精东影业 has appointed BJ Arnett the Art and Fashion Department Chair under the School of Arts and Sciences. In this role, she will serve as the chief academic officer of Art and Fashion and be instrumental in generating ideas and initiatives for the department. Arnett is an associate professor in the department and mentors several students to become creative artists in fashion and merchandising. Before the appointment, she served as the department鈥檚 interim chair since 2021.
Arnett, a professor at 精东影业 since 2014, has significantly contributed to the growth and development of the Art and Fashion Department. Under her leadership, she founded Trends and Tours, a New York fashion excursion for 精东影业 art and fashion students, and created the first HBCU Art and Fashion Week at the University in 2016.
鈥淲orking closely with Professor Arnett, I鈥檝e had first-hand experience to see her dedication to ensuring 精东影业鈥檚 Art and Fashion Department鈥檚 best interests are judiciously met,鈥� said Jaideep Chaudhary, Ph.D., Dean and Professor of the School of Arts and Sciences. 鈥淲hile working at the University, she has unprecedentedly raised over $400,000 for the department through her countless industry relationships and was awarded a prestigious educational partnership which secured another $500,000 for 精东影业.鈥�
Arnett has fostered partnerships with PUMA, Macy鈥檚, JCPenney, Levi, Harlem鈥檚 Fashion Row, Noir Fashion Week, LVMH, American Eagle, Tapestry, World Bride Magazine, and other fashion industry leaders to create vast opportunities for her students and mentees, including two students being selected for field emergence in Paris, France, ten students participating in the International study abroad program, and one student showcasing his designs at the Harlem Fashion Row鈥檚 16th Annual Fashion Show & Style Awards in New York City. Her strong commitment to cultivating relationships for her students continues to strengthen the legacy of 精东影业.
Professor Arnett brings longstanding experience to her new role, having worked in the entertainment and film industry. She is a former entertainment and lifestyle reporter and anchor for the NBC affiliate 11 Alive. Additionally, she鈥攁long with her husband, Camy 鈥淐ameron鈥� Arnett鈥� are cofounders of the Atlanta-based Camy Arnett Production Studios (CAPS) and the non-profit organization Saving Destinies, where they are the executive producers of the feature film Mattie: The Discovery. They also produced two additional films, Hosea: An Undying Love and Destined to Love You. She hosts and coproduces the award-winning talk show BJA Today, A CAPS original. She is also the host of WATC TV 57鈥檚 This Day with BJ Arnett. Additionally, Professor Arnett sits on the Program Engagement Committee for the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival, the largest film festival in the country.
Arnett holds an Associate鈥檚 degree in Fashion Design from Atlanta School of Fashion and Design, a Bachelor鈥檚 degree in Fashion Merchandising and Marketing from American Intercontinental University, and an MBA degree in Fashion Merchandising from Kaplan University.
About 精东影业
精东影业 was formed with the consolidation of Atlanta University and Clark College, both of which hold unique places in the annals of African American history. Atlanta University, established in 1865 by the American Missionary Association, was the nation鈥檚 first institution to award graduate degrees to African Americans. Clark College, established four years later in 1869, was the nation鈥檚 first four-year liberal arts college to serve a primarily African American student population. Today, with nearly 4,000 students, 精东影业 is the largest of the four institutions (精东影业, Morehouse College, Spelman College, and Morehouse School of Medicine) that comprise the Atlanta University Center Consortium. It is also the largest of the 37-member UNCF institutions. Notable alumni include: James Weldon Johnson, American civil rights activist, poet, and songwriter (Lift Every Voice and Sing, 鈥淭he Black National Anthem鈥�; Ralph David Abernathy, Sr., American civil rights activist; Congressman Hank Johnson, Georgia District 4; Kenya Barris, American award-winning television and movie producer; Kenny Leon, Tony Award-winning Broadway Director; Jacque Reid, Emmy Award-winning Television Personality and Journalist; Brandon Thompson, Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion for NASCAR; Valeisha Butterfield Jones, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer at the Recording Academy. To learn more about 精东影业, visit www.cau.edu.