The Adweek Academic Council

Sharing their expertise in all things marketing, media and tech

Adweek’s Academic Council is a group of professors and others working in academia specializing in marketing, advertising, branding, media and tech who have agreed to lend their expertise to Adweek in an effort to help push the conversation forward. They offer their insights to us in the form of contributed articles and serving as sources for our reported pieces.

Beth Egan

Associate Professor of Advertising, Syracuse University

Beth Egan is an associate professor of advertising at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University. As a media planning veteran, her research is focused on the neuroscience behind branded content and the application of AI in the curation of ad experiences in linear television.

RECENT ARTICLES

Consider the Machine-Learning Approach as You Dive Into AI

Students Should Not Be Reunited in the Fall on Campus

If You Want Your Brand to Be a Friend, You Can’t Walk Away From a Conversation About Race

SOCIAL

@MadAdProf

Brad Brinegar

Executive in Residence, Duke University

Brad Brinegar is executive in residence at Duke University’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship Initiative, chairman of McKinney and is a member of our Adweek Academic Council. He was CEO of McKinney from 2002–2018, and before that, he spent most of his career at Leo Burnett, ultimately as CEO of Leo Burnett USA.

RECENT ARTICLES

Why Gen Z Will Drive a ‘Double Top Line’

3 Most Interesting Disruptors We Must Keep Watching in 2021

As Big Business Pivots, It’s on Brands to Meet Consumer and Investor Demand

Direct-to-Consumer Brands Are Reshaping the Face of Retail

SOCIAL

@bradbrinegar

Brian Sheehan

Professor of Advertising, Syracuse University

Brian Sheehan is a professor of advertising at Syracuse University. Prior to academia, he spent 25 years with Saatchi & Saatchi. He is also a member of our Adweek Academic Council.

RECENT ARTICLES

What Brands Can Do With Search Until TV Provides Better Measurement

The NFL’s Latest PSAs Are a Hail Mary for Fixing Its Brand Image

The Future of TV Will Look Like Cable, Except Better for Viewers

Perhaps It’s Time for Brands to Avoid Taking a Stand

The Rise of AI and Data Usage Are Blurring the Lines Between Personalization and Creativity

Christopher Boulton

Opinion Contributor

Christopher Boulton is an advertising researcher, documentary filmmaker, associate professor of communication at the University of Tampa and member of Adweek’s Academic Council.

RECENT ARTICLES

The Richards Group Incident Is Advertising’s Diversity Déjà Vu

SOCIAL

@DocBoulton

Deb Morrison

Professor of Advertising, University of Oregon

Deb Morrison is the Carolyn Chambers distinguished professor of advertising and directs the advertising program at the University of Oregon. Her work as a developer of creative talent spans time at the Universities of Texas and Oregon, focusing on the creative process, hybrid approaches to strategy and design and brand responsibility. She is also a member of our Adweek Academic Council.

RECENT ARTICLES

5 Ways to Build Greener Campaigns Using Environmental Science

Climate Activism Requires More Than Just Sustainability Statements From Brands

Advertising World, Why Are We Not Embedding Climate Change Discussions Into Our Boardrooms and Campaigns?

SOCIAL

@debkmorrison

Debika Sihi

Associate Professor of Business, Southwestern University

Debika Sihi is an associate professor of business at Southwestern University. Her research explores technological innovations and disruptions in the field of marketing. She has published works in peer-reviewed marketing and business journals and teaches a variety of business courses, including classes on digital marketing and a capstone course with a focus on innovation in business. She is also a member of our Adweek Academic Council.

RECENT ARTICLES

The Renewed, Curious Case Study of Johnson & Johnson

The Power of Community Brands in Texas—During Crisis

TikTok Hashtag Challenges Could Be the Next Recruitment Power Tool

How the Dot-Com Bubble Shaped Today’s Super Bowl Ads

Retailers Need to Learn How to Effectively Juggle In-Store and Online Shopping

Elina Tang

Marketing Professor, Northern Illinois University

Elina Tang is a marketing professor and consultant for the American Council on Education (ACE). She specializes in marketing analytics, online experiment design and sales. She is also a member of our Adweek Academic Council.

RECENT ARTICLES

3 Elements of Your Brand That Can Shine Through in These Harrowing Times

Healthcare Is Undergoing a Digital Revolution, Courtesy of Smart Devices

Why Marketers Should Care About Consumer Perception of Corporate Social Responsibility

Millennials Are Balancing Overspending Habits by Prioritizing Environmentalism

Jayanthi Rajan

Instructor and Dearden Endowed Chair, Albright College

Jayanthi Rajan is an instructor and William and Mary endowed chair in business at Albright College in Reading, Pa. She teaches courses in marketing and international business and uses her extensive industry experience to increase the relevance of concepts in the business world. Jayanthi is also a member of our Adweek Academic Council.

RECENT ARTICLES

Joachim Scholz

Marketing Professor, Brock University

Joachim Scholz is a marketing professor at Brock University and a member of our Adweek Academic Council. His award-winning research explores augmented reality, social media controversies and branding in digitally-infused and hyperconnected societies.

RECENT ARTICLES

The Hallmark Channel Has to Be Brave to Evolve Its Brand

Augmented Reality Is Having a Moment. Don’t Miss Out

Lessons From Hallmark Channel’s Flip-Flopping on Running the Same-Sex Zola Ad

SOCIAL

@joscholz

Jonathan Simon

Director of Marketing and Communications/Professor, University of Ottawa

Jonathan Simon is a digital marketer, mobile strategist and director of marketing and communications at the Telfer School of Management, University of Ottawa. He’s also a member of our Adweek Academic Council.

