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Jerome D. Williams is the F.J. Heyne Centennial Professor in Communication, Department of Advertising, at the University of Texas at Austin (UT), with a joint appointment in the Center for African and African American Studies. He is also Vice Chairman of the American Marketing Association Foundation (AMAF).

The Selig Center report on the multicultural economy and multicultural purchasing power, projects that in 2009, the combined buying power of the three racial groups of African Americans, Asian Americans, and Native Americans will more than triple its 1990 level of $456 billion, accounting for 14.1 percent of the nation's total buying power. All of these markets will grow much faster than the white market. Add in the Hispanic ethnic market segment, and it is obvious why marketers recognize that it would be economically ill-advised to not aggressively go after these diverse segments. Yet, these diverse segments are underrepresented in academia, the training ground for future marketing leaders, especially at the Ph.D. level.

Jerome Williams will discuss these issues and strategies for executing marketing and advertising programs at the corporate level that reflect an attitude that values and respects diversity in the marketplace.