Kari Kammel
Center Director and Senior Academic Specialist
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Kari is the director of the A-CAPP Center and maintains an active research agenda on legal issues pertaining to trademark counterfeiting, U.S. state and federal law, e-commerce and social media liability for trademark counterfeiting, public international and intellectual property legal issues, and the impact of culture in the Middle East on intellectual property and trademark enforcement. She has testified before the U.S. House Judiciary Committee and Senate Judiciary Committee based on her research. She runs the Center’s education programming, including executive education, the professional certificate in brand protection, the Center’s student internship program and student placement. She also heads outreach to brand protection stakeholders for the center.
Prior to coming to the center, she spent a significant time working, traveling, and living in the Middle East, including Egypt, Iraq, United Arab Emirates, Libya, Jordan, and others. She was Deputy Chief of Party at DePaul College of Law’s Iraq office, where she managed rule of law programs; and Deputy Executive Director in the Chicago office. She is a licensed attorney in Illinois and Michigan with a J.D. from DePaul University, an M.A. in Political Science from the American University in Cairo, and a B.A. from the University of Chicago. She is serving her second three-year term on the Academic Specialist Advisory Committee at MSU, where she has been chair, vice-chair, and chair of the promotion subcommittee. She is also an adjunct professor of law at MSU’s College of Law, where she teaches Trademark Counterfeiting, Food Counterfeits, and International Intellectual Property. Additionally, she is a member of INTA and on the anti-counterfeiting sub-committee, AIPLA, and the ABA.
RECENT PUBLICATIONS
Saleem Alhabash
Associate Director of Research,
A-CAPP Center
Professor, Advertising & Public Relations, Michigan State University
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Saleem Alhabash is a Professor of Public Relations and Social Media at Michigan State University’s Department of Advertising + Public Relations and the Associate Director of Research for the Center for Anti-Counterfeiting and Product Protection. He also co-directs the Media and Advertising Psychology (MAP) Lab. His research focuses on the processes and effects of new and social media within the context of persuasion. More specifically, his research investigates the cognitive and emotional responses, and psychological effects associated with using new and social media. His research is geared toward understanding how new communication technologies can be used as persuasive tools, most recently in relation to marketing of alcohol as well as digital aggression across the lifespan. He also studies how new and social media can facilitate cross-cultural and international communication, with emphasis on changing attitudes and stereotypes of foreign nations. In 2014, he was named the inaugural recipient of the American Academy of Advertising’s Mary Alice Shaver Promising Professor Award. His research won best article, top paper, and top poster awards at national and international conferences. Saleem received his Ph.D. from the University of Missouri School of Journalism. Pre-academia, he worked in a youth nonprofit organization focusing on media and well-being.
Carrie Feeheley
Assistant Director of Education and Outreach
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Carrie Feeheley joined the Center in March 2023. A member of the State Bar of Michigan, her legal interests are in conflict resolution, specifically mediation and arbitration. Before joining the Center, she spent 15 years at the Michigan State University College of Law in various student services roles, most recently as the Assistant Dean of Admissions & International Programs. There, she focused primarily on recruitment of students for the College’s multiple degree programs, especially the Juris Doctor.
Starting with her time on study abroad in Russia as a college student, Carrie has tried to incorporate an international focus into her work throughout her career. At the College of Law, she grew the institution’s international student population substantially and helped launch the College’s first online degree program.
Prior to her time at the University, Carrie worked for a national dispute resolution services company helping grow the use of mediation and arbitration within various industries. She also managed the political action committee and did legal research for an energy company and worked for a statewide trade organization managing member services.
Carrie received her law degree from Michigan State University College of Law and her bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Kalamazoo College.
Pilar Toro
Assistant Director of Industry Outreach
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With over 20 years of experience in developing and executing brand protection programs across various industries, including luxury, fashion, and digital entertainment, Pilar is the Assistant Director of Industry Outreach for the A-CAPP Center. She has a proven track record of leading cross-functional teams and collaborating with law enforcement to mitigate risks and spearhead global anti-counterfeiting initiatives in the private sector. Pilar’s expertise has enabled her to revitalize brand protection awareness among internal and external stakeholders by being involved in comprehensive policy development, market threat assessments, the integration of traceability technologies, and utilizing data analytics to establish key performance indicators that drive strategic business decisions.
