Ph.D. University of Wisconsin - Madison
M.A. Michigan State University
M.B.A. Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais
B.A. Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais

Alexandra M. Vilela joined James Madison University in 2012, after teaching advertising and public relations at Towson University. She received her B.A. in Advertising and Propaganda first, followed by another B.A. in Journalism, and then completed an M.B.A. in Marketing at the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Brazil. In the United States, she received her M.A. in Public Relations at Michigan State University, and her Ph.D. in Mass Communications from the University of Wisconsin—Madison.

Prior to arriving in the United States, Vilela worked for more than 14 years in Advertising, Marketing, Public Relations, and Journalism in South America and Europe, as an advertiser for advertising agencies; marketing analyst for a financial organization; marketing advisor for various malls; event coordinator for the Shopkeepers Chamber; and cabinet chief at the District Attorney’s Office; among other positions.

Vilela’s research is focused on how consumers process and respond to cause-related marketing campaigns; global product placement (i.e., the influence of globalization in Bollywood movies and third-person perception/effects); cross-cultural studies; health issues; and gender-role portrayals in advertising.

Her academic research was published in a varied peer-reviewed journals, book chapters, book, and encyclopedia. She has also received national awards for her advertising creative works.

Teaching Topic Interests: International advertising and corporate communication; corporate communication writing and management; audience analysis and (digital)media; advertising copywriting; and creativity in advertising.

Research Interests: Cause-related marketing; corporate social responsibility; health issues; gender-roles portrayal in advertising; cross-cultural studies in advertising; product placement; and social marketing strategic communication campaigns.