Master’s Thesis

My Master’s thesis, titled “The Impact of Multiracial Identity on Behavior Influences During Influencer Interactions”, was submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Advertising with a minor in Global Studies at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in May 2024.

The thesis explored how the growth of the multiracial population in the US affects this population’s lived experience. Social Identity Theory is used to understand the perceptions, needs, and values of this demographic through in-depth interviews. These findings are placed in the context of advertising and influencer marketing to understand consumer habits and online behaviors specific to this group. This research highlights specific experiences of multiracial consumers, insights for influencer marketing strategy, and implications for advertisers attempting to reach this group.

I passed my thesis defense with no revisions, meaning that I successfully presented and defended my thesis and was able to submit my thesis to the graduate college without the need to make any edits or revisions – this is rare!

Below are photos from the defense, and a copy of my thesis can be found through the Illinois Library here.