Previous to working at the A-CAPP Center, Pilar held key brand protection positions at notable companies including Tiffany & Co., Red Wing Shoe Company, Burberry Limited, Sony Interactive Entertainment, lululemon Athletica and Chanel. Those vast experiences provide her with a broader lens when thinking of ways to help evolve the concept of brand protection through collaboration, partnership, and innovation. She also combines her multilingual skills with her legal expertise, holding an LLM in Intellectual Property from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law and a law degree from Universidad Externado de Colombia.
Sara Heeg
Business Manager
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Sara is the business manager at the center, where she is responsible for the oversight of its finances and human resource activities, and administration of the center’s education, outreach and research program. She is also the managing editor of the center’s Brand Protection Professional, as well as its graphic designer and publisher. She earned her bachelor’s from the College of Natural Science and has been at the center for 9 years. She enjoys the variety of work the center offers and is appreciative to contribute to the fight against counterfeits.
Rachael Roy
Office Coordinator
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Rachael Roy is the Office Coordinator at the A-CAPP Center, where she plays a crucial role in ensuring smooth and efficient operations. With a strong background in Management in the restaurant industry, Rachael has honed her skills in management and team coordination, bringing a wealth of practical knowledge to her current role.
Before joining the A-CAPP Center, Rachael successfully managed her own tax business for ten years, demonstrating her entrepreneurial spirit and expertise in financial management. Her diverse experience in both the service and financial sectors allows her to approach her work with a unique perspective and a strong focus on efficiency and customer satisfaction.
Rachael’s commitment to excellence and her ability to adapt to different industries make her an asset to any team.
Rahaf Ahmad
Graduate, Media and Information Science; Criminal Justice
Community Outreach & Education Fellowship Recipient
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Rahaf is a Graduate student in the Department of Media and Information, pursuing an MA in Media and Information with a focus on Media Policy. With previous background education in Criminal Justice and Information Sciences, along with internship experience at the A-CAPP Center, Rahaf is excited to venture and dive deeper into the realm of Brand Protection and Anti-Counterfeiting. In addition, Rahaf is interested in a global and international approach to Brand Protection Law and has interests in areas such as the Middle East and Africa. Aside from that, she enjoys painting and baking.
Adiya Young
Law Student; International Business
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Adiya is currently a 2L at Michigan State University College of Law and has an undergraduate degree in International Business from Saginaw Valley State University (SVSU). During her time at SVSU, she competed on the Varsity Women’s Tennis team, worked for the General Counsel’s office, and competed in Moot Court. During her 1L summer, she worked at Miller Canfield Paddock and Stone as a summer associate and worked on all types of matters including Intellectual Property. Adiya has a passion for Intellectual Property and is excited to advance her learning not only in Intellectual Property, but also Product Counterfeiting.
Addison Keener
Sophmore, Criminal Justice
Community Outreach & Education Fellowship Recipient
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Addison is entering her third semester with the ACAPP Center. She is a junior studying Criminal Justice with two minors-Law, Justice and Policy alongside a Security Management minor. She is from Rochester, Michigan where she has lived her whole life. Fun fact she is the only person in her family from Michigan! Addison is looking to have a career somewhere in the federal government or working alongside them one day. In her free time, she enjoys hanging out with her friends and family but especially her two pugs.
Denver Lambert
Law Student; Bachelor of Arts in Sociology
Maher Scholarship Recipient
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Denver Lambert is a third-year law student at Michigan State University College of Law, specializing in brand protection, anti-counterfeiting, trademarks, and copyrights. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of Western Ontario. Outside of his academic and professional pursuits, Denver enjoys spending time with friends and family, traveling, and working out. Upon graduation, he aspires to secure a position in soft IP, either with a law firm or directly with a brand.
Emily Long
Junior, Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering
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Emily Dong is an undergraduate student currently majoring in Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering. Extracurricularly, Emily is also involved in Women in Engineering and Spartan Hackers. Emily is excited to be an intern with the A-CAPP Center in fall 2024.
