Service and Other Professional Activities
Board of Advisors, DevTech Systems, Inc (Arlington, VA) (from 2024).
Professional Organizations: American Law Institute (elected member since 1996); European Corporate Governance Institute (ECGI) (academic member 2006-2020); American Society of International Law (ASIL) (since 2003); European Society of International Law (ESIL) (since 2018); European China Law Studies Association (since 2014); Phi Beta Kappa (since 1976); State Bar of California (since 1982); American Bar Association (since 2000); Court of International Trade Bar; Coalition for Peace and Ethics (a non-profit NGO) (Executive Director since 2006); head of the CPE Consortium for Peace & Ethics (since 2006)); Association for the Study of the Cuban Economy (ASCE) (since 2009; member of the Board of Directors 2018-2020; Chair Virtual Programs Committee from 2020).
Editorial Boards: (1) International Handbook of Legal Language and Communication: From Text to Semiotics, ; (2) International Journal for the Semiotics of Law (Springer; since 2021)); (3) Chinese and Comparative Law Series (Brill, since 2020); (4) Law and Visual Jurisprudence Book Series (Springer, since 2019); (5) Business and Human Rights Journal (Cambridge University Press, 2014-2020); (6) Iuris Dictio (Colegio de Jurisprudencia Universidad de San Francisco de Quito, Ecuador since 2016); (7) Albany Law Review State Constitutional Commentary (Board of Editors 1997); (8) International Private Law Book Series (Eurilink University Press, Rome, Italy, since 2017); (9) Revista Seqüência; Florianópolis, Santa Caterina, Brazil (editorial board member 2006-2007); (10) Economics, Management, and Financial Systems (Addleton Academic Publishers, http://www.addletonacademicpublishers.com/) (editorial Board member since 2010); (11) Emancipating the Mind in the New Era: Bulletin of the Coalition for Peace & Ethics (since 2019); (12) Narxoz Law and Public Policy Review (Narxoz University, Kazakhstan, since 2020); (13) Foundation for Law and International Affairs Review (2020-2022); (14) Penn State Journal of Law and International Affairs (JLIA) (since 2018).
Book Series Editor: Routledge (USA & UK), Globalization Law & Policy Series (since 2010).
Hong Kong Research Grants Council: Member Humanities and Social Sciences Panel (2019-2024); member, Humanities, Social Sciences and Business Studies Selection Panel (HSSB Panel) for the RGC Research Fellow Scheme (RFS) and RGC Senior Research Fellow Scheme (SRFS) (2020-2024).
Netherlands Institute for Advanced Study in the Humanities and Social Sciences (NIAS); member panel of reviewers (ad hoc from 2021).
Pennsylvania Bar Association Media Response Team (http://www.pabar.org/%5Cpublic%5Cmediaresponseteam.asp) (since 2010).
Sounding Board member, Business and Human Rights Arbitration project, Center for International Legal Cooperation (CILC)The Hague Institute for Global Justice, Maastricht University (2018-2020).
Peer Reviewer (selected): Utrecht Journal of International and European Law, Member, Permanent Board of Referees (2014-15); Research Foundation Flanders (Belgium); Hague Institute for the Internationalisation of Law (HiiL), The Hague, The Netherlands, ad hoc international peer reviewer since 2006.; Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (2011); Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), ad hoc peer reviewer 2008-09; 2009-2010; PHILOSOPHIA, Philosophical Quarterly of Israel (Springer Verlag, N.V.), ad hoc peer reviewer 2009; Cambridge University Press; International Journal of Electronic Business (IJEB), ad hoc peer reviewer 2009; Journal of Business Ethics (UK), ad hoc peer reviewer 2009; Aspen Publishers, ad hoc peer reviewer since 2006; New York University Press, ad hoc peer reviewer 2009; Ashgate Publishing, ad hoc peer reviewer since 2009; Environment and Planning A (U.K.), ad hoc peer reviewer 2009; Asian Journal of International Law, ad hoc peer reviewer 2009.
