Dr. Rzyczycki earns elite study-abroad opportunity
BY Walter Villa, Special to STU
Jolly good, Ashlee Rzyczycki!
Professor Rzyczycki, who is the director of St. Thomas University’s Fashion Merchandising & Design program, has earned an incredible opportunity to study this summer at the University of the Arts London Central Saint Martins.
She will arrive in London by June 28, when she begins studying at the world’s second-ranked art, design, and fashion program.
“This three-week study-abroad course is not just an opportunity for me,” Dr. Rzyczycki said. “It’s a chance to transform education and empower the next generation of designers. Connecting Miami’s vibrant streets with London’s iconic runways – my objective is to create a dialogue between these two great centers for fashion.”
Dr. Rzyczycki said she plans to immerse herself in the London fashion scene, soaking in information that she will in turn pass on to her students at STU.
To her knowledge, Rzyczycki is the only person who earned this summer-of-2025, study-abroad grant as awarded by the International Textile and Apparel Association.
“Out of more than 1,000 different potential recipients who, like me, are members of the International Textile and Apparel Association,” Dr. Rzyczycki said, “I was the only one awarded this opportunity.”
The program in London will cap an incredible summer for Dr. Rzyczycki, who in May will take 23 of her students on a study abroad fashion trip to Italy.
Professor Rzyczycki and her students will leave for Italy – including fashion hub Milan – on May 17, returning May 28.
“We’re so proud of Professor Rzyczycki,” said STU President David A. Armstrong, J.D. “It doesn’t surprise me that she got this prestigious appointment. This shows her quality as a professor and her desire to continue being educated in her field. It also shows the stature of STU’s Fashion Merchandising & Design program — not only locally and nationally, but globally.”
Michelle Johnson-Garcia, Ed.D., STU’s Provost and Chief Academic Officer, said Dr. Rzyczycki will bring back knowledge not just for her students – but her colleagues on the faculty as well.
“This is an incredible opportunity to learn and grow at a renowned fashion program,” Johnson-Garcia said. “This summer-immersion program is a critical path in her pursuit of academic excellence, and it has my full support.”
Dr. Rzyczycki said she would not have received the opportunity in London if not for STU’s marketing team, which created the video that helped her earn the appointment.
She had special praise for Antonio “Tony” DeJesus, who is a digital content creator at STU.
“Tony is such a creative genius when it comes to filmography,” Dr. Rzyczycki said. “He put this together in a way that was presented exceptionally well. It was an incredible collaboration.”
Professor Rzyczycki is ecstatic at the thought of studying at the same school that has produced famed fashion designers such as Alexander McQueen, John Galliano, Stella McCartney, Zac Posen, and Riccardo Tisci.
In addition, London is considered one of the four greatest fashion capitals in the world, along with Paris, New York, and Milan.
Add it all up, and it is a breathtaking opportunity – for Dr. Rzyczycki and for St. Thomas University.
“This provides validation for what we’re doing here at STU,” Dr. Rzyczycki said. “We want to make our program the top destination for fashion merchandising & design students. The goal is to be identified globally as a school of excellence.”
Dr. Rzyczycki said it figures to be a “crazy summer” due to the back-to-back trips to Europe.
But it will be well worth the insane schedule.
“This will provide so many different perspectives that I can bring back to the classroom,” Dr. Rzyczycki said. “I’m so excited.”
Added President Armstrong: “I know Professor Rzyczycki will come back even better and with more knowledge so she can – most importantly – deliver to our students so that they can become great fashion merchandisers and great fashion designers.”
Cheerio, London … for now.