Nike Invests $3 Million in Pensole Lewis College to Build Diverse Pipeline of Footwear Design Talent
Summary
Nike is making a major investment to diversify the pipeline of talent in the footwear industry.The athletic giant will invest $3 million over the next three years in the Pensole Lewis College of Business & Design, Michigans first and only HBCU focused on design. The college, which announced the news in a Wednesday morning Instagram post, said in the caption that the partnership will center on building a talent pipeline for students who want careers in business and design both at Nike and anywhere else these professionals can use the skills they acquire to create value.According to Pensole founder and president Dr. DWayne Edwards, the new program will offer free design education to diversify the pipeline of talent heading towards companies like Nike and other major brands. Thats what makes Pensole Lewis College of Business and Designs work so critical. Were proud to support organizations like Pensole through our Black Community Commitment to continue to advance racial equality and opportunities to support Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HCBUs).Last year, Edwards reopened Detroits closed Lewis College of Business as the countrys first design-focused Historically Black College or University, renamed the Pensole Lewis College of Business and Design (PLC).In October, the school revealed in a statement that it would partner with College for Creative Studies (CCS) in Detroit to gain legal and legislative approval needed to establish the Pensole Lewis College of Business and Design, which includes designation as an accredited educational program. In February, Designer Brands Inc. announced a partnership with Pensole that included a $2 million investment to support the first Black-owned footwear factory and an exclusive distribution deal to sell products created in the factory in DSW stores.