Dr Debra Zahay-Blatz

Professor/Author/Digital and Data Strategist. Teach Digital Marketing. Author Textbooks & Articles on same.

Dr. Debra Zahay-Blatz is a respected leader in digital and interactive marketing. Over the past two and a half decades, she has made significant contributions to the field through her teaching, consulting, and research endeavors.

As a Professor of Marketing at St. Edward's University since 2015, Dr. Zahay-Blatz has been instrumental in driving growth and curriculum innovation.

Under her leadership as the Department Chair from 2015 to 2019, the university witnessed a 57% increase in registrations for the Marketing program and a 32% rise in Entrepreneurship.

Her efforts to incorporate Digital Marketing and Analytics throughout the Marketing major and creating a Digital Marketing minor have been pivotal in preparing students for the evolving digital landscape.

Dr. Zahay-Blatz's expertise extends beyond the classroom, as she has been operating her own Digital Marketing Strategy consulting firm, Zahay, Inc., since 1993.

As a trusted advisor to presidents, marketing executives, and company owners, she has consistently provided invaluable guidance in defining strategies, identifying target customers, and leveraging data-driven technology applications to enhance their digital marketing efforts, earning their trust and respect.

Her academic contributions have been widely recognized, with 32 refereed journal articles and three books to her credit.

She has co-authored the widely acclaimed textbook "Digital Marketing: Foundations and Strategy" and is the sole author of "Digital Marketing Management: A Handbook for the Current (or Future) CEO."

Additionally, she has served as the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Research in Interactive Marketing from 2012 to 2017.

Dr Zahay-Blatz's commitment to learner-centered teaching has been a hallmark of her academic career. She believes in actively involving students in service learning and real-world projects, fostering a collaborative learning environment where she acts as a "guide on the side" rather than a traditional lecturer.

Before her academic pursuits, Dr. Zahay-Blatz worked for companies like Dun & Bradstreet and MCI Telecommunications (now Verizon), producing cutting-edge data-driven marketing programs.

This industry experience has given her a unique perspective and practical insights that have enriched her teaching and consulting work.

With a diverse educational background that includes a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois, an MBA from the prestigious Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, a J.D. from Loyola University School of Law, and an A.B. in English Literature from Washington University in St. Louis, Dr. Zahay-Blatz's multidisciplinary expertise has been a driving force in her success.

Dr. Debra Zahay-Blatz's passion for facilitating positive change in organizations, mentoring others, and fostering industry partnerships has made her a trailblazer in the digital and interactive marketing arena.

Her unwavering commitment to excellence, evident in every aspect of her work, and her ability to seamlessly blend theory and practice have solidified her position as a thought leader in the field, assuring the audience of her high standards and quality of work.