Jennifer Harmon

  

Assistant Professor
Design, Merchandising and Textiles Program Option

Education

Ph.D. Human Sciences, Fashion and Retail Specialization, Sociology Minor
The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio

M.S. Human Sciences, Fashion and Retail Specialization
The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio

B.S. Family and Consumer Sciences, Business Minor
Illinois State University, Normal, Illinois

Teaching Philosophy

I have always had a passion for education and learning. As a teacher, I strive to instill the same passion for learning in my students by maintaining an active learning atmosphere and applying course materials and concepts to students’ daily lives. I enjoy teaching a variety of subjects, particularly those which allow students to apply their knowledge through writing or creative projects.

Research Interests

My interest in psychology, perceptions of the body, and the individual reaction to clothing has led to my current research interest in body image. I have been a part of a number of research projects investigating various topics including obesity bias in college personal service majors, response to fashion image enhancement warning labels and overweight children’s response to athletic clothing. In the future, I plan to continue working in the area of body image through projects investigating media influence and childhood experiences.

Creative Scholarship

I found my passion for clothing construction during a home economics course taken in high school. Since then, I have shifted my focus from creating aesthetically pleasing clothing to the creation of garments which serve the larger purpose of encouraging sustainability throughout the construction chain. My work employs minimal and zero-waste techniques, repurposing discarded materials and exploring unusual textile mediums.

Professional Memberships

• American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists
• International Textile and Apparel Association

Selected Works

Harmon, J. (2014). On the Fringe: Adventures with Minimal Waste, Convertibility, and Budget International Textile and Apparel Association 2014 conference; Charlotte, North Carolina.

Rudd, N. A., Harmon, J., Heiss, V., & Buckworth, J. (2015). Obesity bias and body image: How do fashion and retail students compare to other personal service majors?. International Journal of Fashion Design, Technology and Education, 8(1), 30-38.

Harmon , J. & Rudd, N.A. (2016). Breaking the Illusion: The effects of adding warning labels identifying digital enhancement on fashion magazine advertisements. Forthcoming to Fashion, Style and Popular Culture.