Events & AwardsJan 06, 2022
92Y Is Resuming Its Jewelry Artist ResidencyEvents & AwardsJan 20, 2022
WJA, PGI Name Responsible Business Education Grant Recipients
The new grant supports education via a sustainability course at New York University.
Mary Enright (left) and Megan Cochran are the first recipients of the Women’s Jewelry Association Foundation’s Responsible Business Education Grant, sponsored by Platinum Guild International.
New York—The Women’s Jewelry Association Foundation has awarded a new grant based on sustainable business practices.
Sponsored by Platinum Guild International USA, the grant allows two WJA members to enroll in a sustainability course at New York University’s Stern School of Business Executive Education program online.
Megan Cochran and Mary Enright are the inaugural recipients.
WJA Executive Director Jennifer Markas said in a statement: “WJA Foundation is optimistic about its forward-looking and innovative charitable approach with a focus on sustainability education. A partnership with Platinum Guild International USA extends the opportunity to support and develop more sustainability leaders within the industry.”
PGI President Jenny Luker added: “PGI is proud to support WJA Foundation’s Responsible Sourcing & Sustainability Fund and its business education grant towards NYU programs.
“We feel it is important for our industry to make a continued commitment toward sustainable practices in all levels of business, and the first place to start is education. We are excited to see the positive impact these opportunities will have on the recipients’ businesses.”
Cochran is a designer and jeweler in Oceanside, California.
She graduated from the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York with a bachelor of fine arts, and the Gemological Institute of America with a graduate jeweler diploma and CAD/CAM certificate.
Cochran has more than 14 years of work experience in design and product development for a variety of brands and retailers.
In 2020, she launched her own company offering ethically minded design and production to small jewelry businesses, called Megan Cochran Jewelry Design.
Cochran is the treasurer of WJA San Diego, and a member and volunteer with Ethical Metalsmiths.
Enright is a jewelry designer and master goldsmith based in New York, with close to two decades of experience in jewelry.
She owned a hybrid jewelry boutique/gallery/workshop in Ireland, which brought her to New York in 2016 for a solo exhibition.
Enright later moved to New York where she worked as a model maker in Tiffany & Co.’s Jewelry Design and Innovation Workshop.
Today, she is a CAD/CAM instructor at GIA and serves on WJA New York Metro’s diversity committee and communications committee.
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
More on Events & Awards
The Latest
Weekly QuizOct 03, 2024
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
PodcastsJan 12, 2026
Introducing My Next Question, the PodcastA monthly podcast series for jewelry professionals
Brought to you by
Navigating Cybersecurity: Essential Guidance for JewelersFrom protecting customer data to safeguarding inventory records, it's crucial to learn how to tackle cybersecurity challenges.
PodcastsNov 27, 2025
Test Podcast With VideoTest Podcast With Video. New interview with Ada Lovelace.
PodcastsNov 25, 2025
Test New Podcast PostAbstract for tests. New Podcast interview with John Lennon, Jimi Hendrix and Jim Morison.
ColumnistsOct 09, 2024
Peter Smith: 7 Things to Know When Selling LuxuryAhead of the holiday season, Smith delves into the often subconscious reasons people buy luxury products for themselves or their loved ones.
AuctionsOct 09, 2024
Rolex Worn on Apollo 14 Mission Up for SaleThe GMT-Master “Pepsi” belonging to astronaut Edgar Mitchell is a standout in RR Auction’s online “Space Auction,” going on now.
MajorsOct 09, 2024
New Simon Campaign Invites Gen Z to ‘Meet Me At The Mall’The ads celebrate the mall culture of the ‘80s and ‘90s.
MajorsOct 09, 2024
PGI Launches New Virtual Sales TrainingRetail sales associates can access the video series on mobile to refresh their selling skills.
Policies & IssuesOct 09, 2024
GJNRF: Reaching Out, Rebuilding Futures For 25 years, India’s Gem & Jewellery National Relief Foundation has provided aid in the wake of war, natural disasters, and global crises.
AuctionsOct 08, 2024
Sotheby’s Selling Jewelry That Belonged to a Bulgarian TsarThe November auction will feature a collection of jewels owned by Ferdinand I, the first king of modern Bulgaria, and his family.
SourcingOct 08, 2024
Rio Tinto Begins New Phase of Production That Will Extend Diavik’s LifeCommercial production has begun underground at the Canadian diamond mine’s A21 pipe.
SurveysOct 08, 2024
What to Know About Online Shopping This Holiday SeasonDeloitte and Adobe Analytics shared their insights on the season, from the retail sales forecast to the role of generative AI.
CollectionsOct 08, 2024
Sylvie Adds New Men’s BandsThe Texas-based jeweler collaborated with luxury clothing brand Uncommon Man on men’s bands designed with European influences.
SourcingOct 08, 2024
Is Current Diamond Industry Turbulence Shaping a ‘New Normal’? Industry players have found ways to cope with market conditions while working to reshape themselves in the face of emerging realities.
SourcingOct 07, 2024
Rio Tinto to Offer 76 Diamonds in 2024 Beyond Rare Tender The sales event, in its second year, features a selection of rare diamonds from the miner’s Argyle and Diavik diamond mines.
CollectionsOct 07, 2024
Olympian Kristi Yamaguchi Partners With Heller Jewelers on New CollectionA portion of the proceeds from the “Always Dream” collection will go to Yamaguchi's foundation, supporting early childhood literacy.
