The Marigold Effect
Vanessa Patrick‑Ralhan’s Vision for a More Supportive Academic World
The most meaningful and impactful academic careers are not built alone.
That will be the theme for remarks that Bauer College Associate Dean of Research Vanessa Patrick-Ralhan is giving later this month at the 2026 Society for Consumer Psychology (SCP) Conference.
Marigold visual used for 2026 SCP Conference.
Marigold visual used for 2026 SCP Conference.
Patrick looked to the wisdom of the natural world for inspiration, pulling an analogy she terms “the marigold effect” that she first introduced in her book The Power of Saying No.
Marigolds are companion plants, often used by gardeners to protect vegetable patches by exuding into the soil a chemical that protects the roots of other plants from infestation. In a similar way, to be a marigold is to help others thrive.
“I believe that the best academics are the one that not only thrive in their own scholarship, but also lift others with them.”
Vanessa Patrick-Ralhan, Associate Dean of Research
The upcoming SCP conference, “Cultivating Connections: Building a Flourishing Community Through Kindness, Compassion and Respect,” will be in San Diego, CA, from March 26 to 29. As President of the Society, Patrick-Ralhan organized this year’s conference with the concept of marigolds in mind.
“My vision for our academic community is that each one of us brings our best to the table and act as a resource to help others achieve their goals,” she said.
Patrick-Ralhan will deliver her president's speech at the top of the conference, discussing the importance of inclusive design, an area of research that centers previously excluded or marginalized groups to encompass the whole market, she said.
“When I think of inclusion, I think of it as a balance between two things,” she said. “On one hand, the individual has to feel like they belong. On the other hand, they also have to feel that their uniqueness is accepted by the community. Building connections require both those factors to work together.”
When it came to designing the 2026 SCP Conference, Patrick-Ralhan said she had a clear vision of what she wanted to do and the message she wanted to communicate.
“I believe that the best academics are the one that not only thrive in their own scholarship, but also lift others with them," she said.
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