Solmaz Es'haghloo-Galougahi
College of Family and Consumer Sciences
PhD Candidate & Graduate Teaching Assistant, President TMI/GSC
Education
| Degree | Field of Study | Institution | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|
| B.A. | Carpet design | Art University of Semnan, Iran | 2013 |
| M.A. | Raw Materials and Dyeing | Art University of Tabriz, Iran | 2015 |
| Research Certificate | Qualitative Method | University of Georgia | 2024 |
| PhD. | Textiles, Merchandising, and Interiors | University of Georgia | 2021-now |
Research
My research focuses on the rich cultural stories embedded in Oriental rugs, exploring their deep significance in Eastern traditions and their evolving presence in the United States. My academic journey began with a bachelor's degree in carpet and fabric design, which led me to study natural dyeing techniques essential to rug-making during my master's program. Moving to the United States was a turning point—it heightened my awareness of the cultural essence of these intricate weavings and inspired me to investigate how material culture is interpreted across different societies. This passion now drives my doctoral research, where I examine how rugs are used and understood, uncovering the diverse cultural perspectives that shape their meaning.
Prior Professional Positions
| Organization | Title | Years of Service |
|---|---|---|
| Mohawk Industries | Carpet Design Intern | 2024 |
| Mohawk Industries | Carpet Design Intern | 2023 |
| Tabriz carpet design company | Rug designer | Jun 2018- October 2020 |
| Freelance Designer | Fabric designer | 2015-2020 |
Awards
| Award Name | Awarded By | Year Awarded |
|---|---|---|
| L.Frank and Georgia D. Rodgers Graduate Student Award | College of Family and Consumer Sciences | 2024 |
| Michael Schoenecke Travel Grant | PCA National Conference | 2024 |
| Jones Anderson Family Endowment Scholarship | The College of Family and Consumer Sciences | 2023 |
| Virginia Wilbanks Kilgore Scholarship | The College of Family and Consumer Sciences | 2023 |
| Outstanding Teaching Assistant | University of Georgia | 2022-2023 |
Service
| Organization | Title | Year(s) | Service Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diversity, equity, and inclusion | Representing the Textile, Merchandising, and Interiors department for the FACS DEI | 2023-2024 | |
| TMI Graduate students committee | Vice President | 2022-2023 | |
| TMI Graduate students committee | President | 2023-2024 | |
| Textile Society of America | Member | 2025- Now |
Advisory Committee
Co-chair advisors: Dr. Katalin Medvedev & Dr. Kim Rich Meister
Committee member: Dr. Giovanni Pietro Dazzo
Committee member: Dr. Jeyeon Jo
Areas of Expertise
Textile Science, Textile Design, Rug and Carpet Design
Journal Articles
Sadeghi-Kiakhani, M., Tehrani-Bagha, A. R., Safapour, S., Eshaghloo-Galugahi, S., & Etezad, S. M. (2021). Ultrasound-assisted extraction of natural dyes from Hawthorn fruits for dyeing polyamide fabric and study its fastness, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties. Environment, Development and Sustainability, 23(6), 9163-9180.
Safapour, S., Sadeghi-Kiakhani, M., & Eshaghloo-Galugahi, S. (2018). Extraction, dyeing, and antibacterial properties of Crataegus elbursensis fruit natural dye on wool yarn. Fibers and Polymers, 19(7), 1428-1434.
Seyed-Saadati, S. H., Eshaghloo Galougahi, S., Safapour, S., & Sadeghi-Kiakhani, M. (2015). Optimization of ultrasonic-assisted extraction process of Hawthorn fruit natural dye. Journal of Color Science and Technology (ICST), 9(4), 8. Institute for Color Science and Technology with scientific cooperation of Iran Color Society.
Publications
Conferences:
Weaving Past into Present: Using Poetic Analysis to Explore the Cultural Significance of Oriental Rugs in Shaping Personal Identity, accepted in the ICQI international conference.
Unraveling Cross-Cultural Knots of Oriental Rug: Identity, Adaptation, and Perception," accepted at the PCA national conference.
Working Papers
Memoirs in Weave: Oriental Rugs, Childhood Memory, and Adulthood Identity
From Colonial Commodification to Cultural Empowerment: A Contrapuntal Approach to the History of Persian Rugs
A Triangulated Analysis of Oriental Rugs in American Living Rooms through Postcolonial, Symbolic Interactionism, and Material Culture Perspectives