Association of American Law Schools (AALS): Minority Groups Section: executive committee member 2004-2008; Chair-Elect 2006-2007, Chair 2007-2008); Minority Groups Section Newsletter editor (2002-2010); Minority Groups Section, AALS Recruitment Conference organizer of Minority Groups Section Hospitality Suite and program (2007); Section on Poverty Law (executive committee member 1998-2001); Section on Law and Anthropology (executive Committee member 2010); Section of Economic Globalization (Executive Committee since 2016; Section Chair 2019-2020; Newsletter editor from 2020); A
Association for the Study of the Cuban Economy; since 2009: Board member 2016-2020; 2022-present; Conference organizer; “Cuba From the Castros to COVID: An ASCE Virtua Conference (13-15 August 2020) online. Conference website HERE; Conference Organizer; “Caught in a Perfect Storm: Are Havana’s Responses Sufficient?” ASCE Virtual Conference (4-6 January 2021); Conference Organizer; “COVID and the VIII Party Congress: Reforming the Cuban Economy; 31st Annual Conference of ASCE 12-14 August 20201 (virtual).
National People of Color Scholarship Conferences: Fourth National People of Color Conference, “People of Color and the Future of Democracy,” American University, Washington College of Law, March 21-24, 2019; Member, National Advisory and Scholarship Committees (2018-2019); Third National People of Color Conference, Seton Hall University Law School: National Steering Committee and Finance Committee 2009-2010; Second National People of Color Legal Scholarship Conference, “America, Race and Law at the Crossroads,” The George Washington University School of Law, Washington, D.C. (held Oct. 7-10, 2004): National Advisory Council; Emerging Scholar Student Paper Competition, sponsored by the National Advisory Council, Second National People of Color Legal Scholarship Conference, America, Race and Law at the Crossroads, The George Washington University School of Law, Washington, D.C. (held Oct. 7-10, 2004) (competition judge).
Arizona Supreme Court, state bar examination question and answer guides (ad hoc since 2001).
Mid-Atlantic People of Color Scholarship Conference: University of Baltimore Law School, February 1-3, 2004 (chair, works in progress program); Washington & Lee University Law School, February 1-3, 2003 (chair, works in progress program); Georgetown University Law School, February 1-3, 2002 (chair, works in progress program); Pennsylvania State University, Dickinson School of Law, February 1-3, 2001 (planning committee).
Northeastern People of Color Scholarship Conference: Suffolk Law School, Boston, MA, October 24, 2012 (Planning Committee Member); University of Buffalo Law School, Buffalo, New York, October 23-24, 2009 (Planning committee member); Boston University Law School, Boston, Massachusetts, October, 2008 (planning committee member); New England School of Law, Boston, Massachusetts, March 22-24, 1997 (planning committee member); Western New England School of Law, Springfield, Massachusetts, March 28-30, 1996 (planning committee member).
Hispanic-American Foundation, Tulsa, OK (Board of Trustees 1998-2001; member 1997-2001).
Hispanic Scholarship Foundation, Tulsa, OK, Secretary and Board Member (1993-2000) Acting President (1994).
Oklahoma Bar Association Civil Procedure Committee (1992-1998).
State of Oklahoma, Oklahoma Senate Interim Advisory Committee on Judgments and Post Judgment Procedure, Larry Tawwater, Chairman (1991-92).
Graduate Supervision:
–Thesis Supervisor, S.J.D. Pennsylvania State University Faculty of Law for Abdulaziz Alzahrani (Polycentric Governance, Corporate Social Responsibility, and Legal Transformation: A Comparative Study Linking Professor Larry Catá Backer’s Frameworks to Saudi Legal Developments) (expected 2028).
–External Examiner. PhD Dissertation Defense, Chinese University of Hong Kong for Zheng Silu (“Legal Interpretivism and Private Property in the Context of the Chinese Legal System”) (examination expected 2024).
–Candidacy Supervision and External Examiner, Ph.D. University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Switzerland, for Jan Hendrik Ritter (“Network Normativity: Interweaving Law Beyond the Nation-State”)(awarded October 2013).
–Candidacy Supervision Committee and External Examiner, University of Cologne (Germany) Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities for Marianne von Blomberg (“Social Credit Systems in China”) (expected defense 2024).
–Thesis Supervisor, S.J.D., Pennsylvania State University School of Law, University Park, Pennsylvania for GAO Shan (“The Evolution of China’s Foreign Investment Policy and Law (1978-2016)”) (awarded 2017).
