CURRICULUM VITAE
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
The University of Georgia, Athens, GA
Ph.D., Polymer, Fiber, Textile Science, emphasis in International Merchandising, expected 2022
Graduate Certificate in African American Studies, expected 2021
Graduate Certificate in Interdisciplinary Teaching, expected 2021
Dissertation: The Revolution will be Embodied
Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY
M.S., Communications, emphasis in Public Relations, 2018
Research capstone: “Fashnexus”: Blockchain, Sustainability, and Corporate Social Responsibility
The University of Georgia, Athens, GA
B.S., Fashion Merchandising, 2011
Minor: Art History
OTHER TRAINING/CERTIFICATIONS
Labor & Birth Doula Training
Cornerstone Doulas, Oakland, CA | 2020
100 HR Rocket Yoga Training
Carson School of Yoga | 2020
50 HR Prenatal Yoga Training
Black Orchid Seeds | 2020
20 HR Kids Yoga and Mindfulness
Black Orchid Seeds | 2020
RYT 200 HR Yoga Teacher Training
Yoga Teacher | 2019-2021
Five Points Yoga, Athens GA | 2019
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Racial representation within the fashion-industrial complex
Decolonization within the yoga-industrial complex
Blackness and media
Afro-Indigenous studies
Dance performance, politics, and identity
Black political/protest dress and efficacy
Fashion and aesthetics as political tools
Social justice pedagogy in fashion studies
Contemplative pedagogy
Race and decolonization pedagogy
Critical analysis of corporate social responsibility
EXPERIENCE
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
The University of Georgia, Athens, GA, present, Instructor of record
Introduction to Family and Consumer Sciences (Fall 2019, Spring 2020), Dress, Society, and Culture (Fall 2021)
The University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 2019-2021, Teaching Assistant
Apparel and Textile Economics (Spring 2019), Retailing Apparel and Textiles (Spring 2019), Introduction to Family and Consumer Sciences (Spring 2019), Fundamentals of Fashion Merchandising (Fall 2020, Spring 2021), Dress, Society, and Culture (Fall 2020, Spring 2021), Topics in Afro-Hispanic Identity (Spring 2021)
Assist faculty with course design, develop teaching materials, lead discussions, grade materials, and hold office hours
RELEVANT EXPERIENCE
The University of Georgia Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies, Athens, GA 2019-2021, Doctoral Intern for African American Oral History Program
Create and support the oral history promotional and engagement activities including social media management, facilitate relationships between university and key community collaborators, and provide recommendations based on project progress and iterative goals to develop public engagement between the university and the African American community
Assist with best practices in archival processes, digitization, and metadata creation
INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE
Lululemon Athletica, Athens, GA 2020-2021, Contract Assistant Store Manager
Support guest experience on the floor through product education, lead visual merchandising for the store, develop and support team performance
Champion and lead community diversity and inclusion efforts
Kohl’s Department Stores, Metro Atlanta Market, GA, 2015-2018, Operations Manager
Lead and managed people management, customer engagement, merchandising presentation, store layout and floorplan analysis and planning, sales management and payroll expense in $11-$22 million volume stores
Represented the company during on-campus college recruiting events and career fairs as on-campus recreating representative and served as a mentor/coach for interns, managers in-training; and peer resource for newly hired managers
Served as the volunteer coordinator for Kohl’s Cares “Associates in Action” initiative to recruit and manage community volunteers, plan and oversee volunteer partnerships with non-profits, grow, promote, and advertise Kohl’s Cares initiative internally and externally through social media
Kohl’s Department Stores, Metro Atlanta Market, GA, 2011-2015, Merchandising Manager
Launched and promoted new brands and test merchandise introduced to the market in-store, lead the store in associate development, hiring and training of new associates, interns, and managers in training, coordinated with company buyers on merchandise sales and inventory needs, launched marketing strategy specific to store localization and produced visual merchandising directives for store execution
Sears Holding Corporation, Atlanta, GA, 2010-2011, Store Management Intern
Created marketing strategy for the juniors, women’s, misses, and intimate apparel businesses in-store, launched improved processes for merchandising and visuals to impact low sales areas, and created in-store planograms for new products.
PUBLICATIONS AND CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
PUBLICATIONS
Covington, S., Medvedev, K. (2019). “Dressing for Freedom and Justice”. Clothing Cultures, 6(2), 215-235.
MANUSCRIPTS UNDER REVIEW
Weigle, B., & Covington, S. “The Role of Clothing and Textiles in Defining ‘Family’, a Study of the Narratives from the Former Slave Project”. [Fashion Studies].