Karlee Neumann
Junior, Psychology; Criminal Justice
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Karlee Neumann is a senior with dual majors in Criminal Justice and Psychology, and dual minors in Law, Justice, and Public Policy and Leadership in Integrated Learning through the Bailey Scholars Program. A term used to describe Karlee would be a ‘life-long learner’. She loves to learn about law, and sustainability, among others. She also loves to read, play with her cat, and nap.
Max Scheerer
Junior, Psychology; Criminal Justice
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Maxwell Scheerer is an undergraduate student at Michigan State University pursuing a double major in Psychology and Criminal Justice, with a minor in Law, Justice, and Public Policy. Prior to interning at A-CAPP, he assisted as a Law Clerk / Interpretation intern for the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center. Max has been fluent in Spanish since the first grade, attending Ada Vista Spanish Immersion Elementary in Ada, Michigan, and is excited to put these skills to use in a professional environment.
Brooke Winters
Junior, Criminal Justice; International Relations
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Brooke Winters is originally from Dallas, Texas and is starting her junior year. She is pursuing dual degrees in Criminal Justice and International Relations, with a minor in Law, Justice, and Public Policy. She is a research assistant for the School of Criminal Justice and involved in multiple clubs on campus, including Delta Phi Epsilon. Brooke also spent this past summer studying Politics in Salvador Brazil, and she is interested in studying other cultures and learning more about foreign relations. After college, Brooke is hoping to work for the federal government in international security. This is Brooke’s first year working at the A-CAPP Center, and she is excited to start learning about product protection and anti-counterfeiting.
The A-CAPP Center Industry Advisory Board consist of brand-owning companies most interested in forming long-term, substantive, and mutually beneficial partnerships. The board provides advice and supports the development and application of strategic goals and specific objectives as its fundamental role, which helps fulfill the Center’s vision to be a trusted resource for industry.
President
Senior Director, Global Brand Protection
Vice President
Legal Manager, Digital, E-Commerce & Marketplaces
Members
Senior Manager, Global Brand Protection – Data & Analytics
Assistant Vice President, Global Security Group
Director, Illicit Trade Prevention-U.S.
Liaisons
Director of National IPR Center, Homeland Security Investigations
The A-CAPP Center Brand Protection Councils are a group of professionals from a larger segment of the brand protection community, including not only industry, academia and law enforcement, but also law firms, technology and service providers, government, and e-commerce platforms who serve as expert advisory support on specific topic areas. The BP Councils sit under the A-CAPP’s Advisory Board by invitation to enhance the research and scholarship of faculty and staff, curricula of the A-CAPP Center’s education programs, information sharing and gathering through outreach activities, and placement and career opportunities for graduates.
BP Council: Technology, Online Impact & Policy
BP Council: Global Impact of Counterfeiting
BP Council: Consumer Behavior, Impact & Education
BP Council: Brand Protection Education for Current & Future Workforce
Xuemei Bian
Marketing, Northumbria University
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Dr Xuemei Bian is Professor in Marketing at University of Northumbria, EDI Lead of MOS and Innovation Fellow of the British Academy 2022/23. She is an advisor to the UK Intellectual Property Office (IPO), the national government agency, which operates and maintains a clear and accessible intellectual property system in the UK to encourage innovation and helps the economy and society to benefit from knowledge and ideas. Between November 2020 and June 2021, she served IPO’s Exhaustion of Intellectual Property Rights evidence sub-group in her capacity as advisor. She currently holds the visiting professor role at Tianjin University and is also Adjunct Professor at Michigan State University. Her main research interests are in consumer behavior, branding and advertising, with a focus on how judgments, evaluations and choice vary as a function of different decision-making strategies. She has established and sustained an international reputation and recognition in three main research areas: 1) consumption behavior; 2) branding and brand management, and 3) effective advertising with a focus on the influences of advertising appeals on brands, consumer well-being, and behavioral tendency.