–Thesis Supervisor, S.J.D., Pennsylvania State University School of Law, University Park, Pennsylvania for Amani Abdullah M Alshuaibi (“The Legal Regime of Family Businesses Governance In Saudi Arabia”) (awarded May 2019).
–Thesis Supervisor, S.J.D., Pennsylvania State University School of Law, University Park, Pennsylvania for Daniel Odon (in progress) (defense expected 2020).
–Candidacy Supervision Committee, S.J.D., Pennsylvania State University School of Law for Abdulelh A. Aloubal (Dispute Settlement in Fidic Contracts and its Applications in Saudi Arabia (awarded 2019).
–Candidacy Supervision Committee, S.J.D, Pennsylvania State University School of Law for Ahmad Bedaiwi (Alternative Dispute Resolution: Toward a Clear, Reliable and Effective Dispute Resolution System in Saudi Arabia”) (awarded May 2019).
–Candidacy Supervision Committee, S.J.D., Pennsylvania State University School of Law for Shaoming Zhou (“Chinese Conflicts of Law: A Restatement and Legisprudence Proposal”) (awarded 2017).
–Candidacy Supervision Committee, S.J.D., Pennsylvania State University for Chen Siqi (“Integrated Analysis of Credit Rating Agencies within U.S. and China: Context and Some Implications for Establishing Chinese Credit Rating Agency Legislation”) (awarded 2015).
–External Examiner, Ph.D. dissertation defense, University of London, Queen Mary, London, England, for Gabriel Gari (“The Liberalisation of Trade in Services in MERCOSUR”) (examination held June 16, 2008).
–External Examiner, Ph.D. dissertation defense, University of London, Queen Mary, London, England, for Amr Abbas Mohamed Adel Abbas Aly Hussein (“Bilateral Investment Treaties Treatment of International Capital Movement: Time for Reform?”) (examination held October 31, 2011).
–External Examiner, Ph.D. dissertation defense, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Peoples Republic of China, for PENG Chengyi (“The New ‘Romance of Three Kingdoms’: The Competition of Three Constitutional Paradigms for 21st Century China”) (examination held May 17, 2011).
–External Examiner, Ph.D. dissertation defense, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel, for Pini Pavel Miretski (“Transnational Corporations in International Law: Present or Absent?”)(awarded 2013).
–External Examiner, Ph.D. Dissertation defense, University of Maastricht, Maastricht, Netherlands, for Anna Beckers (“Taking Corporate Codes Seriously: Towards Private Law Enforcement of Voluntary Corporate Social Responsibility Codes”) (examination held October 16, 2014).
–External Examiner, PhD., City University of Hong Kong Law School for Xin Xin (“Are Chinese Courts Undermining Peoples’ Rights Through Judicial Mediation? A Critical Evaluation With Special Reference to Divorce Cases”)(awarded 2014).
–External Examiner, Ph.D. Dissertation defense, University of Luxembourg, Jeffrey A. Ellsworth (“Law of the Living: The Semiotic Structure and Dynamics of Law”) (awarded 2016).
–External Examiner, Ph.D. Dissertation defense University of Maastricht, Maastricht, Netherlands, for Mark Kawakami (“Flawed Strategies to Reducing Labor Exploitations Reassessing the Role of Private Actors in the Global Supply Chain”) (examination held May 18, 2017).
–External Examiner, Ph.D. Dissertation defense University of Breman, Breman, Germany, for Birgit Spiesshoffer (“Responsible Enterprise”) (awarded 2018).
–External Examiner, PhD. Dissertation, Pennsylvania State University Department of Communication Arts and Sciences, for Keren Wang (“Atlas of Sacrifice: Three Studies of Ritual Sacrifice in Late Capitalism”) (awarded 2018).
–External Examiner, PhD. Pre-examination and Official Dissertation Opponent, University of Turku, Turku, Finland, for Mikko Rajavuori (“How Should States Own? Human Rights and the Fiduciary State Shareholder”) (Awarded 2018).
