October 1, 2007 – Dr. Christy Cagle, Director of International Programs for the College of Textiles and Gene Barbee, adjunct professor for the College of Textiles joined representatives from the Salvadorian textile and apparel industry, government and academia for an event announcing a new textile and apparel school in El Salvador.  The event was held at the Universidad Salvadoreña Alberto Manferrer (USAM) in San Salvador, where classes for the new school will be taught.  NC State is working with the University to ensure that the courses meet NCSU standards in hopes that students attending the new two-year school will have an opportunity to transfer to NC State to finish their Bachelors degree.  The President and Vice President of El Salvador attended the event and the President spoke of his support of the school and for the collaboration with NCSU.  Gene Barbee, a world renowned consultant and adjunct faculty member at the College of Textiles, assessed the needs of the industry and developed the curriculum for the new school.  The project was sponsored by Banco Multisectorial de Inversiones (BMI).

Pictured (left to right):  Dr. César Agusto Calderón, President of USAM, Gene Barbee, Gene Barbee Consulting, Elías Antonio Saca González, President of El Salvador, José Ignacio Lemus, BMI, Dr. Christy Cagle, Director of International Programs NCSU College of Textiles.