Janet Blood, Fashion Merchandising

The College of Health and Human Services has selected Dr. Janet Blood, assistant professor of fashion merchandising (Human Development and Environmental Studies Department), to receive its 2011 Outstanding Teacher Award.

Blood was recognized as a “learning facilitator” who “inspires students to be creative with their discovered talents and to keep seeking answers and solutions to the questions and problems they will encounter not only in their schooling, but also beyond.”

She was also recognized for being student focused and hands on in her teaching.

Blood has been at IUP since 2004. She is the faculty advisor for the IUP Fashion Association and has supervised members in an annual fashion show and the Attire to Aspire program at Indiana Career Link.

In April, Blood won Best Overall honors in the 2010 Association of Sewing and Design Professionals' “Suit Your Style” design challenge.

The challenge, sponsored by Threads Magazine, involved transforming a commercial sewing pattern (Vogue 2898) through pattern-making techniques. Her winning ensemble was featured in the April–May 2011 issue of Threads.

She was recently elected to a two-year term as vice president of Education for the Association of Sewing and Design Professionals, a group that supports people in sewing and design-related businesses in both commercial and home-based settings.