Rate My Professor Laurie Apple

Dr. Laurie Apple is an Associate Professor in the School of Human Environmental Sciences at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, serving as the area coordinator for the Apparel Merchandising and Product Development program in the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences. She earned a Ph.D. in Design, Housing, and Merchandising from Oklahoma State University in 1996, an M.S. in Fashion Merchandising from the University of Arkansas in 1991, and a B.S. from the University of Arkansas. Dr. Apple joined the University of Arkansas faculty around 2003 and was granted tenure and promotion to Associate Professor in 2007. Her career at the institution spans over two decades, during which she has contributed significantly to apparel education and research.

In her teaching, Dr. Apple instructs senior-level computer-aided design courses utilizing industry software such as Optitex and Lectra Kaledo. Her academic interests and research specializations include apparel merchandising, product development, consumer behavior, sustainable fashion practices, design innovation, and production techniques. She authored the Introduction to Apparel Production Workbook, featuring sewing patterns for tote bags, skirts, shirts, and pants. Dr. Apple has mentored numerous undergraduate and graduate students on research projects documented in the university's ScholarWorks repository, covering topics such as consumer perceptions of quality in ladies' swimwear, appropriate online behaviors reported by students, eco-cosplay as a sustainable costuming method, and pattern block adaptations for post-double mastectomy women. She has co-presented this research at international conferences, including recent events with apparel merchandising faculty and students.

Dr. Apple has earned recognition for her excellence, including multiple Outstanding International Education Awards from Bumpers College, the 2016 Innovation Award shared with School of Human Environmental Sciences colleagues, and service awards at the division, college, and university levels. She serves on the Bumpers College International Faculty Committee and engages in outreach activities, such as leading fashion and sewing summer camps for ages 8-10 at Crystal Bridges Museum, creating woven art installations for Walmart's home office using apparel merchandising techniques, and participating in public online events like Facebook Live fashion discussions with alumni designers.