Olivia Zhou has a BA in Mass Communication at the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities and a MS in Advertising at Boston University. Before joining APRD as a doctoral student, Olivia worked in fashion marketing and as an advertising strategist.
Her research focuses on representation of racial and ethnic minorities in advertising, and how narratives change in relation to recent social movements and technological advancement. This interest is largely influenced by her personal experience of being a racial minority living across different parts of the U.S. for nearly a decade.
Outside of academics, Olivia is a sports enthusiast who tries to attend as many NBA and NFL games, an ocean-lover who enjoys swimming, kayaking and snorkeling, and a food explorer who is excited to try different types of cuisine.