Symposium Program
The symposium will take place April 10 – April 12, 2025, at UK in Lexington, Ky. Please plan to arrive on April 10 by 5:00 pm for the kick-off event. As in prior years, the event will close on April 13 around 12:30 pm. Click here to view and download the full program or scan the QR code below.
2025 Southeast Marketing Symposium Itinerary (FINAL)
University of Kentucky, Lexington
Thursday, April 10
4:00 PM Hotel Check-in (Hilton Lexington/Downtown)
Hotel Address: 369 West Vine St. Lexington Ky 40507
11:30 AM Bus 1: Depart Hotel to Keeneland Racing Attendance (Optional)
12:30 PM Bus 2: Depart Hotel to Keeneland Racing Attendance
(Optional; when Bus 1 returns)
12:00-4:30 PM Keeneland Racing Attendance (Optional)
4:30 PM Bus: Depart Keeneland to Hotel (Lunch Voucher Provided)
Bus will make an initial trip to the hotel at 2 pm.
The last trip back to the hotel will be at 4:30 pm.
If you stay late at Keeneland, use Lyft/Uber to return to the hotel.
6:00 PM Welcome Reception and SMS Check-in at the Limestone Hall (5-minute walk from the hotel) Heavy hors d’oeuvres
**ID Required for Drinks
9:00 PM Event Concludes
Friday, April 11
7:00 AM Breakfast at the Hotel on Your Own (Voucher Provided)
8:30 AM Bus: Depart Hotel to Gatton College of Business
9:00 AM Conference Welcome, Woodward Hall 3rd floor
9:30-10:45 AM Research Presentations
Session A, Room 311
Navigating the Digital Environment
Choice at a Glance: Exploring the Impact of Face Payment Technology on Consumer Food and Beverage Selection
Yuhao Lu, University of Florida
Understanding Digital Product Ownership Rights and Firm Value
Jin Braithwaite, Florida State University
The Eyes Have It: Decoding the Power of Gaze in Advertising
Wanwan Yang, University of Georgia
Session B, Room 399
Consumer Stereotypes and Lay Beliefs
Breaking the Stereotype: The Role of Emotional Intelligence in Debiasing Effectiveness
Destin Hardesty, University of Tennessee
Perceived Product Gender and Sustainable Behavior
Rajat Sharma, University of Memphis
From Label to Logic: How ‘Woman-Owned’ Signals Shape Consumer Inferences of Environmental Friendliness
Tanisha Jain, University of Mississippi
10:45-11:00 AM Refreshment Break
11:00-12:00 PM Research Presentations
Session A, Room 311
From Filters to Emojis: Visual Cues in Marketing
Shortcuts to Beautiful: How Beauty Filters Affect Consumer Judgments
Megan Miller, University of Tennessee
Emojis for a Cause: The Impact of Visual Cues on Prosocial Behavior
Casey Waldsmith, University of Memphis
Session B, Room 399
Promoting Sustainability with Marketing
Can AI Drive Sustainable Consumption? The Role of Sentiment-Aware Recommender Systems in Influencing Consumer Choices
Manisha Shukla, University of Arkansas
Climate Marketing Strategies and Firm Value
Sakshi S. Babar, University of Georgia
12:00 PM Lunch and Award Presentations (Atrium)
1:30-2:45 PM Research Presentations
Session A, Room 311
Time, Religion, and Nature
Space and Time: The Role of Time Metaphors in Consumer Judgment and Decision Making
Tianjiao Liu, University of Kentucky
Marketing the Sacred and the Secular: How Religious and Non-Religious Messages Shape Consumer Perceptions
Colin P. Bisbee, Louisiana State University
Nature’s Touch: Integrating Biophilic Design in Modern Retail Strategies
Qingshuo (Sherry) Chen, University of Alabama
Session B, Room 399
Navigating Changes in Brand, Sales, and Service
Can I Take a Mulligan? The Effects of Brand Backtracking on Brand Attitudes
Joseph “Joey” Lawall, University of Arkansas
Beyond Traditional Resources: A Multi-Theoretical Perspective on Salesperson and Managerial Bricolage
Donovan Gordon, University of Mississippi
The Dark Side of ‘The Customer is Always Right’: Examining the Role of Servility and the Normalizing Strategies in Mitigating Occupational Stigma
Ye “Terry” Tian, Florida State University
2:45-3:00 PM Refreshment Break & Behavioral Research Lab Drop-In
3:00-4:00 PM Networking Activity
4:15 PM Bus: Depart Gatton College to Hotel
5:00 PM Bus: Depart Hotel to Castle and Key Distillery
6:00-9:00 PM Castle and Key Distillery Tour & Heavy Hors d’oeuvres
**ID Required for Drinks
9:00 PM Event Ends, Buses Depart for Hotel
Saturday, April 12
7:00 AM Breakfast at the Hotel on Your Own (Voucher Provided)
8:00 AM Bus: Depart Hotel to Gatton College of Business
8:30 AM Department Chair and PhD Coordinator’s Meeting (By Invitation Only)
9:30 AM Bus: Depart Hotel to Gatton College of Business
10:00 -11:15 AM Research Presentations
Session A, Room 311
From Giving to Gambling
How to Increase Revenue in Cause Marketing Campaigns: Use Customer-donation Framing
Tongmao Li, University of Florida
Go For Broke: The Impact of Sportsbook Promotions on Gambling Outcomes
Alexander Hanson, University of Alabama
Session B, Room 399
Frontline Employee Experiences
Relationship between Delivery Workers and Autonomous Delivery Robots (ADR): Friends or Enemies?
Zhao Liu, Mississippi State University
Soliciting Tips: Employee Well-Being
Mennatalla A.B. Abdelrehim, Louisiana State University
The Role of the Dark Triad in Customer Uncivil Behavior towards Employees
Faiyaz Hussain, Mississippi State University
11:15 AM Award Presentation and Closing Remarks (Atrium)
*Sponsored by Dr. Shane Hunt and Dr. George Dietz
12:00 PM Bus: Depart Gatton College of Business to Hotel