Jacqueline Jenkins

Interim Executive Director of the Center for Continuing and Professional Studies, FIT

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Jacqueline M. Jenkins is the current Interim Executive Director of the Center for Continuing and Professional Studies for the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT). Prior to this, she was the Acting Director of Continuing Education and Acting Executive Director of Strategic Planning and Innovation. Jacqueline leads the development of the school’s strategic plan and the fulfillment of FIT’s commitment towards innovation.  Jacqueline oversees the programming efforts at the FIT Innovation Center at the Brooklyn Navy Yard.

Before joining FIT, Jacqueline was the former Dean of Graduate Studies at LIM College. Jacqueline led the development and execution of graduate-level programs that included the MBA and the Master of Professional Studies (MPS) degrees in Fashion Merchandising and Retail Management, Fashion Marketing, and Visual Merchandising.  She was the founding dean of the Global Fashion Supply Chain Management degree.  Under Jacqueline’s leadership, the graduate program obtained its first ranking by becoming recognized internationally by the Business of Fashion.  Jacqueline co-authored, Fashion Supply Chain Management, published by Fairchild Books.

Jacqueline was the Program Executive for the University of Pennsylvania Energy Efficiency Buildings Hub at the Wharton School of Business.  Before joining Wharton, Jacqueline was the COO for Milligan & Co., a regional accounting firm.  In both of these roles, Jacqueline built relationships with local entrepreneurs and public officials to generate contracting opportunities for minority and women-owned businesses.

In 2000, Jacqueline founded Add Value Day 1, an advisory business. The firm developed operational strategies and raised capital for early-stage companies.  Jacqueline was also the CFO for an early-stage technology company that she raised $1M in capital.  As a consultant, she has completed extensive economic development and business strategy engagements in the U.S. Virgin Islands.  Jacqueline also held corporate finance and supply chain management positions with Ann Taylor, Inc.  Jacqueline began her career with the First National Bank of Boston as a loan and operations officer.

Jacqueline has held the following board appointments: Pennsylvania Private Investors Group (investment fund), the Ben Franklin Technology Partners Enterprise Growth Fund (micro-loan program), APICS New York City – Long Island Chapter (supply chain management trade organization), and the New York Theological Seminary (faith-based organization).

Jacqueline was a Philadelphia Business Journal Forty Under Forty honoree. Jacqueline is also a Philadelphia Business Journal Women of Distinction awardee.  The Networking Journal has also recognized Jacqueline for her accomplishments as one of the most influential African-American businesswomen.  Jacqueline was named a Remodista Woman2Watch In Business Disruption 2020.  

Jacqueline earned her B.A. in economics from Spelman College and her MBA in finance from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.   She is a golf enthusiast who is working towards her sommelier designation.  Jacqueline also founded of Sophisticated Curation, a web community for the savvy fashionista.