{"id":48261,"date":"2023-04-03T17:54:38","date_gmt":"2023-04-03T21:54:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/?p=48261"},"modified":"2023-10-19T13:58:00","modified_gmt":"2023-10-19T17:58:00","slug":"a-connection-that-began-as-a-child-was-driven-home-by-this-alums-love-for-textiles-and-her-passion-to-stay-involved","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/news\/2023\/04\/a-connection-that-began-as-a-child-was-driven-home-by-this-alums-love-for-textiles-and-her-passion-to-stay-involved\/","title":{"rendered":"An Alum’s Love for Textiles Drives a Lifelong Connection to Her Alma Mater"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n

The ride from her hometown to NC State\u2019s sprawling campus is one that Katelyn (Patrick) Bell \u201913, \u201915 has taken hundreds \u2014 if not thousands \u2014 of times. That familiar route from Highway 49 to Highway 64 is one she could probably drive with her eyes closed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When she was a child, her father drove those two-and-a-half hours from Charlotte to Raleigh while she napped in the back seat. After turning 16, Bell sat behind the steering wheel herself and sang along loudly to top-40 radio hits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, as a Durham resident and a proud graduate of NC State\u2019s Wilson College of Textiles<\/a>, Bell visits campus much more frequently. She can often be found cheering alongside her husband and NC State alumnus, Mark Bell \u201915, and their seven-month-old son, Tate, at Wolfpack football and baseball games. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Katelyn
State Mates Katelyn Bell ’13, ’15 and Mark Bell ’15 are already teaching seven-month-old Tate how to properly cheer on the Wolfpack.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI love supporting the Pack any chance I get,\u201d she says. \u201cI joined the Junior Wolfpack Club when I was younger, and now I\u2019ve been a proud member of the Wolfpack Club since 2009. My dad is a 1973 NC State graduate, so I was born and bred to become a Wolfpack fan.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her father\u2019s affinity for NC State led Bell to consider the Wilson College of Textiles when she was exploring prospective degree programs as a high school senior. Torn between studying history at another university and textiles at NC State, her father\u2019s support pushed her to follow in his footsteps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGoing to NC State was one of the best decisions \u2018we\u2019 ever made,\u201d she says, chuckling while thinking of her father\u2019s persistent urging. \u201cIt gave me the large school environment I had always craved, and the Wilson College of Textiles afforded me the small community I was accustomed to. It was the best of both worlds.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Katelyn
Katelyn and her father, Michael Patrick ’73, share a love for NC State and their beloved Wolfpack. He proudly cheered her on during both of her commencement ceremonies where she earned degrees from the Wilson College of Textiles.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

After graduating in 2013 with her bachelor\u2019s degree in fashion and textile management<\/a>, Bell went on to pursue a Master of Science in Textiles<\/a>. Her thesis explored the trend and consumption of casual fitness clothing, commonly referred to as athleisure. With her family cheering her on, Bell proudly walked across the commencement stage in 2015 to earn her second Wilson College of Textiles degree. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, she is the product marketing specialist at Trivantage, a division of Glen Raven \u2014 best known for manufacturing the popular Sunbrella fabric. In her role, Bell executes and oversees effective product launches, marketing campaigns and event initiatives to promote long-term organizational growth. The majority of the products and materials she’s worked with can be found on luxury yachts, commercial and residential shade structures, and waterproof outdoor furniture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Katelyn
As the product marketing specialist at Trivantage, Katelyn Bell executes and oversees effective product launches, marketing campaigns and event initiatives. In this photo, she’s reviewing fabric selections for upcoming product shoots and sample tool creation.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Bell remains connected to her college as a member of the Dean\u2019s Young Alumni Leadership Council (DYALC)<\/a>. The DYALC, which consists of 18 alumni members under the age of 40, provides guidance to the dean of the college. Since joining the DYALC in 2020, her enthusiastic participation along with the entire council\u2019s leadership has directly benefited the college\u2019s success in alumni engagement and fundraising.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI owe so much to the Wilson College of Textiles, and I\u2019m grateful to work in this industry,\u201d Bell says. \u201cI couldn\u2019t be prouder to work for Glen Raven, and our college prepared me in every way possible for what I\u2019m doing today. The Wilson College of Textiles offers such a unique program, so each student leaves campus very well rounded.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Degree<\/strong> B.S. Fashion and Textile Management<\/a>, 2013 (Concentration: Brand Management and Marketing<\/a>) and M.S. Textiles<\/a>, 2015
Job Title<\/strong> Product Marketing Specialist, Glen Raven
Current City<\/strong> Durham, North Carolina
Hometown<\/strong> Charlotte, North Carolina<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Please describe your current volunteer and leadership experience.<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

I’m in my third term of serving on the Dean’s Young Alumni Leadership Council<\/a>. I spent the first two years serving on the recruitment committee and am now helping with multiple initiatives including ones focusing on recruitment, Day of Giving<\/a> and student events. Also, I have been a volunteer advisor for the Epsilon Beta chapter of Chi Omega for more than seven years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n