The Department of Design and Merchandising want to highlight the incredible talent that fosters the community of Design and Merchandising at CSU. Every month the department will be highlighting two of its colleagues in the hopes we can showcase the unique passions that make up the design and merchandising staff roster.
Meet Ashley (C.M.) Rathmann
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Program/Classes: I teach design studios, history, and digital graphics for the Interior Architecture & Design program.
What do you try to emphasize in your teaching experience: I think that it is important that students have the freedom and support to explo
re, take risks, make mistakes, and learn from an iterative design process. My view is that as students are learning to swing from the trapeze of design, we as professors are the net that catches them if they fall.
A goal you have: I am currently working toward NCIDQ licensure.
Favorite aspect of being a part of the DM department: My colleagues!
A fun fact about you that would connect with the students: I don’t know if it connects, but I am a singer-songwriter and in 2018 to 2020 BC (before Covid) I hosted a weekly open mic.
A hobby you enjoy outside of teaching: I’m fulfilling my childhood dream of being a ski racer! I compete in the USSA Masters ski racing series. Going fast is fun – I clocked 71 mph in the downhill at Aspen Highlands last season – but I especially love knocking down the gates in slalom.
The Department of Design and Merchandising is part of CSU’s College of Health and Human Sciences.