Amanda Smith, chief executive officer of Fairchild Media Group, has been appointed board president of the Fashion Scholarship Fund. She succeeds John Tighe, president of Tailored Brands, who has successfully completed his two-year term leading the FSF board.
“During her distinguished service on the FSF board, Amanda has consistently demonstrated her commitment to the educational and professional advancement of young talent. Amanda’s strategic thinking and global stature will elevate and strengthen our mission and expand the opportunities available to our scholars,” said Peter Arnold, FSF executive director. “We extend our gratitude to John Tighe for this exceptional leadership and invaluable contributions over the past two years. His dedication has left an enduring impact on the FSF, setting Amanda and the FSF up for continued success.”
Smith joined the FSF board in 2023 and has since served as co-chair of the marketing and communications committee and is an active member of the executive committee. During her tenure, she has made significant contributions as a mentor and an advocate for advancing young talent at FSF, which is the foremost fashion-oriented education and workforce development nonprofit in the U.S.
Most recently, she joined industry leaders to judge the FSF’s 2025 Final Four Pitch Night, where top-scoring scholars presented their comprehensive case studies in competition for the $25,000 Chairman’s Prize, the FSF’s highest honor, awarded annually at its gala. Held last month at the Glasshouse in New York, the FSF Live! gala honored Jerry Lorenzo, founder and creative director of Fear of God; Sara and Erin Foster, cofounders Favorite Daughter, and Tony Spring, chairman and chief executive officer of Macy’s Inc.
In addition to her mentorship, Smith has helped provide FSF Scholars with industry exposure. Last month she facilitated exclusive behind-the-scenes experiences at WWD‘s headquarters for all 160 members of the FSF Class of 2025. These opportunities allowed the scholars to engage directly with top editors and designers, gaining firsthand insight into careers in fashion and media. In addition to WWD editors, the Scholars heard from Deirdre Quinn, cofounder and CEO of Lafayette 148, as well as a Q&A with Jackson Wiederhoeft and Henry Zankov of Zankov.
“I am deeply honored to be taking on the role of board president at the Fashion Scholarship Fund,” Smith said. “Investing in the next generation of talent is vital to the fashion industry, and I look forward to collaborating with the dedicated FSF team to champion the growth and development of our exceptional Scholars. Together, we will continue to cultivate innovative opportunities for these talented students across the fashion community.”
The FSF works directly with young students from diverse backgrounds and awards more than $1.9 million each year in scholarships to help these students from FSF’s network of 75 colleges and universities succeed in all sectors of the industry, including design, merchandising, marketing and business strategy. The FSF also provides scholars with a wide range of internship and career opportunities, mentorship, networking, professional development and access to the industry’s most influential leaders and companies.
As CEO of Fairchild Media Group, Smith oversees brand and editorial operations, and strategy for the 12 million in combined global audience across WWD, Footwear News, Beauty Inc, Sourcing Journal, WWD Weekend and FairchildLive.
Smith — who held senior roles at Fast Company, Vogue, The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times before joining Fairchild in 2020 — also created the WWD Global Impact Council and has expanded Fairchild’s live events.