My work on children’s digital privacy and parents’ sharenting gained national and international attention following a feature by WVU Today, which highlighted how routine online sharing can expose children to long-term privacy, safety, and consent risks. That story helped bring my research beyond academic journals and into mainstream media, policy conversations, and public awareness efforts worldwide. Parents and caregivers often share photos and stories of their children online to connect with others, celebrate milestones, or document everyday life. While this behavior, commonly referred to as sharenting. may feel harmless or even positive, my research shows it can unintentionally place children at risk. Once a child’s image or personal information (e.g., a picture showing their face) is posted, control over that content is effectively lost. Images can be saved, re-shared, altered, commercialized, or accessed by audiences far beyond what caregivers intend, regardless of privacy settings. A core concern raised by this research is consent. Children are unable to meaningfully understand or agree to the creation of a public digital identity, yet many begin accumulating permanent digital footprints before they can speak for themselves. Sharented content may also feed into broader data-collection systems that track information over time, shaping how children are categorized and targeted in digital environments. The risks extend beyond privacy alone. Publicly shared images and details can be exploited for harmful purposes, including predatory behavior, and may contribute to the growing commercialization of children’s lives through influencer culture and sponsored content. Importantly, much of the material used in these contexts does not originate from third parties, but from everyday posts made by caregivers with good intentions. This research underscores the need for greater awareness, more thoughtful sharing practices, and clearer conversations around children’s rights and protection in an increasingly data-driven world.

TENNESSEE | My academic and professional training began in Tennessee, where I attended Hume-Fogg Academic Magnet High School in downtown Nashville and earned a B.S.B.A. in Management with a minor in Marketing from Union University in Jackson. After graduation, I worked in brand management roles with Pentair’s Tool Division and later Black & Decker following its acquisition. Managing professional power tool brands exposed me to large-scale, integrated marketing campaigns and grounded my interest in how marketing decisions affect consumers in real-world contexts. While working full-time, I completed an MBA, during which faculty mentors encouraged me to pursue doctoral training. ARKANSAS | I earned my Ph.D. in Marketing from the University of Arkansas’s Walton College of Business in Spring 2014, working closely with Drs. Scot Burton, Elizabeth “Betsy” Howlett, and Ronn Smith. The University of Arkansas has a strong tradition in public policy and consumer protection research, and it was there that I developed a deep commitment to research with implications for consumer well-being. During my first year in the program, my father experienced a heart attack- an event that profoundly shaped my scholarly interests and led me to focus on health, nutrition, and vulnerability-related research questions. WEST VIRGINIA | I joined West Virginia University in Fall 2014, where I continue my work in consumer behavior, social marketing, and public policy. WVU’s marketing department strongly values policy-relevant research and community engagement, which closely aligns with my scholarly approach. Drawing on my own experience as a first-generation college graduate, much of my service work focuses on mentoring students, particularly first-generation students, as they navigate academic pathways, professional development, and career preparation. In addition to my research and teaching, I am deeply committed to applied learning and community-engaged initiatives that connect students, partners, and research insights to real-world challenges. Media Engagement CHILDREN, DIGITAL MEDIA, & WELL-BEING Dark Design & Children My research examines how manipulative digital design features, often referred to as dark or deceptive design, can subtly influence children’s behavior and well- being. I have identified ten common categories of dark design embedded in apps and websites, and shared this work with journalists during WVU’s annual Media Day. Sharenting Research My research on sharenting explores how routine online sharing by caregivers can unintentionally expose children to long-term privacy, consent, and safety risks. This work was featured in a WVU Today article that was subsequently disseminated by national media outlets and discussed on regional radio. Social Media Influencers & Child Protection Following the arrest of YouTube family vlogger Ruby Franke, I was interviewed by NBC News to discuss ethical and safety concerns surrounding child influencers. The case helped clarify growing public discomfort with monetized family content and highlighted the risks of using children in online influence strategies. MARKETING ETHICS, PUBLIC POLICY, & CONSUMER PROTECTION AI-Generated Deepfakes and Digital Deception I provided expert commentary on the growing prevalence of AI-generated deepfakes, discussing how deceptive digital content exploits attention, emotion, and algorithmic amplification, while posing risks to consumers, democratic processes, and public trust. These engagements emphasized practical media-literacy strategies, ethical concerns, and the limits of regulation in addressing rapidly evolving AI technologies. Low-Income Consumers & Financial Decision-Making In an interview with Bankrate, I discussed research on “triple scarcity,” which examines how scarcity mindsets affect financial decisions among low-income consumers. This work draws on findings published in the Journal of Public Policy & Marketing. Credit Card Marketing & Exclusivity I contributed expert commentary to WalletHub on credit card marketing strategies, including exclusivity cues, status signaling, and message framing. These discussions addressed implications for both consumers and firms. Auto Insurance & Relationship Marketing As part of WalletHub’s Ask the Experts series, I shared insights on auto insurance marketing, including post-pandemic strategy shifts, celebrity endorsements, and relationship marketing. Super Bowl Advertising I was invited by an NBC affiliate to comment on changes in Super Bowl advertising, including shifts in ad length, format, and messaging strategy. DIGITAL MARKETING IN PRACTICE & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Marketing During the COVID-19 Pandemic My digital marketing course evolved into a service-learning initiative that helped small businesses adapt during the COVID-19 pandemic. This effort was featured in WVU communications and regional television news. Webinars for Small Business I led a WVU-hosted webinar for local business owners on using Google Ads and digital marketing tools in a post-pandemic environment as part of a broader entrepreneurship support series. Social Technology and Research (S.T.A.R.) Lab As founder of the S.T.A.R. Lab, I helped establish a space dedicated to analytics, social media, search marketing, mobile strategy, and digital design- highlighting applied marketing expertise within the College. PUBLIC SCHOLARSHIP & MEDIA ENGAGEMENT Social Media Collaboration & Knowledge Translation My academic work has been extended beyond traditional journals through invited conversations and practitioner-facing features that translate scholarly insight for broader audiences. This includes collaborations with academic publishers and contributions to leadership and marketing forums that engage professionals with research-informed perspectives. Public Commentary via Social Media A widely shared social media post reflecting on student behavior and ethical principles led to a regional television feature, underscoring the role of social platforms in public-facing academic dialogue. ACADEMIC & COMMUNITY FEATURES Academic Recognition & Community Impact My promotion and tenure milestone and my contributions to first-generation student support have been recognized in university and college publications, reflecting both academic advancement and community-centered impact. Virtual Study Abroad Leadership WVU featured a virtual Study Abroad program to Brazil that I led during the pandemic, highlighting student engagement and global learning under constrained conditions.