The PhD program at Shidler College of Business is life-altering for its students. During my 4 years in the PhD program, I grew from a student who knows nothing about marketing research to a researcher committed to high standard scholarship. During my time in the program, I was so fortunately to learn from many renowned marketing professors, who inspired me with their passion for academic research, dedication to educational excellence, and attention and care toward each PhD student.
Yi He, Ph.D.
Professor and Chair of Marketing
College of Business and Economic, California State University, East Bay
Dr. Yi He is the Chair and Professor of Marketing in the College of Business and Economics at California State University, East Bay. Her current research interests include social media marketing, branding and brand portfolio management, consumer psychology, and advertising effectiveness. Her studies have appeared in journals such as Journal of Academy of Marketing Science, Journal of Advertising, Marketing Letters, Journal of Interactive Marketing, Journal of Business Research, Journal of International Marketing, and International Marketing Review.
I credit the University of Hawaii for much of my success. The close-knit nature of the Shidler Ph.D. program has resulted in many enduring friendships and, relatedly, much of my work has been published with co-authors who were either mentors or peers during my time at the Shidler College of Business.
Heiko Wieland, MBA, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Marketing
College of Business, California State University, Monterey Bay
Dr. Heiko Wieland is currently an Associate Professor of Marketing at the California State University Monterey Bay. He is a prolific researcher in the area of socio-technical innovation processes, market formation, and professional selling. Dr. Wieland has published scholarly work in the Journal of Marketing, the Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Industrial Marketing Management, and other top-ranked journals. He was awarded the 2018 Shelby D. Hunt/Harold H. Maynard Award for his significant contributions to marketing theory.
The PhD program at the Shidler College of Business at the University of Hawaii has shaped me significantly both professionally and personally. Professionally, I was able to
learn from renowned faculty members first-hand how to approach research and academia in general. Personally, I was able to learn from and with highly motivated
doctoral students from all over the world how to act in a global and connected world. This combination of getting an amazing education, individualized attention, and being
surrounded by incredibly talented global-citizens is what makes Shidler unique. For my experience at Shidler, I will be forever grateful.
Michael A. Merz, Ph.D.
Professor, Department Chair
Department of Marketing and Business Analytics
Lucas College and Graduate School of Business, San Jose State University
Dr. Michael Merz is currently a Professor of Marketing and Chair of the Marketing and Business Analytics Department at San Jose State University. His research focuses on brand value (co-) creation and industrial brand management often with a cross-cultural perspective. Dr. Merz has published his scholarly work in a variety of academic journals, including Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Industrial Marketing Management, Journal of Business Research, Journal of International Marketing,
and Journal of Product & Brand Management.
The PhD program at the Shidler College of Business at the University of Hawaii provided wonderful opportunities for me to work with world-class faculty across a variety of disciplines. During my time as a PhD student, I was exposed to a wide array of theories and methodologies that served as important tools for studying complex and dynamic social phenomena. I worked closely with my advisor, Stephen Vargo, and other faculty in Shidler to publish several articles while I was a student in the program. These early collaborations and publications established a solid foundation for developing a productive research career.
Melissa Archpru Akaka, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Marketing
University of Denver – Daniels College of Business
Melissa Archpru Akaka is Associate Professor of Marketing in the Daniels College of Business at the University of Denver. Her research investigates how value cocreation processes shape consumption experiences, journeys, and cultures. She also explores the sociocultural antecedents and consequences of innovation within dynamic ecosystems. Dr. Akaka’s scholarly work has been published in a variety of academic journals, including the Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Journal of Service Research, and Journal of International Marketing. Her work was recently recognized for being “highly cited” (in the top 1%) by Thompson and Reuters.
The PhD program at the Shidler College of Business transformed me in every sense. When I began, I was truly starting from scratch - I did not know what academic research really entailed, what a scholarly presentation should look like, or even what it meant to teach university students. Thanks to the genuine care and rigorous mentorship of my advisors and professors, I was gradually shaped into a researcher committed to high-quality scholarship and an educator dedicated to my students. Shidler also provided unique opportunities to learn from distinguished guest speakers, as leading scholars from top universities regularly visited to share their cutting-edge research and broaden my perspective. I can honestly say that I owe who I am today to my experiences at Shidler. Looking back, I am deeply grateful for the individual attention, professional guidance, and vibrant academic community that defined my time in the program.
Jaisang Kim, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Marketing
Texas A&M University - Central Texas
Jaisang Kim is an Assistant Professor of Marketing at Texas A&M University–Central Texas. His research and teaching integrate human–computer interaction, sustainable marketing, and cultural understanding to advance ethical, effective, and innovative marketing strategies.
The PhD program at the Shidler College of Business provided me with valuable research training and mentorship that have shaped my academic and professional career. The marketing faculty encourages creative and critical thinking, while also providing the support and guidance needed to turn ideas into research. I am grateful for the support I received from faculty who believed in my potential and helped me grow as both a scholar and an educator.
Scott Hachey, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Marketing
California State University, Fullerton
Dr. Scott Hachey is an Assistant Professor of Marketing in the College of Business and Economics at California State University, Fullerton. His current research interests include how artificial intelligence use impacts consumers and the impact of sales management on salespeople.
The PhD program at Shidler College of Business, University of Hawai‘i, laid a solid foundation for my academic journey and future path. I had the privilege of learning from some of the most brilliant and generous scholars in the field. They introduced me to the richness of theories, philosophies, and rigorous methodologies that ground my research and shape the way I think. What distinguished the program was its strong emphasis on both intellectual rigor and a supportive academic environment. I was constantly challenged to think critically, to engage deeply with ideas, and to pursue research that makes a difference. This program didn’t just train me as a researcher but helped me grow into a more thoughtful scholar, a more confident instructor, and a more resilient person.
Hong Wang, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Marketing
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Hong Wang is an Assistant Professor of Marketing at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Her research examines how consumers and organizations navigate social disruptions and digital transformation, with a particular focus on how these forces affect vulnerable consumer segments in terms of access, agency, and adaptive strategies. Through this lens, her work aims to promote consumer well-being and advance social equity through marketing practices.