Samantha Pearce
- Position: Textile Studio Lab Technician
- Department: Textile and Apparel, Technology and Management
- Hometown: South Hill, VA
What was your path to this position?
In 2023, I earned my Master of Textiles from the Wilson College of Textiles through the distance education program. While earning my degree, I worked for Meanwhile Back on the Farm as a cutting table manager and manufactured leather bags. Additionally, I served as an adjunct professor at Liberty University in the fashion design department and taught “Draping for Apparel Design” and “Fashion Illustration.” I heard about this position from Dr. Lisa Chapman, my faculty advisor, and jumped at the opportunity to be a part of the Wilson College of Textiles family.
Why were you interested in this position / in working at the Wilson College of Textiles?
I was looking to advance my career in the textiles and fashion field. This job is the perfect blend of my two passions. My first love is fashion and textiles. This eventually morphed into my second love, teaching students and developing their love of the discipline. Being a studio lab technician blends both of my previous jobs in perfect matrimony. I can use my teaching skills to collaborate with students and use my technical skills to solve machinery problems.
What are your duties on a day-to-day basis?
I love that each day of my job is different! My responsibilities include assisting students with machine-related issues through trouble ticketing, facilitating lab operations to ensure cleanliness and organization, performing maintenance on machines in six labs, and actively participating in departmental and committee meetings to support educational goals.
My labs function as spaces to cultivate learning and creation and I enjoy supporting each student’s creative and technical process.
My favorite project has been my TV show-themed trouble tickets. I love TV, movies and anything pop culture related. This summer I named all of the machines in my labs after TV show characters. My all-time favorite show is Arrested Development, which is featured in the embroidery lab!
What is your favorite part of your job?
I am such a people person! I absolutely love working with the students to solve machine issues. I love seeing their eyes light up when they learn something new!
What do you like to do outside of work?
I love golfing, reading, dancing and hanging out with my friends. Fun fact: I am a huge Tiger Woods enthusiast. I named my sweet yellow lab after him!
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