This fall, marketing PhD candidate Elizabeth Minton took home the 2013 Sheth Foundation Dissertation Award at the Association for Consumer Research's annual meeting in Chicago, Illinois.

The award was for part of Minton's dissertation, which examines the ways “cause marketing"—putting a charity's logo on a product's packaging—can make consumers believe a product is healthier than it may actually be.

“It's exciting and impressive for Elizabeth to be standing in front of 1,200 people who are applauding her outstanding scholarship," said Lynn Kahle, Department of Marketing head and Ehrman Giustina Professor of Marketing. “We are, of course, appreciative of all our PhD students, but it is nice when one receives recognition for work that goes on here in Eugene."

Minton plans to use the $2,000 grant that came with the award to pursue a related research project.

“I want to create different packaging and see if people will consume more and like the taste of products more when these are partnered with charities," said Minton. “I'm debating between bringing people into the college's Business Research Institute or actually going out to a grocery store. I may just do both."

Minton's academic future looks bright indeed. She has a publication on sustainability in the Journal of Advertising, a forthcoming book on religion and marketing, a book chapter on religion and sustainable consumption in production, as well as several other papers and conference presentations.

Soon after winning the Sheth award, Minton accepted an assistant professorship at the University of Wyoming in Laramie, where she starts next August.