Traci Lannette Freling

Dr. Traci Lannette Freling is a Professor in the Department of Marketing at the College of Business, University of Texas at Arlington (UTA), where she has been a faculty member since 2007. She previously served as an Assistant and Associate Professor at UTA and was an Associate Professor at the University of Kentucky. Her academic journey began with a PhD in Business Administration (Marketing) from Texas A&M University, with minors in Psychology and Statistics.

• PhD, Business Administration (Marketing), Texas A&M University (2001)
• MS, Marketing, Texas A&M University (1996)
• BS, Marketing, Texas A&M University (1992)

Dr. Freling's research centers on consumer behavior, particularly how consumers process advertising and promotional information, form judgments, make decisions, and evaluate brands. She has a strong focus on brand personality and equity, psychometric evaluation, and meta-analytic methods for theory-building. Her work integrates psychology and marketing to explore cognitive and emotional mechanisms in consumer decision-making.

Her recent publications reflect a consistent trend in meta-analytic investigations, examining phenomena such as anecdotal bias, crisis response, gift asymmetries, and brand gratitude. These studies span journals like Journal of Consumer Psychology, Organizational Behavior & Human Decision Processes, and Journal of Retailing, demonstrating interdisciplinary reach and methodological rigor.

Scientific honors include the Faculty Development Leave (2019), multiple recognitions for teaching excellence, and an honorable mention for the William R. Davidson Award. She has been consistently recognized as a finalist for UTA’s President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching.

• Faculty Development Leave, UTA (2019)
• Excellence in Teaching Award, College of Business, UTA (2013)
• William R. Davidson Award Honorable Mention, Journal of Retailing (2015)

Dr. Freling has advised numerous doctoral students and led service initiatives such as the Research Experience Program and Tenure & Promotion Committees. She has received research funding, including a $3,000 honorarium from the Harvard Center for Risk Analysis. Her teaching spans undergraduate, MBA, and PhD levels, covering consumer behavior, integrated marketing, and meta-analysis.

She is actively involved in professional service, serving as Associate Editor for Psychology & Marketing and reviewing for top journals. She has chaired departmental committees and mentored faculty through the Center for Research on Teaching and Learning Excellence.