Dr. Ericka Ford is an Assistant Professor at the Wilson College of Textiles. She holds a joint appointment in the Department of Textile Engineering, Chemistry and Science and The Nonwovens Institute. She earned an undergraduate degree in Polymer Fiber Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) and studied for a year at Leeds University in England. She completed her master’s study in Polymer Science at the University of Southern Mississippi, where she studied the use of sustainable, environmentally friendly coating technologies. Her investigation of bio-based resins for wrinkle-free finishing was presented at the 2006 AATCC Herman and Myrtle Student Paper Competition and placed first. Upon returning to Georgia Tech as a doctoral student, she investigated the gel spinning of carbon nanotube (CNT) composites for high-strength, high-modulus fibers. In addition to graduate research, she participated in two NSF-supported IGERTs for integrated graduate education and research training focused on the commercialization of polymers and fiber technologies. She also served as a National Research Council postdoctoral awardee in Chemical and Biological Defense, Science and Technology at the US Army Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center.