From Student-Athlete to Ph.D. Student: Sutton Hodges Pursues Her Third NC State Degree

When Sutton Hodges imagined her college experience, she knew she wanted to be a student-athlete.

What she didn’t expect was that six years later, she would still be thriving at NC State. 

From a young age, she attended Wolfpack games and visited her two older siblings, both NC State alumni, which solidified her interest in the school. Once Hodges discovered her passion for textiles, attending NC State to study fashion and textile management with a concentration in fashion development and product management was a no-brainer. 

“I always knew NC State was home, and I never even applied anywhere else,” Hodges says. 

Hodges planned to join the cheerleading team during her first year, but an injury and the COVID-19 pandemic delayed her plans. In 2023, during Hodges’ senior year and her first year on the cheerleading team, they won the National Cheerleaders Association College National Championship. 

“Nobody on the team had won a national championship yet, so it was all of our first times. That was so exciting and special,” she says. 

After an undergraduate experience filled with mentorship, personal growth and athletic fulfillment, Hodges decided to remain at NC State and pursue a Master of Science in Textiles while continuing her student-athlete journey. 

“Balancing a master’s program and college athletics hasn’t been easy, but I wouldn’t change it for the world,” Hodges says.

Quickly after starting her master’s, she also took on a teaching assistant (TA) role under Assistant Teaching Professor Jessica Singleton. In the process, she discovered a love for teaching that has inspired her to pursue her third degree at the college.

Now, Hodges is moving on from cheer to devote her full attention to her dreams in academia. She’s finishing up her master’s thesis, which focuses on how companies use virtual tools for prototyping and textile product development, while also starting the coursework for a Ph.D. in textile technology management.

What first drew you to textiles and NC State?

My whole family went to school in North Carolina, so we were always involved in the North Carolina college community. NC State has been my top school since I was 10 years old.

But specifically textiles — I had a competitive cheerleading background, so I grew up wearing the tight clothes — spandex, sports bras and everything. From a young age, I was super picky about materials and fabrics, and I always had an eye for fashion, makeup and all the little details that go into that. That’s mainly why I decided to go into textiles, and I knew NC State has a really strong textiles college, and Centennial Campus is absolutely beautiful. 

How did cheerleading shape your time as a student?

My athletic background is a huge part of who I am. I did competitive cheerleading for about 19 years. I grew up in it. It was my world, my everything, my first love, you could say.

I joined the team when I was a senior, and once I started my master’s program, I decided to continue cheering. I felt like one year wasn’t enough for me. But I also loved the Wilson College, so my decision to attend grad school was not only cheer-based, but it was also research-and career-path-based. I definitely had a lot on my plate and I was very busy, but it was absolutely worth it.

When did you realize you wanted to pursue a Ph.D.?

I actually did not know I wanted to get a Ph.D. when I got to college. Once I started taking more computer-aided design classes for my master’s, and then landed my TA role, it opened my eyes to a whole new world: teaching. Giving back to a community that has meant so much to me is so rewarding and surreal. After my first year of being a TA, I knew that I wanted to go into a Ph.D. program here.

What has your experience as a TA been like?

I have worked for Professor Singleton for the past three years, and this semester, I’m helping her teach FTM 318, which is a computer-aided design class, and then FTD 321, which is a draping course. Professor Singleton always likes to push me to my limits, which I’m super grateful for. She was also very flexible with my cheer schedule in 2024 when we went to the Final Four, Sweet 16 and Elite Eight!

I love getting to teach students. Seeing that light bulb switch on is one of the main reasons that I want to go into academia. I love getting to learn from the students, and they teach me so much.

What advice would you give to students considering graduate school at the Wilson College of Textiles?

I would encourage students to take advantage of the close-knit and incredibly supportive environment at Wilson. Be open to exploring areas you may not have initially considered — whether in coursework, research topics or collaborations — because your interests will naturally grow and evolve throughout the experience. Building strong relationships with faculty is especially important; their mentorship truly shapes your experience and opens doors you might not expect.

I’d also say not to be afraid to step outside your comfort zone. Try new classes, connect with different parts of the college and get involved where you can. Graduate school here is an opportunity to grow both personally and professionally, and Wilson provides the space, support and community to help you find your own path.

This post was originally published in Wilson College of Textiles News.