–External Examiner, PhD. City University of Hong Kong School of Law for David Birchall (“Realizing ‘Do No Harm’: Contesting the Human Rights Impacts of Corporate ‘Economic Irresponsibility’”)(awarded 2019)
–External Examiner, PhD. University of Utrecht (Netherlands) School of Law for Lucas Roorda (Corporate Social Responsibility) (awarded 2019).
–External Examiner, PhD. The Chinese University of Hong Kong, for Dini Sejko (“The Transnational Economic Law of Sovereign Wealth Funds: Investigating the Changing Regulatory Paradigms of Global Finance”) (examination expected 2020).
–External Examiner of the Candidacy Supervision Committee, PhD. Dissertation, Pennsylvania State University, School of Education, for Rafael E. Alvarado (“Reputational Crises and Individual Charitable Giving at Non-Profit Colleges and Universities in the United States”) (examination expected 2021).
–Second Supervisor, PhD. University of Cologne, Germany, for Marianne von Blomberg (“Chinese Social Credit Systems-Strengthening, Undermining, Transforming the Law?”) (examination expected 2023).
Pennsylvania State University Service Activities (2000 to present):
A. Penn State University Faculty Senate: University Faculty Ombudsperson (elected 2021; term 2022-2026; Acting University Ombudsperson from October 2021); Committee of Past Chairs (since 2017; elected position as Penn State Law Senator representative 2005 to 2017; Parliamentarian (2014-2016); Immediate Past Chair (2013-14); Chair (2012-2013); Chair Elect (2011-2012, elected April 2011); Secretary (2010-2011, elected April 2010)). Committee assignments: Penn State University Faculty Senate Intra-University Relations Committee (Chair 2009-2010; Vice Chair 2006-2007; 2008-2009); Senate Faculty Affairs Committee (2005-2006); Committee on Committees and Rules (2010-2016).
B. University Board of Trustees: University Board of Trustees Committee on Finance, Business and Capital Planning (2012-2013).
C. University Committees Appointed: University Task Force on Revision of AC 70 (2022-2023); University Task Force on Revision of AC 76 (2022-2023); University Task Force on Drafting Rules Respecting Faculty Misconduct (Co-Chair, 2023-2024); 28th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration Planning Committee (2012-2013); University Task Force; Travel Safety Network (Spring 2016); University Joint Diversity Task Force 2015-Chair; 2016); Presidential Search Committee (2012-2013); Freeh Group Advisory Committee (Advisory Council for Continued Excellence (ACCE) after 2013 (2012-2014); Facilities Naming Committee (2012-2013); Academic Leadership Council (2012-2013); Faculty Advisory Committee to the President (2010-2014); Joint Diversity Task Force (co-Chair 2015; chair 2015-2016); Implementation Task Force for Global Engagement Brazil (2012-2013); Peking University Faculty Implementation Team (2011): Task Group for Global engagement, Brazil (2011): Task Group for a Global Engagement Node in Cuba (2010); Task Group for a Global Engagement Node in South America (2009-2010); University Immediate Tenure Review Committee (2008-present; Committee Sub-Chair, 2015-2016); University Promotion and Tenure Committee (2005-2007); School of International Affairs Establishment Committee (2005-2006); DSL Program Committee (2005); Dean Search Committee (2001-2002).
D. Law School Committees: Diversity Committee (2016-2019; 2023-2024); Affiliate Faculty Committee (2017-2020); Institutional Governance Committee (2014-15); Graduate Programs and International Programs Committee (2014-2015); Relevance and Reach Committee (Chair 2013-2014); SJD Committee (2013-2014); Strategic Planning Committee (2013-2014); International/Nonresident Educational Programs Committee (Chair 2009-2010); International Committee (2005-2007; 2008-09) (Chair 2005-06, 2006-07); Promotion and Tenure Committee (2001-2005)(Chair, 2003-2005; Sec. 2001-2002); Curriculum Committee (2013-14; 2005-2006) (Chair, Spring 2006); Faculty Development Committee (2004-2005); Diversity Committee (Chair 2005; 2002-2005; 2008-2009); Admissions Committee (Chair 2002-2003); International & Comparative Law Faculty Advisory Committee (2002-2005); London Semester Abroad Committee (2001-2002); Out-of-the-Box Committee (Chair 2001-2002); Technology Committee (2001-2002); International Programs Committee (2001-2002); Tenure Team, Lance Cole (Vice-Chair since 2001); Tenure Team, Carla Pratt (Chair from 2003).