Reed, J., Covington, S., Medvedev, K. “New Directions for Fashion Education: Centering Positionality and Social Justice Pedagogy”. [Fashion and Education]
Covington, S., Medvedev, K. “Woke” Brands?: An Analysis of Racial Consciousness and the Limits of Corporate Social Responsibility in the Fashion-Industrial Complex. [CTRJ]
WORKING PAPERS
Covington, S., Medine, C. “Africana Yogi Personae: Black Yoga Practitioners’ Aesthetic Negotiations in Dress”. [Special issue of The Arrow Journal- Blackness, Afrikanness, and Meditation, Dharma, and Buddhism].
Covington, S. “James Baldwin and the Intersections of his Sartorial and Literary Style”. [Fashion Studies Journal].
PRESENTATIONS
Covington, S., Reed, J., & Medvedev, K. (October 2021). Diversity in Fashion Education: Centering Positionality and Social Justice Pedagogy. Fashion Education Multilogue, Paris, France (virtual)
Covington, S. & Adisa-Farrar, T. (May 2021). The History of Cotton. The Slow Factory Open Education Winter/Spring 2021 Semester, virtual.
Covington, S. & Watts, C. (March 2021). BLM Book Club as Communal Care. SEWSA 2021 – Precarious Times: Embodying Disobedience, Crafting Affinities, virtual.
Covington, S. & Watts, C. (March 2021). BLM Book Club as Communal Care. AAR/SBL Southeastern Regional Meeting 2021: “Religion, Health & Disease: An Online Conference Where Interdisciplinary Lines Intersect”, virtual.
Covington, S. (November 2020). The Intersections of Systemic Racism and Sustainability within the Fashion-industrial Complex. Fibershed 2020 Wool & Fine Fiber Symposium, virtual.
Covington, S., Lyu, J., & Han. J. (October 2020). A Preliminary Study: CSR Advertising, Mere Exposure, and Social Activism in the Fashion-Industrial Complex. ITAA, Denver, CO (virtual).
Covington, S. & Weigle, B. (October 2020). The Refashioning of Blaxploitation: Identity, Fashion, and Mainstream Commercialization. Fashion at the Periphery, Chicago, IL (virtual).
Covington, S., Reed, J., & Medvedev, K. (September 2020). Diversity in the Fashion-Industrial Complex: Race and Fashion. Fashion Education Multilogue, Paris, France.
Covington, S., & Medvedev, K. (February 2020). Woke brands? An Analysis of Racial Consciousness and the Limits of Corporates Social Responsibility (CSR) in the Fashion-industrial Complex. Critical Fashion Studies Conference, Melbourne, Australia.
Covington, S. (November 2019). Dressing for Freedom and Justice. Costume Society Association Southeastern Conference, Charlotte, NC.
Covington, S. (October, 2019). Workforce Management: Entrepreneurial Literacy in High School Students. Innovation in Teaching Conference, Athens, GA.
WORKSHOPS FACILITATED
Covington, S. & Watts, C. (September 2021). Hood Feminism Book Club. University of Georgia.
Covington, S. & Reed, J. (May 2021). Fashion and Disability. University of Georgia.
Covington, S. & Watts, C. (February 2021). BLM Book Club. University of Georgia.
Diversity in Fashion Series: Covington, S. & Reed, J. (November 2020). Fashion and Race. University of Georgia.
GRANTS/AWARDS
RESEARCH GRANTS RECEIVED
Willson Center for Humanities and Art Graduate Research Award 2021
Endsley Peifer Research Award, University of Georgia 2020
New Approaches for Diversity and Inclusion, University of Georgia 2019
Jan Hathcote Social Science Award, University of Georgia 2019
FACS Funds for Excellence, University of Georgia 2019
AWARDS RECEIVED
SEC Emerging Scholar 2021
Lee Roy B. Giles Encouragement Award 2021
Graduate Education Advancement Board Fellowship, University of Georgia 2020
Myron G. Burney Service Award, Black Faculty and Staff Organization 2019
Leadership Development Award Recipient, Kohl’s Department Stores 2017
Seasonal Results Achievement Winner, Kohl’s Department Stores 2013
UNIVERSITY AND COMMUNITY SERVICE
College of Family and Consumer Sciences DEI Committee 2021
The Fashion Connection, Contributor and Editor 2021
Canadian Fashion Scholars Working Group- Fashion and Race 2019
University of Georgia Graduate School xPD Advisory Board 2019-current
Graduate Student Association, Representative 2019-current
Textiles, Merchandising, and Interiors Graduate Association, President 2019-current
Chess and Community, Program Coordinator 2019-current