Wilson College Faculty Member’s ‘Extraordinary Commitment’ Inspires 2025 Outstanding Teacher Award

Walk into the classroom of Wilson College of Textiles Associate Professor Janie Woodbridge on any given day, and what you’ll find might be completely different.

On one day, she might be moderating an in-depth discussion among students. On another, you could find her offering up an engaging demonstration … or, leveraging her deep textile industry network to bring a distinguished guest speaker to class.

Whatever the tactic, though, Woodbridge’s focus is consistent: “In the classroom, I strive to foster a dynamic and inclusive learning environment,” she writes. “I emphasize hands-on, real-time learning to challenge students as designers and critical thinkers.”

The approach has served her well.

Earlier this year, the NC State Provost’s Office recognized Woodbridge as a recipient of the Outstanding Teacher Award, a distinction that celebrates excellence in teaching at all levels.

Awarded annually by the executive vice chancellor and provost, Woodbridge’s nomination by the college stood out in 2025, owing to her work as a dedicated mentor with “extraordinary commitment” to her students.

Sparking student creativity 

Central to Woodbridge’s work at the Wilson College is her role as co-instructor of FTD104/105, the foundational course for all students who pass through the Wilson College of Textiles’ fashion and textile design program.

As part of the intensive two-semester course, Woodbridge exposes students to core design concepts in a role that requires her to inspire creativity.

It’s a skill she’s mastered, colleagues say, thanks in equal parts to her renowned in-class demonstrations and the constructive feedback she offers students. 

Not to mention, she’s widely known for helping students connect what they learn in class with the skill sets they’ll need in the real world.

“It is not unusual for Janie’s students to become so enthusiastic about what they are learning in one of her classes that they want to explore the topic more deeply,” said Associate Professor Anne Porterfield, who co-teaches with Woodbridge.

“Janie’s enthusiasm for learning is one of the things that makes her teaching so effective,” Porterfield added in a letter supporting Woodbridge’s nomination for this spring’s award. “She communicates this enthusiasm to her students in the way she presents instruction and in the way she engages with students in their own learning process.”

Inspiring the next generation of textile industry professionals

That enthusiasm, combined with Woodbridge’s ability to connect with students on a personal level, was among the traits that stood out to Bailey Knight when she first walked into the faculty member’s classroom in 2014.

“She carries a gentleness in a way that no other professor of mine has, and it truly shows in her interactions with students,” Knight wrote in her own letter.

Specifically, Knight noted Woodbridge’s passion for inspiring students to pursue in-depth research even while at the undergraduate level — which in Knight’s case, helped spark a mentorship that’s lasted even as she’s moved into her own professional career at the college.

“She carries a gentleness in a way that no other professor of mine has, and it truly shows in her interactions with students.”

“She has a creative way of thinking that complements her technical nature,” Knight said.

That duo of skills proved similarly valuable to current doctoral student Jeanine Fry, for whom Woodbridge has been both a mentor and an advisor for her startup LOOM3D, which uses made-to-order, 3D woven techniques to stem overproduction and reduce waste.

“Janie has been a sounding board, a problem solver, and a north star,” Fry wrote.

Deep industry experience

Part of Woodbridge’s ability to contextualize academic coursework with real-world applications undoubtedly comes from her deep industry experience.

Prior to joining the Wilson College faculty, Woodbridge boasted a decade-long career in the corporate textile industry, with responsibilities ranging from design to product development and production.

That work, she says, provided her with “valuable insights” into the critical intersection of fine art and business that is at the core of nearly any career in the textile industry — “Allowing me,” she wrote in her own nomination materials, “to understand what it takes to bring a design from concept to market.”

“The experience enriches my classes, equipping students with knowledge about design as a career, the impact of international markets, and the nuances between creating art and producing market-ready products,” Woodbridge added.

And, even as she continues to inspire students to think outside-the-box with the end business goal in mind, she continues to forge her own similar path. 

In the last year alone, she’s showcased her creative work at fine arts shows around the country, each sponsored by textile industry organizations. 

She also keeps a foot in the industry herself, most recently lending her research to an ongoing project sponsored by Sherwin Williams, alongside Wilson College colleague, Associate Professor Ericka Ford. 

That collective experience has given Woodbridge an enviable network, which she regularly leverages for the benefit of her students. 

It’s not uncommon to see guest speakers from prominent textile industry companies make appearances in Woodbridge’s class, with past guests ranging from Valdese Weavers to The North Face.

Woodbridge was recognized alongside other 2025 Outstanding Teacher awards at a luncheon on April 17. She’ll also receive recognition as part of spring 2025 commencement.