This fall, AATCC individual members elected their 2025-2026 President and Interest Group Board of Directors representatives. Election results were announced at the AATCC Annual Meeting, preceding the Technical Committee on Research (TCR) meeting on November 13, 2024. All officers began their term on January 1, 2025
President
Christina Rapa, W.L. Gore and Associates, will serve two years as President before continuing to Immediate Past President for two years.
Rapa has been an advocate for AATCC for over 23 years. Starting as a Textile Engineering student at both Jefferson University and NC State and continuing through the formation of the Northwest chapter in Portland/Seattle in the early 2000s, she now serves as the Delaware Valley chapter Chair.
As the Material Interest Group chair for the last 3.5 years, she has invited members via webinar to hear diverse speaker topics such as “Space Textiles”, “Biobased leather”, “Advances in regenerated cellulose” and “Seaweed fiber”. As an engineer in the Fabrics division at W.L. Gore and Associates, she focuses on digital transformation, including 3D material creation and PLM software implementation.
Rapa will be a member of the Board for all four years, providing continuity and guidance to the Association. When Rapa became President, John Crocker, SDL Atlas, became Immediate Past President.
Interest Groups
AATCC members participate in one or more interest groups to network, learn, and share ideas with like-minded colleagues. Each member may select one “voting” interest group from which they elect representatives to the AATCC Board.
The Chemical Applications Interest Group re-elected Sabyasachi Gaan, as Chair. Sabyasachi Gaan received his PhD in chemistry from UC Davis in 2007. He has been working at Empa in Switzerland since 2007 and is currently head of the Additives and Chemistry group in the Laboratory of Advanced Fibers. His group specializes in the development of functional polymer and metal additives, synthesis and modification of sustainable thermoset and thermoplastic polymers, and recycling of polymers. He has been a member of AATCC since 2016, served on the AATCC Journal of Research Committee, and currently serves as the AATCC Chemical Applications Interest Group Chair.
The Concept 2 Consumer Interest Group elected Chris Hipps as Chair. Chris Hipps is the Global Director of the Color Management business at Archroma. He has been with Archroma since 2014. Prior to this, from 1998 to 2014, he was with Datacolor, Oxco, and CAE Simuflite in various technical, sales, and marketing positions. Beginning his career as a process engineer and shift dyeing manager at Dixie Yarns’ Caroknit division, he graduated from NC State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Textile Science and then earned his Master of Business Administration degree from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Hipps has been a member of AATCC since 1992 and was the interim Chair for the Concept to Consumer Interest Group.
The Materials interest group has elected Apurba Banerjee as Chair and Yongxin Wang as Vice-Chair. Banerjee has served as the At-large Member since 2021.
Apurba Banerjee is a Textile Research Scientist at Standard Textile Corporation (STC). As a key member of the Research and Development department, she plays a pivotal role in bringing sustainable, value-added products to life in the realms of Hospitality, Healthcare, and Interiors. Banerjee is a proud alumna of the University of Georgia, where she earned her Ph.D. in Polymer, Fiber, and Textile Science in 2017. Prior to that, she honed her craft at Colorado State University, graduating with a master’s degree in Apparel and Merchandising in 2013. Banerjee has a passion for advancing industry benchmarks through her multiple voluntary leadership roles in organizations like AATCC and ASTM International.
Yongxin Wang is a Materials Manager at W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc. She has been with W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc. since 2018. Prior to this, Wang worked at VF Corporation as a Materials Research Manager, where she worked as a project lead, and gaining extensive experience on raw materials and their properties, textile manufacturing/processing/structure, and their relationship with apparel performance. Wang received her Master’s in Textile Materials and Product Design from Donghua University, Shanghai China in 2010, and went on to receive her Ph.D. in Fiber and Polymer Science from North Carolina State University in 2013. Her experience in textiles is demonstrated in her numerous publications throughout her career. Wang has been a member of AATCC 2021.
In 2023, AATCC newly established the Rising Professionals Interest Group. The group is focused on supporting individuals as they embark on a career in textiles. Members include recent graduates as well as seasoned professionals transitioning from other industries and those who just want to learn more about navigating opportunities for growth.
The Rising Professionals interest group re-elected Jessica Brooks as Chair and Monét Freeman as Vice-Chair.
Jessica Brooks is the Colorist for the Vertical Business Units for W. L. Gore & Associates. She has been with Gore since 2021. In addition, Brooks is an adjunct faculty at Thomas Jefferson University and teaches the Color, Dyeing & Finishing course. Prior to this, she was the Dye Lab & Technical Manager for Darlington Fabrics. Brooks has been a member of AATCC since 2013 and is currently the Vice Chair of the AATCC Delaware Valley Section and the Chair of the RISE Interest Group. She is a member of the RA36 Color Measurement Test Methods committee and on the AATCC Board of Directors. She feels very strongly in helping push future generations into taking active roles within AATCC and promoting a mentorship space within the association.
Monét Freeman serves as a Physical Testing Specialist at the Textile Technology Center at Gaston College, with six years of professional experience steering all facets of manufacturing, quality and testing, operations management, and coordinating industry training. Originally from Charlotte, North Carolina, Freeman completed her studies in Textile Technology at North Carolina State University’s Wilson College of Textiles. Freeman is a strong believer that, no matter what, there is always room for improvement and perfecting your craft. Her interest in the Rising Professionals Interest Group stems from her own personal experience of not feeling fully equipped with the tools for career development or networking right out of school.
Opportunities
While AATCC Board elections only occur every two years, there are many ways to get involved. Taking a leadership role on a committee or task group is an excellent way to make connections and gain valuable experience. To learn more about available opportunities, contact Gregg Woodcock, AATCC Executive Director (woodcockg@aatcc.org) or any Board or staff member.
