As a wide-eyed high school student, Courtney Priester-Funderburk had two passions: fashion and chemistry. With no idea initially how these two interests could fuse together, Priester-Funderburk assumed she would just have to pick one to focus on in her career. Participating in the Summer Textile Exploration Program at the Wilson College of Textiles opened her eyes to the possibility of melding these two concepts into one.

Majoring in polymer and color chemistry at the Wilson College of Textiles allowed Priester-Funderburk to explore both of her passions in depth. Now, as a senior quality safety and regulatory engineer at Target, Priester-Funderburk has discovered a new passion for consumer advocacy as she studies for her law degree.

Preparing for a career

During her time at the Wilson College, Courtney Priester-Funderburk stayed involved in the campus community, from serving as president of the African American Textile Society (AATS) to participating in Service Raleigh volunteer events.

Being a part of AATS gave Priester-Funderburk invaluable experiences that ultimately helped her in her future career. Through planning the annual AATS Fashion Exposé and working with students from a variety of different textile disciplines, she says, she developed strong networking and project management skills.

“I got to manage a group of people. It felt like my first management position, which was a good experience, and it was just fun to stay connected with other students.” 

As an apprentice in the Wilson College Dyeing and Finishing Lab, Priester-Funderburk researched a multitude of different dye properties and learned what it would have been like to become a formulation chemist. In this role, she gained valuable experience and knowledge regarding how certain types of dyes reacted to different fabrics, which has helped her in her current career.

“I got a better breadth of understanding of how to dye, what is required to dye certain materials, and what ways dyes can be altered to improve dye penetration and performance.”

She also interned with Academy Sports and Outdoors and Patagonia while at NC State. These positions were integral in Preister-Funderburk finding the career path she wanted to pursue.

“My internships led me to staying in the quality assurance field,” Priester-Funderburk says. “During my time at Academy, I saw how proactive quality and regulatory oversight can prevent issues before products ever reach the sales floor.”

Working in the industry

Priester-Funderburk started her career with L Brands, owner of Bath and Body Works, as a textile lab technician, a role she learned about at a Wilson College Career fair during her senior year. In this position, she worked in the lab environment on product testing methods and requirements to make sure all products being released passed necessary company and industry guidelines.

Working hands-on in the testing environment equipped Priester-Funderburk with technical skills in the product regulation field. She was able to evaluate product performance, safety and quality by conducting tests in the lab at L Brands.

“One of the things I loved most, and also one of my biggest accomplishments at L Brands was getting their lab certified,” Priester-Funderburk says.

Achieving this certification ensured that the L Brands’ textile lab followed consistent testing practices and alignment with accredited laboratory standards.

After her position with L Brands, Priester-Funderburk landed a role with Target as a product safety quality and regulatory engineer in 2018. In this role, Priester-Funderburk establishes product standards and manages product testing requirements from a strategic perspective. Working in safety and regulatory compliance made Priester-Funderburk realize that she had a real passion for the field. Now, she’s studying for a law degree as well.

“My work at Target has reinforced my desire to build a legal career focused on product liability and personal injury,” she says, “where I can advocate for consumer safety and help ensure companies uphold their responsibility to the public.” 

Advice to prospective students

During her time at the Wilson College of Textiles, the most valuable lessons Priester-Funderburk learned were the importance of networking and gaining experience through her internships. She took advantage of a multitude of opportunities offered by the Wilson College, from student organizations to the career services office and the Wilson College’s career fairs.