By Jessica Roulhac<\/p>\n\n\n\n
From student to tenure-track professor, the support of the Wilson College of Textiles faculty has been a common theme for <\/span>Assistant Professor of Textile Engineering, Chemistry and Science (TECS) Bryan Ormond<\/span><\/a> \u201907, \u201912, who also has a joint appointment in the <\/span>Textile Protection and Comfort Center<\/span><\/a> at the college.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n As a student, it was a greeting by name while walking down the hallway. As a professor and <\/span>one of the leading experts in the area of protecting first responders from dangerous chemicals<\/span><\/a>, it\u2019s the daily reminder that he\u2019s part of a tight-knit community that feels like home.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Ormond was the first in his family to attend a four-year university. The Pine Level, N.C., native\u2019s early steps on campus came by way of attending a luncheon at the college. Ormond wasn\u2019t quite sure what to expect, but his soon-to-be roommates would tag along \u2014 and the rest is history. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI think the first semester, being from a small town, the <\/span>[<\/span>then-College of Textiles] spoke to me,\u201d he says. \u201cThe Wilson College is very much a home to me now. Thinking about it the other day, I have actually been in this building for half of my life.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Ormond began his first year in <\/span>polymer and color chemistry<\/span><\/a> nearly two decades ago. In 2003, he was among the first cohort of students to participate in the program. The shared experience was exciting and reassuring. There was also someone special who would be studying the same program: Ormond\u2019s future wife. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe actually got married at the college,\u201d he says. \u201cMy life is very much tied to this place.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n As a student, Ormond was in NC State\u2019s marching band for a year. He was also in the basketball pep band for longer, as he would continue through his second year of graduate school. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Ormond wasn\u2019t sure about his next steps after earning his bachelor\u2019s degree, but he received an opportunity to explore graduate school. He hadn\u2019t thought of anywhere else other than NC State.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n A quick change from the master\u2019s degree track to a <\/span>Ph.D. program in fiber and polymer science<\/span><\/a> meant that Ormond would be at the university much longer.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Well, he hasn\u2019t left. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI tell people I\u2019ve seen everything the college has to offer \u2014 from both sides of the classroom.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n After earning a Ph.D., Ormond did one year as a postdoctoral student. Then, he transitioned to becoming a research assistant professor. The next role, becoming a tenure-track professor, would be a test in persistence and patience. Ormond would learn that the third time was the charm with his application process. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Before applying to become a tenure-track professor, his first teaching experience was to lead a class previously taught by his former advisor, Professor Keith Beck. In this new space that required learning while on the job, Ormond\u2019s students were among his biggest supporters. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOne of the things that stuck out was students\u2019 feedback,\u201d Ormond says. \u201cThey appreciated what I did. They could tell I was going above and beyond for them. I came out not questioning myself, and it was through their validation.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Affirmations through course evaluations kept Ormond going. He had students and faculty cheering him on, and he was successful with his third application to join the faculty.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n In April, Ormond was recognized by the NC State Alumni Association. He was one of six faculty to receive an <\/span>Outstanding Teacher Award<\/span><\/a>, highlighting his excellence in teaching.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThere\u2019s nowhere else where I can do what I do, and work with the students, and teach classes, and the research and have the impact I know I can have here,\u201d Ormond says. \u201cPerfect place, perfect time. I\u2019m very lucky.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Today Ormond is one the top experts in his field. At the university, he\u2019s the go-to professor for firefighter protection gear. You may even see a firefighter wearing one of the <\/span>smoke-resistant turnout suits<\/span><\/a> that he developed.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n For firefighters, Ormond and his team began to think differently about personal protective equipment. It was now about thermal protection \u2014 and particulate protection. Think of dust, soot, dirt and potentially cancer-causing particles. The inhalation and absorption of such particles can have long- and short-term impacts on first responders.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe started shifting and saying, \u2018How do we make sure that [firefighters are] not just [safe] at the end of the day but [at] the end of the[ir] careers?\u2019\u201d Ormond says. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Currently, he is looking at groups who are often under-researched, including wildland firefighters and fire investigators. Wildland firefighters may be out in a fire-scorched scene without the opportunity to switch gear as often. They\u2019re being exposed to harmful chemicals for a longer period of time. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Fire investigators lack dress code regulations while being at the scene, and Ormond wants to help them dress for the occasion. He\u2019s working on a three-year project to evaluate different types of equipment and protective clothing. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n For him, seeing the connection between people, chemicals and protective equipment has been fascinating. It\u2019s been an honor to serve firefighters and the first responder community. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019re all working towards this goal of trying to separate those two terms of firefighter and cancer as much as we can because we owe it to them to be better in the PPE and give them the training and the resources that they need,\u201d he says. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n No one could have predicted that 2020 would require a worldwide effort to combat a pandemic and rush to save lives through effective face coverings. With very little to go off of at the time, Ormond did what he does best: connected with his tight-knit community to help others.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOn the last day I was allowed in [the Wilson College building], I picked up a couple of pieces of equipment and set up a lab in the home,\u201d Ormond says. \u201c<\/span>I set up a screening approach for face coverings.<\/span><\/a>\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Ormond\u2019s team committed to providing the best information they could at the moment, while preparing for future pandemics. