Each year, Pratt Institute celebrates Valentine’s Day by sharing the stories of alumni who found love while they were students. Read the stories of this year’s Pratt Pairs collected by the Office of Alumni Engagement, including serendipitous campus connections, favorite New York City date spots, and relationship advice they have for Pratt students today.
Do you know of other Pratt pairs or partners? The Office of Alumni Engagement would love to hear from you. Please share your stories by emailing alumni@pratt.edu.
Nancy Goshow, MS Interior Design ’71, and Eric Goshow, MS Urban Design ’70
How and where did you first meet?
We met at Penn State University. I was in the five-year Bachelor of Architecture program, which was in the College of Arts and Architecture, graduating in spring of 1968. Nancy was in the four-year Interior Design program, which was in the College of Human Development, totally separate from Arts and Architecture. She was to graduate in spring 1968 also. On a large campus like Penn State, I did not meet her until the winter of 1968, my super-senior year. We were introduced by mutual friends. We had similar interests; she was pretty! And we hit it off. I think we met at the Phyrst, a bar in Downtown State College.
In early spring 1968 (we were both to graduate later that spring), we were thinking, well, what next? Is this a real thing or are we going to part forever? I was interested in exploring urban design and Nancy wanted to advance her interest in interior design, so we decided to apply to graduate schools to see if anyone would accept both of us. The funny thing is that there are very few colleges that offer both urban design and interior design at the graduate level. Pratt was the exception. Thankfully! We applied and were accepted. (Pratt gave Nancy a great scholarship!)
What is your favorite Pratt memory as a couple?
There are many, of course. Here’s one: We were together at Pratt, and after about six months in (winter ’68/’69), we were exploring Higgins Hall together, on the rooftop parapet, where I asked Nancy to marry me, presenting her with a diamond engagement ring (very small diamond) and, amazingly, she accepted!
Another is the friends we met and know to this day, like Marie Fisher, who has a successful interior design firm in San Francisco, Nancy’s best friend at Pratt. We witnessed her wedding and watched her two beautiful girls grow up, and are still very close. Also, we just got a Christmas card from Roeland van der Hidde, one of Nancy’s classmates, who has a very successful interior design practice in Amsterdam. (Pratt casts a wide net of influence.)
What is your favorite date story or date spot in New York?
After graduating, we had a group of friends, not all Pratt people but still, who would meet for drinks several times a year at different bars/restaurants. One time, we agreed to meet at the Oyster Bar, the famous one at Grand Central Station, where Nancy and I went. But no one else showed up! One couple went to the oyster bar at the Plaza Hotel, another to a restaurant in midtown called Oyster Bar and Restaurant. Who knew?
Do you have any relationship advice for current students?
First, you are truly blessed! Pratt is a totally unique place; there’s no place quite like it, so intellectually demanding, so diverse, so cool! And it is in NEW YORK CITY! Nancy and I could go nowhere else once we came here. Enjoy the friends you meet at Pratt. Enjoy the professors and teachers you meet here. Make it a point to reach out to others, say hello! Do not be afraid to engage! (This especially to the introverted.) Make connections. People want to connect.
Where are you now, personally and professionally?
In 1978, after working in architectural offices, we decided to start our own firm, Goshow Architects, which was a dream of ours since Penn State. We did not know if we would succeed, but we were willing to try. We gave ourselves two years. If we failed, we reasoned, we would just get jobs. We are still at it, very busy with some interesting projects, so not interested in retirement. As a woman-owned business enterprise (Nancy is the managing partner), we have been fortunate to be awarded many projects in the public sector (like public schools, college and university buildings and interiors, affordable housing, etc.), which align with our interest in socially relevant work. Our wonderful and dedicated staff are like-minded. So we are happy to continue and to mentor young Pratt students; a time to give back.
Beth Kroupa, BFA Fashion Design ’82, and Jim Kroupa, BFA Theater and Dance ’80
How and where did you first meet?
We met in September of 1979, at a Student Government Association event, helping to move incoming freshmen into the dorm. Jim did a show introducing new students to Willoughby Hall and its unfortunate cockroach infestation (back then). With the use of an incredibly tall furry puppet named Flub and a very large shaving-cream-filled cockroach, Flub would explain how to deal with cockroaches. Flub would set the bait, a box of Kraft macaroni and cheese, and Beth would pull (via a monofilament) the cockroach across the floor. Flub would then crush the cockroach with a big hammer. SPLAT! It was love at first sight!
What are your favorite Pratt memories or one as a couple?
Jim did a show called the Rubber Plant Lounge in Memorial Hall. Beth was one of the performers in the last show. We also got to see the B-52’s at one of the great Halloween parties! We loved hanging out at the No Name Café, where two of Jim’s roommates were bartenders. Those two roommates and their Pratt-graduate wives live close to us now, and we get together often!
What is your favorite date story or date spot in New York?
Jim worked for Kermit Love (who was a professor at Pratt) at Great Jones Studio in the Village, and our favorite spot to grab a bite to eat was a small Japanese restaurant called the Cotan on West 3rd Street. We often went into the city to see a show or go to a museum.
Do you have any relationship advice for current students?
Always support your significant other’s art. And most important, always continue to create art.
Where are you now, personally and professionally?
Jim, who worked in the puppet field in his own shop (3/Design Studio), and the Jim Henson Company, and for many others, is semi-retired, choosing projects that interest him with people he enjoys working with. Currently, Jim is also creating “non-puppet” art…and loving it!
Beth spent many years in the garment industry, traveling the world as a fashion designer in the junior market. In 2004, Beth went back to school to get a master’s degree in art education and has been teaching art in the Yonkers public schools since 2006. She will retire in 2026 and is looking forward to joining Jim, creating her own art! We have three grown children and are grandparents!