RECENT ARTICLES

Karen Freberg

Associate Professor, Strategic Communications, University of Louisville

Karen Freberg is an author and associate professor in strategic communications at the University of Louisville, where she teaches, researches and consults in social media strategy, public relations and crisis communication. She is also a member of Adweek’s Academic Council.

RECENT ARTICLES

7 New Super-Skills for a Post-Pandemic Marketer

5 Social Marketing Takeaways From Emily in Paris

10 New Marketable Skills Recent Grads Needed for the Covid-19 Era

SOCIAL

@kfreberg

Max Lenderman

Instructor, Denver Ad School and University of Colorado Boulder

Max Lenderman teaches at Denver Ad School (DAD), University of Colorado Boulder and is a member of the Adweek Academic Council.

RECENT ARTICLES

Brands (and Agencies) Can Do Better Than Platitudes and Statements, Especially Now

A Prediction for Agencies in 2020: The Industry Will Delve Further Into Brand Purpose

It’s Time Brands Add Genuine Consciousness Into Their Marketing Mix

Cannabis Brands Need to Establish a Purpose That Doesn’t Rely on Puns

How to Avoid Having Your Experiential Marketing Become Programmatic

SOCIAL

@maxlenderman

Michael Zahn

Assistant Professor of Practice, Texas Tech University

Michael Zahn has career experience is in both higher education teaching and professional practice. He is an assistant professor of practice at Texas Tech University in the College of Media and Communication. He teaches courses in advertising, strategic communication, integrated marketing communication, multimedia storytelling and social media marketing. He is also a member of our Adweek Academic Council.

RECENT ARTICLES

Monique Bell

Associate Professor of Marketing, CSU Fresno

Dr. Monique Bell is an associate professor of marketing at California State University, Fresno. She teaches and studies marketing communications and is a member of our Adweek Academic Council.

RECENT ARTICLES

Advancing Diversity in Advertising Starts in the Classroom

Rafic Sinno

Assistant Professor of Marketing, University of Dubuque

Rafic Sinno is an assistant professor of business at the University of Dubuque and an enthusiastic educator. He is also a member of our Adweek Academic Council.

RECENT ARTICLES

Color and Diversity Must Be the Norm in TV and Advertising

Challengers Are Filling Gaps and Creating Consumer Countercultures

SOCIAL

@rafic

Ravi Dhar

Professor and Director Yale Center for Customer Insights, Yale University

Ravi Dhar is a professor at Yale University and has been involved in pioneering work in understanding how consumers think and decide. He has served as a consultant to dozens of Fortune 500 companies in a wide variety of industries, including CPG, healthcare, high tech, financial services and luxury goods on developing best practices for generating and using customer insights. Ravi is also a member of our Adweek Academic Council.

SOCIAL

@YaleCCI

Scott Hamula

Associate Professor Department Chair, Ithaca College

Scott Hamula is associate professor of IMC and chair of the Strategic Communication Department in Park School of Communications at Ithaca College and is a member of our Adweek Academic Council. His research interests are branding strategies in higher education and electronic media, brand activation and experiential marketing.

SOCIAL

@shamula

Sheryl Kantrowitz

Assistant Professor of Instruction, Temple University

Sheryl Kantrowitz is the assistant professor of instruction at Temple University and is a member of our Adweek Academic Council.

RECENT ARTICLES

Steve Bien-Aime

Opinion Contributor

Steve Bien-Aime is an assistant professor at Northern Kentucky University. The former sports and business journalist now researches race and gender issues in media.

RECENT ARTICLES

What Happens When You’re Defensive and Dismissive

SOCIAL

@steve_bienaime

Yusuf Dahl

Opinion Contributor

Yusuf Dahl is the director for innovation and entrepreneurship at Lafayette College. He is cofounder of the Real Estate Lab.

RECENT ARTICLES

We Must Close the Gap in Marketing Education, Especially Now

What Brands Can Do for Black Fathers to Demonstrate True Understanding

Beth Egan

Associate Professor of Advertising, Syracuse University

Brad Brinegar

Executive in Residence, Duke University

Brian Sheehan

Professor of Advertising, Syracuse University

Christopher Boulton

Opinion Contributor

Deb Morrison

Professor of Advertising, University of Oregon

Debika Sihi

Associate Professor of Business, Southwestern University

Elina Tang

Marketing Professor, Northern Illinois University

Jayanthi Rajan

Instructor and Dearden Endowed Chair, Albright College

Joachim Scholz

Marketing Professor, Brock University

Jonathan Simon

Director of Marketing and Communications/Professor, University of Ottawa

Karen Freberg

Associate Professor, Strategic Communications, University of Louisville

Max Lenderman

Instructor, Denver Ad School and University of Colorado Boulder

Michael Zahn

Assistant Professor of Practice, Texas Tech University

Monique Bell

Associate Professor of Marketing, CSU Fresno

Rafic Sinno

Assistant Professor of Marketing, University of Dubuque

Ravi Dhar

Professor and Director Yale Center for Customer Insights, Yale University

Scott Hamula

Associate Professor Department Chair, Ithaca College

Sheryl Kantrowitz

Assistant Professor of Instruction, Temple University

Steve Bien-Aime

Opinion Contributor

Yusuf Dahl

Opinion Contributor