WadeCollege

History In 2026, Wade College celebrates its 64th anniversary in higher education. Sue Wade, the college’s Executive Director, founded the college in 1962 with the goal of helping individuals who wished to join the merchandising industry immediately. She began with ten students. The college began by offering courses in professional modeling and fashion merchandising in day and evening classes. In 1965, the college moved from its location in the Turtle Creek area of Dallas to within the Dallas Market Center complex, and in 1971, the professional modeling and evening classes were discontinued in favor of total emphasis on full-time enrollment in merchandising. The college’s educational process evolved beyond what was offered by a trade or technical school. In fact, graduates of the associate degree program in merchandising were advancing regularly in their careers and moving up to management positions. Significant changes were then made in the college’s educational program, particularly regarding faculty credentials and library holdings. In 1985, Wade College was granted accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. Now the college offers associate and baccalaureate degree programs in fashion design, product development, interior design, marketing, management, and information technology. The college provides a solid general education curriculum, designed to introduce major areas of knowledge and to stimulate individual interests in specialized fields. Professors have diverse backgrounds and professional experience. The college’s curriculum, location, and faculty contribute to the college’s goal of nurturing and challenging each student’s intellectual and professional development.