CSA National Leadership Election Results Announced

March 20, 2024


Costume Society of America is pleased to announce the results of the recent election for the Class of 2027 National Board of Directors. These five directors will be inducted at the 2024 Annual Meeting during the National Symposium in Washington DC (May 21 through 25, 2024). Don’t forget that early bird registration for the symposium ends on April 5, 2024. You can learn more and find the registration link by clicking here.


The Class of 2027 National Board of Directors includes:

Melissa Gamble is an Assistant Professor in the Fashion Studies Department at Columbia College Chicago. Arti Sandhu is currently an Associate Professor in the Fashion Program in the School of Design, Art Architecture, and Planning, University of Cincinnati. Joshua D. Simon is the Assistant Curator of Exhibits at the Tri-Cities Historical Museum in Grand Haven, Michigan. Juanjuan Wu is the Associate Dean for Academic Programs in the College of Design at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. Lynda May Xepoleas is an Assistant Professor of Fashion Design at Kent State University. 


Michael Mamp, Director & Curator of the Textile & Costume Museum and Associate Professor of Textiles, Apparel Design, and Merchandising at Louisiana State University, and Michele Riley, associate dean of the School of Multidisciplinary and Professional Studies at Purdue University Global, will serve as alternates. Class of 2025 and 2026 directors are: Karen DePauw, Clarissa Esguerra, Susan Hannel, Michaele Thurgood Haynes, Adam MacPhàrlain, Jaleesa Reed, Clare Sauro, Arlesa Shephard, Ginger D. Stanciel, and Graham Wetzbarger.

CSA’s student members elected Sofia Beraldo, a master of arts candidate in fashion at Toronto Metropolitan University, as Student Liaison to serve from 2024 to 2026. Paige E. Tomfohrde, PhD student, researcher and Dean’s Scholar at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, currently serves as Student Liaison through 2025.


CSA also announces several new or renewed appointments to the Executive Committee, who will begin their terms at the 2024 Annual Meeting and serve until the 2026 Annual Meeting:

President Leon Wiebers is Chair of Theatre Arts Program and Professor of Costume Design at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. Past President Lalon Alexander teaches at the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas.  President Elect Adam MacPhàrlain is the Curator of Clothing and Textiles at the Missouri Historical Society in St. Louis, Missouri. Treasurer Danielle Reaves is an adjunct instructor of apparel design and fashion retailing in the Department of Clothing, Textiles, and Interior Design at The University of Alabama.  Secretary Theresa Alexander is an associate professor of fashion management with the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio.  Vice President for Awards and Honors Colleen Pokorny is an assistant professor in apparel design at Oregon State University in Corvallis. Vice President for Internal Relations Katie Baker Jones is an associate professor and serves as the program coordinator in the Fashion, Dress and Merchandising department in the School of Design and Community Development at West Virginia University.  Vice President for Education and Programs Monica Sklar is an assistant professor & director/coordinator of the Historic Clothing and Textiles Collection at the University of Georgia in Athens. They join current Executive Committee members who are serving until the 2025 Annual Meeting: Deborah Miller, Vice President for External Relations; Patty Edmonson, Vice President for Grants and Projects; Julia Petrov, Vice President for Publications; Graham Wetzbarger, Vice President for Technology; and Heidi Cochran, Vice President for Symposia.


You can learn more about CSA Leadership by visiting this page. Nominations for the Class of 2028 Board of Directors and 2025-2027 Executive Committee positions will open in July of 2024 and will be open through November of 2024.

 

Pictured from left to right, top row: Melissa Gamble, Arti Sandhu, Joshua D. Simon, Juanjuan Wu, Lynda May Xepoleas, Sofia Beraldo
Pictured from left to right, middle row: Leon Wiebers, Lalon Alexander, Adam MacPhàrlain, Danielle Reaves
Pictured from left to right, bottom row: Theresa Alexander, Colleen Pokorny, Katie Baker Jones, Monica Sklar

 



By Kristen Zohn June 26, 2025
This month, we spoke with Brennan Lowery of Uovo, a fashion, art, and wine storage and services business that houses brands from Vera Wang to Oscar de la Renta and client wardrobes from Olivia Palermo to Sarah Jessica Parker. The history of dress and the future of fashion act in dialogue, always interfacing to inform our present moment. The Costume Society of America’s diverse members exemplify this reality like no other; through the constant connections across time and disciplines they draw, our membership of costume curators, designers, artists, and so much more embody fashion’s ubiquitous presence - and dress’s daily power to teach us all something new. We hope you will join us for CSA’s new Dialogues on Dress series, interviews now available monthly in our e-News and here on our website. Interested in getting in touch? Email enews@costumesocietyamerica.com
June 12, 2025
Cue the applause— Costume Society of America’s 2025 Symposium was a blockbuster success!
June 11, 2025
After thorough deliberation by our Membership Dues Taskforce and approval by the Board of Directors, Costume Society of America has established the following updated membership rates: Standard Membership: $130 (previously $95) Student Membership: $65 (50% reduction from standard rate) Emerging/Retired/Emeritus: $105 (approximately 20% reduction) CSA Patron (covers the discount for one Emerging or Retired/Emeritus membership): $155 CSA Champion (covers one student membership): $195 Museum/Association: $260 (includes 2 memberships) Business Associate: $380 (includes 2 memberships plus $200 value in promotion to CSA members) These rates reflect both the actual cost of providing member benefits ($125 per member) and adjustments for inflation since our last dues increase in 2012. The new structure maintains our commitment to accessibility through discounted rates for students, emerging professionals, and retired members. Implementation Timeline: The new membership rates will take effect on July 1 st Membership renewal dates will still operate on a rolling basis Members with renewals due before the July 1 st implementation will be processed at the current rates Your Membership Value: Your CSA membership continues to provide exceptional value, including: Access to our professional network Discounted registration for our annual symposium and regional events Subscriptions to Dress and Fashion Theory Professional development and grant opportunities Free access to popular webinars like Dress & Drinks and Conversations on Dress Looking Forward: The Board has committed to establishing a regular review cycle for membership dues every [3-5] years to avoid substantial increases in the future. This approach will allow for smaller, more predictable adjustments that keep pace with inflation and operational costs. Frequently Asked Questions: Q: Why is such a significant increase necessary? A: Our dues have remained unchanged since 2012, while the cost of operations has steadily increased. Rather than gradually adjusting rates over time, we've had to make a larger correction now to ensure financial sustainability. Q: What about regional subsidies for membership? A: The taskforce has recommended that regional leadership explore alternative ways to support members through scholarships, free event registrations, travel funds, and other programs rather than membership subsidies, which have been unevenly available across regions. Q: How was the new rate determined? A: The taskforce considered several factors: the actual cost per member ($125), inflation since 2012 (which would make the equivalent rate approximately $133), and the need to balance organizational financial health with member accessibility. Q: What if I can't afford the new rate? A: Those for whom the rise in member fees will cause a financial hardship can apply for a subsidy that will allow them to maintain their current fee level for one year. This will involve filling out a short form stating their need for a subsidy; we will not ask for any details about that need. Renewing members must complete the form and receive instructions before the membership is renewed; subsidies will not be provided after a membership has been renewed. If you have additional questions or concerns, please contact Vice President for Internal Affairs Katie Baker Jones at kathryn.jones@mail.wvu.edu . We value your feedback and are committed to addressing members' needs. Thank you for your continued support and understanding as we take this necessary step to ensure CSA's financial health and continued service to our community.
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