Dr. Min-young Lee, Associate Professor in the Department of Retailing and Tourism Management (RTM), spent the summer of 2017 participating in a faculty exchange program with Shanghai Normal University. During her time in China, she spent two and a half weeks teaching classes focused on brand management, cultural aspects of marketing and branding, and consumer behavior in the university’s hotel and restaurant program.
Through the teaching experience, Dr. Lee gained valuable retail knowledge that she plans to integrate into her classes at the University of Kentucky, especially related to brand identity in different cultures. She stated, “It was interesting to learn that brands not viewed as high-end in the United States are placed in high-end department stores in China.” She hopes that observation and many others will challenge her students to consider varying perspectives of retail, especially as it relates to brand management.
Overall, Dr. Lee had a very worthwhile experience. She interacted with engaged students and was surrounded by very supportive faculty at the university. She does plan to participate in the faculty exchange program again next summer and hopes her past experience will influence her methods of teaching at both Shanghai Normal University and the University of Kentucky.