Ashish Shah, MS Communications Design ’06, and Prajakta Shah, MS Communications Design ’05
How and where did you first meet?
We first crossed paths in the vibrant corridors of M.S. University, Vadodara, India. Back then, Ashish was a college junior, and I was just a freshman, both of us drawn to the world of fine arts. Our paths intertwined, and we embarked on a journey of love and creativity. In 2002, I took the leap to pursue my passion at Pratt Institute, which became the cause of our quick wedding! Ashish, ever the supportive partner, followed suit a semester later and we continued our master’s education in graduate communications together.
What are your favorite Pratt memories or one as a couple?
Countless memories were forged within Pratt’s 14th Street Grad ComD premises on the 7th floor. From in-depth design discussions with accomplished professors and passionate classmates to assisting Professor Don Ariev in the office, Ashish and I both worked there; each experience was a unique chapter in our story. However, our most cherished memory is undoubtedly the time we spent together in Cheryl Stockton’s Interaction Design class. I managed to convince Ashish to help me with some assignments while I, well, “rested!” Let’s just say, I had a rather persuasive way of getting things done from my husband and classmate!
What is your favorite date story or date spot in New York?
As vegetarians, we often found ourselves navigating the culinary landscape of New York with a bit of humor and a lot of creativity. One of our most memorable dates took place at a Chinese restaurant near Pratt’s 14th Street building. We were both excited to indulge in our favorite Indian-Chinese food called “American chop suey.” The reality, however, was a far cry from our expectations. The meal we received was a stark departure from the flavorful version of it we knew and loved. Disappointed with what we were served, we ended up satisfying our cravings with a humble donut from a nearby shop. This unexpected twist turned our dinner into a hilarious anecdote that we still chuckle about today.
Do you have any relationship advice for current students?
The secret to a long-lasting relationship is simple: trust, adaptability, and a shared commitment to happiness. We’ve been married for 22 years, and it still feels like we’re newlyweds. The key is to prioritize friendship. When you view your partner as your best friend, you create a strong foundation for love and understanding. Be there for each other, especially during challenging times. And most importantly, don’t forget to have fun and cherish the little moments.
Where are you now, personally and professionally?
After years of honing my skills in graphic design and branding, I’ve transitioned into the exciting world of user experience design. I’m currently the VP of UX design at MSCI, where I lead the design strategy and vision for our portfolio management digital platform.
Ashish has had a diverse and fulfilling career. He started as a graphic designer at the Burnett Group and eventually became a partner. He simultaneously taught Interaction Design and Prepress classes in Pratt’s Grad ComD program. Later he transitioned, applying his design skills to UX design, leading teams at KPMG and GEP. Today, he’s a senior director of user experience at SAP, driving innovation and shaping the future of their products. From time to time, we both mentor and guide students and junior designers.
Amidst our busy professional lives, we’re blessed with two wonderful boys, Aayush (16) and Neel (12). Balancing work, family, and our love for each other has been a rewarding journey, which started with my acceptance to Pratt’s master’s program.
Elke Sudin, BFA Illustration ’09, and Saul Sudin, BFA Film ’06
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![A young man and woman smile at the camera at an outdoor event. The man has dark slicked-back hair and wears a navy blue T-shirt, while the woman has curly hair with small beads woven in, a nose ring, and bright red and yellow earrings. She leans slightly toward him, showing a wide smile. There are people standing behind them.]()
Saul Sudin, BFA Film ’06, and Elke Sudin, BFA Illustration ’09 -
![A family of four poses on a scenic overlook with a theme park in the background. The father, wearing sunglasses and a gray coat, waves at the camera. The mother, in a blue top and gray cardigan, holds one of their young daughters, who wears a tutu and raises her hand. Their other daughter, in a colorful shirt, stands between them, smiling. The roller coasters and ferris wheel of the theme park are visible in the distance.]()
Saul Sudin and Elke Sudin with their children
How and where did you first meet?
Saul: We met in the Student Union through the then-newly formed Jewish student group on campus. Elke was a free-spirited hippie freshman, completely not my type.
Elke: I remember the first moment I saw Saul. He was taking off his fedora and leather trench coat and joking around with the campus rabbi, Simcha Weinstein. He was a senior and I thought he must be very important if he was on such good terms with the rabbi!
What is your favorite Pratt memory as a couple?
We would have Friday night Shabbat dinners at the rabbi’s apartment in Brooklyn Heights. Those would be followed by long strolls back to campus afterwards, and we would get to know each other. At one point in the fall during the holiday of Sukkot, we sat in the sukkah next to the Pratt Chapel and talked long into the night and realized we had so much more in common underneath our very contrasting exteriors.
What is your favorite date story or date spot in New York?
Early on, we were supposed to go bowling with friends but no one had made a reservation, and the wait for a lane was really long. So, we left and went on a ramble to find a place for dinner instead. Ever since then, we have often gone on random dates that might take us from one place to another, and as long as they end in food, we always call those dates “going bowling.”
Do you have any relationship advice for current students?
Marry your best friend. Being friends for six months before we were romantic was a great foundation for our relationship.
Where are you now, personally and professionally?
Saul is a freelance filmmaker, making documentaries, music videos, and commercial videos. Elke is the founder of Drawing Booth, which does digital portrait sketching for live events, with artists across the US and UK. She recently launched a fashion line of scarves and modular travel apparel under the brand Elke NYC. We continue to live in Brooklyn and have two adorable girls.
Read more stories of Pratt Pairs from 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, and 2018.