For Michael Hausknecht ’25, the bridge between his two worlds, printmaking and art history, was Kent State’s Master of Fashion Industry Studies (M.F.I.S.) program in the School of Fashion.
Beginning Fall 2026, the M.F.I.S will be offered in a fully online format, making it even more accessible to professionals worldwide.
Currently working as an SD Italy product application specialist at Graphco, Hausknecht has successfully pivoted from a background in the fine arts to a technical role that requires deep knowledge of production, sourcing, and global logistics.
From the studio to the system
Hausknecht’s journey with Kent State began during his undergraduate studies, where he worked in the School of Fashion’s TechStyleLAB, one of the maker spaces available to students. Despite majoring in integrative studies with minors in printmaking and art history, he found himself drawn to the intersection of craft and business.
“That combination strengthened my interest in the relationship between craft, creativity and global business within the fashion industry,” Hausknecht explains.
However, he realized that a bachelor’s degree in the arts doesn’t always translate immediately to employers looking for industry-specific operational experience. He needed a program that would respect his creative foundation while building the business skills he lacked.
“I chose the M.F.I.S. program because it offered the chance to deepen my understanding of how the industry functions,” he says. “The program stood out because it emphasizes applied learning and real industry challenges.”
Developing a ‘systems thinking’ mindset
The transition from individual artistic creation to industrial problem-solving was a core part of Hausknecht’s growth. He credits the program with teaching him to view the fashion industry not just as a collection of products, but as an ecosystem.
“The M.F.I.S. program challenged me to think beyond individual creative work and approach the fashion industry from a systems and problem-solving perspective,” Hausknecht notes.
He highlights the Systems Thinking course as a pivotal experience, pushing him to analyze how different parts of the industry connect. This wasn’t just theory, it was applied innovation. Hausknecht recalls a project in Fashion Merchandise Management where his team created a T-shirt using augmented reality (AR) technology, blending creativity with emerging tech.
Applying classroom lessons to global business
Today, Hausknecht works with capital machinery imported into the United States, collaborating closely with manufacturers in Pesaro, Italy. It is a role that requires precise communication and an understanding of complex logistics, skills he honed directly in the M.F.I.S. classroom.
“The Supply Chain Management course has been especially valuable,” Hausknecht says. “It helped me understand how international partnerships function and how communication, logistics and production timelines fit together in a global system.”
Beyond the technical skills, the program helped him develop the soft skills necessary for leadership. His experience as a graduate instructor improved his ability to train others on complex equipment and collaborating with cohort of classmates with different backgrounds broadened his perspective.
“Even though our interests were very different, from design and production to merchandising and research, those differences helped broaden the way I approached projects,” he says.
Prepared for the future
Now a 2025 graduate, Hausknecht has emerged equipped for a fluid, dynamic career. Whether supporting U.S. manufacturers in his current role or potentially relocating to fashion hubs like Los Angeles in the future, the M.F.I.S. degree has future-proofed his resume.
“The industry-specific coursework helped me connect my creative training to real operational needs, which has made my skill set more flexible and easier to explain to employers,” he says.
When asked to sum up his experience in one sentence, Hausknecht offers a powerful endorsement for anyone considering the degree:
“The M.F.I.S. program gave me the skills, perspective and confidence to connect my creative background with real industry needs.”
The M.F.I.S. advantage
Hausknecht’s success reflects how the M.F.I.S. program strengthens creative talent with the business skills needed to excel. With a global curriculum and mentorship from faculty experts, including Linda Ohrn-McDaniel and J.R. Campbell, graduates are prepared not only to enter the industry but to shape it. Beginning Fall 2026, the M.F.I.S. will be offered in a fully online format, making it even more accessible to professionals worldwide.
