2018 Top 50 Undergraduate Professors Marina Puzakova, Lehigh University

2018 Top 50 Undergraduate Professors: Marina Puzakova, Lehigh University by: Andrea Carter on November 13, 2018 | 0 Comments Comments 162 Views November 13, 2018Marina PuzakovaAssociate Professor of MarketingLehigh University, College of Business and EconomicsAt first pass, humanizing a brand sounds like a winning marketing strategy for an organization. Through the study of brand anthropomorphism, however, Lehigh University College of Business professor Marina Puzakova says companies should consider the risks. These and other such research topics related to consumer behavior, consumer perception, and other branding strategies have earned Professor Puzakova placements in top academic publications including the Journal of Marketing, Journal of Consumer Research, and International Journal of Research in Marketing as well as two editorial board member spots with the Journal of Advertising and International Journal of Advertising. As an educator, Puzakova’s enthusiasm and high -quality teaching are put on display in courses such as Consumer Behavior and Digital Social Media, where students compliment her class design and organization to get all students engaged as individuals and in teams. This year, Professor Puzakova was awarded Lehigh’s Staub Faculty Excellence Award.Age: 33Education: PhD in Business Administration with Concentration in Marketing; PhD, Drexel University   Area of Study: Consumer Behavior, BrandingAt current institution since: 2014List of courses you currently teach: Consumer BehaviorWhat professional achievement are you most proud of? Publishing in top journals in our fields, receiving University-wide teaching awardâ€Å"I knew I wanted to be a business school professor when†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Many years ago, when I was training a new person for my replacement as a business analystâ€Å"One word that describes my first time teaching† ScaryWhat are you currently researching and what is the most significant discovery youve made from it? I am studying the impact of humanizing brands on consumers’ desires to buy distinctive products when they desire to be unique. One of the most significant discoveries is that a humanized brand can compete with consumers’ identity and thus being dislikedWhat is your most memorable moment as a professor? When a student told me that I was an inspiration for her after many yearsSince you first started teaching, how has business education changed? More digital technologies, social media platforms, and interactions emergedâ€Å"If I weren’t a business school professor, I would be†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Maybe an artistâ€Å"Here’s what I wish someone would’ve told me about being a professor†: It is intellectually challenging every day Name of the professor you most admire and why: Professor David Griffith at the University of Texas at AM. David has been my mentor and an inspiration to be a better researcher, teacher, and scholar. He truly car es about our field of Marketing, where and how it develops, he truly cares about students and their successes. What do you enjoy most about teaching undergraduate business students? They are very inquisitive, they challenge you with questions and new perspectivesWhat’s the biggest challenge? Maintain students’ interest and attention, stay relevantWhat is the most impressive thing one of your undergraduate students has done? One of my students opened his/her own business and applied concepts and materials we learnt in class to this business What is the least favorite thing one has done? One student came to my office after an exam and said that she/he left the exam blank because she/he had anxiety Since you’ve been teaching, how have students changed over the years? Students have more distractions, less attention spanWhat does a student need to do to get an A in your class? Contribute to class discussions, be creative, hard-workingâ€Å"When it comes to grading, I think students would describe me as †¦Ã¢â‚¬  Fair graderIf your teaching style/classroom experience had a theme song, what would it be? â€Å"Let’s play together†Using just one word, describe your favorite type of student:  Hard-workingUsing just one word, describe your least favorite type of student:  Ã‚  Irresponsibleâ€Å"If my students can  apply concepts learned in class,  then I’ve done my job as their professor.†Fun fact about yourself: I can see different colors when I hear classical musicWhat are your hobbies? Painting, cooking, hikingHow did you spend your summer? Travelling: Visited Scotland, England, and FranceFavorite place to vacation: Palma De Mallorca, SpainFavorite book: Les Misà ©rables by Victor HugoFavorite movie and/or television show: OutlanderFavorite type of music and/or favorite artist: classicalBucket list item #1: Visit BaliWhat’s the biggest challenge facing business education at the moment? Bringing up- to-date news, business cases, technology to the classroomâ€Å"If I had my way, the business school of the future would have much more of this†¦Ã¢â‚¬ Ã‚  Digital and interactive technology, long-distance learningâ€Å"And much less of this† Students’ attention spanLooking ahead 10 years from now, describe what â€Å"success† would be like for you:  Develop a program of exciting research in branding and develop strong professional relations with colleagues nationally and internationally; to have the opportunity to develop knowledge that will improve managerial practice and society. Page 1 of 11