Contact: James Carskadon

STARKVILLE, Miss.—Melissa Moore, a longtime Mississippi State University College of Business faculty member, now is leading the Department of Marketing, Quantitative Analysis, and Business Law.

After 17 years with MSU, the Kathy M. St. John Fellow and professor of marketing has been promoted to department head. In her new role, Moore will oversee the continued growth and management of the department.

“It’s going to be a challenge, but I love challenges,” Moore said. “I’m excited about this new role. It’s an opportunity to help others accomplish their goals and be successful.”

Moore added that she is looking forward to working with the College of Business leadership team and the Marketing Advisory Board to help the department reach its strategic goals.

“Melissa is a great addition to the leadership team of the College of Business,” MSU College of Business Dean Sharon Oswald said. “She is very well respected and is not afraid of hard work. I know she will continue the solid leadership of (former department head) Jason Lueg in guiding this department to a new level of success.”

Moore holds an undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina in business administration, an MBA from the University of South Florida and a doctorate from the University of Connecticut in marketing. As a researcher, Moore likes to focus on the “why” aspects of consumer behavior, such as what motivates a consumer to take any given action. Recent research conducted by Moore and her colleagues focuses on the dynamics between targeted advertising and privacy, customer self-service technology decisions and perceived return customer orientation.

She has helped guide the MSU Entrepreneurship Center, serving on the E-Center’s advisory board since its inception.  Moore was recognized as a John Grisham Master Teacher by MSU in 2005. She also was named Outstanding Faculty Woman in 2010 by the MSU President’s Commission on the Status of Women, among other accolades from the university and College of Business. Additionally, she has served on the last two presidential search committees at MSU.

The marketing professor has spent her entire professional academic career at MSU, joining the College of Business in 1999. Moore said she is thankful for the opportunity to move up the ranks and lead a department that was left in a good position by previous department heads.

“I set foot on this campus and there was no turning back,” Moore said. “I love it here. Great town, great community, great university, great colleagues.”

For more on the College of Business, visit www.business.msstate.edu, facebook.com/MSUBusiness and twitter.com/MSUBusiness.

Mississippi State is Mississippi’s leading university, available online at www.msstate.edu.