Sherry Haar

Dr. Sherry Haar serves as a Professor in the School of Consumer Sciences at Kansas State University's College of Health and Human Sciences, certified to direct doctoral and master's students in Fashion Studies. Her academic career bridges creative practice and scientific inquiry within sustainable fashion systems.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Apparel Product Design and Analysis, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (1998)
• M.S. in Textiles, Clothing and Design, University of Nebraska-Lincoln (1994)
• B.S. in Fashion and Textile Design, University of Nebraska-Lincoln (1987)

Her research pioneers ecological fashion design with intensive focus on natural dye chemistry and textile surface engineering. This work integrates artistic creation with rigorous scientific evaluation of dye-fastness, color properties, and therapeutic applications. A significant innovation includes patented therapeutic designs addressing sensory processing disorders in children, demonstrating cross-disciplinary impact between fashion science and clinical needs. Her scholarship consistently explores sustainability through material innovation and waste-reduction methodologies.

Teaching excellence defines her pedagogy across courses including Apparel Production, Fashion Illustration, and Textile Surface Design. She directs the Showcase of Excellence Event Planning course, cultivating industry-ready presentation skills. Her instructional approach emphasizes hands-on material experimentation while connecting design decisions to environmental consequences.

Award recognition spans teaching innovation, student mentorship, and research contributions to design scholarship. Her patented therapeutic solutions represent tangible industry applications of academic research. As a graduate faculty member, she actively shapes doctoral and master's candidates in fashion studies through rigorous thesis supervision and industry-connected projects.