Wilson College of Textiles Gains a New Department Head

Emiel DenHartog’s path to the United States was a unique one, and has led him to his new position at the Wilson College of Textiles as the head of the Department of Textile Engineering, Chemistry and Science (TECS).

From industry to academia

DenHartog has worked for the Wilson College since 2013 when he moved here with his family from the Netherlands. Prior to moving, he earned his Ph.D. in biophysics and then began working for a contract research agency where he stayed for about 15 years. As a senior scientist and program manager there he studied the interaction of the human body with extreme environments, which largely involved protective clothing for military and first responders.

As the agency began to steer more towards project management than conducting applied science in the field, DenHartog started to look for opportunities that allowed him to continue his research as well as teach. It was then that he came across a research and teaching opportunity at the Textile Protection and Comfort Center (TPACC) at the Wilson College.

“Of course it took a while to consider if we wanted to move. It wasn’t just me, but my family as well,” DenHartog says. “I decided to do it in 2013 and I’ve never looked back since. It was a great decision for me and my family. It was a great fit for my background and what I like to do – the Textile Protection and Comfort Center was, and is, a worldwide unique place in my research area.”

After several years of teaching classes as an associate professor and serving as the co-director of the TPACC, he became the director of graduate programs for the TECS department. In 2020 he was recognized as a University Faculty Scholar, a program that rewards emerging academic leaders who demonstrate significant achievement. His research projects remain focused on human performance as well as the protection and comfort of military, first responders and other professionals in challenging environments.

“When the previous department head stepped up to become associate dean, they asked me to fill the interim department head role,” DenHartog says. “Apparently they thought I was not too horribly bad, and asked me to stay in the role permanently.”

“Emiel has contributed so much to the Wilson College throughout his time here. In addition to being a world-class researcher, he is a compassionate, thoughtful service leader who always seeks to uphold our core values of compassion, equity, collaboration, innovation and sustainability. I know he will have a very strong positive impact on our culture and mission, not only for TECS but for the Wilson College and NC State,” says David Hinks, dean of the Wilson College.

Fostering Community

DenHartog’s role as department head is mostly focused on facilitating everything that goes on in the department, between faculty, students and research – or as he likes to say, ‘helping people along.” He will also continue to teach his courses, “Clothing Physiology” and “Performance Evaluation of Textile Materials.”

“Those would be the two major things: making sure we stay great at teaching, research and development, so that people know that we exist and do very exciting things here”, DenHartog says. “There’s a lot of impact we have, and I think we need to communicate that message better.”

He believes the college’s sense of community is unique and isn’t found everywhere. The community culture is an important value that he wants to encourage in his new role.

“Making sure that we feel connected, that everybody feels that they belong here, is important to be able to optimally learn or contribute to whatever needs to happen,” DenHartog says.