Tenured faculty member Amit Saini was named the new chair of the Department of Marketing at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln College of Business.

"Amit has been an outstanding leader in teaching and research at Nebraska for 21 years and was promoted to full professor in 2021. He played an integral part in the College of Business Strategic Planning process and led the Research and Discovery Committee when we updated the plan. I look forward to his insight as he continues to help inform the college and guide his department in this new leadership role," said Kathy Farrell, James Jr. and Susan Stuart Endowed Dean and professor of finance.

Saini's primary goal is to foster an environment where both students and colleagues can amplify their talents. He plans to strengthen the department's academic programs and curriculum, so students are prepared for successful marketing careers.

"Marketing is an incredibly exciting, dynamic and relatable field, and we are one of the few departments in the country with a distinct identity around managerial marketing, which is closely aligned with businesses to study managerially relevant problems. I was lucky to have been a part of the college’s strategic planning process, which reinforced our department’s focus with the college’s strategic priorities of research and engagement with the business community. So, one of my key goals is to nurture forward-thinking and impactful research that has actionable implications for the business community," Saini said.

He is also committed to enhancing professional development opportunities for faculty and staff. He wants everyone — and particularly junior faculty — to get the support they need to reach their goals. 

Amit Saini, department chair and W. W. Marshall College Professor and professor of marketing, conducts research in the area of management of marketing technologies (CRM, e-commerce, B2B Electronic Markets), business-to-business marketing, and marketing ethics. He has published in leading marketing journals such as the Journal of Marketing, Journal of Marketing Research, Marketing Letters, Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Industrial Marketing Management, Journal of Business Ethics, Business Ethics Quarterly, and Journal of Personal Selling and Sales Management. He has presented his research at national and international conferences and has been a recipient of external grants for his research from the Marketing Science Institute (MSI) in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and the Institute of Study of Business Markets (ISBM) at Penn State University.

Receiving the university's Harold and Esther Edgerton Junior Faculty Award for 2006-08, Saini also was a recipient of the Department of Marketing Research award and earned the college's Best Research Paper Award and the Distinguished Teaching Award. He also was recognized four times for outstanding contribution to students by the University's Parents Association, now called the Friends and Family Award.

"Over two decades of teaching has provided me invaluable insights on how faculty should navigate different student needs and transmit a passion for marketing. I am an evangelist for ethical marketing. I strongly believe that our field is central to the health of the economy and for improving the quality of life through products and services. I will draw on this belief to promote a collaborative environment where faculty feel empowered to pursue new initiatives, particularly with our college’s external stakeholders in Nebraska and around the world," he said.

As a department chair, Saini will also serve on the dean's management team along with five other academic department chairs at Nebraska Business — Richard DeFusco, Finance; Jimmy Downes, Accountancy; Jake Messersmith, Management; Jennifer Ryan, Supply Chain Management and Analytics; and Eric Thompson, Economics.

“It is an incredible honor and privilege to lead this department that I’ve been a part of for two decades. Over the years, I have seen this department evolve, grow, face challenges and develop into a unit that we are so proud of. We have a remarkable faculty group and a welcoming and collegial culture. As the department chair, I feel a deep sense of responsibility to uphold the values that have defined our community. It means a lot to me to guide the department towards excellence in teaching and research while maintaining our warm and collegial spirit. Personally, it is also an opportunity to give back to UNL,” he said.