Kathleen Parrott, professor of apparel, housing, and resource management in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences at Virginia Tech, has been conferred the title of professor emerita by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors.

The emerita title may be conferred on retired professors, associate professors, and administrative officers who are specially recommended to the board by Virginia Tech President Tim Sands in recognition of exemplary service to the university. Nominated individuals who are approved by the board receive a copy of the resolution and a certificate of appreciation.

A member of the Virginia Tech community since 1988, Parrott was inducted into the Kitchen and Bath Industry Hall of Fame by the National Kitchen and Bath Association for her many contributions to the growth and professionalization of the kitchen and bath industry. Her scholarship on housing issues has been published in more than 20 book chapters and 20 peer-reviewed journal articles and has been supported by organizations including the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Her work has also been recognized by the Housing Education and Research Association.

At Virginia Tech, Parrott was a founding faculty member of the Center for Real Life Design and she participated in numerous Virginia Cooperative Extension programs serving the citizens of the commonwealth.

She taught a variety of graduate and undergraduate courses, introducing students to the fundamentals of kitchen and bath design, social issues in housing, and environmental issues in housing. She also made significant contributions to experiential learning by supervising international and national study tours, independent studies, and field studies.

Parrott received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Cornell University and her Ph.D. from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.