December 2025 Desk of the Dean
December 2025 From the Desk of the Dean
The end of the fall semester is a special time on campus as we close out 2025 and reflect on an incredibly successful year. From our launch of the Executive Forum (2026 speakers to be announced soon) to new community workshops and business partnerships, we can't wait to see what unfolds in 2026! As the year draws to a close, we know many changes have taken place, and we'd like to ask that you stay in touch and keep your records up to date in our alumni records system. You can do so by visiting this link. We're also hopeful that we might see you during Homecoming Weekend, February 20-22.
I want to especially thank those who attended this year’s Executive Forum, our speaker series that ignites the community with business ideas. In November, we hosted the Marketing Masterclass: Strategy, Creativity and Growth, featuring Lou Childs of SlumberPod and Shark Tank, along with Nick and Lauren Goebel of Goebel Media, moderated by Dr. Mary Rickard, Associate Professor of Marketing. Childs shared lessons from more than 25 years in marketing and entrepreneurship, including SlumberPod’s Shark Tank deal and rapid growth, while the Goebels offered insights from their work in digital strategy, design and branding. Attendees enjoyed a dynamic conversation on modern marketing, brand growth, audience experience and artificial intelligence. You can read the full story in FrontPage. It was a wonderful event, and we look forward to seeing you attend the Executive Forum in 2026!
This holiday season, please join us in investing in the future of business. Over the past month, every faculty and staff member in the Department of Management, Marketing, and Logistics (our featured department for this month) made a financial contribution to one of our programs. They are the first department in CoBT history to have 100% participation in our annual giving drive! Our faculty and staff are leading by example and investing in the future of the College of Business & Technology.
Your gift to the J. Whitney Bunting College of Business & Technology will directly impact our students' lives. From inspiring service learning projects to high-stakes global competitions, our High-Impact Practices provide hands-on, real-world experiences that transform today's students into tomorrow's leaders.
Your generosity will:
- Fund student participation in life-changing international business tours.
- Empower students to compete on a global stage through various competitions.
- Support impactful service-learning projects that benefit our community.
By making a tax-deductible gift today, you'll help shape careers and change the lives of our students. Join us in empowering the next generation of business and technology leaders.
Sincerely,
Sincerely,
Dr. Faye McIntyre
Interim Dean
Chaired by Dr. Scott Manley
The Department of Management, Marketing & Logistics offers a range of programs designed to prepare students for exciting careers in very high-demand fields.
We offer two majors: a B.B.A. in Marketing and a B.B.A. in Management. We also provide minors in management, marketing, and logistics, as well as a Master of Logistics and Supply Chain Management (MLSCM). The department is home to numerous student organizations, including the Marketing and Advertising Club and GC Entrepreneurs, and hosts the Elevator Pitch Competition.
Furthermore, the department employs 22 full-time faculty members, with diverse backgrounds and degrees from Auburn University, Emory University, Gardner-Webb University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Georgia Southern University, Iowa State University, Kennesaw State University, Liberty University, Mississippi State University, Northcentral University, Oklahoma State University, Purdue University, Southern Illinois University, The Florida State University, University of Alabama, University of Kentucky, University of Rhode Island, and University of Tennessee.
Advancing Ethical Marketing in the Digital Age
Dr. Ania Rynarzewska brings a unique blend of academic rigor and real-world experience to the J. Whitney Bunting College of Business & Technology. With a background that spans Fortune 500 companies, entrepreneurial ventures, and higher education, she approaches marketing with both scholarly depth and practical insight.
Her research focuses on protecting consumers and business partners from deceptive practices, opportunistic behavior, and social media crises. Working at the intersection of business-to-business and business-to-consumer marketing, she explores how digital platforms, influencer culture, and online communication shape trust, loyalty, and consumer behavior.
Dr. Rynarzewska’s work appears in leading journals such as Journal of Interactive Marketing, Psychology & Marketing, and Journal of Services Marketing. At Georgia College, she teaches courses in marketing research, social media marketing, netnography, and analytics, preparing students to thrive in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.
Award-Winning Research
A hallmark of her career is applied, real-world research. Her recent project, Distracting Influencer: Visual Framing and Consumer Socialization in Influencer Marketing, earned two major honors: Best Paper in Digital Marketing and the Steven Shaw–Joe Hair Best Paper in Conference Award from the Society for Marketing Advances. Using field data from her own wellness brand, the study explains how influencers shape consumer attention and decision-making—critical insights for businesses navigating influencer-driven markets.
Another notable contribution is her publication Polarization: Linking Loneliness and Social Media Dependency in the Journal of Services Marketing. This research examines how loneliness and algorithm-driven engagement can deepen polarization and reshape social norms, echoing national conversations about digital well-being.
