Research Assistant Professor, Wilson College of Textiles, NC State University

Working within NC State’s Textile Protection and Comfort Center (T-PACC), Cassandra Kwon develops protective clothing for first responders and military personnel, translating textile research into garments built for high-risk environments.

Her current project, funded by the Department of Homeland Security, focuses on station wear for emergency medical personnel and firefighters, bringing together material research, ergonomic fit, and wear trials with local first responders through to final prototype. The work reflects a consistently interdisciplinary approach: her doctoral research, completed in collaboration with NC State’s biomedical engineering department, examined compression testing methods for medical hosiery, helping manufacturers better understand how pressure is applied and performs in their products.

Kwon came to research through Wilson College’s undergraduate program, a master’s in design management at London College of Fashion, and a period in retail product development that highlighted gaps in textile knowledge at the industry level. She returned to NC State for her PhD, later joining T-PACC as a postdoctoral researcher. She also teaches Introduction to Fiber Science to undergraduate students at Wilson College.

Education

• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Textile Technology Management, NC State University, 2014
• Master of Arts (MA), Design Management, London College of Fashion, University of the Arts London, 2008
• Bachelor of Science (BS), Textiles and Apparel Management, NC State University, 2004