Leah Smith

Leah Smith is an Assistant Professor at the Walton College of Business, University of Arkansas, specializing in Marketing and Transportation. She joined the faculty in 2020 after completing her Ph.D. at the University of Tennessee, with prior degrees from Indiana University and Wake Forest University.

Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree, Indiana University
• MBA, Wake Forest University
• Ph.D., University of Tennessee

Her research explores consumer behavior, focusing on how technology transforms marketing relationships, including emojional communication, psycholinguistics, and digital commerce. Recent work examines metaverse payment choices, brand name misspellings, and emotional branding in restaurants.

Her publications span 2017–2025 and cover topics such as product automation, influencer marketing, and retail innovation. She teaches marketing research and consumer behavior.

Scientific Awards:

• 2022 AACSRE Emerging Fellow

She has presented at top conferences including the Academy of Marketing Science and Association for Consumer Research, with research activity centered on marketing relationships, emotional communication, and psycholinguistic applications in marketing.