SFU Beedie professor Judith Zaichkowsky honoured among SFU’s 2022 Distinguished Professors

Judith Zaichkowsky, 2022 SFU Distinguished Professor and professor of marketing at SFU Beedie

Judith Zaichkowsky, a professor of marketing at SFU’s Beedie School of Business, has been recognized as a 2022 SFU Distinguished Professor, an honour bestowed on less than four per cent of the SFU professoriate. This year, Zaichkowsky is among only nine exceptional scholars being awarded this designation.

As a joint initiative of SFU’s Vice-President, Academic and Provost and the Vice-President, Research and International, the Distinguished SFU Professor program recognizes SFU research faculty members of distinction who have achieved exceptional performance and distinguished accomplishments relative to their rank and years of service.

“I am thankful to Dean Kayande and Associate Dean Lautsch for nominating me for this honour,” says Zaichkowsky. “My goal is to use my position to help other scholars at the beginning of their career and pass on my knowledge to them so they can find success.”

Zaichkowsky, who holds a PhD from the University of California, Los Angeles in marketing and a master’s degree in consumer studies from the University of Guelph, is recognized for her exemplary scholarly record in the field of marketing and consumer behaviour. Throughout her career at SFU, she has also demonstrated outstanding service to the university through various leadership roles at SFU Beedie and across the university, including serving as an MBA and PhD program directors, associate dean, and on the Board of Governors.

Zaichkowsky’s knowledge and expertise began with how to measure and conceptualize the role of involvement in consumer decision-making.  Her 1985 Journal of Consumer Research paper on the involvement construct has been recognized as one of the most cited articles in consumer behaviour—with almost 10,000 citations—and one of the most influential articles in the field of advertising.  She has written books on counterfeiting, brand imitation, and trademark infringement, serving as expert witness for global companies.

Other recognized work focused on the effect of having women on boards of directors, with her research showing that even one woman can make a difference. More recent work entailed neuroscience of decision-making, and AI and bot decision-making. Currently she is working to capture fast fashion and sustainability issues through helping PhD students with their publications.

“This is a wonderful recognition for Judy, who has had such a significant influence on the discipline of marketing and SFU Beedie,” says Ujwal Kayande, dean of SFU’s Beedie School of Business. “We are so proud to call her a colleague and I look forward to reading her work on further important issues such as her research on sustainability in fashion.”

The Distinguished SFU Professor recognition not only spotlights the past contributions of researchers to their fields but also helps them mobilize their knowledge through public engagement and faculty mentorship. The role of Distinguished Professor comes with a requirement for members to share their work with the public through events such as lectures, panels and presentations and participate in the mentorship and tutoring of junior faculty members.