Christine Crouch Brennan

Alumni Office, Textiles, Merchandising and Interiors

FACS helped lay the foundation for creativity and entrepreneurship

Major/year graduated

BSFCS 1992 and M.S. 1999

Current occupation/location

Custom Home Designer in Austin, Texas

What do you love about your current role?

The textile science combined with business classes gave me a strong foundation of creativity and entrepreneurship.  After several years of clothing design and sourcing in Singapore, China, and Hong Kong, I became a stay-at-home mom with my first son in Santa Barbara. The call to do something creative was strong, so I started staging homes for real estate agents. When we moved to Austin, I joined the Home Builders Association and was hired and guided by some of the best builders and architects in Austin. Nineteen years later and at 56 years old, I am getting my real estate license as a complement to my custom home design company. I plan on providing future clients the best of both worlds on helping them find and create their dream home.

How did your time at FACS help prepare you for your life or career?:

As an undergraduate, Dr. Theresa Perenich guided me in  my hybrid, customized major that eventually led to my Master of Science thesis topic of the Mexican Textile Industry and the Effect of ISO 14000 Environmental Standards. I learned to work outside the structured lines to achieve a more unique goal. During my graduate program, Dr. Perenich brought me back as her graduate assistant, and I assisted in developing the study abroad program to Oaxaca, Mexico. With the travel, I realized that the world is a small and amazing resource for exploring. Be fearless and curious!

What advice would you give current students who aspire to a similar career?

Build a unique niche! Find something about your career that no one offers or a unique aspect to it.  I gravitated more to the construction side of design while most interior design degrees may focus on furnishings. I love creating the whole home from roof to flooring and, for a few select clients (with an appropriate budget!), I will do their furnishings as well.

What is one memorable experience you had as a student in FACS?

Besides my graduate studies, my favorite experience was being a mentor and tutor for several football players. I surprisingly bonded with a couple athletes and we valued each others' experiences. It was also very exciting to be recognized at a Tutor-Mentor Recognition Day with our students in all their gear - they were so huge!  I love looking back at those photos of "my guys."