Division and Alumni News

Fashion student designs store for children with disabilities, wins scholarship

TWU student Taylor Davis, a double-major in fashion design and fashion merchandising, was awarded first place and a $2,500 scholarship in the digital merchandising store planning category of this year’s Fashion Group International (FGI) of Dallas Scholarship Competition. Davis’ winning design concept, “Metrix,” imagines an adaptive clothing boutique designed for children with special needs. 

TWU fashion merchandising alumnus participates in National Retail Federation panel

Christian Sopoco, a 2016 NRF Foundation Next Generation Scholarship finalist and TWU fashion merchandising alumnus, participated in a recent panel discussion with two other young retail professionals during the NRF Foundation Student Program 2020. Sopoco is now a merchandise analyst at Nordstrom in Seattle.

"You have to have confidence, but you also have to understand that you don't know it all and you need help. Mentorship is a route that you can take to get you where you need to be," said Sopoco.

Carla Robertson (BS '85): Mending seams and broken dreams through education, community service

For Texas Woman’s alumna Carla Robertson (BS ‘85), fashion has always been a do-it-yourself endeavor. At the age of six, Robertson learned how to sew from her mother. By the time she was 12, she was making all of her own clothes, and at 16, she began sewing custom creations for private clients.

Out of the dark and into the light: A domestic violence survivor’s journey to the runway

In less than a month, domestic violence and sexual assault survivor turned fashion design major Jennifer Stanley will have her three-piece collection, “Rise of Venus,” walk the runway. Her collection was chosen by Fashion for Good for the Celebrate Texas Runway event, which will take place in Houston Nov. 15-16. Anna Magie, Ph.D., associate professor of fashion merchandising, said Stanley is highly motivated and always working on a project to help the community.

Doctoral program alumna Doze Y. Butler named dean/director for University of Arkansas school

Doze Y. Butler, Ph.D., has been named dean/director for the School of Agriculture, Fisheries and Human Sciences (SAFHS) at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB). In this position, she will provide leadership for the three academic departments in the School as well as its research, Extension, outreach and international programs. She earned her doctoral degree in clothing and merchandising in 1992 from Texas Woman’s University.