Alexandra M. Vilela

Alexandra M. Vilela is a Professor in the School of Media Arts and Design at James Madison University. She holds a Ph.D. in Mass Communications from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, an M.A. in Public Relations from Michigan State University, and dual M.B.A. and B.A. degrees from Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais in Brazil. Prior to academia, she worked in advertising, marketing, and public relations across South America and Europe for over 14 years.

Education History:

• Ph.D. in Mass Communications, University of Wisconsin-Madison
• M.A. in Public Relations, Michigan State University
• M.B.A. in Marketing, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais
• B.A. in Journalism and Advertising & Propaganda, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais

Research Focus: Examines consumer responses to cause-related marketing, global product placement in media (e.g., Bollywood films), cross-cultural advertising effects, health communication strategies, and gender-role portrayals in advertising. Her work bridges theoretical frameworks with practical insights from industry experience.

Awards & Recognition:

• National awards for advertising creative works

Advising & Professional Engagement: Advises students in international advertising and corporate communication programs. Her career transition from industry to academia brings practical expertise to teaching and research initiatives. No specific grants are detailed in the provided information.

Labs/Teams: No dedicated lab affiliations explicitly mentioned, but collaborates with academic networks in communication studies and advertising research.