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Mellissa Withers, Ph.D., M.H.S

About

Mellissa Withers, Ph.D., M.H.S, is an associate professor at the USC Institute on Inequalities in Global Health at the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine. She received her Ph.D. in Community Health Sciences from the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health in 2009. She also holds a Master’s in International Health from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and a BA in international development from UC Berkeley. Her research focuses on global reproductive health and women’s empowerment, including human trafficking, HIV/AIDS prevention and family planning.

Recent Posts
Child Marriage Links to Climate Change

Every day, 39,000 girls become child brides, totaling more than 14 million child brides around the world each year, and climate change is exacerbating the issue.

Every day, 39,000 girls become child brides, totaling more than 14 million child brides around the world each year, and climate change is exacerbating the issue.

Criminalize vs. Decriminalize Sex Work: The Debate Continues

The complexities inherent to sex work and prostitution make the debate over how to legislate them, or whether to do so at all, a difficult one to resolve.

The complexities inherent to sex work and prostitution make the debate over how to legislate them, or whether to do so at all, a difficult one to resolve.

Using the Power of Technology to Fight Online Human Trafficking

Although recent years have seen an increase in online crimes against children, powerful technology can help us in the ongoing struggle against it.

Although recent years have seen an increase in online crimes against children, powerful technology can help us in the ongoing struggle against it.

It's More Than Just Fight or Flight

More than just fight and flight, the freeze and fawn stress responses manifest in human trafficking survivors as well.

More than just fight and flight, the freeze and fawn stress responses manifest in human trafficking survivors as well.

Not All Trauma Is the Same

January 11 is Human Trafficking Awareness Day, designed to raise awareness about the fact that human trafficking exists and affects people in the U.S. and around the world.

January 11 is Human Trafficking Awareness Day, designed to raise awareness about the fact that human trafficking exists and affects people in the U.S. and around the world.

Protecting Migrant Workers From Deceptive Recruiting Tactics

Some might think that human trafficking most often occurs through coercion, but labor trafficking occurs through a variety of deceptive recruitment tactics aimed at migrant workers.

Some might think that human trafficking most often occurs through coercion, but labor trafficking occurs through a variety of deceptive recruitment tactics aimed at migrant workers.