Biography
Lisa Hopkins Newell is part-time faculty in the Fashion Studies department and teach introductory to capstone courses across the curriculum of Merchandising and Product Development at Columbia.
She is the co-author of Fashion Entrepreneurship: The Plan, The Product, The Process. Her professional experience in product development is evident through entrepreneurship and executive management roles at global fashion brands. Lisa’s experience as a niche practitioner on a collaborative, cross-functional product development team has guided her academic methodology in design and merchandising, and continues to steer her cooperative-approach across disciplines. She believes product development is a response to human culture.
Currently, she researches the merged complexity of generational, lifestyle, and industry trends to identify burgeoning consumer markets to contrive salable goods. With a steep understanding of industry process, Lisa has designed, sourced and managed the mass-production and distribution of apparel, and currently use transferable skills to collaborate with an FDA approved laboratory to concept and source raw ingredients to develop body care products for a green-driven market segment.
With an academic foundation in fashion (BS) and cultural studies (MA), she appreciates the creative power nested in authenticity, diversity and inclusion. It has become the ethos of her teaching style and classroom management.
Instructional Areas
Fashion Studies, Merchandising, Product Development, Entrepreneurship
Creative Practice and Research Interests
Fashion Entrepreneurship, Emerging Niche Markets, Branding, Marketing
Degrees
B.S., Fashion Merchandising Northern Illinois University 1990
M.A., Inner City Studies Education Northeastern Illinois University 2010