Chialin Wu

Chialin Wu brings over two decades of professional experience in fashion design and merchandising, apparel construction, and textile development to her role as Assistant Professor in the School of Fashion Design and Merchandising at Kent State University. Her work bridges creative innovation with practical industry applications, and she is deeply committed to mentoring the next generation of fashion professionals through hands-on, skills-based instruction.

Professor Wu has held senior positions throughout the fashion industry, including Lead Product Developer at JOANN Stores, Inc., and Art Director at Russell Newman Inc., where she led textile design and creative direction for national retail brands. She also served as Senior Textile Graphic Designer at J.C. Penney, overseeing the development of original print and fabric designs for the company’s private label collections. Across these roles, she has managed end-to-end design processes, product lifecycle development, brand merchandising, and collaboration with global sourcing teams.

With a Master of Fine Arts in Fashion Design (minor in Fiber) from the University of North Texas and an MBA from Texas Woman’s University, Professor Wu’s academic and creative foundation is complemented by a strong technical skill set. She has extensive expertise in fashion illustration, apparel construction, patternmaking, and digital textile design. Her teaching emphasizes both aesthetic vision and technical precision, helping students master the essential components of design and production from concept to finished garment.

Professor Wu is especially passionate about fostering creativity and craftsmanship in studio-based learning environments, where students develop their design thinking, sewing techniques, and visual storytelling through illustration and fabric work.