Celebrated Scholar Heading Colorado State University’s Department of Design and Merchandising

An accomplished Iowa State University professor recently joined Colorado State University as the new chair of the Department of Design and Merchandising.  

Mary Littrell is internationally recognized for her work in global fair trade. She has helped artisans, cooperatives and communities worldwide improve worker conditions and production, meet consumer demands and strike a fair balance among competing concerns.  

Littrell said a major factor in deciding to head up the Department of Design and Merchandising at Colorado State was the excellent faculty, programs and students.

"I saw an opportunity to work closely with an energetic group of faculty in further strengthening already strong academic program, focusing research programs and expanding external funding for research, teaching and outreach," Littrell said.

Littrell taught at Iowa State for 24 years and was named the Mary B. Welch Distinguished Professor, the highest academic honor bestowed by the university. The honor recognizes faculty members for exemplary research at national and international levels.

While at Iowa State, Littrell was one of the university’s strongest advocates in expanding international education and opportunities.  

"At Colorado State, we are focusing on further enhancing academic programs, building collaborations and moving our scholarly work to new levels of national and international recognition," Littrell said.

During her tenure at Iowa State, Littrell also received the Margaret Ellen White Graduate Faculty Award, which recognizes superior performance by a member of the graduate faculty who serves as a mentor and enriches student-professor relationships. She has received numerous grants and generated an extensive array of scholarly publications and presentations.

For more information about the Department of Design and Merchandising at Colorado State, visit the Web at www.cahs.colostate.edu/dm/.

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