Assistant Professor
Helen Allen Faculty Fellow
137 Stanley Hall
University of Missouri
Columbia, MO 65211
Phone: (573) 882-3849
E-mail: mcbeeblackk@missouri.edu
Vita (PDF)
Education
PhD, University of Missouri; MS, University of Missouri; BS, Columbia College.
Bio
Dr. Kerri McBee-Black is an Assistant Professor and Helen Allen Faculty Fellow of Textile and Apparel Management at the University of Missouri. In her academic career, Dr. McBee-Black has served in various roles, including Assistant Teaching Professor and Instructor, before becoming an Assistant Professor in 2021. She is also an affiliate member of the Women’s and Gender Studies program at the university. Her teaching portfolio spans over 18 years and includes marketing, fashion history, textiles, and apparel product development courses. Dr. McBee-Black’s professional experience includes positions as a designer, merchandiser, and production manager with brands such as The William Carter Co. She has published over 70 research papers in diverse international referred journals and conferences on the topics of inclusivity, disability, and apparel. In addition, she has mentored over 10 undergraduate and graduate creative scholarship exhibits. Dr. McBee-Black is also actively involved in securing grants with over $74,000 work of grants funded to support her research, with successful funding from organizations such as the National Endowment for the Humanities and Cotton Inc. She is committed to advancing inclusivity in the apparel industry through her research and teaching, mentoring the next generation of scholars and designers who will continue pushing the boundaries of adaptive and inclusive design. Her work has earned her several awards and recognitions, including the Innovative Excellence Award from the University of Missouri System and multiple Langsam Family Faculty Appreciation Awards from the Textile and Apparel Management Department.
Research Interests
Dr. McBee-Black’s research interests focus on adaptive apparel, particularly the intersection of apparel design with the needs of people with disabilities (PWDs). She has been instrumental in pioneering adaptive design innovations that cater to the underserved market of PWDs. . Her work in this field has been widely recognized and featured in numerous peer-reviewed publications, juried exhibitions, and media outlets.