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Once walking the halls as an undergraduate student, Ormond had now become a top expert for face covering guidance. He also sat on a committee to create design and performance guidelines for these life-saving accessories. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n More than anything, Ormond was proud that the world got to see textile manufacturers in action and serving others. It\u2019s what they do each day.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI don\u2019t think that was shown any better than the past year when so many textile manufacturers switched over,\u201d Ormond says. \u201cNot t-shirts anymore \u2014 now, we\u2019re making face coverings.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n If this past year has reminded Ormond of anything, it brings him back to the promise of a polymer and color chemistry degree. He shares this piece of advice: \u201cLet [students] know their work doesn\u2019t stay in one place. It\u2019s going to have an impact.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false,"raw":"\n\n\n\n\n By Jessica Roulhac<\/p>\n\n\n\n From student to tenure-track professor, the support of the Wilson College of Textiles faculty has been a common theme for <\/span>Assistant Professor of Textile Engineering, Chemistry and Science (TECS) Bryan Ormond<\/span><\/a> \u201907, \u201912, who also has a joint appointment in the <\/span>Textile Protection and Comfort Center<\/span><\/a> at the college.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n As a student, it was a greeting by name while walking down the hallway. As a professor and <\/span>one of the leading experts in the area of protecting first responders from dangerous chemicals<\/span><\/a>, it\u2019s the daily reminder that he\u2019s part of a tight-knit community that feels like home.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Ormond was the first in his family to attend a four-year university. The Pine Level, N.C., native\u2019s early steps on campus came by way of attending a luncheon at the college. Ormond wasn\u2019t quite sure what to expect, but his soon-to-be roommates would tag along \u2014 and the rest is history. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI think the first semester, being from a small town, the <\/span>[<\/span>then-College of Textiles] spoke to me,\u201d he says. \u201cThe Wilson College is very much a home to me now. Thinking about it the other day, I have actually been in this building for half of my life.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Ormond began his first year in <\/span>polymer and color chemistry<\/span><\/a> nearly two decades ago. In 2003, he was among the first cohort of students to participate in the program. The shared experience was exciting and reassuring. There was also someone special who would be studying the same program: Ormond\u2019s future wife. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe actually got married at the college,\u201d he says. \u201cMy life is very much tied to this place.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n As a student, Ormond was in NC State\u2019s marching band for a year. He was also in the basketball pep band for longer, as he would continue through his second year of graduate school. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Ormond wasn\u2019t sure about his next steps after earning his bachelor\u2019s degree, but he received an opportunity to explore graduate school. He hadn\u2019t thought of anywhere else other than NC State.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n A quick change from the master\u2019s degree track to a <\/span>Ph.D. program in fiber and polymer science<\/span><\/a> meant that Ormond would be at the university much longer.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Well, he hasn\u2019t left. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI tell people I\u2019ve seen everything the college has to offer \u2014 from both sides of the classroom.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n After earning a Ph.D., Ormond did one year as a postdoctoral student. Then, he transitioned to becoming a research assistant professor. The next role, becoming a tenure-track professor, would be a test in persistence and patience. Ormond would learn that the third time was the charm with his application process. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Before applying to become a tenure-track professor, his first teaching experience was to lead a class previously taught by his former advisor, Professor Keith Beck. In this new space that required learning while on the job, Ormond\u2019s students were among his biggest supporters. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOne of the things that stuck out was students\u2019 feedback,\u201d Ormond says. \u201cThey appreciated what I did. They could tell I was going above and beyond for them. I came out not questioning myself, and it was through their validation.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Affirmations through course evaluations kept Ormond going. He had students and faculty cheering him on, and he was successful with his third application to join the faculty.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n In April, Ormond was recognized by the NC State Alumni Association. He was one of six faculty to receive an <\/span>Outstanding Teacher Award<\/span><\/a>, highlighting his excellence in teaching.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThere\u2019s nowhere else where I can do what I do, and work with the students, and teach classes, and the research and have the impact I know I can have here,\u201d Ormond says. \u201cPerfect place, perfect time. I\u2019m very lucky.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Today Ormond is one the top experts in his field. At the university, he\u2019s the go-to professor for firefighter protection gear. You may even see a firefighter wearing one of the <\/span>smoke-resistant turnout suits<\/span><\/a> that he developed.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n For firefighters, Ormond and his team began to think differently about personal protective equipment. It was now about thermal protection \u2014 and particulate protection. Think of dust, soot, dirt and potentially cancer-causing particles. The inhalation and absorption of such particles can have long- and short-term impacts on first responders.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe started shifting and saying, \u2018How do we make sure that [firefighters are] not just [safe] at the end of the day but [at] the end of the[ir] careers?\u2019\u201d Ormond says. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Currently, he is looking at groups who are often under-researched, including wildland firefighters and fire investigators. Wildland firefighters may be out in a fire-scorched scene without the opportunity to switch gear as often. They\u2019re being exposed to harmful chemicals for a longer period of time. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\nSwitching roles<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Protecting first responders<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Protecting the Pack<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Switching roles<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Protecting first responders<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n