Jaleesa Reed

Jaleesa Reed, PhD, is an Assistant Research Professor in the Department of Human Centered Design at Cornell University's College of Human Ecology. Her research focuses on millennial Black women’s beauty culture, beauty retail spaces, and the intersection of human geography, feminist studies, and merchandising within the fashion, apparel, and textile industries.

Her work explores critical themes such as:

• Black women’s agency in beauty supply stores
• Intersectionality of race, gender, and politics in fashion
• Social justice pedagogy in fashion education
• Feminist methodologies in beauty research
• Sustainable fiber networks (e.g., fibershed approaches)
• Evolution of Black American beauty standards (1995–2022)

Recent research trends highlight connections between:

• Beauty retail environments and body image
• Ethical consumption (e.g., 'Buying Black')
• Generational differences in fashion education
• Historical documentation of Black beauty culture
• Technology's role in omnichannel retail trust
• Rihanna’s socially conscious beauty entrepreneurship