![\"Ciara](\"https:\/\/tex-cloud-cdn.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/textiles-ncsu\/20231108100708\/ciara-oden-kenon-blackwood-rachel-foote.jpg\")
What was your favorite place on campus and why?<\/strong>
The James B. Hunt, Jr. Library<\/a>. It was the best place to take naps!
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Who influenced you most during your time at the Wilson College of Textiles?<\/strong>
Professor Jeff Joines<\/a>. I love how passionate he is about his students and his job. He supported me throughout my entire time as a student.<\/p>\n\n\n
\n\n\u201cBe open to change. In college, I had my entire future mapped out. Everything I am doing now is completely different than my plan, but I wouldn\u2019t have it any other way.\u201d
– Ciara Oden \u201916<\/p>\n <\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\nHow did your education at the Wilson College of Textiles prepare you for what you are doing today?<\/strong>
After graduating, I spent five years in corporate retail where I was able to apply my base knowledge of textiles to my immediate role. <\/p>\n\n\n\nAre there things that you know now that you wished you had known as a student?<\/strong>
Be open to change. In college, I had my entire future mapped out. Needless to say, everything I am doing now is completely different than my original plan, but I wouldn\u2019t have it any other way.<\/p>\n\n\n\nDescribe your career path.<\/strong>
I graduated from NC State in 2016. After graduating, I immediately moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where I worked at Kohl\u2019s corporate headquarters as a product development coordinator for two years. <\/p>\n\n\n\nAfter that time, I moved back to North Carolina to be closer to my family \u2014 where I began working at a smaller company called TTI Global Resources, Inc., which develops and manufactures socks and hosiery. While there, I spent most of my time developing socks for Adidas. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I stayed at TTI Global for a little under a year before moving to Charlotte to work at Belk\u2019s corporate office as an assistant product manager in the home goods department. There, I designed and developed comforters, pillows, sheets and towels. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Once the pandemic hit, I made the decision to enter the technology industry. In my new role, I serve as a presales solution associate at SAP<\/a>, which is one of the world\u2019s leading producers of software for the management of business processes \u2014 including those used within supply chain management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
View Ciara\u2019s LinkedIn profile<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false,"raw":"\n\n\n\n\n
By Kamilah Heslop<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ciara Oden '16<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Hometown<\/strong>
Greenville, NC<\/p>\n\n\n\nDegrees<\/strong>
B.S. Textile Technology<\/a>, 2016<\/p>\n\n\n\nJob Title<\/strong>
Solution Advisor
SAP<\/p>\n\n\n\nCurrent City<\/strong>
Atlanta, GA
Why did you choose NC State and the Wilson College of Textiles?<\/strong>
I chose NC State and the Wilson College of Textiles because of the Summer Textile Exploration Program<\/a> (STEP). I was one of the few students who was able to explore and learn about NC State and the textiles industry through the program. It was such a fun experience and ultimately sparked my interest in textiles.
<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat activities were you involved in as an NC State student and how did they impact your experience?<\/strong>
Throughout my undergraduate career, I was a group fitness instructor at the Wellness and Recreation Center<\/a>. My time as an instructor helped me to stay fit but also allowed me to meet and connect with tons of people! Some of whom I am still in contact with today.
<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat are some of your fondest memories of being at NC State and the Wilson College of Textiles?<\/strong>
My fondest memory is working on my senior project<\/a> with Professor Russell Gorga<\/a> and Professor Jess Jur. It was an amazing hands-on experience and was a glimpse into the real world.
We were able to travel out of the country to Honduras to view the real-life production of t-shirts. I also loved the freedom that came with working on our senior project. It was definitely a 10\/10 experience.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\nCiara Oden '16 worked alongside Kenon Blackwood '17 and Rachel Foote '16 on their senior design project, \"Causes and Solutions to Torque in Apparel,\" sponsored by Gildan Activewear, Inc.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n What was your favorite place on campus and why?<\/strong>
The James B. Hunt, Jr. Library<\/a>. It was the best place to take naps!
<\/p>\n\n\n\nWho influenced you most during your time at the Wilson College of Textiles?<\/strong>
Professor Jeff Joines<\/a>. I love how passionate he is about his students and his job. He supported me throughout my entire time as a student.<\/p>\n\n\n\nOnce the pandemic hit, I made the decision to enter the technology industry. In my new role, I serve as a presales solution associate at SAP<\/a>, which is one of the world\u2019s leading producers of software for the management of business processes \u2014 including those used within supply chain management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
View Ciara\u2019s LinkedIn profile<\/a>.<\/p>\n"},"excerpt":{"rendered":"