After graduating from the University of Georgia with a degree in history and Russian, Jeff Whalen joined the U.S. Air Force and spent several years flying reconnaissance missions over the North Pole and in the Barents Sea, monitoring Soviet military activity. He later served with the National Security Agency before returning to Georgia and his family’s apparel manufacturing and marketing business, The Warren Featherbone Co.
In addition to his work with Warren Featherbone, Whalen was very active with the American Apparel Manufacturers Association. While serving on AAMA’s Education Committee, he worked closely with the textile, merchandising and interiors programs at several universities, including UGA.
In 2002, during his tenure as president of the Georgia Soft Goods Education Foundation, Jeff approached then-TMI department head Ian Hardin about establishing an advisory relationship. During the next two years that relationship grew into a true collaboration, including the Soft Goods Foundation giving $40,000 to support the hiring of a part-time instructor to teach courses focused on the apparel industry and global sourcing.
The success of the courses led the GSGEF and TMI to increase their collaboration even more culminating in the 2005 endowment of the Distinguished Professor in Soft Goods Merchandising position and provided funding to develop internships and to establish a study tour to China.
Whalen continues to be engaged with the college in other capacities, including serving on the Campaign Steering Committee.
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