Freeman Wu

Freeman Wu

Freeman Wu is an Assistant Professor in the Marketing Department at Vanderbilt University since 2018. He holds a Ph.D. in Marketing from Arizona State University (2018), an M.S. in Marketing (2014), and a B.Sc. in Psychology from the University of British Columbia (2011). His research focuses on digital marketing, aesthetics in consumer decision-making, and social influence dynamics. He teaches graduate-level Retailing and undergraduate Principles of Marketing courses.

Freeman serves on editorial review boards for the Journal of Marketing, Journal of Consumer Research, and Journal of Retailing. His work explores how aesthetics and social media interactions shape consumer behavior, including studies on influencer marketing, product design backlash, and the psychological effects of consumption rituals.

Key research themes include managing online hostility in influencer campaigns, the role of product aesthetics in purchase decisions, and how digital documentation impacts social experiences. His findings have been published in top-tier journals like the Journal of Consumer Research and Harvard Business Review.

Freeman’s academic contributions emphasize bridging theoretical insights with practical marketing strategies, particularly in leveraging aesthetics and social influence for brand success while addressing emerging challenges in digital engagement.