Faculty Success

Byron Lars is a renowned fashion designer whose clients have included Michelle Obama, Angela Bassett, and Mattel.

His career expanded into teaching when he was named Pratt’s Jane B. Nord Professor of Fashion Design. “Part of Pratt’s reputation comes from an emphasis on having established practitioners serve as faculty members,” he explains. “Even though I hadn’t taught before, the endowed chair created an opportunity to apply my years of professional and business experience in ways that would benefit young designers. I fell in love with being in the classroom almost immediately.”

Established through the generosity of alumna Jane Nord, the rotating endowed professorship also gives students the opportunity to meet and learn from role models and potential mentors.

“I recently had Elena Velez come speak to my students. She’s a young designer who’s already accomplished amazing things—and she’s still close enough to the students’ age that they can relate to her on a personal level,” Byron notes. “Students really appreciate it when you meet them where they are; it’s also gratifying to see them get so enthusiastic about aspects of the business that I may have taken for granted, like the various steps that go into launching a fashion line.”

Byron is deeply grateful for the opportunity to help shape emerging designers while collaborating with and learning from his Pratt colleagues. “It’s amazing to think that Jane, who attended Pratt in the 1940s, has created this amazing resource that will benefit Pratt students and faculty far into the future,” says Byron.

“Having additional endowed chairs at Pratt would make a tremendously positive impact.”