Kent State announced Louise Valentine as the new director of the Shannon Rodgers and Jerry Silverman School of Fashion Design and Merchandising. 

Valentine, an applied design researcher, recently served as a professor and chair of design at the University of Dundee Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design, located in Scotland. In these positions, she oversaw doctoral degrees and served as lead supervisor of three researchers, who were sponsored by the Victoria and Albert Dundee Museum of Design, according to a university press release.  

“We are thrilled to have Louise join as our new fashion school director,” said John Crawford-Spinelli, dean of the College of the Arts, in a university press release. “She brings exceptional experience in research, innovation and design.”

Valentine holds a doctoral degree in design from the Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design. She is also an author and editor of “Prototype: Design and Craft in the 21st Century,” “Past, Present & Future Craft Practice” and “New Craft Future Voices.” 

“Kent State’s Fashion School has an excellent reputation and is establishing itself as one of the very best in the world, based on an outstanding student experience and research that transforms people’s lives through the arts,” Valentine said in the press release. “I very much look forward to leading the Fashion School in its next stage of development.”

Contact Paige Bennett at [email protected].