Charlotte Poling is Chair of the Department of Fashion & Design at Lipscomb University, where she leads with nearly 30 years of industry experience, blending entrepreneurship with a passion for education. In the Fall 2023, Charlotte, alongside the fashion team, produced fashion exhibition, Dolly Parton & the Makers: My Life in Rhinestones , the largest and longest public- facing event in Lipscomb’s history. She is dedicated to fostering innovation, mentoring students, and building strategic industry partnerships.
Charlotte’s career began as an entrepreneur in luxury bridal, where she developed expertise indesign, marketing, and business strategy. Today, she oversees one of the most comprehensive collections of Halston’s work housed at Lipscomb and integrates historical fashion with forward-thinking curriculum to inspire students. Charlotte is committed to preparing the next generation of fashion professionals by bridging academia and industry, ensuring her students are well-equipped for an evolving global fashion landscape.
A Nashville native and Lipscomb alumna, Charlotte now leads the very program she once graduated from. She lives in the city with her husband and two college-age sons and is a lifelong learner and frequent traveler.