Whitman School Appoints Julie Niederhoff as Marketing Chair

The Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University has appointed Julie Niederhoff as the new chair of its marketing department, effective August 4, 2023. Niederhoff, who has been with the institution since 2007, also holds the position of co-director at both the H.H. Franklin Center for Supply Chain and the Harry Salzberg Memorial Program.

Niederhoff will oversee a department that encompasses marketing, retail, and supply chain management programs. This structure aims to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of business processes. Interim Dean Alex McKelvie praised Niederhoff’s appointment, stating, “Professor Niederhoff is a respected researcher and educator whose contributions have long enriched students’ experience at the Whitman School.” He added that her leadership qualities will be a significant asset to the department and its faculty.

With a robust academic background, Niederhoff holds both a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in operations management from the John M. Olin School of Business at Washington University. She teaches core supply chain courses for undergraduate students, alongside electives in supply chain management, logistics, and management science. Her research focuses on the impact of individual biases in decision-making within supply chains and how these biases affect overall system performance in both commercial and humanitarian contexts.

Niederhoff employs methodologies from experimental economics and behavioral game theory to investigate personal preferences and group dynamics. Her studies aim to enhance understanding of how these factors influence performance in areas such as manufacturing and inventory control. Her work has appeared in leading academic journals, including Management Science, European Journal of Operations Research, and Production and Operations Management. Additionally, her research has garnered attention from major media outlets such as The New York Times, CNN, and NBC Nightly News.

Niederhoff expressed her enthusiasm for the new role, stating, “I am both honored and excited to have been chosen to lead the marketing department at the Whitman School. I look forward to working with my colleagues from marketing, supply chain, and retail to foster a department that continues to serve our faculty and all of our students in ways that will enable everyone to excel.” She aims to leverage her research and expertise to uphold the department’s longstanding legacy and advance the goals of the Whitman School.

Niederhoff succeeds S.P. Raj, who has led the marketing department for many years and will return to a full-time faculty position. McKelvie acknowledged Raj’s significant contributions, thanking him for his leadership and mentorship within the department, particularly in the Master of Science in Marketing program and the Snyder Innovation Management Center.

The appointment of Niederhoff marks a new chapter for the marketing department, promising a blend of academic rigor and practical experience that aims to benefit both students and faculty alike.