Andre West, who has served the Wilson College community dutifully as the director of Zeis Textiles Extension (ZTE) since 2019, will be stepping down from his role and beginning phased retirement effective June 30. Melissa Sharp, the associate director of ZTE, will take over as the interim director effective July 1.

The Zeis Textiles Extension supports both academic and professional development in the North Carolina textiles industry, housing an array of equipment for students, researchers and companies to fabricate and test new technologies.

Leading the Pack

Andre West joined the Wilson College of Textiles in August 2013 as an assistant professor in the Department of Textile and Apparel, Technology and Management to teach classes in fashion design such as computer-aided design (CAD) patternmaking, workshop practices and the history of fashion. 

In 2018, West was named the Leader of the Year in the Wilson College of Textiles for his clear exhibition of leadership and innovation in the textile industry. His excellent teaching and work developing mosquito bite-resistant fabrics earned him the nomination from the Kappa Tau Beta leadership fraternity and Phi Psi professional textile fraternity. 

In July 2019, he became the director of ZTE, combining his expertise in product development, design and advanced software. Since that time, West has been awarded full professorship and has continued to play an instrumental role in research surrounding sustainable development. Of note, he has filed and been awarded more than 10 patents for his innovations in protective garments, 3D body scanning and new fiber development.

Under the leadership of West, ZTE:

• Led the organizational restructuring of the business unit and optimized revenue streams to drive long-term financial sustainability and efficiency.
• Swiftly pivoted manufacturing operations during the COVID-19 pandemic, repurposing machinery for the rapid production of critical personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Conceptualized and launched the annual Wells Fargo Pitch to the Pack Textile Entrepreneur Pitch Event event to foster innovation and showcase emerging talent.
• Designed and established the Flex Factory Prototype Lab to accelerate product development and testing.
• Supported the planning, design and execution strategy for the full-scale renovation and expansion of the Flex Factory.
• Secured highly competitive federal and international funding, including prestigious grants from USAID, the National Science Foundation (NSF Engines) and the Department of Defense (DOD).

West will enter phased retirement and continue teaching one semester of each academic year for the next three years before retiring from NC State.

Stepping Up

Melissa Sharp started in her current role as associate director of ZTE in July 2019, having joined the unit in 2010, and has since become an integral part of ZTE. She was awarded the Wilson College’s Outstanding Extension and Engagement Award in 2013, 2019 and 2025 for her continuous commitment to the advancement of textiles in North Carolina. 

Sharp was awarded the inaugural Wilson for Life Service Award in 2024 for her “momentous impact on the legacy of our college.” Her efforts landed two major project grants that opened up millions of dollars of sustainability research funding to the Wilson College and expanded workforce training into Central America. 

“Her service leadership on the team has paved the way for enabling even greater success of the Wilson College and, in fact, the U.S. textile industry as a whole,” says David Hinks, the Prakash Chand Kochhar Dean of the Wilson College of Textiles.

She will be stepping into the role of interim director of ZTE on the first of July.