Diane Petrella, dean of the College of the Arts is pleased to announce that associate professor Mourad Krifa, Ph.D. will serve as the Interim Director of the School of Fashion Design and Merchandising beginning May 15, 2022.
"Dr. Krifa has a long record of excellence in teaching, research and academic leadership in the field of textiles and apparel, with research that encompasses diverse activities and interests spanning the larger part of the textiles and apparel value chain," said Dean Petrella. "Professor Krifa has served as the Research Coordinator for the School of Fashion since 2021 and brings over twenty years of collegiate teaching and research experience to this new role."
Dr. Krifa earned a Diploma of Industrial Engineer in textiles and clothing from the “Institut Supérieur Industriel”, in Verviers, Belgium. He then moved to France and earned his M.S. in textile and para-textile materials and processes and a Ph.D. in Fibers & Textiles from the University of Haute Alsace, which houses the leading French program in the field of textiles and apparel recognized by the National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS). Dr. Krifa has more than seventeen years of post-doctoral experience with a record of excellence in teaching, research and academic leadership in the field of textiles and apparel. His teaching portfolio comprises a variety of undergraduate and graduate courses, including global sourcing and apparel value chain management, research methods applied to textiles and fashion merchandising, consumer and social media research, applied statistics, natural fiber competitiveness and sustainability and textile and apparel manufacturing. Dr. Krifa's research encompasses diverse activities and interests spanning the larger part of the textiles and apparel value chain. His early endeavors have focused on natural fiber production and utilization. More recently, his research initiatives have centered on consumers and their interactions with textile and apparel products in the context of hastening innovation in both material (e.g., nanotechnology) and information technology.
The College of the Arts will begin a national search for the Director of the School of Fashion position.