Issue link: http://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/275341
EHS Building 426 Central Michigan University Mount Pleasant, MI 48859 Nonprofit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Mount Pleasant, MI 48859 Permit No. 93 Education and College of Human Services Central Michigan University students push up their sleeves as they analyze the similar area of clothing on a technical mannequin. They're testing thermal patterns of the human body and how fabric reacts to human sweat and airflow for Nike and Lululemon Athletica, a popular international yoga-inspired athletic apparel company. "Going into an interview and telling employers I am ahead of industry technology and using technologies like this leaves them impressed," says CMU apparel merchandising and design senior Kristine Opaleski, who landed a career as an assistant designer with luxury swimwear brand Komplique after she graduates in May. The cutting-edge technology and hands-on learning approach led Fashion-schools.org to rank the apparel merchandising and design program at No. 20 on its list of the nation's top fashion merchandising schools. This site for prospective design students places CMU as the highest-ranking Michigan school and among the top 15 percent of all schools reviewed in the country. CMU apparel merchandising and design ranked No. 20 in the nation by Melissa Beauchamp, '13 education make CMU deserving of its top 20 ranking. "The experiences I've gained at CMU from using and understanding the different technologies make me feel so ahead of the game," says the Saline native, who took her skills internationally and studied couture fashion design at Paris American Academy and interned at Rick Owens in Paris. Carol Beard, assistant professor of apparel merchandising and design, says in addition to the thermal mannequin, students use a biofeedback system that shows an objective measurement to show consumer's reactions to products. "This technology puts CMU at the forefront of research in the industry," Beard says. "As the demands of the fashion design workplace evolve, CMU changes its programs to prepare students to meet those demands." Opaleski says the technology, one-on- one approach to design and personalized