I am currently the Chief Strategist of Innovation & Entrepreneurship for the College of Human Sciences at Iowa State University (ISU). I also serve as the Donna R. Danielson Professor of Textiles and Clothing in Apparel, Merchandising and Design.
During my career, I have advised 34 graduate students to completion - 14 doctoral and 20 masters. My ISU graduate student advisees have been recognized with top research honors from the International Textile and Apparel Association (ITAA), Textile Society of America (TSA), and the United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT). Since arriving at ISU in 2012, my advisees and mentees’ creative scholarship/artistry have garnered: 17 ITAA Juried Design Competition awards, 9 ITAA research awards, 5 ISU Focus Grants, and 39 ISU The Fashion Show awards/scholarships. I am currently advising 4 doctoral students.
My program of scholarship is focused on 4 areas: (a) Creative scholarship, (b) Symbolic Meanings of Black Appearance, (c) Material Culture Products of Blacks and (d) use of photovoltaic / solar technology in accessories and apparel to charge small electronic devices. I have had 70 individual apparel, fiber and wearable designs accepted and exhibited in juried exhibitions during her career. I have participated in 16 invited exhibitions and curated 13 exhibitions. I have received 25 design awards during her lifetime.
In 2012, I established the Sanders’ Design Research Team, to investigate issues and processes in apparel and textile design. I have taught or mentored 72 pieces of student work accepted in juried exhibitions (41 at ISU since 2012), have given over 150 presentations, lectures and workshops on fashion and textile design, and has received 25 research/service awards. I have published over 30 articles and book chapters. I was a Fulbright Scholar to India. My scholarly activities have been funded by the Environmental Protection Agency, the Fulbright-Hayes Program, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, and the National Endowment for the Arts.
I have taught over 300 classes in fashion, textile design, women’s studies, and event management at the university level for 33 years.