{"id":53287,"date":"2023-10-20T10:01:12","date_gmt":"2023-10-20T14:01:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/?p=53287"},"modified":"2023-10-20T10:01:14","modified_gmt":"2023-10-20T14:01:14","slug":"meredith-corley-14-a-talented-product-development-engineer-joins-the-deans-young-alumni-leadership-council","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/news\/2023\/10\/meredith-corley-14-a-talented-product-development-engineer-joins-the-deans-young-alumni-leadership-council\/","title":{"rendered":"Meredith Corley \u201914, a Talented Product Development Engineer, Joins the Dean\u2019s Young Alumni Leadership Council"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n

Meredith (McKague) Corley’s senior year of high school took an unexpected turn the first day she entered her science classroom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was all thanks to a match, a sliver of cotton and a recruiter from NC State\u2019s Wilson College of Textiles<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSeeing that recruiter light different types of cotton on fire was the most fascinating thing I\u2019d ever seen,\u201d Corley remarks. \u201cThen, after researching the textile industry and the Wilson College, I realized it was everything I was looking for in a school.\u201d

She would get to experience the best of both worlds: attending a large school while still enjoying a small school atmosphere, and pursuing a \u201cnon-stuffy\u201d STEM major that would put her on the path to a successful and interesting career. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Corley credits her bachelor\u2019s degree in textile technology<\/a> for making that possible. After she graduated in 2014, she was quickly hired as a fabric and color specialist at Spanx. In that role, she ensured that the company\u2019s products consistently used superior colors and high-quality fabrics. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After that position, Corley relocated from Atlanta, Georgia, to Fort Myers, Florida, to work at Chico\u2019s in a variety of positions, including the color coordinator for Chico\u2019s and White House Black Market, the assistant colorist at Soma, and finally as the associate manager of raw materials at Soma. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her career trajectory also included stops at ICO Uniforms and Carter\u2019s Inc. before she accepted her current position as the product development engineer at Antigua Apparel. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Outside of the workplace, Corley looks forward to sharing her talents with the Wilson College of Textiles as one of the newest Dean\u2019s Young Alumni Leadership Council<\/a> members. This volunteer position will allow her to provide leadership and guidance \u2014 specifically regarding alumni engagement and fundraising \u2014 to Dean David Hinks and the North Carolina Textile Foundation<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learn more about Corley\u2019s career journey by reading her Q&A below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Degree<\/strong> B.S. Textile Technology<\/a>, 2014
Job Title <\/strong>Product Development Engineer, Antigua Apparel
Current City<\/strong> Atlanta, Georgia
Hometown<\/strong> Fayetteville, North Carolina<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is your fondest memory of being at NC State and the Wilson College of Textiles?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

By my senior year, all of my classes were with a small group of people. I loved working and studying with friends who I’d been with since my first year on campus. Winning Senior Design Day with my group was a huge highlight as well! I was so proud of my team and myself after a year of hard work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
When she was a senior at the Wilson College of Textiles, Meredith Corley (right) teamed up with Shikha Singh (right) and Jordan Sorensen (center) for their Senior Design project, “Born on Date T-Shirt Tags<\/a>.” Their project won during Senior Design Day in 2014.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Who influenced you most during your time at the Wilson College of Textiles? And why or how?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

My textile technology<\/a> classmates were a huge influence, even if they didn’t know it at the time! They were a huge help when it came to studying and projects. I always felt like we were cheering on each other’s accomplishments in the classroom, which then turned into cheering each other on when we secured jobs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How did your education at the Wilson College of Textiles prepare you for what you are doing today?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It prepared me in every way! I love coming up with extremely specific, seemingly small changes that impact product performance in a huge way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n