She is also an affiliate of the Center for East Asian and Pacific Studies. She received her B.S. degree from Kansas State University, and her M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Illinois. She has lived and taught in Malaysia and Indonesia, was a Fulbright professor in Indonesia in 1992-1993, and has presented lectures throughout Southeast Asia. Douglas also spent time as a visiting resident fellow at Queensland University in Australia. Dr. Douglas's research and teaching focus on the political economy of the world textile industry and examination of the social, political, and economic arrangements that affect the production, exchange, and distribution systems of the industry.
Primary emphasis is placed on the United States and Southeast Asia.
Douglas has published articles in such journals as the International Marketing Review , Clothing and Textiles Research Journal , Pacific Affairs , Family and Consumer Sciences Research Journal , Advances in Consumer Research , and Asian Survey . She served until recently as associate editor for international economics and trade for the Textile and Clothing Research Journal , and has been a long-time reviewer and editorial board member for that journal. She also has been on the editorial board of the Family and Consumer Sciences Research Journal . Douglas currently is vice-president for publications and council member of the International Textile and Apparel Association and has served as a council member for the Association of Consumer Research.