José Teunissen appointed new Director of AMFI

13 Dec 2022 16:05 | Faculty of Digital Media and Creative Industries

José Teunissen will take up her post as the new Director of AMFI, the Amsterdam Fashion Institute of the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, on 1 March 2023. She is currently Dean of the School of Design and Technology at the College of Fashion, University of the Arts London, as well as professor of Fashion Theory. In her role as dean, she has worked to create an equality, diversity and inclusivity policy that has now been implemented throughout all tiers of that organisation. She was prior to that professor of Fashion Design at ArtEZ University of the Arts for many years.

Teunissen’s 30 years of experience in art education and research have enabled her to build an extensive network. She has a strong international reputation as an institute dean, researcher and curator. Teunissen was appointed Professor of Fashion Design at ArtEZ in 2002, becoming one of the Netherlands’ first professors in that field. During her tenure as professor, she oversaw the research agenda of CLICKNL and curated various exhibitions and collections (including at Utrecht’s Central Museum). Teunissen was appointed Dean of the School of Design and Technology at the London College of Fashion in 2016, where she played a key part in the positioning and further development of fashion teaching and research.

Sustainability, digitisation and diversity

In addition to her role as dean, Teunissen heads the Centre for Sustainable Fashion, one of the research centres of the University of the Arts London, and works as a principal and co-researcher on European projects. Working alongside European partner institutes and the fashion industry, she has developed new teaching methods and conducted pilot projects in the fields of fashion technology and sustainability. Since AMFI’s teaching and research also deal with these issues, Teunissen sees many similarities and much potential: “The interesting thing about AMFI is that it’s a nationally and internationally acclaimed fashion institute that operates at the forefront of the industry, with a clear focus on sustainability and digitisation. I believe it’s vital that AMFI retains that position based on a culture that values diverse talent and variety of cultural background, and prizes empathy and cooperation above competition.”

Dean Frank Kresin of the AUAS Faculty of Digital Media and Creative Industries says: “I’m delighted that José Teunissen will be joining us at AMFI. She’s an experienced leader with a passion for fashion and a warm heart for students and staff, who put a prestigious fashion institute on a new course during her time at the helm. She’s also an excellent researcher who will contribute to fashion research in the Fashion Research & Technology research group. I’m convinced that AMFI will flourish under her inspiring leadership and I’m looking forward to working with her.”

Teunissen will from March 2023 succeed Interim Director Louise ter Kuile, who has led AMFI since January 2022. As director, Teunissen will continue to take AMFI forward both as a leading fashion institute and as a place of learning that is comfortable and socially safe, in which students and staff feel welcome, valued, seen and heard. Teunissen will also will devote one day a week to research for the Fashion Research & Technology research group.