We are thrilled to announce two new faculty hires in the School of Fashion. Dr. Laura McAndrews will join us as associate professor and Robert Pettys-Baker as assistant professor beginning in Fall 2024.
Laura McAndrews received her Ph.D. and M.S. from the University of Missouri. Before returning to academia, she worked for nine years in the fashion industry in product development, design, and research and development for Ralph Lauren, The Gap and Anthropologie. She also received her A.A.S. in fashion design from Parson's School of Design and B.S. in fashion merchandising from Kansas State University. Since 2015, Laura has been an assistant professor of design and product development at the University of Georgia, where her teaching has focused on bringing her industry experiences into the classroom while developing the design and product development emphasis. Her overarching research focus is in the interconnectedness of the people in the global apparel supply chain, asking the question: How can researchers and educators shatter the mainstream illusion of the fashion industry to amplify all voices participating in the global apparel supply chain? She is thrilled to join the School of Fashion and learn and grow as an educator and researcher from the esteemed faculty.
Robert Pettys-Baker is graduating this Spring with a Ph.D. in human factors and ergonomics from the University of Minnesota. He previously received a Bachelor of Science in apparel design and Master of Science in apparel studies from the University of Minnesota. Robert’s research interests center on the design of wearable technologies from a soft goods perspective, with an emphasis on haptics, user experience and wearability. His previous work has spanned from developing medical devices to researching social aspects of dress to understand consumer attitudes towards design and retail. His dissertation work has focused on questioning conventional methods for producing soft robotic skin stretch devices on the body; detailing key design metrics for improved functionality of skin stretch haptics on the body.
Please join us in extending a warm welcome to Laura and Robbie as they prepare to enter our school community!
Photo: Dr. Laura McAndrews (left); Robert Pettys-Baker (right)