Ms. Emma Schneider
<b>Department: </b>Department of Applied Business Studies<br><b>Research Area: </b>Sustainability, overconsumption, fast fashion, consumer behavior, upcycling, branding, social media influence
Department: Department of Applied Business Studies
Research Focus: Sustainability, overconsumption, fast fashion, consumer behavior, upcycling, branding, social media influence
Potential Student Project(s):
Upcycling: where students take old or unwanted clothing and give it new life. For example, they could turn a men’s dress shirt into a skirt or repurpose denim scraps into a tote bag. Alongside the making process, students would research the environmental impact of textile waste and reflect on how their project helps reduce it.
Brand Analysis: where students select a fashion company that markets itself as “sustainable.” They would research the brand’s claims, compare them to independent reports or articles, and present whether the company is truly sustainable.
Study the Impact of Social Media Influencers: where students track how often they see certain products promoted on platforms like Instagram or TikTok. They would then reflect on how repeated exposure shapes buying habits and how easily we can be persuaded by online trends.
Attributes/skills/background sought in undergraduate:
Creative, curious, and open-minded. Basic sewing or design skills are helpful but not required. An interest in fashion, sustainability, social media, or consumer behavior is encouraged, along with a willingness to research, experiment, and think critically.
Mentoring Plan:
My mentoring plan will focus on developing the student’s skills in research, critical thinking, and creative application. At the start, we will establish clear project goals and outline weekly tasks to ensure steady progress. I will provide guidance on conducting research, evaluating credible sources, and analyzing findings related to sustainability, overconsumption, and social media influence. For creative projects, such as upcycling, I will offer instruction and feedback to help the student connect hands-on work with research insights. Weekly check-ins will be used to monitor progress, address challenges, and refine project outcomes. By the end of the experience, the student will have gained practical skills, research experience, and a stronger understanding of sustainability in fashion and consumer behavior. Students will work 5 hours per week on the project including one hour of a weekly meeting with me.
Contact: 765-285-5958, AT 208