Karen Steen
M.S., Vocational Ed, SUNY-Oswego
B.S., Clothing Design, Cornell
A.S., Retail Mgmt, Maria Regina College
Karen Steen is Professor and Program Director of Fashion Studies at Cazenovia College. She recently was a Fulbright Scholar at University of Mauritius where she taught in the Department of Textile Technology and researched the Mauritian textile/apparel industry. Steen has researched textiles and apparel in over thirty countries; she has presented lectures in Syria, Kenya, South Africa, Mauritius and U.S. and was a Fulbright-Hays Scholar for a study tour of the textiles and apparel of India in 2007. Her background includes experience with national department and specialty stores and freelance custom apparel design. She is an active member of International Textile Apparel Association and Educators for Socially Responsible Apparel Businesses.
- Awarded Fulbright Scholar grant for research and teaching at University of Mauritius
- 2010-2011 Nominated for Distinguished Faculty Achievement Award, Cazenovia College
- 2009 Fulbright-Hays Scholar: Fabric of Indian Life, four week cultural/industry group tour of textile and apparel producers including small artisans and large industry, retailers and businesses
- 2007 [TC]2 Faculty Fellow, Textiles/Clothing Technology Center, Raleigh, NC, Attended training workshops of industry technology and production methods
- 2000: "A Collaborative Project: Team-based Class Assignment to Digitally Print Fabric" with A. Fitzgerald at International Textile and Apparel Association annual conference
- 1999: "A Comparative Study of Student Reflective Writing Used as a Tool for Various Self-Assessment in Disciplines" with G. Kozaczka and S. Palmer presented at Writing Across the Curriculum national conference, Cornell University
- 1999: Ithaca Quilt Show
- 1998: Old Forge Quilt Show
- “Fashion and Design Institutes: Role in Market Development and Value Addition”
- East African Cotton, Textile and Apparel Value Chain Conference in Africa to Develop Competitiveness, Mombasa, Kenya, November 1-4, 2011
- “Integrating Design and Marketing”
- Invited panel speaker for Fiber to Fashion 2011/Mauritius: A Platform for Business, Mauritius
- Conference sponsored by African Cotton & Textiles Industries Federation, Mauritian Export Association, United States Agency on Aid and Development (USAID) Competitiveness and Trade Expansion Program (COMPETE) -- Conference participants included industry, government and educational professionals from Africa, Europe and U.S.