Faculty Mentor of the Week John Peloza Gatton Business & Economics
Dr. John Peloza is an Associate Professor in the Gatton School of Business and Economics. Dr. Peloza's research focuses on corporate social responsibility and prosocial consumer behavior, and is characterized by interdisciplinary theories and methods. In the last year, he has mentored 2 undergraduate students, as well as numerous doctoral students. When asked about how his mentees have influenced his life, he said “First, undergraduates can bring useful insights and ideas to a project. Because my work examines consumer behavior, undergraduates who are not knee-deep in “the literature” can often see problems from unique angles or offer new directions. Second, their energy is infectious. Third, I always take a long perspective and hope that one day the students will return to our doctoral program and pursue academic careers.”
With work published in leading marketing and management journals, Dr. Peloza gives intellectually curious students a chance to conduct research under his supervision, “The ability to ask questions about things that they see in everyday life. A sense of wanting to know how and why things are the way they are, or wanting to use consumer insights to make the world a better place.” As a frim beliver in undergraduate research and its benefits, he says, “You will, hopefully, gain the ability understand phenomena at a very deep level. While this may not lead directly to a research related to the specific phenomena, the general skills are useful in virtually any career, and even your own personal life as you learn to understand your own behavior as a consumer.”
Thank you Dr. Peloza for your unwavering support of undergraduate research at the University of Kentucky.