Biographical Text
Professor Emerita of Technology Jane Saunders Harb received her B.S. degree in clothing and textiles from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, in 1963, and she received her M. S. degree from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, in 1968. Her thesis was entitled: "An Historical Study of Three Pieces of Antique Furniture from Stratford Hall, Renowned Home of the Lees of Virginia." In 1980, Harb received her Ed.D. from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. The title of her dissertation was "The Effective Woman Home Economics Administrator." Harb began her professional career in 1963 as an extension agent in Chestertown, Maryland. In 1967 she taught kindergarten in the Chesterfield, Virginia schools and in Tennessee from 1970 to 1975, Harb served as an interior designer at Two Designers, Brecksville, Ohio, and as an instructor at Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, in the School of Home Economics, where she taught interior design, housing and clothing, and textile courses from 1971 to 1977. In 1980, Dr. Harb accepted the position of assistant professor of Interior Design and Housing at Winthrop College in Rock Hill, South Carolina. Her duties were to teach interior design courses and be a researcher of Solar Underground Residence in conjunction with Clemson University at Clemson, South Carolina. She also served as the coordinator of the interior design area as work progressed toward Foundation for Interior Design Education Research accreditation. Dr. Harb accepted a position at Appalachian State University in January of 1986 as an associate professor of Housing and Interiors. Her duties included being an instructor for housing and interiors courses and a director of the Home Management House. At Harb's instigation, the program of Interior Design and Housing was transferred to the Department of Technology, where she served as a professor until retirement in July of 2004. During Dr. Harb's tenure at Appalachian, she developed a course for students of interior design whereby the class was required to budget, plan shop, present the plan, and then renovate campus spaces, thus giving the students invaluable experience in the field of interior design and also benefitting the university. Some of the spaces redone are: • "Tradewinds"—the coffee shop located in the student union • The chancellor's office • The provost's office and the reception area • The atrium, the assistant vice chancellor's office, the development office, • the campus attorney's office • Many dorm spaces and other spaces located on campus Dr. Harb's research included regional, national, and international presentations and publications. Some are as listed: • Harb, J.S. "A Multi-Therm Residence," USDA Outlook Proceedings - U.S. Congressional Record, 1984. • Harb, J.S. "Design Considerations of a Multi-Therm Residence - Space Use and Furnisings," Agrisearch, 1985. Harb served as chair for the North Carolina Home Economics Association, 1987-1990; she was a member of the Research Council, Winthrop College, 1982-1986, and she also served on the following committees: Curriculum Committee, Winthrop College, 1982-1986; Graduate Program Committee, Appalachian State University, 1987; Research and Grants Committee, Winthrop College, 1984-1986; and College Graduate Committee (Winthrop College, 1980-1986 and Appalachian State University, 1987-1993). Dr. Harb was chair of Public Relations, National Interior Designers Qualification Council, 1985-1987; in 1990, she was an interior design consultant and was appointed to the Educational Committee of the International Society of Interior Designers. She was appointed to the international Federation of Interior Design Educational Research Committee in 1990. Dr. Harb was born in the Salem-Roanoke area of Virginia on February 6, 1941, and was reared in the same area. Her parents were Mr. and Mrs. Richard Hyde Saunders of Salem, Virginia. Her father's ancestor, Jonathan Saunders, came to America on the ship Merchant Hope and landed near Williamsburg, Virginia, in 1637. Robert Saunders' ancestral home was torn down for the building of the Williamsburg Capitol. The ancestors of Harb's mother, the Cecils, settled in Maryland in the early 1700's. (Named for the family, a county in Maryland is called Cecil County.) The Cecil family (Methodist) moved to Pulaski County, Virginia, in the 1740's and built a chapel (Cecil 205 Chapel) which has been renovated and is still in use by the community. Sebastin Cecil, the Cecil Chapel minister, and his wife, Julia, are buried in the chapel graveyard. Dr. Harb has two sons—David Bagis Harb III (Trey) and Jonathan Saunders Harb. Trey is a graduate of Appalachian State. He was a business major and an officer in the student Ambassador group while in college. He received an MBA degree at the University of Georgia and is now employed at Time Warner in Charlotte, North Carolina. Trey has two children. Jonathan is a graduate of design from North Carolina State University. He is the CEO and creative director of Whisky-tree, Inc., in San Rafael, California. Jonathan is credited in movies such as Star Wars, Eight Below, and Pirates of the Caribbean and has received several awards for his work in these movies. Dr. Harb retired in July of 2004. She was recommended for, and granted, emerita status by the Appalachian State University Board of Trustees in April of 2005. Sources: Appalachian State University files and personal correspondence. -Kay R. Dickson
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