AATCC has a new education director. Angela (Angi) Jabara will work alongside long-time AATCC education director Peggy Pickett until Pickett’s retirement later this year.

Jabara comes to AATCC from The Woolmark Company where she served as product and education extension manager since 2016. She is a graduate of Michigan State University with a BS in Apparel and Textile Design. Jabara has worked for Elie Tahari and PVH Corp., and as an adjunct instructor at Fashion Institute of Technology, focusing on Global Sourcing in the Textile Industries.

At AATCC, Jabara will be responsible for educational program development as well as venue selection, negotiation and contracts. She will work closely with AATCC administrative and research committees to continue to grow online and on-site educational offerings relevant to today’s textile industry professionals.

Pickett joined the AATCC staff in October 1975 as a laboratory technician where her primary responsibility was laboratory work initiated by the research committees. In 1976, Pickett became a technical associate, responsible for coordinating workshops, seminars and symposia. In this position she also worked with AATCC student chapters and initiated the Student Chapter Newsletter and Handbook. Pickett served as caretaker of AATCC’s Institute for the History of Textile Arts and Science. She also assisted the technical director in submitting AATCC test methods to the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and in preparing the manuscript for the AATCC Technical Manual.

In December 1980 Pickett took a five-year hiatus from work at the Association to be a stay-at-home mom, returning in October 1985 to the position she had vacated. At that time, she also took on the responsibility of coordinating the Student Paper Competition and Exhibition Internship Program at AATCC’s International Conference.

In 1998, Pickett was promoted to education director, leading the development and implementation of educational programs offered by the Association as well as AATCC’s annual International Conference. In this role, she served as secretary of C17, Education Advisory Board; C11, Committee on Conferences; and C1-S16 Awards Oversight Committee.

Pickett is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro with a BS in Home Economics/Clothing and Textiles. She has been a member of AATCC since 1975 and is also a member of the Council of Scientific Society Executives (CESSE).

In retirement, Pickett plans to spend more time with her grandkids, relaxing at the beach, gardening and reading. She says, “It has been my pleasure to be a part of the AATCC staff for 39 years. AATCC has afforded me many opportunities to expand my knowledge in the area of textiles and travel both domestically and internationally to promote the Association and fulfill its objectives. I have made a lot of friends along the way—many of whom are life-long friends. These friends include staff as well as AATCC members. These individuals have enriched my life tremendously and I will be forever grateful to them for their friendship, leadership and guidance.”