Veronica Michel

Dr. Verónica Michel (also known as Verónica Michel-Luviano) is an Associate Professor of Political Science at John Jay College-CUNY. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota (2012) and a BA in International Relations from Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM). Her work bridges political science and criminology, focusing on victims' rights, public prosecutors, procedural justice, and rule of law in Latin America.

• Regional Expertise: Latin America
• Languages: Spanish, English
• Professional Memberships: Law and Society Association, Latin American Studies Association, American Political Science Association

Her research examines how grassroots litigation efforts strengthen legal systems in contexts of state failure. Key themes include prosecutorial accountability, criminal procedure reform, and legal mobilization against gender violence. Her 2021 work on Guatemala's CICIG highlights institutional design challenges, while her 2020 femicide litigation study in Mexico explores judicial reforms through strategic litigation.

Recent publications demonstrate interdisciplinary engagement with law, political science, and sociology. Themes span from human rights enforcement mechanisms (2016) to procedural justice frameworks in transitional justice contexts (2021). Her work often intersects with organizational ecology and legal opportunity structures.

Scientific recognition includes:

• 2020 Outstanding Book Award (Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences)
• 2018 Donal E.J. MacNamara Junior Faculty Award
• 2014 Best Journal Article Award (American Political Science Association)

Active in policy engagement, she served as a consultant for the Transitional Justice Research Collaborative and taught data analysis courses for judicial actors through the USAID-funded Academy for Security Analysis. Her research receives support from PSC-CUNY grants and the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs.