Phyllis G. Tortora is a Professor Emerita at Queens College, where she was Department Chair for 17 years, teaching historic costume and furnishings, and textiles. She has also served as a consultant to the Historic Costume Collection of the Huntington Historical Society. Her professional memberships include the International Textile and Apparel Association (ITAA) and the Costume Society of America (CSA). She has been awarded Fellow Membership in ITAA.