Scott Carnz, Ed. D. comes to LIM College from the City University of Seattle, where as Provost he oversaw more than 50 programs ranging from the certificate level to doctoral degrees. Previously, Dr. Carnz was with the Art Institute of Seattle for 22 years, starting as a faculty member and advancing to become Dean of Academic Affairs. As LIM’s chief academic officer, he looks forward to creating an engaging and meaningful space for students to learn, thrive, and achieve their goals.
Q: Most of your career has been in leadership positions at institutions in Washington State. What drew you to the opportunity at LIM College in New York?
After leaving the Art Institute and going to City University of Seattle, I found many new and interesting challenges that pushed me as a leader and truly broadened my skill set. However, I found I missed the creative fields in which I had worked at the Art Institute. Over the years, my passion for fashion has only grown and the work that LIM does in providing students experiential learning is really exciting to me.
I’ve considered a move to NYC many times, as it’s one of the great fashion capitals of the world, but the opportunity hasn’t been right. This time it was. LIM is a great fit for my experience and background, and I am confident I can help the College and its students achieve their goals and continue the long tradition of excellence for which LIM is known.
Q: As you went through the interview process, what surprised you most about LIM?
I wouldn’t say I was surprised, but very excited to see a consistent dedication to and focus on the student experience in everyone with whom I met. You don’t always see that at other institutions. To me it’s a sign of a great institution when everyone is similarly engaged in making an exceptional learning environment in which students thrive and succeed at the level they do at LIM.
Q: You have had some experience working with students hoping to enter the fashion industry, but you are now coming to a college where the business of fashion and lifestyle is the sole focus. What do you expect will be the biggest opportunities and challenges in focusing on one sector?
I think the greatest opportunity of focusing on one sector is the chance to really dive in and do that one thing very well, which LIM certainly does. For me personally, it’s similarly an opportunity to really hone my skills in this discipline, broaden my network, and develop in new ways.
The challenges come, I believe, with the need to keep pace with an industry that, by its very nature, is continually changing. There are some significant issues facing the fashion industry like questions of sustainability and ecological impact, shifting consumer attitudes about consumption and fast fashion, and ongoing global supply chain difficulties. It is incumbent on LIM that we prepare students to address these and unknown future issues facing the field.
Q: You are a “Renaissance man” with a wide variety of interests and roles such as graphic designer, editor/publisher, organizational training and development consultant, and benefit auctioneer/master of ceremonies. Tell us about these interests and how you balance them with a demanding higher education career.
I am a person with a wide array of interests and have never wanted to be only one thing. At some point in my early life, I decided I didn’t need to be any one thing and could do whatever I wanted. So, I guess I’ve always had a side hustle, if you will, trying on new ideas and ventures. I balance all of it with my demanding career by focusing on the learning aspect of the other ventures.
I’m not in higher education to teach people any particular skill, but to instill in them a passion for learning and desire to pursue life-long learning. If you have an interest in something, try it. Learn about it. See if it’s something you want to be doing. If it is, and it’s important to you, you’ll make time for it.
I think, too, that staying busy and having lots of things going on keeps me engaged in the world and in my communities. If I have a mission in life, it’s to open space for people to always be themselves. And the best way I know how to do that is to always be myself. I hope that by pursuing all of my interests, I create a little space in the world for others to do the same.
Q: You have experience with international student populations and programmatic partnerships in locations such as China, Vietnam, Mexico, and Canada, among others. How do you believe LIM can best expand its international footprint?
There are so many exciting things happening in international education. International student enrollment only continues to grow. Bringing more students from around the globe to LIM is one great way to expand that footprint and continue to add vibrancy to our community.
There is also great opportunity to partner with sister institutions around the world to take the LIM experience to them. NYC may be the center of the fashion world for many, but the industry is truly a global enterprise and there is no reason we shouldn’t be everywhere the industry is.
