School of Human Ecology
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AcademicsDepartments

Department of Consumer Science

The faculty, students, and staff of the Consumer Science department at UW–Madison are committed to fostering a fair and healthy marketplace that promotes the well-being of families and individuals across the U.S. and internationally. We apply social science theories and rigorous quantitative methods to the study of household and consumer interactions, offering keen insights and innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing socioeconomic challenges.

Consumer Science faculty include interdisciplinary scholars working across research, program, and clinical capacities to address key economic and policy opportunities in our field. Our areas of specialization include:

  • Social security, disability assistance and retirement savings
  • Food security and nutrition assistance
  • Financial capability and access
  • Alternative financial services (e.g., payday lending, military lending)
  • Consumer decision making and well-being
  • Family relationships and financial well-being

Department Chair

A white woman smiling, with grey hair, wearing a red shirt and black blazer.

Melissa Bublitz

Degrees Offered

Affiliated Centers & Labs

Partners & Affiliations

Consumer Science News & Research

Consumer Science Faculty and Staff

  • A white woman smiling, with long brown hair, wearing a green dress, a cardigan, and gold earrings.

    Lydia AshtonAssistant Professor of Consumer Science

  • White woman in pink shirt smiling in front of 100 Women Wall.

    Judi BartfeldProfessor of Consumer Science | Division of Extension Faculty Liaison

  • A white woman smiling, with brown hair, wearing a white shirt and a colorful necklace.

    Megan Doherty BeaLorna Jorgenson Wendt Professor | Associate Professor of Consumer Science

  • A white woman smiling, with mid-length auburn hair, and wearing an olive green button up shirt and gold jewelry.

    Emma BrandenburgAssistant Director of the Kohl's Center for Retailing

  • A white woman smiling, with grey hair, wearing a red shirt and black blazer.

    Melissa BublitzLiz Kramer Professor of Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship | Department Chair and Professor of Consumer Science | Professor of Civil Society & Community Studies

  • Latina woman with dark wavy hair smiling.

    Belkis J. Cerrato CaceresAssistant Teaching Professor, Consumer Science

  • A white man smiling, wearing a blue button down shirt.

    J. Michael CollinsFetzer Family Chair in Consumer and Personal Finance | Professor of Consumer Science

  • A white woman smiling, with straight brown hair, wearing a black dress with a necklace.

    Emma CrawfordTeaching Faculty in Personal Finance, Consumer Science

  • Professional photo of Lindsay Peters Dritsas in front of 100 Women Wall.

    Lindsay DritsasInstructor and Teaching Administrator of Personal Finance

  • A white woman smiling, with shoulder length brown hair, wearing a green top.

    Katie FitzpatrickAssociate Professor of Consumer Science

  • A Black woman sitting legs crossed, wearing a navy blue sweater and skirt and an ivory shirt.

    Melody HarveyAssistant Professor of Consumer Science

  • A white woman smiling, with blonde, long hair, wearing an olive jacket.

    Laura HensenExecutive Director of the Kohl's Center for Retailing | Executive Director of the Office of Strategic Partnerships

  • A white woman smiling, with brown straight hair, wearing a black sweater.

    Gisella KagyAssistant Professor of Consumer Science | Global Human Ecology & 4W Faculty Fellow

  • A white woman smiling, with dark brown, straight hair, wearing an orange mock neck sweater and a small blue necklace.

    Amanda KozlowskiTeaching Faculty, Consumer Science

  • Professional photo of Linda Lepe in front of 100 Women Wall.

    Linda LepeTeaching Faculty, Consumer Science | Program Director, Financial Planning (CFP® board-certified program) | Academic Director, Personal Finance

  • Businessman with short dark hair, brown eyes, wearing a dress shirt and sport coat, and has a welcoming smile and friendly demeanor.

    Jeff MeyerTeaching Faculty, Consumer Science

  • Professional photo of Nancy Murray

    Nancy MurrayTeaching Professor, Consumer Science | Academic Director of the Kohl's Center for Retailing

  • A Black bald-headed man with eyeglasses wearing a blue and white striped shirt and a blue jacket.

    David J. Pate Jr.Associate Professor of Consumer Science, Human Development & Family Studies | Dean’s Fathers and Fathering Faculty Fellow

  • Dean Soyeon Shim in front of 100 Women Wall.

    Soyeon ShimElizabeth Holloway Schar Dean, School of Human Ecology | Ted Kellner Bascom Professor, Consumer Science

  • Professional photo of Patty Sigler.

    Patty SiglerTeaching Faculty, Consumer Science

  • An Asian woman smiling, with shoulder-length dark, straight hair, wearing glasses and a red jacket.

    Nancy WongKohl's Chair in Retail Innovation | Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and Graduate Program | Professor of Consumer Science

  • Portrait of Yiwei Zhang, an Asian woman smiling, with straight shoulder-length black hair, wearing a maroon dress.

    Yiwei ZhangAssistant Professor of Consumer Science