Program of research
The central research inquiry for my program of research in the Clothing and Textiles discipline is
HOW CAN RESEARCHERS AND PRACTITIONERS (RE)SEARCH
AND RECKON WITH HISTORY & THE SELF TO RESTRUCTURE
OUR RESEARCH & PEDAGOGICAL PRACTICES?
SOCIETY, CULTURE, & PRAXIS
I explore the relationships between society, culture, and praxis by connecting historical and contemporary issues to pedagogy, student learning, and industry practices. I believe we exist within an environment that has valued independence and separation and this has impacted the interconnected nature of relationships that empowers understanding, acknowledgment, and healing. While I consider my research to be a responsibility, I utilize critical and sociocultural theoretical orientations, mixed methods approaches, and elements of reflection to understand how I relate to my research. If permitting, I honor the integration of community members to share their lived experiences in response to their needs in the critique of fashion-related education and practices. Regardless, I consistently advocate for the inclusion and appreciation of the lived experiences of community members as valuable knowledge.
DISSERTATION
Title: The Pattern From Which Things Are Sewn: Reflections of a Black Woman Doctoral Student in Clothing and Textiles and (Re)cognizing Home Economics Histories and Clothing and Textiles Graduate Education
The study will employ qualitative methodologies to examine the excluded histories of Black women in home economics education, a critique of clothing & textiles graduate education, and the relationship of a Black woman’s lived experiences to clothing & textiles education. There has been growing interest in addressing the challenges historically forgotten groups face in the 21st century. The fashion industry is a multi-billion dollar industry that impacts our national and global affairs and is guided by practices that relate to the mistreatment of historically forgotten groups. Thus, it is of importance to challenge the relationship between the fashion industrial system and historically forgotten groups, particularly in fashion-related education.
HOW CAN RESEARCHERS AND PRACTITIONERS (RE)SEARCH
AND RECKON WITH HISTORY & THE SELF TO RESTRUCTURE
OUR RESEARCH & PEDAGOGICAL PRACTICES?
SOCIETY, CULTURE, & PRAXIS
I explore the relationships between society, culture, and praxis by connecting historical and contemporary issues to pedagogy, student learning, and industry practices. I believe we exist within an environment that has valued independence and separation and this has impacted the interconnected nature of relationships that empowers understanding, acknowledgment, and healing. While I consider my research to be a responsibility, I utilize critical and sociocultural theoretical orientations, mixed methods approaches, and elements of reflection to understand how I relate to my research. If permitting, I honor the integration of community members to share their lived experiences in response to their needs in the critique of fashion-related education and practices. Regardless, I consistently advocate for the inclusion and appreciation of the lived experiences of community members as valuable knowledge.
DISSERTATION
Title: The Pattern From Which Things Are Sewn: Reflections of a Black Woman Doctoral Student in Clothing and Textiles and (Re)cognizing Home Economics Histories and Clothing and Textiles Graduate Education
The study will employ qualitative methodologies to examine the excluded histories of Black women in home economics education, a critique of clothing & textiles graduate education, and the relationship of a Black woman’s lived experiences to clothing & textiles education. There has been growing interest in addressing the challenges historically forgotten groups face in the 21st century. The fashion industry is a multi-billion dollar industry that impacts our national and global affairs and is guided by practices that relate to the mistreatment of historically forgotten groups. Thus, it is of importance to challenge the relationship between the fashion industrial system and historically forgotten groups, particularly in fashion-related education.