The education and retail communities have lost a respected and admired leader.

Elizabeth Rhodes, the former director of the Kent State University School of Fashion Design and Merchandising died Thursday following a 15-year battle with cancer.

Her battle with the disease started in 1994, one month after she was hired to head the fashion program. She retired at the end of last month, but was on contract for a year to help with the transition to the new director.

”Throughout her tenure, and while she battled cancer on the home front, she demonstrated unfaltering commitment to and pride in the success of her students,” Kent State President Lester A. Lefton said.

”Not to mention the national and international repute of the Fashion School and the university. Kent State now has a studio in the heart of the fashion district in New York City, thanks in large part to her efforts, as well as a program in Florence, Italy, where our fashion students learn from top designers in the industry.”

Elizabeth Rhodes with Dr. Lester A. Lefton at the opening of the
Kent State University New York City Studio.

For 15 years, Mrs. Rhodes fought more than one type of cancer, including breast cancer, melanoma and leukemia. In May, she was honored as the 2009 Woman of Valor by the American Cancer Society of the North Ohio Region. According to the group, she was selected because of the strength, selflessness and positive outlook she displayed during her struggle with the disease.

As director of the fashion school, officially named the Shannon Rodgers and Jerry Silverman School of Fashion Design and Merchandising, Mrs. Rhodes did not let cancer stand in the way of developing the program to reach a global approach in the fashion world. In her personal statement on her resume, she said she ”believes in the value of education and what I can add to the quality of life for individuals.” She said her resume reflects ”teaching, research, service and development efforts that all focus on linking the academic and workplace environments for professional advancement of people who impact the fashion industry.”

The interim dean of the College of Arts, John Crawford, said that as a result of Mrs. Rhodes’ work, KSU has collaborations with the Paris-American Academy and Hong Kong Polytechnic University. ”Thanks to her efforts, the fashion program stands as one of the university’s five ‘Centers of Excellence’ recently presented to the Kent State Board of Trustees,” Crawford wrote.

Colleagues said Mrs. Rhodes demonstrated skill at private fundraising and increased the level of academic requirements for students. ”She had energy, determination, perseverance and vision,” said Jean Druesedow, the Kent State University Museum’s director and a friend and colleague of Mrs. Rhodes. ”She was always thinking ahead, what’s the next step toward the development of the program. She knew the program could not progress without vision.” Druesedow said her friend took the program from 300 students to 1,100 – one of the largest undergraduate programs at Kent State – during her tenure.

Former KSU President Carol Cartwright also described Mrs. Rhodes as having vision and strong leadership. She said Mrs. Rhodes was relentless when it came to establishing a studio in New York, making sure the school had a physical presence beyond study trips and internships. The rented 4,500-square-foot studio is in the Garment District. It includes a computer lab, lecture room and workroom full of sewing machines and work forms. After five years of planning, it opened in 2006. ”She was unstoppable. Even when she was ill, she was extremely energetic, always focused on her students and the program,” Cartwright said.

”She was very charismatic, she drew people to her because of her passion. She had a compelling personality and people wanted to hear what she had to say because of her passion. She was a great find for Kent State. She stayed and left a mark on the program and achieved the mark of excellence.” -Carol Cartwright, former KSU President

The family held an open memorial service in the atrium of Rockwell Hall on Monday. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Elizabeth A. Rhodes Legacy Campaign, which supports, in part, the New York City studio and other projects. To contribute, contact Shawn Gordon at 330-672-8484 or sgordo10@kent.edu.

adapted from Recordpub.com and Ohio.com, July 25, 2009