Kathryn Oz: 2024-25 HHD College Scholar and Wolfson Scholar Nominee
Kathryn Oz graduated this May with her Bachelor’s Degree in Fashion Design and Production (Family and Consumer Sciences) having set a great example of some of the great things that can happen when a student seeks opportunities and gets involved.
Graduating with Honors and a 3.94 GPA, as well as Dean’s List status, Oz was nominated by the Chair and Faculty of FCS to represent the College for the University’s prestigious Wolfson Scholar Award which is presented in memory of CSUN’s first vice president, Leo Wolfson, and recognizes exceptional academic record and significant contributions to CSUN or to the community through co- and extra- curricular activities.
Although Oz was not selected for the University award, she stood out among the nominations put forth by HHD’s nine academic departments and was named as the College scholar due to her academic strengths, instincts for leadership, and the ways her work inspires other students. Oz was also recognized by the Dean commencement.
Oz said her interest in fashion design could be traced back to family influences. Her grandparents were tailors. “I would spend my summer breaks at their alteration store and would make clothes for my stuffed animals. As a kid, I was not aware that making clothes was my true calling; it was something I enjoyed doing. I became heavily fascinated with art and would draw dresses and clothing.”
She said her mother had a distinct eye for fashion and was an inspiration as well. “She is a career woman and I love seeing how clothing can make women feel so confident in themselves.”
By the time she was fifteen, Oz began to see fashion as a possible career choice. “I had been told how competitive the field is, so I took on challenges and opportunities to prove to myself that I am good enough to be a fashion designer.”
Throughout her academic career at CSUN, Oz led with an adventurous spirit. She relied on the guidance of her professors and put herself into situations where she could share her creativity and engage with other students, such as her work with the TRENDS Student Fashion Organization’s student fashion show production. She joined TRENDS as a freshman and graduated as president. “It has been both an honor and a privilege to lead an organization that commits to cultivating community engagement, promoting inclusivity, and providing opportunities for all students, regardless of their major, to explore beyond the fashion industry,” Oz said.
She also hosted the Annual Fashion show in 2024 and for that same show designed a garment for HHD’s Dean Mechelle Best to model on the runway. From engagement with TRENDS to participating in the CSUN Associated Students Sustainable fashion competition (and receiving first place awards over two consecutive years) she also assembled a trio of fashion shows for CSUN and the Northridge Macy’s. “Overall, I strive to dedicate as much time as possible to community service, whether it is directly aligned with my career goals or simply an opportunity to give back,” Oz said.
Oz was never shy about working with other programs in the college as well, and collaborated with Interior Design students in a competition called Haunt Couture. The competition was with industry professionals, and the CSUN team won third place.
She was recognized with the Nancy J. and Joseph N. Owens scholarship and the SWAT/FAME Award from the California Fashion Association, among other honors. She took on leadership as a Student Assistant for the CSUN Sustainable Fashion Program where she recruited students to join the ambassador program to educate other students about sustainable fashion. She also organized campus events and activities and managed social media for the program. She was also a Peer-Leader Facilitator to a research class and conducted daily workshops, offered tutoring, and assisted the professor with grading.
Most recently serving an internship in the fashion industry, Oz illustrates, makes tech packs, researches current fashion trends, and attends professional shows and events. Now that she has graduated, she is being hired by the employer from that internship. “As I reflect on the past four years, I can confidently say that I have grown tremendously and have acquired important skills that will become invaluable in my future career.”
Sp2025
Jean O’Sullivan, HHD