Christine Gordon, former president of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS)and a staunch advocate for the needs of cosmetology and aesthetics students, passed away on Dec. 1, 2016.  The sad news was shared with the AACS community by current AACS President Frank Trieu.

"Christine served AACS in many roles, as a school owner of Graham Webb Academy, as a founding board member of Beauty Changes Lives, but it was government relations where Christine's passion lay," Trieu said.  "As a representative of AACS, Christine passionately advocated to protect our students and their choice to attend your schools with the same access to federal financial aid as their peers in other higher education institutions. Please join me and the Board of Directors in prayer for Christine's family as they mourn the loss of their daughter, sister, mother, grandma, aunt, and long-time partner."

Gordon began her career in the beauty industry over 35 years ago, as a CIDESCO diplomat and Master Esthetics instructor. She traveled and taught in many world class spas throughout Europe.  Upon returning to the United States, she became Director of Education for a large beauty supply distributor in the Mid-Atlantic States. During this time she produced shows and created stylist education for Trevor Sorbie, Irvine Rusk, John Sahag and many industry giants. In 1999, she became co-owner of the Graham Webb Academy in Arlington, Virginia and was instrumental in promoting the ratification by the Virginia State Assembly of a bill regulating the aesthetics profession.

 For more than12 years, Gordon served on the Government Relations Committee for the American Association of Cosmetology Schools and regularly met with members of Congress and the US Department of Education representing the needs of Cosmetology and Aesthetics students. She served as President of AACS for 4 years, helped form the Future of the Beauty Industry Coalition, and is a founding member of Beauty Changes Lives.

 For her lifetime of service to beauty education, Gordon was recognized by her peers with the N.F. Cimaglia Award in 2015.  

This article will be updated as more details are made available.