ALLISON COHEN'S BACKGROUND

Consumer Behavior Expert
Allison presented at and chaired conferences of the Advertising Research Foundation and the International Marketing Association. Discussing consumer trends and advertising issues, she appeared on CNBC television, New York’s WOR and WPIX TV news, and news radio WPRO in Providence R.I., KGO in San Francisco and WAQY in Springfield MAand KGO in San Francisco. She is often interviewed by the business and popular press.

Advertising
Allison worked in the advertising industry for 10 years at New York agencies Young & Rubicam, Ogilvy & Mather and Ally & Gargano in research, account planning and account management. She helped initiate account planning at Ogilvy and at Ally & Gargano where she headed the Account Planning Department as Senior Vice President.

Psychology
As a research psychologist, Allison studied obesity, eating behavior and exercise. Her dissertation was on exercise addiction. She worked in the laboratory of renowned scientists Jules Hirsch and Joel Grinker at The Rockefeller University, studying antecedents of obesity in animals and humans.

Art
Allison studied studio art and art history as an undergraduate at Barnard and is an art lover and collector. Her work in advertising and now as a moderator combines her interests in human behavior and the visual arts.