Dr. Lisa Chapman Named a 2016-17 University Faculty Scholar

Dr. Lisa Chapman, associate professor in the Textile and Apparel, Technology and Management (TATM) department at NC State’s Wilson College of Textiles has been named a 2016-17 University Faculty Scholar by Chancellor Randy Woodson. The recognition and reward program is part of the university’s strategic initiative to invest in and retain top faculty.

“One needs only to review Dr. Chapman’s accomplishments to understand that she is truly deserving of this recognition. She is an outstanding faculty member who has distinguished herself when it comes to teaching, research and building industry partnerships. Her students, colleagues and the industry all benefit from her commitment, creativity and ability to inspire,” said Dean David Hinks.

As a faculty member whose teaching and research cut across the disciplines of design and technology, Chapman possesses a unique ability to bridge art and science in teaching, research and industry engagement. Chapman’s research focuses on how state-of-the-art digital design tools can be used to improve the design workflow and bridge the communication gap between product development and the manufacturing process. Her work to advance the field of textile design and technology has led to her growing reputation as a key leader among both academic and industry audiences. Chapman is well recognized for her work with digital printing, 3D design, integral knitting and related computer aided design systems.

Working collaboratively with fellow faculty members, Chapman has secured more than $1 million in competitive grants to fund product design and development research in areas such as digital printing, integral knitting and sustainable design. Her contributions are directly enabling the renewed growth in U.S. textile manufacturing and processing; she is part of multi-disciplinary research teams that seek to support localized production.

“My years of digital printing experience gained in the digital design lab coupled with my creative design experience in engineered designing have given me the knowledge and expertise to provide U.S. manufacturers with a competitive advantage when using new technology,” she said.

During her tenure at the Wilson College of Textiles, she has pushed the use of digital technologies in her teaching and research by developing computer-aided design learning modules for courses, securing and implementing digital technologies, and through the creation of digital design classrooms and research laboratories. The digital design labs Chapman helped create benefit more than 200 students and many faculty each semester and are visited by up to 50 new companies each year.

Chapman’s teaching links directly with her research program, combining the innovation of digital art and design with science and technology. She has taught a variety of textile design and textile technology courses, and is unique in that she teaches in three bachelor’s of science degree programs (Fashion and Textile Design; Fashion and Textile Management; Textile Technology) in diverse classroom settings (lectures, studios and labs).

“As an educator, my teaching has been most effective when using digital technologies to teach, demonstrate, and reinforce creative problem solving, the principles of design, and textile fundamentals,” she said. “After several years of continuous training, synthesis, and practical experience with digital technologies, I have become adept at breaking down complex information so that I can more easily teach students, faculty and industry how to effectively use technology in design and manufacturing.”

Chapman has a keen interest in student learning throughout the research process. In addition to her mentorship of master’s and doctoral students, she mentors numerous senior and graduate students in independent and special studies. The successful teaching of design with digital technologies is validated by her graduate student research, the number of awards in design competitions that students have received under her guidance, and the receipt of a Fulbright Specialist grant to develop and teach digital technologies at Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos (UNMSM) in Lima, Peru.

Extension for Chapman happens around the world and close to home. She shares her expertise in the field of digital design technology and product development globally to support colleagues within the textile industry. She has been invited to speak in Hong Kong, Egypt, Italy, Japan, Korea, China, France, Peru and other locations. Yet she also assists NC State students in service projects, speaks to visitors during open houses, and mentors and inspires teams of high school students interested in exploring fashion and textile design in the College’s Summer Textile Exploration Program.

Chapman earned her bachelor’s of fine arts degree from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. Both her master’s and Ph.D. were earned at the Wilson College of Textiles. She has published many peer-reviewed articles and her creative work has been selected for numerous juried exhibits. She has presented throughout the United States and around the world on topics ranging from building the U.S. supply chain to knitting and printing technology to digital textile manufacturing and design innovation. Dr. Chapman’s teaching efforts, outreach to industry and research are benefitting the textile industry today and offer high potential for innovative new product development and supplies chains of the future.

About the University Faculty Scholars Program

The Provost’s Office oversees the University Faculty Scholars Program, which was established by Chancellor Randy Woodson in 2012. The program recognizes and rewards emerging academic leaders who turn research into solutions to society’s most pressing issues.

Each year, approximately twenty tenured or tenure-track faculty scholars are identified to receive this honor.  Faculty members selected as University Faculty Scholars carry the title for a five-year period and receive a $10,000 annual supplement that may be used for supplemental salary and benefits or programmatic support.

Those eligible for to be named University Faculty Scholars include assistant professors who have been reappointed for a second term; associate professors; and full professors within the first three years of appointment at that rank. Nominees were evaluated based on evidence of their significant achievements in scholarship, teaching and/or service appropriate to their rank and discipline. Each faculty member will receive $10,000 in donated funds for each of the next five years to support their academic endeavors. Faculty members are nominated by their colleges and selected by a committee of senior faculty.

Previous winners from the Wilson College of Textiles include:

• Ahmed El-Shafei, associate professor in the Textile Engineering, Chemistry and Science 
• Renzo Shamey, professor of Textile Engineering, Chemistry and Science, 2014-15
• Melissa Pasquinelli, associate professor of Textile Engineering, Chemistry and Science, 2013-14
• Xiangwu Zhang, professor of Textile engineering, Chemistry and Science, 2012-13

For more on this year’s class of University Faculty Scholars, click here.