Beyond Marketing
Dr. Rynarzewska’s expertise extends beyond consumer behavior. She collaborates with healthcare scholars on studies about diagnostic practices, patient outcomes, and emergency department use, with work published in journals such as American Journal of Men's Health and Western Journal of Emergency Medicine. Her interdisciplinary approach underscores the broad impact of marketing and communication research.
A Career of Innovation
Before joining Georgia College in 2022, Dr. Rynarzewska directed Mercer University’s Master of Science in Business Analytics program and previously served on the faculty at Florida State University, where she earned her Ph.D. in Communication with an emphasis in Marketing. A former Division I tennis athlete at Florida State University and national tennis champion of Poland, she credits her competitive background for her commitment to resilience and excellence. Dr. Rynarzewska also formerly taught product innovation and has experience with creating scented products to match hotel ambiences.
Bridging Academia and Industry
In addition to her academic roles, Dr. Rynarzewska founded a skincare and wellness brand that doubles as a research lab for studying influencer behavior and digital markets. She also consults in marketing, analytics, and healthcare research, helping organizations turn data into actionable insights. Through her teaching, research, and industry work, Dr. Rynarzewska is shaping the future of responsible marketing—advancing ethical practices and fostering healthier connections between businesses and consumers.
Alumni Spotlight: Craig Conyers, JumpStart Internship Manager with Georgia Pacific
Craig Conyers, a 2020 marketing graduate of Georgia College, has built a career centered on recognizing talent, building relationships, and helping others reach their potential. His journey has taken him from sales to high-impact recruiting roles at TTI, Norfolk Southern, and now Georgia Pacific, where he leads one of the company’s major internship programs.
A Career Shaped by Curiosity and Unexpected Turns
Craig’s career began with a plan that quickly changed. After an internship with GEICO, he accepted a full-time role, only for COVID to disrupt everything. When he found himself working customer service calls during the height of the pandemic, he knew it was time to pivot.
A friend suggested trying sales with TTI. Craig took the leap. He moved up quickly and discovered a love for developing people. His ability to spot potential led TTI to offer him a recruiting role without even asking him to apply. “That moment mattered. Someone else saw something in me before I saw it in myself.” That spark eventually led him to Norfolk Southern, where he managed one of the largest hiring efforts of his career, and now to Georgia Pacific, where he focuses on growing early career talent.
Building Pathways and Helping People Succeed
One of Craig’s proudest accomplishments came at Norfolk Southern, where he helped hire 1,000 employees in a single year across multiple departments. To get the work done, he taught himself new tools, created dashboards, and reshaped the interview process to make it faster and more effective. “It was a huge challenge, but it showed me what I was capable of. We got the job done, and it made a real impact.”
Today, Craig continues to help young professionals start their careers with confidence. He looks for more than technical skills. He looks for potential, curiosity, and the willingness to grow. “Companies can teach the hard skills. What stands out is communication, leadership, teamwork, and attitude.”
Lasting Lessons from Georgia College
Throughout his time at Georgia College, Craig stayed deeply involved on campus. He served as VP of Recruitment for both Campus Ambassadors and Delta Sigma Pi, participated in AMA, and worked part time at Magnolia Park Apartments. These experiences taught him how to solve problems, talk to people, and lead with empathy. His professors also made a strong impression. Dr. Joanna Schwartz helped him understand the psychology of marketing and to think more deeply about why people make consumer decisions. Dr. Whitney Ginder encouraged him to explore realistic career paths and stay adaptable. "I remember thinking, what are you doing in Milledgeville when you came from the New York fashion world? She was so transparent and realistic about what a career in marketing actually looks like. And she told us the truth. Only a handful of people go straight into the glamorous agency jobs. Most graduates start in sales or more foundational roles, and that honesty really prepared me. She helped set my expectations and made me feel confident in the path I was taking.”
Advice for Students Starting Their Journey
Craig’s advice for today’s students is simple and heartfelt: “Say yes to opportunities. If someone invites you to try something, it’s because they see something in you.” He also encourages students to step outside familiar places and take on experiences that push them to grow. “Moving away after college taught me more than I expected. There’s no class that teaches you how to be an adult, but you learn quickly when you put yourself out there.” And he shares the reminder that guides his own life and career: "Time is a currency you cannot get back. Make the most of it."
Advance Your Career with a Master of Logistics & Supply Chain Management
Take the next step in your professional journey with Georgia College’s Master of Logistics & Supply Chain Management. Offered both as part of our Double Bobcat program and as a traditional online graduate degree, this flexible pathway empowers you to grow your expertise and elevate your career on your terms.
This program prepares graduates for leadership roles across the logistics and supply chain field, whether you’re aiming to rise within your current organization, transition into a new role or company, strengthen your management skills, or position yourself for executive-level opportunities.
If you’re ready to lead with confidence in an ever-evolving industry, now is the time to invest in your future. Apply today!
AACSB
All B.B.A. majors, BS Economics, BS Finance, and all graduate programs in the College of Business & Technology are accredited by AACSB International.
ABET
