Dr. Erin French

Dr. Erin French is an educator, instructional designer, and historian. She holds a B. A. in History and Art from Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa. Studying abroad in the United Kingdom inspired her to pursue a master’s degree abroad, and at the University of Glasgow in Scotland, she earned an M.Phil. in Decorative Arts and Design History. This degree combined historical and object-based research with professional training for employment in museums, stately homes, and auction houses, and her thesis examined the architectural transformation and modernization of Glasgow’s Pollok House, an 18th-century stately home. Following her studies, French worked at the Summerlee Museum of Scottish Industrial Life and the North Lanarkshire Council Archives and Records Management Service.

After five years in Scotland, French returned to the United States in 2006 to embark upon a career in international education at Iowa State University (ISU). First as the International Programs Coordinator in the College of Design, and later as the Director of International Programs in the College of Human Sciences, she collaborated with faculty members and international partners to create quality learning experiences abroad. On campus, French created the Global Human Sciences Minor, a groundbreaking program that united multiple disciplines in the Human Sciences, cross-cultural and international perspectives, and leadership development. The most meaningful contribution of her 17 years at ISU was preparing over 1,500 students to study abroad on programs that benefitted them personally, academically, and professionally.

At ISU, French was also an active member of The Forum on Education Abroad, the Standards Development Organization for education abroad as designated by the U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission. She served as ISU’s institutional representative to The Forum, and she was ISU’s first international educator to achieve The Forum’s prestigious Professional Certification in Education Abroad. French was also selected to serve on The Forum’s Standards Update Working Group, an alliance of 21 educators who developed the sixth edition of the Standards of Good Practice for Education Abroad, a comprehensive framework for continuous improvement in postsecondary education abroad.

In 2021, French earned her Ph.D. at ISU. Her dissertation, “Stitching Masculinities, Stitching Stories: Men’s Quiltmaking Experiences 1970-2020,” was written under the supervision of Dr. Eulanda A. Sanders. This study represented the first oral history of men who quilt during the great American quilt revival, aided in expanding the narrative period of quilt scholarship, and contributed to making quilt studies a more diverse and inclusive academic discipline. “Uncommon Threads: Motivations of Men Who Quilt,” an article based on her dissertation, was published online by Clothing and Textiles Research Journal in November 2024, and it will appear in a forthcoming print issue.

Currently, French is employed as an instructional designer focused on faculty development opportunities in the Teaching and Learning Center at A. T. Still University. She infuses this role with a global citizenship mindset, which is grounded in curiosity, empathy, respectful communication, and positive change. Her work is also driven by a commitment to address the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, especially Goal 4: Quality Education. French’s research interests include teaching and learning with material culture and examining how textile-based leisure activities support well-being.

Beyond her work, French is researching the life of William H. Silver (1850-1904), an inventor, patent holder, and manufacturer of household goods. Her curiosity about everyday objects fuels her dedication to uncovering the stories behind the innovations that shaped our world, with Silver’s work at the heart of her research. When she’s not exploring the past, she enjoys quiltmaking, antique collecting, birdwatching, walking for fitness, meditating, spending time with her cats, and immersing herself in a good book.