Biography
Melissa is an Associate Professor and award-winning faculty member in the School of Fashion. Melissa teaches courses such as Trendspotting, Law for Creatives: Fashion, and Professional Practice. She has worked on cross-functional task forces developing the College's Career Center and supporting the development of AI policies for the college.
Melissa has presented in the areas of cultural appropriation, the changing power structures in the fashion industry, and experiential learning at conferences including the DesignEd Asia Conference at Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Costume Society of America national symposia, and the Popular Culture Assocation. Her work has been published in聽The Fashion Law聽and The University of Pennsylvania Law School's The Regulatory Review.
Melissa's industry background includes serving at the Director of Fashion Arts and Events for the City of Chicago, executive producer for the city's fashion week, Fashion Focus Chicago, and developing and launching the Chicago Fashion Incubator at Macy鈥檚 on State Street. She has served on the Board of Directors of the Driehaus Design Initiative, the Chicago Fashion Incubator at Macy's on State Street, and the Executive Committee of the Chicago History Museum鈥檚 Costume Council. Melissa currently serves as President-Elect of the Costume Society of America.聽
Melissa holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from Indiana University and a Juris Doctor from the Robert H. McKinney School of Law: Indiana University. After practicing law for seven years, Melissa returned to school and obtained a Bachelor of Arts with honors in Fashion Marketing and Management from the Illinois Institute of Art in Chicago.
Instructional Areas
Law, ethics, and trends in the fashion industry. Experiential learning and professional development.
Creative Practice and Research Interests
Ethics of practice and systems in the fashion industry including issues around social and environmental justice, intellectual property, and cultural appropriation.
Degrees
B.A., Fashion Marketing and Management Indiana University 1993
J.D., Indiana University 1996