She is one of the leading scholars in the field of consumer and counterfeit studies. Her research has appeared in many journals of international repute, such as Journal of Business Research, European Journal of Marketing, Marketing Letters, British Journal of Social Psychology, International Business Review, Journal of Brand Management, International Journal of Consumer Studies, Journal of Consumer Behavior, Advances in Consumer Research, Journal of Product and Brand Management, and The Marketing Review among others. Her paper titled “New Insights into Unethical Counterfeit Consumption” was selected and included in Elsevier’s Newsletter for Science Journalists (2016) and is the “Top Rated” paper in the Journal of Business Research.
Her research has attracted media attention in recent years and has featured in national and international popular outlets and trade magazines such as Huffington Post, Marie Claire, BBC Radio Kent, Refinery29, Fućsia (Colombia), The World Trademark Review, Luxury Daily (USA), and numerous online news websites. She is a regular contributor to national and international popular outlets, including The Sunday Times and BBC Radio Kent, commenting on consumer related topics.
Marco Dugato
Illicit Trade, Transcrime – Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore di Milano
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Marco Dugato is Senior Researcher at Transcrime since 2009 and Adjunct Professor of Methods and Techniques for Criminological Research at the Faculty of Political and Social Sciences of the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Milan, Italy. From the a.y. 2010/11 to the a.y. 2012/13 he has been Adjunct Professor of Crime Statistics at the Faculty of Sociology of the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore. He holds a PhD in Criminology at the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore and a MA in Sociology at the Università degli Studi di Milano Bicocca. He is a founding partner and administrator of Crime&tech, spin-off company of Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore-Transcrime. His main research fields are spatial analysis of crime; predictive policing and risk assessment analysis; crime and criminal justice statistics; organized crime and illicit markets. He has coordinated several national and international research projects. His research has appeared in several peer-reviewed journals.
Stanley Griffis
Supply Chain, Michigan State University
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Professor Griffis is the John H. McConnell Professor of Business Administration, and a Professor of Logistics in the Department of Supply Chain Management at Michigan State University. His primary teaching interests include logistics and supply chain management.
Professor Griffis received his Ph.D. in Business Administration from The Ohio State University with a major in Logistics and a minor in Information Systems Management. He also holds a Master of Science in Logistics Management from the Air Force Institute of Technology, and a Master of Arts in Logistics from The Ohio State University. Prior to joining academia he worked on numerous logistics system design programs for the U.S. Air Force.
Professor Griffis’s research focuses on a variety of issues including how consumers truly value the set of logistics and supply chain services companies strive to differentiate upon (returns, assortment, speed). Additionally, he researches vehicle routing through real supply chain networks, seeking to account for the variability in traffic, stop lengths, and goods/services delivered/picked up in ways that classic vehicle routing techniques ignore. Lastly, Dr. Griffis works in the area of illicit supply chain networks where goods (e.g. counterfeit or illegal) co-mingle with legitimate supply chains, creating challenges for legitimate business operations.
Professor Griffis has published research in the Journal of Business Logistics, Journal of Operations Management, Decision Sciences, International Journal of Production Research, Transportation Journal, European Journal of Operations Research, Journal of Management, International Journal of Management Science (Omega), International Journal of Production Economics, Supply Chain Management Review, and the Journal of Transportation Management.
Professor Griffis has won multiple “best paper” awards in supply chain journals, and is a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant winner (2019).
Pat Huddleston
Advertising & Public Relations, Michigan State University
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Patricia Huddleston is a professor of retailing in the Department of Advertising + Public Relations and Director of the Information and Media Ph.D. program at Michigan State University. She earned her Ph.D. from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. She is a Research Council Member with the Anticounterfeiting and Product Protection Center (ACAPP). She teaches consumer behavior, retail strategy, and strategic brand communication courses.
Her current research focuses on eye-tracking to evaluate consumer information processing of point-of-purchase retail display elements (e.g., signage, price) and how these elements motivate purchase intention. This research has been funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program and Horticulture Research Institute. Her work has been published in publications such as the Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, PLOS, and the Journal of Product and Brand Management. Recently, she has co-authored a 17-country study to understand global attitudes and behavior toward counterfeit products funded by Underwriters Laboratories.
