Leadership

A Message From CSA's President

Happy New Year to all our members! I hope that your holidays were filled with warmth and joy. At this time, please remember our colleagues who are struggling from the fires in Los Angeles and the recent weather conditions in the Midwest and East Coast. Please be safe and care for each other. Remember to use the regional circles to share any support and resources.

I’ve heard from a few colleagues inquiring about the situation in Los Angeles. As of this writing, the fires have not impacted LMU’s campus nor the plans for the symposium. Being a large city, our campus is many miles from the Palisades and even farther from Altadena. The Eaton fire (Altadena) is 95% contained, the Palisades fire is 87% contained, and the Hughes fire is 92% contained. LMU will not likely offer our dorms as housing for those displaced because they are cleaned and repaired over the summer, plus we host summer camps, and will need them in the Fall for students. In our last conversation with the LMU team, we are still on track.

That being said, CSA/LA is well underway! Loyola Marymount University is excited to host our symposium in June of 2025. We had a record number of abstracts submitted, so this promises to be a jam-packed symposium. As a heads-up, because we have shortened the symposium by one day in order to make it less expensive, our schedule of papers will be serious. Be prepared to conference!

The Angels Project has been announced! It will be the Flight Path Museum which houses a broad collection of over 600 airline uniforms. https://flightpathlax.com/.

The overview of the schedule is now live online at: https://www.costumesocietyamerica.com/upcoming-symposium

More detailed information will be forthcoming as we finalize the schedule, abstracts, and other planning needs. Please watch for updates on hotels, dorms, the fabulous pre- and post-symposium tours, and other logistics. I’m excited to welcome you all to my home campus, Loyola Marymount University, and share the riches of the City of Angels.

I am continuing to explore professional relationships with other organizations. To date, the American Craft Council, Craft in America, and the Textile Museum Associates of Southern California have all agreed to cross-pollinate content. In January's Dress and Drinks, we featured the founder and creator of the app, Clio, which is an app for history buffs that includes many museum collections, historic houses, and historic sites.

Thank you all for your work, your volunteerism, your scholarship, your craft, your creativity, and your storytelling. As always, feel free to reach out to me personally. It is my honor to serve you.

Here are some resources for supporting those impacted by the fires in Los Angeles:

https://www.kcrw.com/news/shows/kcrw-features/los-angeles-wildfires-help-resources-list

Executive Committee

Nominations for 2025-2027 positions have now closed; the Board of Directors will vote on the slate in late 2024. Members can learn more on our governance information page .

Leon Wiebers

President, 2024-2026

Click on Leon's image for his bio.

Adam MacPhàrlain

President Elect, 2024-2026

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Lalon Alexander

Past President, 2024-2026

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Danielle Reaves

Treasurer, 2024-2026

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Theresa Alexander

Secretary, 2024-2026

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Julia Petrov

Vice President for Publications, 2023-2025

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Katie Baker Jones

Vice President for Internal Relations, 2024-2026

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Deborah Miller

Vice President for External Relations, 2024-2025

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Graham Wetzbarger

Vice President for Technology, 2023-2025

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Colleen Pokorny

Vice President for Awards & Honors, 2024-2026

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Patty Edmonson

Vice President Grants & Projects, 2024-2025

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Heidi Cochran

Vice President for Symposia, 2023-2025

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Monica Sklar

Vice President Education & Programs, 2024-2026

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Board of Directors

The Board of Directors governs the Society and supervises its management, reviewing the overall functioning of the organization and making changes as necessary.

Nominations for the Board of Directors Class of 2028 and Student Liaison (term 2025-2027) are now closed. Voting will take place in early 2025. Members can learn more on our governance information page.