More study abroad experiences, international internships, and foreign exchange are other chances to increase that footprint. Dual degree programs, 2+2 degrees, and online degrees are other opportunities. It’s part of my focus, as part of the leadership team, to determine which opportunities will best serve LIM and its students and ensure that we take an approach that is measured, meaningful, and sustainable.
Q: You are currently an adjunct faculty member at institutions in Washington State. What advantages does being a faculty member yourself give you in your role as Provost?
The classroom experience should always be of paramount concern to an academic leader. If for no other reason than that is where 90% of a student’s college experience happens, creating an engaging and meaningful experience where students cannot just learn but thrive should be the focus of nearly everything we do.
Having been a faculty member keeps me focused on that and helps remind me of the challenges we face in creating those great spaces. It means I know first-hand the needs that faculty have on a daily basis. It means I have seen the struggles students face in balancing life and school. And I believe it keeps me focused on the right things to ensure that we are meeting those needs, addressing the struggles, and fulfilling our mission as an institution.
Q: You have had extensive experience leading teams to reach organizational goals. As a people leader, what do you think are the most important leadership attributes and how do you apply them in your leadership roles?
There are a lot of important attributes, but the main things I always try to provide my teams are clarity of direction/vision, open and honest feedback, a listening ear, appreciation and gratitude for great work, and my personal integrity.
Breaking that down a little, I think it’s critical that everyone knows what direction we’re headed and how we plan to get there. Everyone wants to know that their work is valuable and being able to align what you do every day with the direction of the College is how we do that. Straightforward feedback is so important to know that you’re meeting expectations and, when you’re not, the support that’s available to help you do so.
Having a listening ear means I always want to be open to hearing feedback from my teams and I certainly want to hear their ideas about how we can improve and be better every day. And I can’t understate the importance of appreciation. I think too often we don’t sufficiently recognize the great work that people do. Knowing you’re appreciated and your work is recognized is great motivation and validation of why you do the work you do.
Finally, my personal integrity means I show up for my teams fully engaged. As I said earlier, I want to open space for people in the world, and I do that best by being myself: open and honest and ready to meet you where you are.
Q: Much is made of the differences between Gen Z and earlier generations. What do you see in Gen Z that gives you optimism for the future?
The characteristics of Gen Z that give me the most hope for the future are their tendencies to be more authentic, to push back on and question the establishment, and their idealism.
Their generation faces some very daunting changes in the world. While that leads to a high level of anxiety, I also see in them the desire and ability to do things differently than the way they’ve always been done. We are not going to solve the world’s problems by doing the same thing that got us into those problems, and I believe Gen Z sees that and wants to find a new way forward. I think their being digital natives and often novel uses of technology provide interesting opportunities to reshape communities and span divides.
Perhaps most important, I see them as being more open and accepting of differences in people and better able to let people be themselves. We are a world divided these days and that openness gives me hope that we can overcome our differences and work together to impact the change we need to see.
Q: Do you have any favorite fashion designers or icons in the fashion industry?
Wow, so many. I definitely have a flair for the dramatic, so I have always loved Susanne Bartsch, Diana Vreeland, Iris Apfel, and Diane Von Furstenberg as style icons. I also look to David Bowie, Patricia Field, and Grace Jones. As for designers, I tend to like those that push boundaries like Thom Browne, Jeremy Scott, or the late, great Alexander McQueen. Lately I’ve been very into Yannik Zamboni and am intrigued by Tokyo James and Kim Hekim.
Q: How do you like to spend your free time?
I am an avid cook and love to entertain. I equally enjoy fine dining and craft cocktails. My husband and I are theater lovers, particularly musicals, and see a great many shows regularly. I also enjoy attending modern dance, I love singing, and I am thrilled any time I get to travel!
Q: What’s one item that is always in your refrigerator?
Well, I have to say two: champagne and bacon. I love a bottle of bubbles, and I want to always be ready to celebrate. And bacon, well, it just makes everything better. And with both on hand, I’m always ready for brunch!