Anastasia Kononova
Advertising & Public Relations, Michigan State University
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Anastasia Kononova is an associate professor of advertising at MSU. Media multitasking is an overarching focus of Kononova’s interdisciplinary and international research that lies in the intersection of three areas: media and technology use across different cultures and social groups; psychological responses to media devices and persuasive messages; and advertising and digital literacy. Kononova’s primary research interest is related to exploring media multitasking behavior, i.e. using/being exposed to multiple media at the same time. Studying media multitasking patterns reflects idiosyncrasies and commonalities of media use across markets. Such knowledge helps enhance international communication, especially with regard to using multiple platforms to convey messages effectively. Kononova has studied media multitasking not only in a cross-cultural setting but also across the lifespan, focusing on media use behaviors of older adults.
A large body of Kononova’s media multitasking research is devoted to exploring the effects of this behavior on cognition, emotion, rationalization, and resistance to persuasion. Kononova has found that switching between online tasks and using multiple screen devices at the same time negatively affect memory for mediated content, elicit less skeptical responses to persuasive messages (e.g., health and advertising messages), and hinder rational choices (e.g., choice of healthful snacks). In a related area of research, Kononova has explored how individuals cognitively and affectively respond to advertising messages placed in congruent and incongruent online contexts.
In a recent project, Kononova focused on the use of health mobile applications (apps) and privacy concerns associated with sharing personal information via smartphones, exploring credibility judgments that individuals made of sponsored health mobile apps.
Kononova’s word appeared in highly ranked peer-reviewed journals, such as Computers in Human Behavior, Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, International Journal of Communication, Journal of Health Communication, Journal of Medical Internet Research: mHealth and uHealth, and others.
Before joining the Department of Advertising and Public Relations at Michigan State University, Anastasia worked as an assistant professor of communication and media at the American University of Kuwait. She earned a doctoral degree at the University of Missouri’s School of Journalism and a master’s degree at Oklahoma State University. Before graduate school, Anastasia studied in Rostov State University (Southern Federal University since 2006) in Russia, where she also worked as a corporate communication specialist.
Alexander Krasnikov
Loyola University Chicago
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Alexander Krasnikov joined the Quinlan School of Business in the fall 2015. Prior to coming to Quinlan School, he was full-time faculty at the George Washington University, Washington, D.C.. In addition, he held visiting research positions at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and the Graduate School of Management at St. Petersburg State University, Russia.
His area of expertise include intellectual property and brands, marketing strategy in the emerging markets, and marketing analytics.
He contributes as invited speaker and instructor to the educational programs organizes by World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
Honglei Li
Asst. Professor, Northumbria University
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Dr Honglei Li is an assistant professor in Computer Sciences in Department of Computer and Information Sciences at Northumbria University. With over 20 years’ research experience in information systems, she has developed herself into an expert in end-user information technology adoption particularly for virtual communities, smart cities, online recommendation systems, and artificial intelligence.
She has published papers in top tier journals such as IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Systems, Information Technology & People, Information & Management, Social Science Computer Review, Journal of Association for Information Science and Technology, Internet Research, Electronic Commerce Research, Journal of Electronic Commerce Research, etc. She has served as the senior editor for Information Technology & People and Associate Editor of Journal of Electronic Business and Digital Economics. She has serves as the reviewers for top journals such as Decision Support Systems, MIS Quarterly, Information & Management, etc.
Dr Honglei Li has been leading a research team in electronic governments with the blockchain technology, P2P energy trading and artificial intelligence with Computer Vision. She has successfully secured funds from the university studentship and other sources for her PhD students. Dr Honglei Li has successfully secured funds from various sources, including the A-CAPP grant of USD30000 from Michigan State University as PI, the Innovate UK fund of Innovation Voucher by looking into how online recommendation systems could be applied into the property management industry in 2014 as PI; the e-social science research fund from the China Academy of Social Science in 2015 as PI to examine how the social science research could be digitalized; and, digitalization of flood prevention system as Co-PI from Northumbria University in 2021. Dr. Honglei Li will be leading the project, responsible for the design science section of the project, including the e-commerce and blockchain system analysis, design, and implementation, and final report.
