Moore's Fashion Design chair has been celebrated as one of the Philadelphia region's most diverse and impactful young professionals.
Nasheli Juliana Ortiz-González is in the inaugural class of Al Dia's 40 Under Forty, honored during in an online ceremony Thursday, August 20.
"Thank you to every woman of color that came before me and opened doors for us," Ortiz-González said during the event. "Thank you to Diego, Sebastian and Ysabela for supporting me and always being there for me, and thank you to my dear love, Marién."
The awardees were selected by a panel of independent judges with broad experiences in entrepreneurship, leadership and civic engagement. With Philadelphia’s demographic breakdown at more than 42% African American, more than 14% Latino and more than 7% Asian, the goal of the event is to showcase and reflect that diversity.
Keynote speaker Raquel Tamez, chief executive officer of the Society of Hispaic Professional Engineers (SHPE), encouraged the distinguished class to continue to be in service to others.
"Dare to change the world," Tamez said. "Dare to write a line in America's narrative. But don't lose sight of your own backyard, your own tribe, your own community."
Ortiz-González, chair of the Fashion Design and Textile Department at Moore, testified earlier this year before Philadelphia's City Council about the city's garment industry. In February, she competed on the popular Netflix show Next in Fashion. She has presented in some of the top fashion design platforms in the world, including Paris and London's Fashion Weeks, and has her own brand Nasheli Juliana. Along with Marién Vélez, she is a co-founder of Studio 22, a transdisciplinary studio with a deep curiosity for architectural, stage, performance, light-space art and social lighting.
Born in Caguas, Puerto Rico, Nasheli Ortiz received a MFA from Savannah College of Art & Design, a BFA from Escuela de Artes Plásticas de Puerto Rico as well as an AAS from Altos de Chavón, affiliated to Parsons School of Design/The New School; all studies in Fashion Design. Her professional practice outside of the educational community includes working as a technical designer, draper, tailoring and fine sewing techniques for designers based in New York, Italy, Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico.
