Interviews
WVU professor to serve as President of ITAA
02 Oct '08
2 min read
Nora MacDonald, who teaches in the Fashion Design and Merchandising Program in the Davis College of Agriculture, Forestry and Consumer Sciences, will help lead the ITAA – first as president-elect until Aug. 31, 2009. At that time, she will assume the duties of president until Sept. 1, 2010, followed by counselor through Aug. 31, 2011.
The ITAA is a professional, educational organization made up of scholars, educators and students in the textile, apparel and merchandising disciplines in higher education. The nonprofit group promotes the discovery, dissemination and application of knowledge and is a primary resource for its members in strengthening leadership and service to society.
“In our increasingly global society, it is important to prepare professionals to work in a highly competitive environment,” MacDonald said. “Technology is increasing the pace of change, and boundaries are blurring. We need to be proactive in effecting change within our discipline.
“We need to explore the boundaries of our field and examine the possibilities of interdisciplinary collaboration within and outside our normal parameters, including expansion of our retail partnerships and the broader design community,” she added.
MacDonald has served in other ITAA leadership roles: chair and member of the Curricular Review and Development Committee; chair and member of the Design and Aesthetics Committee; chair of the Design Competition; co-chair of the 1993 annual meeting; secretary; and regional president.
She received her bachelor's and master's degrees in textiles and clothing from Iowa State University and completed course work in rehabilitation at the University of Iowa, Virginia Commonwealth University and WVU.
MacDonald began her career as an instructor at Iowa State University, followed by a year as an interior designer. She came to WVU in 1971 as a textiles, apparel and merchandising instructor.
After serving as an assistant and associate professor, MacDonald was promoted to professor and chair of what then was known as the Textiles, Apparel and Merchandising Program in 1989. Most recently, she was named curriculum coordinator for the Disegno Italia Program, an interdisciplinary, cross-cultural study abroad art and design program.
In addition to teaching, she conducts research and creative activities related to clothing for the elderly and people with disabilities, as well as educational pedagogy, retail accessibility, original apparel designs and design exhibitions.
The ITAA is a professional, educational organization made up of scholars, educators and students in the textile, apparel and merchandising disciplines in higher education. The nonprofit group promotes the discovery, dissemination and application of knowledge and is a primary resource for its members in strengthening leadership and service to society.
“In our increasingly global society, it is important to prepare professionals to work in a highly competitive environment,” MacDonald said. “Technology is increasing the pace of change, and boundaries are blurring. We need to be proactive in effecting change within our discipline.
“We need to explore the boundaries of our field and examine the possibilities of interdisciplinary collaboration within and outside our normal parameters, including expansion of our retail partnerships and the broader design community,” she added.
MacDonald has served in other ITAA leadership roles: chair and member of the Curricular Review and Development Committee; chair and member of the Design and Aesthetics Committee; chair of the Design Competition; co-chair of the 1993 annual meeting; secretary; and regional president.
She received her bachelor's and master's degrees in textiles and clothing from Iowa State University and completed course work in rehabilitation at the University of Iowa, Virginia Commonwealth University and WVU.
MacDonald began her career as an instructor at Iowa State University, followed by a year as an interior designer. She came to WVU in 1971 as a textiles, apparel and merchandising instructor.
After serving as an assistant and associate professor, MacDonald was promoted to professor and chair of what then was known as the Textiles, Apparel and Merchandising Program in 1989. Most recently, she was named curriculum coordinator for the Disegno Italia Program, an interdisciplinary, cross-cultural study abroad art and design program.
In addition to teaching, she conducts research and creative activities related to clothing for the elderly and people with disabilities, as well as educational pedagogy, retail accessibility, original apparel designs and design exhibitions.
West Virginia University
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