Dianna Vass, MBA, Ph.D.

Dr. Dianna Vass is a leading expert in the field of internal learning teams, having created successful programs both in higher education classrooms and within industry. Her dissertation at Virginia Tech focused on Total Quality Management and Training within Apparel/Textile Product Manufacturing Organizations, and she has applied this knowledge to make a real difference in the world. Currently serving as the Director of Research and Sponsored Programs within the Division of Academic Affairs at Coppin State University, Dr. Vass is an innovative executive and passionate advocate for experiential education and transdisciplinary research across institutions, metro areas, and the globe.

In addition to her academic and executive accomplishments, Dr. Vass has also had notable successes in the business world. She reduced a direct marketer's apparel returns by 20 percentage points employing quality training and partnering with the supply chain on sizing and fit standards. Furthermore, she has contributed significantly to fundraising efforts, annually raising $2.2 Million for the College of Engineering at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, enabling alumni and corporations to make a difference in STEM education.

Throughout her career, Dr. Vass has always prioritized collaboration, mentorship, and bringing people together towards a shared goal. Her research projects with wearer needs and sewing dynamics have improved solutions at the intersections of creativity and strategy, innovation and operations, community well-being, and quality of life. Recently, she earned an MBA from the Lerner College of Business and Economics at the University of Delaware.