After almost three decades of being an MU tiger, Dr. Laurel Wilson, a professor in the textile and apparel management department, is retiring after this semester. Maybe some of you collegiettes have gotten to know her in a TAM class or two, but there’s a lot more to Dr. Wilson than meets the eye!
Her Campus Mizzou: What has been your favorite part about being a professor here at Mizzou?
Laurel Wilson: Sharing history with my students is just fun! I really enjoy working with historic collections. My favorite course to teach is TAM 3510 History of Western Dress. I also enjoy teaching grad classes on material culture. I’m currently working on creating an exhibit on western dress. I love working with students and have created many great relationships with some of them. Sometimes they come back and visit me here or e-mail or Facebook me.
HCM: When did you start teaching? How did you end up at MU?
LW: I began teaching here in 1985 and have been here for the past 27 years. I was a grad student at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and taught apparel production. I majored in home economics at Montana State University and ended up teaching it for two years in Hot Springs, Mont. I then taught general home economics, which entailed cooking, sewing and child care, for three years in Rochester, N.Y. Next my husband and I moved to California, and I was a weaving apprentice for a year and then ran my own sewing business for three years. After that I decided to go back to grad school at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. When I was there, I saw a job announcement for a historic and design position at MU, and it fit my background perfectly! My husband and I are big Mizzou fans. He works in the veterinary medicine department here as a photographer.
HCM: What’s one of your fondest memories from your time at MU?
LW: A memory that really sticks out to me was when I received a William T. Kemper Fellowship for teaching excellence. I felt so honored to be recognized!
HCM: What’s something unique about you that most students don’t know?
LW: Most students don’t know that I was a Peace Corps volunteer in Fortaleza, Brazil. I was in the state of Ceara, which is located in the tip of South America right on the seacoast. I always wanted to live somewhere different. I became interested in volunteering for the Peace Corps because my husband’s brother was a volunteer in India and always raved about his time there. My husband and I volunteered together for two years and traveled throughout Brazil and South America on our way back home. However we were unable to go to Argentina or Chile because they were politically unstable at this time. My favorite part about traveling was seeing Machu Picchu.
HCM: What did you do in Brazil as a volunteer?
LW: I worked with a textile instructor and professor, and I studied costume history. I created slide shows of history and went to stores and bought fabric to make textile samples for students. I also worked in a textile lab.
HCM: What do you plan to do once you’ve retired?
LW: I have a list that is a mile long! I want to be outside more, hike with my dog and garden more often. I also want to canoe more. I bought a brand new sewing machine and am learning how to use it. I have also picked up weaving. I wove my first baby blanket, but it needs some improvement! I’ll miss classes and meeting and spending time with students, but I certainly won’t miss grading papers!