Xun "Catherine" Sun, Ph.D.
To be a change agent

I am a graduate of the Department of Textile and Apparel Management at the University of Missouri, United States, and will be joining Illinois State University as an Assistant Professor in August 2025.

​

With an interdisciplinary background in Clothing Design Engineering (B.E.), International Apparel Marketing (B.B.A.), Fashion and Luxury Management (MSc), and Applied Economics (M.E.), I bring a wealth of diverse perspectives to my academic pursuits.

My primary research interests derive from my six years of professional industry experience as a retail trainer, buyer and merchandiser, a startup entrepreneur, and seven years of teaching experience in higher education, focusing on the global fashion supply chain. My primary research focuses on technology-driven fashion supply chain management, specifically in the area of change management and digital readiness, with a philosophical belief in improving human capital (i.e., students, workforce, and consumers) within human-technology interaction from a positive psychological lens through a mixed and multi-method approach. Additionally, I am engaged in digital merchandising curriculum development and pedagogy in the AI and digital era, aiming to cultivate digital and industry-ready professional talents in the global supply chain. I am committed to bridging the gaps between education and industry needs.

​

Driven by a passion for crafting change readiness for the future, I aim to become a change agent in the fashion industry, driving the positive change and helping people become ready for the change. Thus, my big question is, "How can we make people (i.e., students, the workforce, and consumers) proactively ready for the future digital-driven change?" This website showcases my previous work, current projects, and future aspirations. Let's connect and explore the possibilities of shaping the future of the industry!