I’ve seen firsthand what becomes possible when students have a clear pathway from
classroom learning to professional practice. That’s exactly what our University of
Houston-Downtown American Marketing Association (AMA) chapter is building. Now a 70-member
student organization, UHD AMA has gained strong momentum through hands-on programming focused on communication,
planning, and career preparation.
At this year’s AMA International Collegiate Conference, our chapter was recognized
as “Outstanding in Three Categories” for Fundraising, Communications, and Chapter
Planning—an improvement from two categories last year. We tied the University of Houston’s
main campus in total categories recognized.
For me, this work is personal. Access to college changed my life and provided me with
tremendous professional opportunities. I’m passionate about creating that same opportunity
for our students. My purpose as an educator is to help students build the confidence
and applied skills needed to earn the opportunities they want.
That same practice-to-classroom focus also informs my marketing education research.
At the AMA International Collegiate Conference, my faculty paper received the Outstanding
Faculty Paper Award for the second year in a row, recognizing research aimed at strengthening
how marketing educators prepare students for an AI-shaped profession. I write for
practitioner audiences—most recently in MIT Sloan Management Review on AI-driven search
and brand visibility—and I continue to publish peer-reviewed work on how marketing
education can evolve as search becomes increasingly conversational and AI-mediated.
In a Marketing Education Review paper recently accepted, we examine how to teach these
emerging visibility skills effectively in multigenerational classrooms, building student
confidence while reinforcing verification habits and responsible use.
For our UHD students, the connection is direct: professional expectations are changing,
and UHD AMA is helping them meet the moment. For me, the goal is simple—when students
translate learning into confidence, networks, and job offers, the mission is working!
Click HERE to read the MIT Sloan Management Review article.