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Graduating with a marketing degree offers students increased versatility in a competitive job market, says Dr. Gokhan Karaatli, one of the newest faculty members to join the Department of Business at the College. "Many students are not aware of how many different types of career opportunities there are in marketing outside of advertising and sales."
Today, marketing professionals work across industries, from new product development and brand management to data analytics and promotions. Jobs as marketing managers, marketing research analysts, merchandisers, sales, and brand development professionals, continue to grow in the industry. The field of advertising, publicity, and marketing is projected to grow nearly ten percent by 2028, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
"No organization can survive without customers or members. Marketing helps to understand and satisfy customer needs and wants by offering products and services while creating, exchanging, and delivering value for all the stakeholders," he says.
Launched last spring, the new Marketing program is available as a major and minor and provides both a skill-based and theoretical framework in business management with applied practice to specific marketing areas. Traditional courses in advertising, marketing management, and sales management are integrated with the industry's newest trends, including marketing analytics, consumer behavior, and digital marketing. Dr. Karaatli also has plans to expand the program with a Marketing Student Association and ultimately a potential student chapter of the American Marketing Association to allow students access to marketing leaders in the field, among other relevant career resources.
The new Assistant Professor of Marketing says a minor in the program can offer students an advantage in the job market, regardless of their major. "The marketing minor offers an understanding of marketing and a set of skills that will help you regardless of your career path. Equipped with the marketing knowledge and skills, you can differentiate and market yourself, products and services, and your organization more effectively."
Before joining Curry in August, Dr. Karaatli has worked as a marketing faculty member at Valparaiso University, Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne, and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He also held marketing positions in various industries, such as advertising and financial investment. His research focus is primarily in the areas of digital marketing and consumer behavior.
Part of his motivation to join the College was the small campus community. "I enjoy teaching in a small class-size environment, which Curry offers because I like to get to know and interact with each student," he says. "I also like the student support system Curry has. There is a genuine interest in supporting students to learn and succeed regardless of their backgrounds or the challenges they may be facing. I know the current environment has been very challenging for everyone. I appreciate when people step up to challenges, even in most difficult circumstances."
As an educator, Dr. Karaatli uses multiple teaching methods and tools to create an environment where students can utilize different means of learning. "I see applied learning and participation as critical components for students' professional development, and all my courses are designed to implement this," he says. "I use real-life and industry examples, cases, assignments, group projects, presentations, discussion boards, and instructional technologies to support student learning."
Like nearly all at the College, he looks forward to a traditional fall semester on campus this year. "Even though I enjoy connecting with colleagues and students online or using a hybrid format, I hope we will recover from this pandemic soon, and I can experience Curry and explore the possibilities of the community and campus fully."