Hi, everyone! My name is Alexa Sullivan and I am a second-year Ph.D. student in the Department of Marketing and Supply Chain Management here at The University of Memphis. I moved to Memphis from Ohio with a strong interest in researching the development and application of emerging technologies in consumer behavior, as well as consumer awareness and attitudes toward online privacy and identity management. I am eager to integrate existing knowledge, new technology and methods, and societal shifts in to my academic research.

Prior to moving to Memphis, I worked closely with a variety of companies, including Fortune 100 firms, mid-sized corporations, government entities and not-for-profit organizations as a Project Assistant for a strategic marketing firm. I also worked as a Program Consultant for a nonprofit organization that focuses on economic development in Northeast Ohio, where I developed and managed the organization’s general branding and marketing strategies and implemented social media strategy and communication. I was also a SEM Copywriter at an online marketing company, where I researched relevant topics and created compelling, online content for clients. I completed my M.B.A. in Strategic Marketing and B.S.B.A. in International Business at The University of Akron.

I really enjoy using new media in both my professional and personal life. Not only does it enhance my productivity as a student, but it also allows me to stay current on topics I am interested in and keep in touch with my family and friends on a regular basis. As is the case with almost anything, I believe that too much technology can be dangerous. Individuals who sacrifice aspects of their physical life for time and energy spent using new media are likely missing out on major opportunities in the “real world”. But as long as new media remains as a part of one’s life and not his or her entire life, I believe that it is changing the way we learn, work and play for the better, and that the best is yet to come – which is why I am so excited to take this course! I am looking forward to meeting all of you.