Corky’s Career Closet

Since its opening in 2017 in a small third-floor space in Visser Hall, Corky’s Career Closet has provided free professional attire to Emporia State University students for employment interviews, internships and job fairs.

A generous $12,000 grant has allowed the closet to move to a location more suited to the services it provides. Corky’s Career Closet was one of five recipients in 2024 to receive a grant from the Women for ESU giving circle. Women for ESU members pool their contributions into a grant fund for new or existing projects and initiatives that will make a transformational impact on Emporia State students and the campus environment.

With this grant, Corky’s Career Closet relocated to a renovated space on Visser Hall’s second floor that doubled the service’s square footage and added fitting rooms for male and female students. Not only did the Women for ESU grant allow architects to redesign the former elementary education office of The Teacher’s College into a 468-square-foot room with a glass storefront, but it also provided funds for more display racks to make it easier for students to see the selection of donated clothes. The new space opened to students in November.

The Closet’s previous space was actually two small and crowded offices — one for men’s clothing and one for women’s — that didn’t feature dedicated fitting rooms. Combined, the offices provided roughly 250 square feet of display space.

“Clothing, shoes, everything was just crammed in there,” said Stephanie Taylor, the Closet’s administrator.

Through donations from throughout the Emporia community, Corky’s Career Closet features an array of professional items that are available to all ESU students. For women, that includes suit sets and dresses, tops and bottoms of various designs, belts, shoes and accessories. Men’s options include suits, blazers, shirts, slacks, belts, ties and shoes. Sizes vary. All ESU students are welcome to browse the Closet’s selections at their convenience and keep the clothes they select for free.

“I always say to the students, ‘Once you hit it big and you want to donate some business clothes, just think of us,’” Taylor said.

The formal ribbon-cutting for the expanded Corky’s Career Closet will take place in spring 2025.

Visit emporia.edu/womenforesu to learn more about their grant program or to become a member.