“My Goal Is to Impact a Million Lives” — How Chelsea Burns Found Her Calling as a Marketing Psychologist

Chelsea Burns

Master of Science in Applied Psychology
Class of 2022

Growing up on a farm in rural Kansas, Chelsea Burns attended a one-room schoolhouse where there were never more than six children in her grade. In college, she majored in mass media with the goal of becoming a journalist. “This was right around the time newspapers were dying and social media was on the rise,” she recalls, “so I pivoted to marketing on the recommendation of an advisor who told me I’d have greater potential for career growth there.”

After earning her degree, she embarked on a 16-year career where she worked in a number of in-house marketing roles, most recently for a commercial real estate firm. As a self-described learner and academic, Chelsea’s plan from the outset was to return to school for an advanced degree, but she chose to wait for more than a decade so she could gain additional work experience while she considered her next step.

Finding a Degree that Checked All the Boxes

For Chelsea, it was never a question of whether she would earn a graduate degree, but rather, finding the right one. “I knew I wanted a master’s program that aligned with my marketing job but also complemented my career advancement goals; one that could help me develop leadership skills and work more effectively in organizational settings,” she says.

Another key consideration was having the opportunity to learn from experts in their field. “I wasn't going to school just to get a credential at the end of my name,” she says. “It was important to me that my instructors were industry leaders who had careers outside of academia and were actively practicing in their areas of expertise.”

Chelsea found everything she was looking for in USC’s online Master of Science in Applied Psychology (MAPP) program. “I loved the way the program covered a wide range of subjects that were relevant to me, including consumer psychology, UX, organizational leadership and human resources,” she says. “MAPP was the only program I looked into that checked all the boxes, and the only one I applied to.”

Building Lasting Relationships

Even with her lofty expectations, Chelsea’s MAPP experience did not disappoint. “I absolutely loved it,” she says. Although the program was 100% online, she was still able to develop many relationships that continue to this day. “You’re remote, but you’re so connected,” she says. “The bonds I built, both with faculty and peers, were incredible. When I finally met my classmates in person during graduation, it felt like a reunion with lifelong friends. To create those kinds of connections in a virtual setting is really special.”

She also formed a strong professional network with a number of guest speakers who participated in live sessions, one of whom is now a mentor to her. Chelsea credits the program’s flexibility for allowing her to manage her busy schedule without sacrificing academic quality. “It was rigorous but still doable for a full-time working mom. The support from staff and faculty made all the difference.”

Developing Career-Relevant Skills

Chelsea shares that the MAPP program not only helped her build valuable connections but also allowed her to develop new skills through its coursework.

One of Chelsea’s favorite courses was the statistics class, Workshop in Quantitative Methods, led by Dr. Meredith Wells Lepley. “As someone who chose to pursue a Bachelor of Arts merely so I could avoid math, I was terrified of that class. But now I use statistics all the time in my work. The way she developed the course and made herself available was phenomenal.”

Another standout course was Consumer Psychology, taught by Dr. Steve Westberg. “I had worked in marketing for 15 years at the time, so I thought I could walk through that class backwards. But he just took it to the next level.”

Beyond academics, the program fostered Chelsea’s confidence as an entrepreneur. “The MAPP program wasn’t just about research—it was about how to apply psychology in business. It showed me how to bring concepts out of journals and into real-world practices.”

Forging a New Career Path

Inspired by her MAPP experience, Chelsea recently left her marketing job and co-founded a consultancy called Mumford & Burns Consulting, and has also launched The Marketing Psychologist, which draws heavily on applied psychology to help business leaders take a people-first approach to their organizations.

“The skills I gained from MAPP gave me the confidence to not only leave corporate marketing but also to build something entirely new,” she says. “I’m not just consulting—I’m reshaping how businesses approach marketing and relationships.” Her work has already garnered significant attention, with podcast invites, webinar speaking requests, and a growing network of professionals eager to apply her teachings.

As she builds her consultancy and personal brand, Chelsea hopes the Marketing Psychologist will become an accessible and affordable educational platform for small business owners, particularly women and minority-led companies. “My ultimate goal is not to make a million dollars—it’s to impact a million lives. I want to help bring applied psychology into business in a way that recenters business models around humanity.”

Enhance Your Impact through Applied Psychology

For those considering USC’s MAPP program, Chelsea offers the following advice:

“Reach out to former alums. Many of us are proud Trojans, and it's very easy now to filter on LinkedIn to find people who have been through the program. I would also encourage you to really think about what you want out of an academic degree. If you just want the credentials at the end of your name, you can get that anywhere. If you want to really dig in and meet some amazing people who are getting into the nitty gritty of psychology, you’re going to want to go into the MAPP program.”

If you’re ready to take your next step, learn more about how USC’s online Master of Science in Applied Psychology can help you further your career.