About Dr. Ronell Pugh
Dr. Ronell Pugh, PhD, MBA is a consumer psychologist, behavioral marketing scholar, and marketing educator whose work connects rigorous scholarship with public-facing knowledge translation.
Behavioral Marketing Scholar. Consumer Psychologist. Marketing Educator.
Dr. Ronell Pugh, PhD, MBA is a behavioral marketing scholar, consumer psychologist, and marketing educator whose research examines why consumers make the decisions they make and how trust, culture, technology, fairness, and marketplace systems shape those decisions.
He serves on the faculty at Kentucky State University, where his teaching spans marketing, consumer behavior, research methods, strategic management, digital marketing, analytics, and entrepreneurship.
Holding both a doctoral degree in International Psychology and a Master of Business Administration, Dr. Pugh brings an uncommon dual perspective to scholarship and teaching — the analytical depth of a researcher and the contextual awareness of someone who understands how institutions and markets actually operate.
As a marketing educator, he teaches across a broad range of courses — from foundational marketing principles to advanced strategic management and digital marketing — grounded in a belief that the best business education is rigorous, applied, and student-centered.
The Scholar-Practitioner Model
The scholar-practitioner is not simply a person with credentials and experience. It is someone whose scholarship is enriched by applied awareness, and whose applied work is elevated by ongoing scholarly engagement. Dr. Pugh embodies this identity.
His research is motivated by real questions consumers and marketers face — questions about trust, personalization, fairness, cultural context, technology, and the psychology of marketplace choice. His public scholarship translates those findings into accessible knowledge for broader audiences.
This integration means that students, research partners, and readers alike receive engagement that is simultaneously intellectually credible and practically grounded.
Education & Academic Background
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
International Psychology · The Chicago School
Doctoral training in international psychology, organizations and systems, culture, entrepreneurship, and applied behavioral research.
Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Marketing · University of Redlands
Graduate training in marketing strategy, organizational management, and applied business analysis.
Bachelor of Arts (BA)
Biola University
Undergraduate academic foundation preceding graduate study in business and psychology.
Scholarly Domains
Behavioral Marketing & Consumer Psychology
Consumer Decision-Making
Algorithmic Marketing & Personalization
Trust, Fairness & Psychological Safety
Culture & Marketplace Behavior
Entrepreneurial & Market Participation
Educator and Mentor
Dr. Pugh's teaching spans over a dozen courses in marketing, consumer behavior, research methods, and strategic management. His classroom philosophy emphasizes applied learning, critical thinking, and the development of marketing judgment that prepares students for real-world practice.
Beyond the course content, Dr. Pugh is committed to student mentorship — helping emerging scholars and first-generation business students develop the academic and professional confidence to succeed.
Author and Speaker
Dr. Pugh translates academic research into accessible books, essays, and public scholarship for broader audiences — including students, entrepreneurs, community leaders, and policy-adjacent practitioners.
His speaking spans academic conferences, university guest lectures, workshops, and community-based educational sessions grounded in behavioral marketing, consumer psychology, algorithmic trust, and marketing education.
Books & Publications
Scholarly work and developing projects on behavioral marketing, consumer psychology, algorithmic trust, and marketplace decision-making.
Public Scholarship
Essays, thought leadership, and public-facing research translation for non-academic audiences.
Speaking & Workshops
Academic talks, guest lectures, conference presentations, and community education sessions.
"The most powerful thing a researcher and educator can do is help people understand why they make the decisions they make — and use that understanding to make marketing more predictive, effective, and responsible."
— Dr. Ronell S. Pugh, PhD, MBA
Connect with Dr. Pugh
For academic collaborations, research partnerships, speaking invitations, or general inquiries.