Dr. Phyllis Bell Miller is one of CKC’s newest Board members.  Phyllis retired in 2017 after 27 years as a professor of Fashion Design and Merchandising at Mississippi State University, where she taught culturally sensitive approaches to textile and fashion design, visual and creative design techniques, and portfolio development.  She holds a Certificate in Couture from the Academy Nvart; a B.A. from Mundelein College; an M.A. from Michigan State University; and a Ph.D. from the University of Tennessee.

An innovator in her field, Phyllis currently holds more than 30 software copyrights for developing ApparelCAD™, Instant Designer International™, and Display Shop™ software.  She is author of AutoCAD for the Apparel Industry (1994), a seminal work that adapted generic computer-aided design (CAD) software to the needs of the fashion industry.

As a Fulbright scholar, Phyllis taught computer-aided design for fabric and fashion design in Bulgaria (2005-2006) and Mauritius (2012).  As a Fulbright-Hayes scholar, she studied the apparel and textiles industry in India (2006-2007).  Over the course of her career as an artist, scholar, and educator, Phyllis has visited more than 60 countries and territories. Her international collection of books, traditional costumes, jewelry, and art continues to inform her knitting designs and her pedagogy.

Phyllis has received numerous awards for her original knitwear designs in juried exhibitions and design competitions sponsored by the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences; the International Textile and Apparel Association; and the Costume Society of America.  She won the Editor’s Choice Award from Knitter’s Magazine six times from 2009-2015, and Ravelry’s Knitting Award (Best of Show) in 2010.  She received the MSU Faculty Diversity Award in 2010.

Phyllis continues to teach workshops and present her research at national and international conferences.  She is eager to contribute to the development of future exhibitions, educational programs, and resources for CKC’s members and the public.

We are extremely excited to welcome Phyllis Bell Miller to the CKC’s Board of Directors!