Jason S. Schupbach, FIT’s seventh president, is guiding the college into the future
By Jonathan Vatner
Portraits by Joe Carrotta ’17
IT IS A TIME of great change in the creative economy and higher education.
Disruptors like artificial intelligence, political and social pressures, and changing market dynamics are coming to FIT’s doorstep at a rapid pace.
Jason S. Schupbach, who became the college’s seventh president in January, welcomes the challenge.
Schupbach is a dynamic and passionate presence who has devoted his career to helping creatives succeed. He has plenty of experience navigating politics and creating policy for design industries and the arts in city, state, and federal roles, culminating with seven years as director of Design and Creative Placemaking programs for the National Endowment for the Arts.
Schupbach believes FIT is uniquely positioned to come out stronger on the other side of the current disruptions.
“FIT is the best creative and creative-business school in the world. Other colleges and universities are twisting themselves in knots to look more like FIT,” he says, referring to the college’s flexible, affordable learning options—from weekend bootcamps to bachelor’s and master’s degrees—with a hands-on education that can’t easily be replaced by AI.
we’re number one in
so many things. I want to
build on those strengths.”
“The future of education,” Schupbach says, “looks like us.”
There’s still work to be done, though, and Schupbach has a plan. When he was director of The Design School at Arizona State University, the largest and most comprehensive design school in the U.S., he led an ambitious initiative to reinvent its approach for the 21st century. Now he’s planning a similar evolution for FIT.
His framework is FIT FUTURE//FORWARD, a strategic planning process that will combine voices from across the college community and from industry to transform FIT into the preeminent “laboratory for creative careers in the 21st century.”
The process will begin with deep listening, asking questions both internally and with the industries that FIT serves: What do the creative industries need right now? How can we be a better partner to them? And what are the future structures, initiatives, and curriculum we should build to better serve our students, faculty, and staff?
“We are already great—we’re number one in so many things,” Schupbach says. “I want to build on those strengths. I believe in collaborative leadership, so we will work collectively to make FIT even better.”
Already, he has an inkling of what the next iteration of FIT will look like: more industry partnerships and even more flexible learning, including accelerated certificate programs tailor-made for employment at individual companies. A search is underway for a Chief Marketing Officer, who will promote FIT’s strengths to the world. Schupbach also wants to put an even stronger emphasis on the college’s many important initiatives, including its accessibility, sustainability, and civility programs.
“FIT is one of the few publicly funded creative and creative-business colleges in the U.S., and the only one in a world cultural capital. As a builder and coalition founder, I am ready to work on what is next. FIT has a public responsibility not only to be a great partner to creative industries in NYC and around the globe, but also to help lead their future. We will claim our rightful spot as an epicenter of innovation in the global creative economy.”
His passion for public education was instilled in his childhood. His father got into Washington University but could not afford to go. Fortunately, a full-ride scholarship was available to a Missourian who did not live in St. Louis or Kansas City. That anonymous gift changed the course of their family history: Schupbach’s father ultimately became a dermatologist, which helped make Schupbach’s career possible. So, FIT’s mission of accessibility doesn’t just speak to him, it sings.
“The access that FIT can provide, the opportunity for people to lift up themselves and their entire family, it’s one of the main reasons I’m here,” Schupbach says. Affordability is more than a buzzword here: Annual in-state tuition is significantly less than $5,500. “Put that number on the side of the building!” he exclaims.
That rousing pride in the college’s value brings Schupbach back to his core belief: that higher education can still be transformative for all. These may be uncertain times, but FIT’s new president is certain about our future, together.
“FIT matters,” he says. “This is our moment.”
The president’s picks
Schupbach calls himself a cultural “omnivore,” devouring a broad range of music, movies, and books with a profound appreciation for artistic genius. Here are some favorites:
On his playlist: “I’m obsessed with Geese, just like everybody else right now. My ultimate favorite artist is probably Bjork.”
Best book he’s read recently: Outline by Rachel Cusk
Best thing he’s streamed recently: Andor (“The fashion is astounding.”)
Favorite movie of 2025: One Battle After Another (see our profile of one of its stars, Just Call Her JP)
Best restaurant meal of his life: Quintonil in Mexico City (“a break-the-bank, couldn’t-afford-anything-else-for-a-month thing”)
Favorite Broadway show: Oh, Mary! (“I saw Jinkx Monsoon, my favorite drag queen, and I saw the original with Cole.”)
Bagel order: Pumpernickel with scallion cream cheese