Donna Ricco
Donna Ricco '81 
Executive Fellow, Fashion Department
Phone: (414) 930-3366
Email: riccod@mtmary.edu
Through her designs and private label, Donna Ricco ‘81 is among Mount Mary University’s most recognizable fashion alumnae. After graduating with a degree in fashion design, she moved to New York City to pursue her career in fashion. Donna sold her first dress to a small boutique and turned her NYC apartment into a studio. Not long after, her designs were carried by Nordstrom, Macy’s, J.C. Penney, Lord & Taylor, Dillard’s – practically every major store in every city across the United States.
In June 2008, Donna gained notable media attention when Michelle Obama wore an off-the-rack Donna Ricco dress while co-hosting “The View” during her husband’s presidential campaign.
Donna’s signature statement, “nothing’s more effortless than a dress,” made her the trusted source for on-trend, wearable dresses for decades.
Partnering with Mount Mary
Ricco has worked in all aspects of fashion, including research, design and presentation, sales and product development. Her network extends to professional connections in the fields of design and textiles, merchandising, sales and production.
In fall 2018, Donna Ricco joined the University’s Fashion Department as an Executive Fellow. She divides her time between the Mount Mary campus in Milwaukee and her home base in New York, where she also works on behalf of the University, expanding its industry connections.
To learn more about Donna Ricco, visit her alumnae page here.