of Ron Delsener Presents (Tribeca Festival 2023 spotlight documentary), Bob of the Park (DOC NYC 2019 grand jury prize winner for best short documentary), I Was There When House Took Over the World (Channel 4, 2017) and Fantastic Man: Who is William Onyeabor? (VICE, 2014). Sumner’s branded short films include The Plastic Age, with Pharrell Williams for G-Star Raw, as well as several collaborations with contemporary
artist KAWS. As a commercial director, Sumner has worked with brands such as Nike,
Tiffany & Co., Moncler, Google, Mastercard, and Pepsi.