Dr. Honglei Li serves as the website officer in the UK Association of Information Systems. She has also served as the conference chair and successfully organized the 19th International Conference on Electronic Business held in Newcastle Upon Tyne in 2019. She serves as the co-chair for the UKAIS 2025 annual conference to help organize the conference.
Tim Mackey
University of California, San Diego
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Tim Ken Mackey is an Associate Professor at the University of California, San Diego, the Director of Healthcare Research and Policy at UC San Diego – Extension, and is the Director of the Global Health Policy Institute (www.ghpolicy.org). He is also the CEO and co-Founder of the NIH-funded healthcare technology startup S-3 Research LLC. He holds a BA in Political Science-International Relations, a Masters Degree in Health Policy & Law and also earned his PhD in Global Public Health from the joint doctoral program at UC San Diego – San Diego State University. Prof. Mackey’s work has been featured in high-impact journals such as Science, JAMA, Nature Biotechnology, the Lancet, Nature Reviews Clinical Oncology, Clinical Microbiology Reviews, and BMC Medicine. His research and expertise has also been featured in major news outlets such as CNN, Wired, NPR, and the Wall Street Journal. His work focuses on an array of multidisciplinary topics in global health, public policy, international relations, and technology and innovation. He also has extensive professional experience including over 10 years experience in the private sector and acting as a consultant for the World Health Organization, the US Department of State and others. His work in anti-counterfeiting and brand protection focuses on using big data, machine learning, and data visualization to detect, characterize, and report illegal online sale and trafficking of health products and other commodities.
Saetbyul Park
Asst. Professor, Michigan State University
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Saetbyul Park is an assistant professor in Apparel & Textile Design at Michigan State University. She received her degrees of B.S. and M.S. in Clothing and Textiles from Seoul National University in Korea and her Ph.D. from University of Minnesota, specializing in Apparel Studies with a minor in Anthropology. She also studied in the Professional Designation Program of Merchandise Product Development at Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM). She has developed her solid foundation in apparel design and product development through her career as a designer and merchandiser in Korea and the United States. She is a current member of International Textile and Apparel Association (ITAA) and Costume Society of America (CSA).
Prof. Park’s main research focuses on socio-cultural influence on the aesthetic perspectives of immigrants in the United States. Her interest lies in investigating different migratory experiences among ethnic groups and its influence on their apparel related practices and experiences. An important contribution of the research is to show that the dynamics in the culture of origin and the host culture of immigrants influence their social identity and to find that they modify their attitudes and behaviors on appearance to balance fundamental needs of inclusion and exclusion depending on their cultural contexts. Her research also seeks to examine the growing issues of sustainability and ethical consumption of apparel, concerning how consumers can be responsible in the procedure of apparel consumption and disposal.
Manuel Velez
Deputy Research Director, National Citizen Observatory
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Manuel Velez is currently the Deputy Research Director at the National Citizen Observatory, a Mexican leading think tank and NGO specialized in criminal justice, security and lawfulness. As a trained economist he has participated in multiple mixed-method research projects about homicides, extortion, money laundering from human trafficking, kidnappings for ransom, political violence, electoral crimes, money laundering policy, forced disappearances, child recruitment into organized crime, among a vast array of other topics in Mexico.
Moreover, in 2020 he co-authored the first report on the supply side of counterfeiting and the institutional response against it. Years later, he co-authored the first report on illicit pesticides in Mexico including those that are substandard, stolen, tampered, unregistered, smuggled and counterfeit.
He is a regular op-ed writer in online newspapers targeted at Mexican and international audiences. He has also published articles in peer reviewed journals such as Revista Mexicana de Opinión Pública and Boletín Criminológico. Last year, he participated as research assistant for the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Issue Paper on Organized Crime and Gender: Issues Relating to the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime. He co-authored a chapter from the book Genética forense en México: promesas y realidades titled Infraestructuras forenses: claves conceptuales para su reflexión published by Editorial Siglo XXI in 2022. He is also a security expert group advisor at the U.S.- Mexico Forum 2025 from the Center for U.S.-Mexican Studies based at the University of California San Diego.