Jessica Santana

Jessica J. Santana is an Assistant Professor in the Technology Management department at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Her research focuses on entrepreneurial failure recovery, innovation ethics, and computational social science methods. She holds a PhD and MA in Sociology from Stanford University, an MSc in Information Science from UC Berkeley, and a BA in International and Area Studies from the University of Oklahoma. She has been honored with the Hellman Fellowship.

Her work explores how entrepreneurs navigate failure through peer networks and rhetorical strategies, particularly addressing systemic challenges faced by women and underrepresented groups. She investigates the 'gray zone' between legitimate and illegitimate innovation, using computational techniques to analyze ethical discourse and network dynamics. Her methods include online field experiments and network alignment analyses to study trust, risk aversion, and social interactions in digital contexts.

• Education:
  • PhD in Sociology, Stanford University
  • MA in Sociology, Stanford University
  • MSc in Information Science, UC Berkeley
  • BA in International and Area Studies, University of Oklahoma

Dr. Santana’s research emphasizes computational tools to democratize knowledge and empower underrepresented communities. Her recent work includes modeling ethical codification in scientific discourse and analyzing virtual communities’ boundary work. She teaches courses on entrepreneurship and decision analytics, emphasizing practical skills for innovation and risk management.

• Key Research Themes:
  • Failure Narratives as Identity Performance
  • Ethics in Emerging Technologies (e.g., synthetic biology, cryptocurrency)
  • Gender and Entrepreneurial Resilience
  • Trust in Sharing Economy Platforms

Her publications span Social Networks, Social Psychology Quarterly, and Frontiers in Communication, with a focus on interdisciplinary approaches to social science challenges.