Student Profile

Kofi Yankey
Accra, Ghana
Class: 2008
Major: Political Science

Fashion runways and photo shoots are not typically part of study-abroad programs, but Kofi Yankey found a way to work them into his off-campus experience earlier this year.

A senior political science major from Ghana, Yankey traveled to London in January to take classes at the Institute for International Education of Students (IES), but shortly after his plane touched down, he was busy making connections at some of the world’s leading fashion magazines.

“I’ve always had an interest in fashion,” he says. “While in London, I thought it would be a good idea to gain some experience with these publications.”

Yankey was offered an intern position at CosmoGirl!, but after a few months he switched to Tatler and then Vogue following a chance encounter with the magazine’s fashion market editor, who invited him to apply. This provided him with a seat at some of the world’s top women’s shows and an opportunity to sit among the world’s elite fashion writers, stylists, and buyers.

Before long, Yankey was at the epicenter of the fashion world. He was asked to select models, choose wardrobes, and arrange for photographers, while traveling across Europe with his fashion editor for the following season’s couture shows. The highlight of his experience was the opportunity to coordinate a 14-page spread for the November issue of Tatler, a British society magazine. Soon it became clear that the traditional four-month stay would not be adequate, so Yankey extended his trip by an additional four months. “I wanted an in-depth look at working for a fashion magazine and what it entailed,” he says. “I would love to be a fashion editor someday.”

So why not just go to fashion school? “I also have an interest in political science,” explains Yankey. “I wanted a liberal arts experience, not a fashion focus. Besides fashion could be political. It showcases the mood of a country and its people at a certain time, and you can see this on the runways every season. Also, Wooster has a very strong focus on writing, and to pursue a career in fashion features, your writing has to be stellar. My writing has really improved as a result.”

Yankey will further cultivate those writing skills as he prepares for his Independent Study project, Wooster’s nationally renowned senior capstone experience in which students research a topic of their choice with guidance from a faculty member and produce an undergraduate thesis. His topic will center on women in political office and what determines policymaking. In particular, he will be looking at whether gender makes a difference.

After graduation, Yankey plans to pursue his “fashion passion” in either New York or London, and he is certain to be well prepared after his recent study-abroad experience. “A fashion editor has to have an eye for what works and what doesn’t,” he says. “The goal is to present what will be pleasing to magazine readers while keeping the spirit and main idea’s of the designers alive in what you choose to showcase.”

Of course, it’s also important for an editor to be in step with the latest fashion, so when asked whether he is a sharp dresser, Yankey laughed and said, “Well, I’d like to think so.”