Textiles Extension Associate Director at Zeis honored with Outstanding Extension Prize
Melissa Sharp, the associate director of the Zeis Textiles Extension (ZTE) at North Carolina State University (NC State), has made significant strides in the textile industry, particularly in the areas of sustainability and innovation.
In March 2024, Sharp secured a $160 million grant to establish the Textile Innovation Engine, a non-profit organisation dedicated to advancing sustainable textile industry innovation, not only nationally but also in North Carolina. This funding stream supports 16 core research projects and six new research and development projects focused on sustainable textile innovation in the state.
Sharp's journey with the Textile Innovation Engine began with a successful proposal to create the organisation, with Sharp serving as the university's lead representative pitching the concept. Her collaborative approach has also helped secure over $435,000 in industry funding for NC State initiatives, as highlighted in a letter from Andre West, ZTE's director.
Sharp's work extends beyond the Textile Innovation Engine. She is currently helping to design a multi-year strategy for the organisation, including the development of the textile industry's next-generation workforce in North Carolina.
In addition to her work with the Textile Innovation Engine, Sharp has spearheaded NC State's collaboration with a dozen companies in Central America for textile industry careers as part of the initiative Hilando Oportunidades. Over the course of a grant period, this program fostered career development for more than 1,000 students across northern Honduras.
Sharp's contributions have not gone unnoticed. She has been named a winner of the Outstanding Extension Award three times, most recently in 2020, 2013, and now, further cementing her position as a leader in the field.
Moreover, Sharp served as deputy CEO of the Textile Innovation Engine of North Carolina (The Engine) in 2024, leading the organisation's research and development efforts, addressing key issues such as waste reduction, energy efficiency, and the circular economy.
Sharp's work also includes facilitating the creation of a new Hemp Consortium in North Carolina, which aims to build a robust supply chain for hemp fiber.
While Melissa Sharp may not be a widely documented figure in major public sources or industry news related to textiles or sustainability, her impact is evident in the initiatives she has spearheaded and the collaborations she has fostered. For a comprehensive understanding of her work and contributions, further research in industry-specific sources, professional networking profiles, and publications or conference proceedings where she might have presented could prove valuable.
- Melissa Sharp, the associate director of the Zeis Textiles Extension (ZTE) at North Carolina State University (NC State), secured a $160 million grant in March 2024 to establish the Textile Innovation Engine, an organization focused on advancing sustainable textile industry innovation, partially in North Carolina.
- The Textile Innovation Engine, under Sharp's leadership, supports 16 core research projects and six new research and development projects focused on sustainable textile innovation in the state.
- Sharp collaborated with other professionals to secure over $435,000 in industry funding for NC State initiatives, as highlighted in a letter from Andre West, ZTE's director.
- Beyond the Textile Innovation Engine, Sharp is designing a multi-year strategy for the organization, focusing on developing the textile industry's next-generation workforce in North Carolina.
- Sharp's initiatives include Hilando Oportunidades, a program that collaborates with a dozen companies in Central America for textile industry careers, fostering career development for over 1,000 students across northern Honduras.
