Faculty
Cox Crews. Patricia Cox Crews, Ph.D. is Willa Cather Professor of Textiles and Director of the International Quilt Study Center (IQSC) at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Her research remains focused on examining facets of textile history, especially the history of quiltmaking in America, to contribute to a better understanding and appreciation of women’s contributions to American society. Crews has published more than sixty papers concerning the history, conservation and performance properties of textiles. Nebraska Quilts and Quiltmakers (University of Nebraska Press, 1991) for which she served as primary editor and author of several chapters, won the Smithsonian's Frost Prize for Distinguished Scholarship in American Crafts in 1993. Wild by Design: Two Hundred Years of Innovation and Artistry in American Quilts ( University of Washington Press , 2003) won the Textile Society of America's 2003 Shep Award for the best book in the field. Other books include A Flowering of Quilts ( University of Nebraska Press , 2001), and Midwestern Amish Crib Quilts (Good Books, 2003).
Michael James, BFA, MFA, holds the Ardis James Professorship in Textiles, Clothing and Design. His research centers on the exploration of digital technologies in the development of fabric for and the creation of non-traditional wall quilts and fabric constructions. He is the author and his work the subject of several books, and his work is included in numerous museum collections, notably those of the Museum of Arts and Design in New York City , and the Smithsonian Institution in Washington , DC .
Harriet McLeod examines dress in work-related environments. Recent topics of interest include: (1) effects of philanthropic clothing gifts on low-income women, and (2) saliency of aesthetics, conformity and ethnicity on African-American male executives and managers. Dr. McLeod's teaching and research specifically focus on the social-psychological aspects of appearance and clothing in society.
Nancy Miller is an Associate Professor in merchandising. Dr. Miller's teaching and research centers on textile and apparel merchandising along with small business opportunities in rural communities. Current projects focus on family business practices, strategic business networking, and rural community marketplace exchange. Dr. Miller conducts multidisciplinary research with sociologists and ag economists, as well as family finance and small business specialists. Research findings are disseminated via journal publications, presentations, Extension education materials, and by working with small business owners throughout the Midwest . Dr. Miller has more than 25 peer-reviewed publications and has generated $750,000+ in external grant funding.
Shirley Niemeyer is a Professor in Housing and the Environment with a research and extension appointment. The housing and environment research focuses on housing and policy issues including recent regulations impacting housing transactions, and on housing and community vitality. The extension program focus is on healthy sustainable homes including indoor air quality, energy efficiency and safety. Niemeyer has published more that 147 peer-reviewed publications, technical papers and educational publications including 7 national and 16 regional publications and curricula. Dr. Niemeyer has received the national 2006 Housing Education & Research Association Distinguished Service Award, the 2002 Gamma Sigma Delta Extension Award of Merit, and was a member of the HomeASyst team that received the 1998 Hammer Handle Award presented by the U.S. Vice President of United States for creative new programs. She has served as President of the Housing Education & Research Association, the Division Chair for AAFCS Housing & Environment, and is a member of Cather Circle.
Barbara Trout's scholarly interests lie in the area of apparel design with emphasis on historic dress. Through the interpretation of historic aspects of dress Dr. Trout creates original garments that project the ambiguities and functions of dress in society. She is also interested in basket weaving traditions of Native America and Japan and uses fiber to explore the idea of containment through the creation of small fiber vessels. Her design work has been exhibited nationally and abroad. She also curates the department's historic costume collection and develops well researched programs and exhibitions on the evolution of 20th century women's dress.
Wendy Weiss is professor of textile design and director of the Robert Hillestad Textiles Gallery. In her own creative work, she collaborates with sound artist and musical instrument inventor Jay Kreimer to create animated, hand woven installations. She has exhibited her weavings and installations in Austria , Korea , India , Poland , Canada , as well as throughout the United States . As the director of the gallery she has produced three catalogs of contemporary textile artists and two nationally touring exhibitions. She works with the gallery committee to maintain a roster of visiting national and international artists who come to campus to lecture and teach workshops throughout the academic year.
Diane Vigna, Ph. D. is Associate Professor and Extension Specialist for Textiles and Apparel. Vigna’s background is in interior and apparel design. She is an entrepreneur who has worked as an interior designer, real estate salesperson, owned and managed an antiques business, and a craftsman’s cooperative business prior to pursuing a career in higher education. Vigna’s extension work focuses on Nebraska’s textile and apparel industry, entrepreneurship, rural retailing, and small business networks. She serves as content specialist for 4-H Youth Development in the areas of clothing, quilts, and entrepreneurship.
Yiqi Yang. A Professor of Textile Science, joined the faculty in 2001 from Professor and Director of Coloration and Finishing at the Institute of Textile Technology. His research interests are in green polymers and materials, biotextile engineering, and fiber and textile chemistry. Examples of his research include development of new cellulose, protein and synthetic fibers from agricultural byproducts, and application of green materials in textile, composite and medical industries. Dr. Yang has extensive experience in fiber and textile productions and close relationship with fiber and textile industries internationally. Dr. Yang has more than one hundred refereed publications and seven patents. His work was featured by Science, Green Chemistry as the cover story, Chemical and Engineering News, Science News, American Chemical Society News Service and many major televisions and newspapers throughout the world.
