February 20, 2026
The Shawnee State University chapter of the American Marketing Association officially launched Friday, Feb. 13, with an inauguration ceremony at the Kricker Innovation Hub.
Five student officers and two faculty advisors were inducted during the event.
Interim Dean of the College of Business & Engineering Technology Adam Miller inducted the founding officers: President Zachary Elliott, Vice President Jared Raynard, Treasurer Chloe Sheridan, Secretary Breanna Carver and Committee Chair Abigail Cutlip.
The process to become a chapter began in mid-October. Now, as an official chapter, the group plans to attend the international American Marketing Association Conference next month in Chicago.
“It has been an honor to serve as president, especially with how quickly we’ve been able to get things in place,” Elliott said. “We started the process in mid-October 2025, and by January, we were certified as an official AMA chapter. Within a week, we raised almost half the funds needed for our trip.”
The organization’s mission is to provide members with professional development opportunities and foster community involvement.
“We’re excited to have a student organization representing our industry and to continue building connections with Shawnee State and the marketing world,” Raynard said.
Faculty advisors Dr. Terry Hapney Jr. and Dr. Jason Lovins said they focused on community building and professional development when encouraging students to start the chapter.
“We wanted to create a strong, marketing-focused community for students and give them additional opportunities for professional development,” Hapney said.
The organization also serves as an asset to local businesses seeking marketing assistance.
“We look forward to students engaging with businesses and industry in the region,” Lovins said. “We hope they will provide outreach services to support small businesses in need of marketing advice. It’s a win-win for students and area businesses who can both benefit from the learning experience.”
The American Marketing Association chapter is open to graduate students and students outside the School of Business.
“As a graduate student, I didn’t expect an opportunity like this at my new university,” Cutlip said. “But AMA has allowed me to connect with people outside my graduate courses and get involved on campus.”