The ride from her hometown to NC State’s sprawling campus is one that Katelyn (Patrick) Bell ’13, ’15 has taken hundreds — if not thousands — of times. That familiar route from Highway 49 to Highway 64 is one she could probably drive with her eyes closed.
When she was a child, her father drove those two-and-a-half hours from Charlotte to Raleigh while she napped in the back seat. After turning 16, Bell sat behind the steering wheel herself and sang along loudly to top-40 radio hits.
Now, as a Durham resident and a proud graduate of NC State’s Wilson College of Textiles, Bell visits campus much more frequently. She can often be found cheering alongside her husband and NC State alumnus, Mark Bell ’15, and their seven-month-old son, Tate, at Wolfpack football and baseball games.
“I love supporting the Pack any chance I get,” she says. “I joined the Junior Wolfpack Club when I was younger, and now I’ve been a proud member of the Wolfpack Club since 2009. My dad is a 1973 NC State graduate, so I was born and bred to become a Wolfpack fan.”
Her father’s affinity for NC State led Bell to consider the Wilson College of Textiles when she was exploring prospective degree programs as a high school senior. Torn between studying history at another university and textiles at NC State, her father’s support pushed her to follow in his footsteps.
“Going to NC State was one of the best decisions ‘we’ ever made,” she says, chuckling while thinking of her father’s persistent urging. “It gave me the large school environment I had always craved, and the Wilson College of Textiles afforded me the small community I was accustomed to. It was the best of both worlds.”
After graduating in 2013 with her bachelor’s degree in fashion and textile management, Bell went on to pursue a Master of Science in Textiles. Her thesis explored the trend and consumption of casual fitness clothing, commonly referred to as athleisure. With her family cheering her on, Bell proudly walked across the commencement stage in 2015 to earn her second Wilson College of Textiles degree.
Today, she is the product marketing specialist at Trivantage, a division of Glen Raven — best known for manufacturing the popular Sunbrella fabric. In her role, Bell executes and oversees effective product launches, marketing campaigns and event initiatives to promote long-term organizational growth. The majority of the products and materials she’s worked with can be found on luxury yachts, commercial and residential shade structures, and waterproof outdoor furniture.
Bell remains connected to her college as a member of the Dean’s Young Alumni Leadership Council (DYALC). The DYALC, which consists of 18 alumni members under the age of 40, provides guidance to the dean of the college. Since joining the DYALC in 2020, her enthusiastic participation along with the entire council’s leadership has directly benefited the college’s success in alumni engagement and fundraising.
“I owe so much to the Wilson College of Textiles, and I’m grateful to work in this industry,” Bell says. “I couldn’t be prouder to work for Glen Raven, and our college prepared me in every way possible for what I’m doing today. The Wilson College of Textiles offers such a unique program, so each student leaves campus very well rounded.”
Degree B.S. Fashion and Textile Management, 2013 (Concentration: Brand Management and Marketing) and M.S. Textiles, 2015
Job Title Product Marketing Specialist, Glen Raven
Current City Durham, North Carolina
Hometown Charlotte, North Carolina
Please describe your current volunteer and leadership experience.
I’m in my third term of serving on the Dean’s Young Alumni Leadership Council. I spent the first two years serving on the recruitment committee and am now helping with multiple initiatives including ones focusing on recruitment, Day of Giving and student events. Also, I have been a volunteer advisor for the Epsilon Beta chapter of Chi Omega for more than seven years.
What activities were you involved in as an NC State student and how did they impact your experience?
One of my favorite activities was being a student ambassador for the university. This helped me hone my communication and selling skills which still come in handy when I’m at tradeshows or helping customers. I was also a part of the Alpha Kappa chapter of Chi Omega Fraternity, and I served as the chapter president my sophomore year. I was an art chair for the Student Board of Directors for the Gregg Museum of Art and Design after I participated in a semester-long internship. Additionally, I was a member of the Sigma Tau Sigma Textile Honor Society all four years of college. All of these activities provided me with invaluable skills that I still use today, especially leading my sorority as a president at a young age.
Have you been motivated to give back to the Wilson College of Textiles financially? If so, what led you to make that decision?
Yes, because it gave me so much. I literally wouldn’t have the job I do today without the Wilson College of Textiles, my professors and the industry connections to the college. I give because I want current and future students to have the same wonderful experiences and opportunities that I had.
Who influenced you the most during your time at the Wilson College of Textiles? And, why or how?
My first-year advisor, Philip Dail. He was a legend at the Wilson College of Textiles! I was so determined to switch my major to history during my first year, but he refused to sign my transfer form. He told me to try one more semester and then make my decision. He signed me up for my first fashion and textile management class, and the rest is history. I fell in love with textiles, and there was no looking back.
What was your favorite place on campus and why?
When my now husband and I started dating, we would take walks on Main Campus during the summers. In August 2016, we went for a walk, and Mark popped the question in the Court of North Carolina. Main Campus saw my highest highs like getting engaged to my lowest lows like tripping in the Brickyard and busting my butt in front of way too many people. But, hey it’s a rite of passage!
What advice do you have for current Wilson College of Textiles students?
Get to know your professors! I owe a lot to my professors, specifically Dr. Nancy Cassill, Dr. Marguerite Moore, and Dr. Yingjiao Xu. It is because of my relationships with my professors that I was recommended to apply for a job at Glen Raven. Here I am almost eight years later, still going strong!
To connect with Bell on LinkedIn, you can view her account here.
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