Meet the Six New Members of the Dean’s Young Alumni Leadership Council (DYALC)

In an ever-evolving world, the importance of remaining connected to the communities that shape our personal and professional journeys cannot be overstated.

Six recent graduates will maintain their lifelong connection to their alma mater — the Wilson College of Textiles — as new members of the Dean’s Young Alumni Leadership Council (DYALC). Since its establishment in 2017, the DYALC has strengthened the connection that council members have had — and continue to have — with the college.

“Adding these six graduates to the DYALC demonstrates our college’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of textile leaders,” says David Hinks, dean of the Wilson College of Textiles. “Their insights and experiences will be invaluable as we work together to enhance our alumni engagement and bolster our philanthropic efforts. They exemplify our Wilson for Life philosophy.”

The idea for the DYALC was sparked by Hinks and Michael Ward, executive director of the North Carolina Textile Foundation (NCTF). Both leaders wanted to encourage recent graduates to maintain and deepen their connection to the Wilson College of Textiles.

Their insights and experiences will be invaluable as we work together to enhance our alumni engagement and bolster our philanthropic efforts. They exemplify our Wilson for Life philosophy.

Driven by a commitment to excellence, the DYALC is comprised of 21 vibrant alumni, all under the age of 40, who work alongside two student representatives: one undergraduate and one graduate student. Each member plays a crucial role in offering leadership and insight, particularly in areas of alumni engagement and fundraising, to Dean Hinks and the North Carolina Textile Foundation team.

Since its inception in 2017, the DYALC has launched essential initiatives to enhance engagement, connectivity and commitment among textiles graduates. Notable initiatives include:

• Blend Mentorship Program
• Distinguished Young Alumni Awards Program
• Young Alumni Recruitment Network (YARN)

The council’s impact is also evident in its philanthropic activities. Through its efforts, the NCTF has successfully boosted the number of donors under 40 by 80%, thanks to robust participation in the university’s Day of Giving and contributions to endowed gifts.

“The energy flowing from this group resonates with so many of our alumni and donors,” Ward explains. “Not only do they promote and support our college and foundation in critical ways, but they also help to foster relationships between students, alumni and industry partners, and they ensure that our young graduates understand the impact that they can have by giving their time, talent and treasure to their alma mater. This council fulfills our foundation’s mission of partnership, philanthropy and engagement.”

Meet the Newest DYALC Members

This fall, six new Wilson College graduates have been named members of the Dean’s Young Alumni Leadership Council.

• Cassia Lewis Cameron ’13
• Corinne Carter ’18
• Abby Ellis ’15
• Ted Meyers ’17
• Hannah Orlowski ’19
• Rosa Stancil ’23

The energy flowing from this group resonates with so many of our alumni and donors. They ensure that our young graduates understand the impact that they can have by giving their time, talent and treasure to their alma mater.

Cassia Lewis Cameron ’13

B.S. Fashion and Textile Management, Fashion Development and Product Management Concentration
Senior Material Developer at Patagonia

Cassia Lewis Cameron ’13 has always had a strong connection to the Wilson College of Textiles, influenced by her father, a 1994 textile engineering graduate. Today, she thrives as a senior material developer at Patagonia, where she collaborates with fellow alumni from the college. Before joining Patagonia, Cameron honed her skills at Nike as a manager of materials manufacturing, following her tenure as the director of business development at Swisstex Direct, LLC. Earlier in her career, she gained valuable experience in various roles at the International Textile Group, now Elevate Textiles.

Corinne Carter ’18

B.S. Fashion and Textile Management, Brand Management and Marketing Concentration
Product Marketing Manager at Unifi

As a Raleigh native, Corinne Carter always looked forward to the day she could join the Wolfpack. While at the Wilson College of Textiles, she built an extensive network as a student employee at the North Carolina Textile Foundation — the college’s philanthropic arm. Her career began with valuable experience as a summer intern in the Trivantage division of Glen Raven. Today, she proudly serves as a product marketing manager at Unifi in Greensboro, North Carolina. Before this role, she worked as a marketing manager at Elevate Textiles and, before that, as a marketing specialist at the company.

Abby Ellis ’15

B.S. Fashion and Textile Design, Textile Design Concentration
Design Manager of Upholstery at Richloom Fabrics Group

Abby Ellis’ passion for textile design was nurtured during her time at the Wilson College of Textiles, where her academic journey included two summer internships at Ralph Lauren in New York City and a semester abroad at Lorenzo de’ Medici in Florence, Italy. She began her professional career as an assistant woven designer of upholstery at Richloom Fabrics Group before advancing to a woven designer at the company. Today, she serves as the design manager of upholstery at Richloom Fabrics Group, where she continues to bring her creative vision to life in the world of textile design.

Ted Meyers ’17

B.S. Textile Engineering
Business Development Project Manager of Supply Chain and Manufacturing at Kroger

Ted Meyers discovered his passion for problem-solving at the Wilson College of Textiles, where he recognized the unique opportunities available to him. Under the mentorship of dedicated faculty and staff, he completed two summer internships at Standard Textile and McAllister Mills, Inc. These experiences paved the way for his current role as the business development project manager of supply chain and manufacturing at Kroger. Before taking on this position, he served as Kroger’s perishables project manager. His earlier experience includes working as a project engineer at Standard Textile.

Hannah Orlowski ’19

B.S. Textile Engineering
Product Development Engineer at Contempora Fabrics

Hannah Orlowski’s journey to the Wilson College of Textiles began in high school when she was captivated during a tour of the Textile Protection and Comfort Center (TPACC) and witnessed PyroMan undergo fire and safety testing. Today, she serves as a product development engineer at Contempora Fabrics, applying her technical textile knowledge from the Wilson College of Textiles along with her research and problem-solving skills to drive innovative product development. Before this role, she worked as a process engineer at Coty, one of the world’s largest beauty companies.

Rosa Stancil ’23

B.S. Fashion and Textile Management, Brand Management and Marketing Concentration
Media Planner at Women’s Wear Daily

Rosa Stancil’s journey to the Wilson College of Textiles began as a recipient of the prestigious Centennial Scholarship Program. As a student, she was also recognized as a Fashion Scholarship Fund x Skims Scholar and had the opportunity to study abroad in Florence, Italy. Today, Stancil is pursuing her passion for the fashion industry in New York City as a media planner for Women’s Wear Daily. Her role in publishing is supported by the foundation of her world-class textiles education. Before this position, she was an assistant account executive at Noun Agency.

Adding these six graduates to the DYALC demonstrates our college’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of textile leaders.

To learn more about each member of the Dean’s Young Alumni Leadership Council, click here.