MU Textile and Apparel Management Professor Awarded 2017 Kemper Fellowship for Teaching Excellence

March 21st, 2017

COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Interim Chancellor Hank Foley and Commerce Bank Chairman and CEO Teresa Maledy today awarded one of the 2017 William T. Kemper Fellowships for Teaching Excellence to Jung Ha-Brookshire, associate professor of textile and apparel management and associate dean of research and graduate studies in the MU College of Human Environmental Sciences.

Foley, Maledy and a group of professors, administrators and staff surprised Ha-Brookshire by honoring her with the fellowship, which includes a $10,000 check. Kemper Fellowships are awarded to five outstanding teachers at the University of Missouri each year.

This year is the 27^th anniversary of the William T. Kemper Fellowships for Teaching Excellence, which were established in 1991 with a $500,000 gift. Kemper, a 1926 MU graduate, was a well-known civic leader in Kansas City until his death in 1989. His 52-year career in banking included top positions at banks in Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma. Commerce Bank manages the trust fund.

ATTACHED: Ha-Brookshire Bio

Jung Ha-Brookshire
Associate Professor of Textile and Apparel Management
Associate Dean of Research and Graduate Studies in the College of Human Environmental Sciences
MU Faculty Member since 2007

 Jung Ha-Brookshire believes that a good teacher can inspire hope, ignite the imagination and instill a love of learning. She believes this because she has lived it.

Ha-Brookshire grew up in the treacherous social, economic and political environment of South Korea after the Korean War. She said it was her teachers who gave her “the hope I could not afford back then.” They pushed her to dream and imagine a better future and nurtured a love of life-long learning.

Today, the hallmark of Jung Ha-Brookshire’s teaching and mentorship is inspiring students to go beyond even what they thought was possible. Whether challenging students to view the world with a global lens or engaging them in the research process, Ha-Brookshire brings a wealth of expertise coupled with a personable, encouraging approach.

“More than delivery of subject matter, Jung has a way of letting students know she cares about them and is there for them,” said Pam Norum, professor and chair of textile and apparel management. “They realize that she brings a wealth of knowledge to the classroom, but they also love that she challenges them to go far beyond what they think is their potential.”

Ha-Brookshire encourages her students to consider the global impact of their work, and she has created experiential learning tours to places such as New York and El Salvador where students receive a first-hand understanding of supply chains in the textile and apparel industry.

Jaime Mestres, a senior academic advisor in career services, has worked with Ha-Brookshire for nearly a decade. Mestres recalled that as a young faculty member, Ha-Brookshire was given the task to teach the apparel marketing and merchandising capstone course.

“She enthusiastically took this class and made it into one of the most rigorous capstone courses on campus,” Mestres said. “Students have repeatedly stated that what they did in this class emulates what they do now in their industry positions.”

In addition, Ha-Brookshire is able to leverage her extensive industry connections to the benefit of her students.

“I have come to realize that her own connections and knowledge from her experience of working in the retail industry in New York City have elevated the Missouri TAM program to what it is today,” said Abbie Luzecky, who earned a bachelor’s degree from the program in 2013. “From her classroom lectures to the annual NYC networking trip, Dr. Ha-Brookshire’s passion for bringing her students useful and applicable experiences is second to none.”

Gargi Bhaduri met Ha-Brookshire in 2009, when Bhaduri began graduate school in textile and apparel management. Through Ha-Brookshire’s encouragement and mentorship, Bhaduri persisted through the doctoral program and is now an assistant professor at Kent State University.

“Over the last five years, she has completely changed my life,” Bhaduri said, noting that she originally only planned to complete a master’s degree when she started at MU. “Her constant encouragement inspired me to walk further and pursue my doctoral degree. Starting from day one, she has mentored me and helped me flourish.”

Ha-Brookshire began her career in the textile apparel industry on the foundation of a bachelor’s degree in clothing and textiles from Seoul National University. She lived in New York City and worked for apparel sourcing companies for eight years before returning to graduate school. She holds a master’s in business administration from Baruch College and a doctoral degree in consumer, apparel and retail studies from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She has written books based on her academic and industry expertise and continues to publish new research.