Mary Ruppert-Stroescu

Mary Ruppert-Stroescu is an Associate Professor and Area Coordinator of Fashion Design at Washington University in St. Louis. She holds a doctorate in Human Environmental Sciences from the University of Missouri. Her research focuses on creativity in fashion design, sustainable textile practices, and interdisciplinary collaborations with engineers and medical scientists on wearable electronic textiles for health monitoring. She has been recognized with awards including the 2023 Convergence Award and the 2022 Advisor of the Year Award.

Her academic programs include the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Fashion Design and Bachelor of Arts in Design. She emphasizes student-centered learning, fostering critical thinking and diverse learning styles. Her intellectual property includes a patent for 'Textile Repurposing and Sustainable Garment Design' and other inventions.

Ruppert-Stroescu’s work has been showcased in exhibitions like the ITAA Design Exhibition (2023) and 're:SURFACED' at Fontbonne University (2019). Her research spans biomedical informatics, wearable technology, and aesthetic theory, with peer-reviewed publications in journals like IEEE and Clothing and Textiles Research Journal.

She has advised students now in global fashion industry roles and received accolades for service-learning initiatives. Collaborations with engineers and medical scientists highlight her commitment to addressing health and wellbeing through innovative textile solutions.