E. School of International Affairs Committees: Sabbatical Committee (2023-2024); Bylaw Review Committee (2019-2010); Graduate Council Joint Curricular Committee (SIA Representative 2017-2019); Strategic Planning Committee (2013-2014); Appointments (2010-2011); International Trade, Economics and Competitiveness Sub-Committee (2010-2011).
F. Other Penn State Service Activities: Editorial Board, Penn State Journal of Law and International Affairs (2019- present): Penn State Alumni Association Grassroots Committee (2012-2013); Sponsor, Latino/a Law Students Association (since 2003); Sponsor, International Law Students Association (since 2001); Sponsor, Minority Law Student Association (2001-2006).
University of Tulsa Service Activities (1991-2000):
A. University Committees: (1) University Appeals Board (1995-1997); (2) Planning Committee, International Conference, Multinational Corporations and Technology, University of Tulsa, Tulsa, Oklahoma, March 5-7, 1997; (3) University Judicial Board (1993-1994).
B. Law School Committees: (1) Tulsa Comparative and International Law Center, Executive Director since 1998), Co-Director (1996-1998), Fellow (1995-1996); (2) College of Law Screening Committee, University Outstanding Teacher Award, Chair (1997; 1999; 2000); (3) College of Law Selection Committee, Chapman Distinguished Chair (1998); (4) Dean Search Committee (1994-1995); (5) Appointments Committee (1992-1996; 1998-2000), Acting Chair (1994), Chair (1994-1995, 1995-1996); (6) Search Committee, Chapman Distinguished Chair (1998-1999); (7) Dean’s Advisory Committee (1995-96); (8) Curriculum Committee (1996-98); (9) Curriculum Reform Drafting Sub-Committee (1997); (10) Law School Alumni Association Social Committee (1995-98); Search Committee for Assistant Dean for Student Affairs (1993); (11) ABA Self-Study, Subcommittee on Goals (1993); (12) Ad Hoc Selection Committee, American College of Trial Lawyers’ Scholarship (1994); (13) Ad Hoc Multicultural Affairs and Disabilities Committee, Chair (1992-1993); (14) Academic Status & Student Affairs (Spring, 1992).
C. Other University of Tulsa Service Activities: (1) Sponsor, University of Tulsa College of Law Hispanic Law Students Association (1991-2000); (2) Advisor, Tulsa Law Journal (1994-2000); (3) Advisor, Tulsa International Law Students Association (1998-2000); (4) Judge, Irish Bar Council-Butterworths European Union Law Moot Court Competition; preliminary round focusing on trade and regulatory issues of European Community Law, Dublin, Ireland, March 11, 1999; (5) Judge, College of Law A.B.A. Law School Negotiation Competition (1991-92, 1992-93, 1993-94, 1997-98); (6) Judge College of Law First Year Class Law School Negotiation Competition (1997-98); (7) -Coach, College of Law team, A.B.A. Law School Negotiation Regional Competition, Lubbock, Texas (1991-92, 1992-93); Houston, Texas (1993-94); Tulsa, Oklahoma (1994-95); Dallas, Texas (1995-96); Dallas, Texas (1998-99); National Finals in Kansas City (1994); (8) Coach, College of Law team, 1994 University of Oklahoma ADR First Annual Negotiation Competition; (9) Coach, Moot Court Honor Society, Widener University School of Law, Corporate Law Competition, Wilmington, Delaware (1991-92, 1992-93); (10) Participant, College of Law, Pre-Law Day, (i) comparative and international programs (1999), (ii) program on The Minority Experience’ (1992, 1993, 1994), (iii) judge, mock Moot Court Competition (1992), and (iv) classroom experience program in civil procedure (1994, 1995, 1996); (11) Participant, Hispanics in College Workshop, a one day workshop for area high school students of Hispanic origin (1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1999); (12) Participant, Pre-Orientation Day for incoming law students (June 24, 1995); (13) Participant, University of Tulsa High School Pre-Law Day, Open Forum Program (March, 1995).