Dr. Monica Mapp
Sociologist & Fashion researcher - Member of the Steering Committee
Dr. Monica Mapp is a sociologist, fashion researcher, and cultural theorist specialising in the
social, cultural, and ethical dimensions of consumption, representation, and governance within
global creative industries. Born in the United States, she holds a BA in Criminal Justice from
Virginia Wesleyan University and is a member of Alpha Phi Sigma, the Criminal Justice Honour
Society. Her early professional experience with non-profit organisations and the U.S. Department
of Justice provides a strong foundation in applied research, institutional accountability, and
public-sector contexts.
Dr. Mapp completed an MA with distinction in Fashion Business at the University for the
Creative Arts and earned her PhD in Sociology from the University of Leicester. Her doctoral
research examined the societal and policy-relevant implications of religious symbolism in
fashion, contributing evidence-based insights into cultural appropriation, identity governance,
and ethical practice within commercial and creative sectors.
Her research has directly informed policy-facing frameworks, organisational governance, and
ethical guidelines relating to cultural representation, inclusion, and responsible innovation. In
parallel with her academic work, Dr. Mapp has served as a principal researcher and consumer
analyst for a female-led holdings group, where her research has shaped strategic governance, risk
assessment, and long-term planning by identifying shifts in public values, emerging social risks,
and evolving consumer expectations. This work has supported decision-making at executive and
board level.
Dr. Mapp brings extensive expertise in qualitative and ethnographic research, including in-depth
interviews, focus groups, and participant observation, with a particular strength in working with
marginalised and hard-to-reach populations. Her teaching and research engagements have
included work with asylum seekers and women fleeing gender-based violence, ensuring that
policy-relevant insights are grounded in lived experience and social reality.
A trusted advisor and clear communicator, Dr. Mapp translates complex sociological evidence
into concise, actionable insights for policymakers, public institutions, and advisory bodies. Her
work supports the development of culturally informed, ethically robust, and socially responsible
policy responses across creative, consumer, and cultural sectors.