Karen DePauw

2023-2026

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Clarissa M. Esguerra

2022-2025

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Melissa Gamble

2024-2027

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Susan Hannel

2022-2025

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Michaele Thurgood Haynes

2022-2025

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Adam MacPhàrlain

2023-2026

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Jaleesa Reed

2023-2026

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Arti Sandhu

2024-2027

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Clare Sauro

2023-2026

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Arlesa Shephard

2022-2025

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Joshua Simon

2024-2027

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Ginger D. Stanciel

2023-2026

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Graham Wetzbarger

2022-2025

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Juanjuan Wu

2024-2027

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Lynda May Xepoleas

2024-2027

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Sofia Beraldo

2024-2026, Graduate Student Liaison

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Paige E. Tomfohrde

2023-2025, Graduate Student Liaison

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Ann Wass

2021-2024, Parliamentarian

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Staff

Click on each person's image for more information about them!

Kristen Miller Zohn

Executive Director

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Kate M. Ahn

Database and Member Services Administrator

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Madison Taylor

Editor, e-News

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Sarah West Hixson

Editor, Conversations on Dress Webinars

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Past Presidents

Lalon Alexander

2022-2024

Sheryl Farnan Leipzig

2020-2022

Sara Marcketti

2018-2020

Gayle Strege

2016-2018

Kathy Mullet

2014-2016

Robin Campbell

2012-2014

Sally Helvenston Gray

2010-2012

Barbara Broudo

2008-2010

Kay King

2006-2008

Rosalyn Lester

2004-2006

Donna Locke

2002-2004

Joy Emery

2000-2002

Phyllis Specht

1998-2000

Colleen Callahan

1996-1998

Alicia Annas

1994-1996

Inez Brooks-Myers

1990-1994

Jean Druesedow

1986-1990

Elizabeth Jachimowicz

1982-1986

Elizabeth Ann Coleman

1976-1982

Herbert Callister

1973-1976

Founders

Stella Blum

An international lecturer, author, costume consultant and guest curator.

Curator of The Costume Institute, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY for thirty years.
Gave CSA its name and served on the Board of Directors from 1977 to 1985.
Served as Vice President 1973-1980.
The CSA Stella Blum Grant stimulates and rewards outstanding student scholarship, and honors her memory.

Herb Callister

A pioneer in the field who regarded costume and textiles as a significant art form.

Curator of the Hartford Atheneum, Hartford. CT.
Trained as a fashion stylist and was associated with G. Fox & Company, Hartford, CT.
Designed costumes and sets for drama, opera and dance.
First CSA president, elected in 1973, and wrote CSA’s first constitution.

Elizabeth Ann Coleman

A world-renowned costume curator, scholar, author, and consultant on worldwide exhibits.

Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA, David and Roberta Logie Curator of Costume and Fashion Arts.
Curator of Costumes, Houston Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, TX.
Curator of Costume, Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn, NY.
Served on the Board of Directors from 1973 – 2001.
Second President 1976-1982.

Adele Filene

Sportswear and handbag designer, teacher, researcher for costume restoration.

CSA was literally “born” in her living room June 28, 1973.
Owned Adele Jay, Haute Couture Salon, London, England.
First CSA Treasurer 1973-1979.
Conducted successful CSA International Study Tours.
Adele Filene Travel Award supports students’ scholarship presentations at national symposia and honors her name.

Cora Ginsberg

An outstanding collector/dealer in costume and textiles who possessed an all encompassing knowledge of the history of dress.

One of the first Americans to establish the study of dress as a legitimate discipline through her pioneering research, collecting and lecturing.
She had a direct influence on collections in both the USA and abroad.
Served on Board of Directors 1977-1987.

Elizabeth Jachimowicz

A multi-faceted contributor to the field of costume, through exhibits, teaching and publishing.

Chicago Historical Society, Chicago, IL.
Museum of the City of New York, NY.
Taught History of Costume at the Musee des Arts Decoratifs, Paris, France for the Parsons School of Design Summer program.
CSA President 1984-1988.
Served CSA in broad variety of ways including Vice President, Assistant Treasurer and Board of Directors member.

Fellows

The Costume Society of America Fellow Honor is the highest honor bestowed by CSA. It recognizes the dedication, commitment, leadership, and outstanding contributions of CSA members to the Costume Society of America and to the field of costume.