{"id":60457,"date":"2024-04-18T16:45:17","date_gmt":"2024-04-18T20:45:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/?p=60457"},"modified":"2024-04-18T19:12:05","modified_gmt":"2024-04-18T23:12:05","slug":"wilson-college-facultys-research-mentorship-earns-her-university-honors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/news\/2024\/04\/wilson-college-facultys-research-mentorship-earns-her-university-honors\/","title":{"rendered":"Wilson College Faculty\u2019s Research, Mentorship Earns Her University Honors"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n

For Wilson College of Textiles Associate Professor Ericka Ford<\/a>, there was no better place to learn she had been named a University Faculty Scholar<\/a> than on a bus surrounded by the students she has dedicated her career to serving. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe University Faculty Scholar award is designed to recognize the rising stars \u2014 the ones who are doing exceptional work in a variety of ways,\u201d Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Faculty Excellence Jeff Joines<\/a> says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Ford, this takes the form of not only five licensed patents, 29 peer-reviewed publications, over $3.7 million in research awards and a Goodnight Early Career Award<\/a> \u2014 but also an unwavering commitment to mentoring the next generation of textile innovators. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ford with the Textile Technology and Engineering Society and African American Textile Society on a field trip to textile company Unifi. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

So when she received word of her newest accolade while leading a field trip for two student organizations, it felt right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt was amazing to get that honor while on a field trip to mentor students and get to inspire them with what their careers could look like,\u201d Ford says. \u201cIt was really fitting the way it all came together.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Innovating a greener textile future<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Ford has a joint appointment with the Department of Textile Engineering, Chemistry and Science<\/a> and the Nonwovens Institute<\/a>, meaning the research and innovations she contributes to span a wide range of topics \u2014 from 3D-printed affordable housing to plant-based hair extensions. However, they all share a common thread: a vision for a more environmentally friendly textile industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe textile industry is becoming more green,\u201d Ford says. \u201cWe\u2019re looking at the waste that has been produced. We\u2019re coming up with solutions through circularity and using green materials.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ford groups her research into three categories: sustainable manufacturing of low-cost carbon fibers, a smaller environmental footprint for the textile fiber industry, and nanotechnologies for environmental remediation and performance textiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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