Three Wilson College of Textiles Faculty Members Promoted

The Wilson College of Textiles is proud to announce that three faculty members earned promotions this past academic year. From inspiring students to follow their dreams to giving back to their academic communities, these faculty members do it all. Read to learn about their accomplishments at the Wilson College and beyond. 

Associate Professor Kate Nartker 

Kate Nartker’s passion for creating animations out of woven textiles sends a powerful message to Wilson College students: The applications of textiles are endless. After receiving her bachelor’s degree in comparative studies from Ohio State University, Nartker moved to San Francisco and pursued a passion for art, sharpening her skills in weaving, dyeing and printing textiles. In 2012, Nartker earned a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in studio art and design with a concentration in textiles from the California College of the Arts. 

Nartker has held several teaching positions throughout her career, working as an art director and lecturer in San Francisco before coming to the Wilson College. As a 2022-2023 Fulbright Scholar, Nartker shared her expertise with students in Gothenburg, Sweden, where she taught workshops on various weaving techniques. Her work has been featured in The Museum of Craft and Design in San Francisco, The Contemporary Austin and the San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art. One of her most recent woven animations, titled “Whose Woods Are These,” has also been accepted by several film festivals. 

Associate Professor Janie Woodbridge

An expert in weaving with over 12 years of experience working in the corporate textile industry, Janie Woodbridge teaches several courses across the Wilson College, ranging from FTD 375: First Year Studio to FTM 491: Special Topics Design Principles. She earned an MFA from the Rhode Island School of Design and completed a thesis project using textile design to provide commentary on urban migration and population dispersion.

Woodbridge received the 2025 Outstanding Teacher Award for her work as a mentor and educator. She is also a co-inventor of the technology behind LOOM3D, a sustainable solution to textile waste founded by advisee Jeanine Fry. 

Professor Sonja Salmon

A member of the Wolfpack herself, Sonja Salmon received both her B.S. in textile chemistry (now called polymer and color chemistry) and her Ph.D in fiber and polymer science from NC State University. After completing her education, she spent 22 years at Novozymes North America, a biosolutions company. 

Salmon returned to NC State as an associate professor at the Wilson College in 2017. In addition to teaching undergraduate and graduate courses, she leads a research team investigating enzyme-fiber interactions. With a major focus on sustainability, Salmon’s research has provided eco-friendly solutions to textile waste and mechanisms to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.  

As a member of the American Chemical Society and the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists, Salmon is committed to collaboration between industry and academia. This spring, she was named a University Faculty Scholar for her esteemed research and mentorship to the Wilson College students.