By Debbie Willmschen<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
When Dakota Batch was 12 years old, her mother \u201cforced\u201d her to take a quilting class. The class was memorable because it included primarily skilled women 60 or older \u2014 and one young student who did not even know how to use a sewing machine. However, Batch did, in fact, learn to sew \u2014 with a passion that turned into a serious hobby.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the time, she was unaware how these women and their craft would change the trajectory of her career. But as an undergraduate at the University of Texas at Austin, memories of the joy of working with fabrics led Batch to choose textile and apparel design as her primary field of study. After graduating with a Bachelor of Science, Batch explored careers unrelated to the textile industry. Yet, she still felt the call of her textiles passion.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI knew that I wanted to somehow create a lasting and global change in the culture of the textile industry, and I was ready to grow and learn in an environment that aligned better with those goals,\u201d Batch said. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
She decided that NC State Wilson College of Textiles was a place where she could gain the knowledge she needed to compete in the global marketplace. Batch was attracted to the Wilson College for its close proximity to family living in the area and its industry connections and manufacturing capabilities that she wanted to experience firsthand. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI wanted to touch it, mess with it and see how the kinks are, which was important in this next phase of my education,\u201d she said. In the Wilson College <\/span>Textile Technology Management<\/span><\/a> doctoral program (TTM), Batch found the freedom, support and resources to develop a program of research that works for her.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Early on in navigating the mentor process, Batch identified <\/span>Kate Annett-Hitchcock<\/span><\/a>, associate professor in the department of <\/span>Textile Apparel, Technology and Management<\/span><\/a>, as her mentor and faculty advisor. Batch learned only how this process is a collaborative effort, where her opinion is valued. She also realized that Annett-Hitchcock shares available opportunities that provide access to experiences that TTM students would not have otherwise.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
By Debbie Willmschen<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI wanted to touch it, mess with it and see how the kinks are, which was important in this next phase of my education,\u201d she said. In the Wilson College <\/span>Textile Technology Management<\/span><\/a> doctoral program (TTM), Batch found the freedom, support and resources to develop a program of research that works for her.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Early on in navigating the mentor process, Batch identified <\/span>Kate Annett-Hitchcock<\/span><\/a>, associate professor in the department of <\/span>Textile Apparel, Technology and Management<\/span><\/a>, as her mentor and faculty advisor. Batch learned only how this process is a collaborative effort, where her opinion is valued. She also realized that Annett-Hitchcock shares available opportunities that provide access to experiences that TTM students would not have otherwise.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n