Mary Ruppert-Stroescu

Mary Ruppert-Stroescu earned her PhD in Human Environmental Sciences from the University of Missouri. Her dissertation research resulted in the “Typology for Creativity in Fashion Design and Development,” a framework for understanding diverse aspects of creativity for fashion design. Ruppert-Stroescu cultivates creativity by stimulating the learning process through a student-centered system that supports different learning styles, continuously challenging students to increase knowledge and develop independent, critical thinking. Her professional network includes successful former students in fashion industry positions around the world.

Her research focuses on the study and application of creativity, particularly through the exploration of sustainable fashion design and production, as well as interdisciplinary collaborations with engineers and medical scientists on wearable electronic textile-based sensing systems that address health and wellbeing. Ruppert-Stroescu has numerous peer-reviewed publications and has given research presentations and exhibited her creative scholarship at conferences internationally. She holds intellectual property protection for four inventions, including a patent for “Textile repurposing and sustainable garment design.” Her service-learning work has been recognized twice by Oklahoma State University. She was also recognized as the Spears School of Business Riata Entrepreneurship Fellow of the Year and received WashU’s 2022 Advisor of the Year Award.