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Marketing Department

Marketing
Best of 2026
Congratulations, Award Winners!

Faculty of the Year

Congratulations to Professor Akshay Rao on the Curtis Cup Award for Excellence in Teaching; Senior Lecturer Andrew Lainsbury on the Undergraduate Instructor of the Year, Full-Time and Management Science MBA — Elective Courses Faculty of the Year, and Master of Marketing Faculty of the Year Awards; and Lecturer Nicole Tuma, also on the Master of Marketing Faculty of the Year Award.

Conference Highlights
Panelists speak on a stage at a conference

Ignite Explores Business, Brands, Beliefs

The Institute for Research in Marketing's Ignite conference explored the dualities shaping the business landscape—from the intersection of human creativity and AI to the tension between hustle culture and mental well-being.

Alum Profile
Minnesota Carlson student in a light gray suit stands in front of Hanson Hall, with a maroon and gold background design.

Turning Storytelling into Strategic Marketing

"A program like Carlson's offered the perfect opportunity to merge my creative media background with business-focused marketing education, preparing me for success in the field," says Ben Lunn, '24 MMKTG.

Buyer Behavior in 60 Seconds
Illustration of buyer behavior with a shopping basket, coins, a path on a chart, magnifying glass, and mobile phone.

Syllabus in 60: Buyer Behavior

"You can't influence a choice without understanding what drives it," says Professor William Hedgcock. "This class helps students decode those drivers and turn them into action."

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In the News 

Seeking relief at the gas pump

Professor Akshay Rao explains why suspending the gas tax will not help consumers.
A woman is crying while the TV behind her broadcasts election results.
In the News 

Elections leave lasting marks

Professor Kathleen Vohs and PhD student Sangmin Kim examined the impact of elections on attitudes and well-being.
Three people collaborate around a laptop, framed by red collage elements with charts, binary code, and abstract graphics.
In the News 

Responding to Student AI Use

In marketing, AI is everywhere, says Senior Lecturer Corey Nelson. In his classes it may shape assignments, but does not replace thinking.
Ignite 2023

Institute for Research in Marketing

The Institute for Research in Marketing brings together the expertise of Minnesota Carlson’s marketing faculty with top marketers and market research professionals from global brands, creating thought-provoking dialogue and driving the science and practice of marketing forward.

Learn more about IRM

Faculty Recognition

  • Associate Editor, Marketing Science (Professor Yi Zhu)
  • Fellow, Association for Consumer Research (Professor Deborah Roedder John)
  • Fellow, Society for Consumer Psychology (Professor Deborah Roedder John)
  • Highly Ranked Scholar, ScholarGPS (Professor Kathleen Vohs)
  • Outstanding Teaching Award, Minnesota Carlson (Associate Professor Linli Xu and Senior Lecturer Corey Nelson)