Jennifer Edson Escalas

Jennifer Edson Escalas is a Professor of Marketing at the Owen Graduate School of Management, Vanderbilt University. Her academic roles include editorial leadership as an Associate Editor for the Journal of Consumer Research and contributions to editorial review boards. She holds a PhD from Duke University (1996), an MBA from UCLA (1991), and dual BAs in Economics and Spanish/Linguistics from UCLA (1985).

Her research focuses on consumer narrative processing, self-brand connections, and brand meaning management. She explores how stories and narratives shape brand perception, emotional responses to advertising, and the psychological needs met through brand consumption. Notable areas include celebrity endorsement strategies, possession loss psychology, and the application of marketing concepts to improve consumer well-being.

Awarded for her academic contributions, Jennifer has received the Outstanding Reviewer Awards from top journals, the Society for Consumer Psychology’s Distinguished Service Award, and multiple Dean’s Awards at Owen. Her work bridges academia and practice, exemplified by her role co-founding Agon Sport, a swimwear company applying marketing principles.

Teaching responsibilities span MBA, Executive MBA, and Masters in Marketing programs, emphasizing courses like Consumer Insights and Marketing Strategy. She actively collaborates with social impact organizations, contributing transformative frameworks for storytelling in nonprofit contexts.