Fashion Design Student Assistant - Work Study Only
Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts
Position Title: Fashion Design Student Assistant
Work Location: Department of Art
Job Duration: The student worker position is 5-15 hours per week. Hours per week dependent on student’s federal work-study award.
Contact: Dr. Elka Stevens | 202.806.7103 | estevens@howard.edu
Job Description
The Fashion Design program in the Department of Art offers a variety of resources and learning opportunities both inside and outside the classroom to nurture and enhance a student’s educational experience at Howard University. Most notably, the program boasts a global, 45‐year‐old collection of garments, accessories, and tools related to human appearance, related actions and processes, and to their production. The Fashion Design program also offers individualized research and presentation opportunities for qualified students to explore topics related to fashion, broadly defined.
We are always seeking undergraduate and graduate students interested in participating in the documentation, cataloging, and digitization of the costume collection, as well as students interested in exploring select fashion‐related topics as research assistants. Schedules vary and may be flexible. There are currently seven (7) position types available which we seek to fill with at least one or more students.
1) Researcher/Writer – Costume Collection‐Specific
We are seeking an undergraduate or graduate researcher/writer to identify and provide historical and contemporary information about items in collection in concise written format. The position minimally requires:
• expertise in the Microsoft Word and Excel
• average typing speed
• organization skills
• ability to work independently
• excellent written, interpersonal, and oral communication skills
• good presentation skills
• critical thinking and problem‐solving skills
• good research skills
• willingness to learn
• own computer & applicable software preferred
• interest in fashion/knowledge of fashion is preferred, but not required; preference given to students who have taken History of Costume or History of Design courses and Fashion, English, and Communication majors.
2) Research Assistants – General
We are seeking two undergraduate and/or graduate students to work with professors on select fashion projects. The position minimally requires:
• proficiency with internet searching
• good general research skills
• expertise in the Microsoft Word and Excel
• average typing speed
• excellent organization skills
• ability to work independently
• excellent written, interpersonal, and oral communication skills
• critical thinking and problem‐solving skills
• willingness to learn
• interest in fashion/knowledge of fashion is preferred, but not required.
3) Illustrator
We are seeking an illustrator to complete line drawings and/or flats of objects in the collection. This position minimally requires:
• excellent illustration skills, by hand and/or digitally
• ability to work independently
• good presentation skills
• critical thinking and problem‐solving skills
• excellent written, interpersonal, and oral communication skills
• own computer & applicable software preferred
• interest in fashion/knowledge of fashion is preferred, but not required; preference given to students who have taken History of Costume or History of Design courses and Department of Art majors.
• Evidence of illustration abilities is required to be hired for this position.
4) Photographer
We are seeking a photographer to digitally capture objects in the collection. This position minimally requires:
• excellent photography skills
• ability to work independently
• good presentation skills
• critical thinking and problem‐solving skills
• excellent written, interpersonal, and oral communication skills
• own equipment preferred
• interest in fashion/knowledge of fashion is preferred, but not required; preference given to students who have taken History of Costume or History of Design courses and Photography majors.
• Evidence of photography abilities is required to be hired for this position.
5) Data Technician
We are seeking a data organization and input technician to organize existing information into formatted file and to enter new data in designated fields. The position minimally requires:
• expertise in the Microsoft Word and Excel
• average typing speed
• organization skills
• ability to work independently
• excellent written, interpersonal, and oral communication skills
• good presentation skills
• willingness to learn
• own computer & applicable software preferred
• critical thinking and problem‐solving skills
• good research skills
• interest in fashion/knowledge of fashion is a plus, but not required.
6) Web/Database designer
We are seeking an undergraduate and/or graduate student to work with a professor to create a searchable, online portal for our costume collection. The position minimally requires:
• web design skills
• organization skills
• ability to work independently
• excellent written, interpersonal, and oral communication skills
• good presentation skills
• critical thinking and problem‐solving skills
• interest in fashion/knowledge of fashion is preferred, but not required.
• Evidence of web and database design abilities is required to be hired for this position.