Notable Achievements

For the first time, Southwestern University was represented at the 2025 HSI Battle of the Brains, a premier national competition that brings together top student talent from across the country to solve real-world business and technology challenges. Southwestern’s inaugural team included eight exceptional students: Asin Allavudeen ’27, Santiago Cuevas ’26, Cassidie Gomez ’26, Julyssa Hernandez ’27, Yeva-Mariya Hayko ’26, Anna Hulett ’28, Alyanna Martinez ’27, and Juan Carlos Martinez Varela ’27. Selected through a competitive internal application process, the students participated in a 24-hour cross-disciplinary challenge integrating computer science, marketing, finance, and sustainable business strategy. They also engaged in professional development workshops led by industry leaders from Dell Technologies, eBay, Thrivent Financial, Capital One, and The Home Depot. Southwestern’s team earned first place in the Video Marketing Challenge, an interactive activity sponsored by Kickin It ATX that tested their creativity and collaboration under a time constraint. In addition, Juan Carlos Martinez Varela was awarded scholarships from both Dell Technologies and eBay in recognition of his outstanding academic and professional accomplishments and his ability to make a lasting impression on company representatives throughout the event. Special thanks to the faculty and staff who coordinated the team’s participation: Hispanic Academic Success Coordinator Amalia Merino, Director of the Center for Career & Professional Development Adrian D. Ramirez, Associate Professor of Spanish Abby Dings, and Professor of Business Debika Sihi. Gratitude is also extended to the blind judges who assisted with the internal selection process, Assistant Vice President of Admission Christine Bowman, Director of Admission Jaime Gonzalez, and Professor of Kinesiology Scott McLean, as well as Visual Content Producer Todd White for photography and videography of the event.

MORE

Debika Sihi

Professor of Business

Expertise

Digital and Social Media Marketing, New Product Development, Online Privacy, Technology Integration into Business Processes, Marketing for Start-Ups

Debika Sihi is a Professor of Business at Southwestern University. She earned her PhD in Marketing at the McCombs School of Business at The University of Texas (UT) at Austin. She also holds a BBA and MPA (Masters in Professional Accounting) from the McCombs School. Prior to entering the doctoral program, Debika worked at Public Strategies, Inc. and Deloitte, both multinational professional services and consulting firms.

Debika’s research explores the impact of technological innovations on marketing strategy. She has published works in peer reviewed marketing and business journals including the Journal of Marketing Theory and Practice, Industrial Marketing Management, Journal of Research in Interactive Marketing, and the Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science. Debika teaches a variety of business courses including classes on digital marketing and a capstone course with a focus on innovation in business.

Debika actively participates with different initiatives in Austin’s vibrant entrepreneurship community. She is also an avid supporter of Emancipet, an animal welfare organization.

Honors & Awards

  • Biography

    Debika Sihi is a Professor of Business at Southwestern University. She earned her PhD in Marketing at the McCombs School of Business at The University of Texas (UT) at Austin. She also holds a BBA and MPA (Masters in Professional Accounting) from the McCombs School. Prior to entering the doctoral program, Debika worked at Public Strategies, Inc. and Deloitte, both multinational professional services and consulting firms.

    Debika’s research explores the impact of technological innovations on marketing strategy. She has published works in peer reviewed marketing and business journals including the Journal of Marketing Theory and Practice, Industrial Marketing Management, Journal of Research in Interactive Marketing, and the Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science. Debika teaches a variety of business courses including classes on digital marketing and a capstone course with a focus on innovation in business.

    Debika actively participates with different initiatives in Austin’s vibrant entrepreneurship community. She is also an avid supporter of Emancipet, an animal welfare organization.

    Honors & Awards

  • Publications

    Sihi, D. (Forthcoming). “Advertising and Connected Experiences Through Smart Home Devices” chapter in book Developing Digital Narratives in Marketing Communication

    Sihi, D., & Ryan, A. (2025). Crafting and Evaluating Generative AI Prompts: Insights from Students, Educators, and Marketers. Marketing Education Review, 35(2), 153-159.

    Sihi, D. (2024, June). Sustainability and Marketing: Examining the Digital Impacts. In Digital Marketing & eCommerce (pp. 111-116). Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland.

    Sihi, D. (2022). Dare to Share? The Impacts of Health Crisis on Information Needs of Users Evaluating Peer-to-Peer Services. Marketing Management Journal. 32(1), 32-49.

    Johnson, D. S., Sihi, D., & Muzellec, L. (2021, December). Implementing Big Data Analytics in Marketing Departments: Mixing Organic and Administered Approaches to Increase Data-Driven Decision Making. Informatics 8(4), 66. Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute.

    Sihi, D. (2020). Impacts of Blockchain Technology in Marketing. In Advances in Digital Marketing and eCommerce. 25-30. Springer, Cham.

    Johnson, D.S, Muzellec, L. Sihi, D, & Zahay D. (2019). The Marketing Organization’s Journey to Become Data-Driven. Journal of Research in Interactive Marketing, 13(2), 162-178.

    Sihi, D. (2018). Home sweet virtual home: The Use of Virtual and Augmented Reality Technologies in High Involvement Purchase
    Decisions. Journal of Research in Interactive Marketing. 12(4), 398-417.

    Sihi, D. (2018). Friending and Funding through Facebook: Social Media Use of Regional Nonprofit Organizations. Invited chapter in Innovative Perspectives on Public Administration in the Digital Age (book), IGI Global, 256-283.

     Sihi, D. & Lawson K. (2018). Marketing Leaders and Social Media: Blending Personal and   Professional Identities. Journal of Marketing Theory and Practice, 26(1-2), 38-54.

    Zahay, D., Hajli, N., & Sihi, D. (2018). Managerial Perspectives on Crowdsourcing in the New Product Development Process. Industrial Marketing Management. 71, 41-53.

    Chandrasekaran, D., Srinivasan, R., & Sihi, D. (2018). Effects of Offline Ad Content on Online Brand Search: Insights from Super Bowl Advertising. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 46(3), 403-430.

    Sihi, D. (2017). The Influence of Leadership and Strategic Emphasis on Social Media Use of Regional Nonprofit Organizations. International Journal of Public Administration in the  Digital Age (IJPADA), 4(1), 1-18. 

    Srinivasan, R., Sridhar, S., Narayanan, S., & Sihi, D. (2013). Effects of Opening and Closing Stores on Retail Firm Performance. Journal of Retailing, 89(2), 126-139.       
    *Runner up for Davidson Award for best article in Volume 89 of the Journal of Retailing (awarded in February 2015)

    Srinivasan, R. and Sihi, D (2012). Marketing Information Disclosures: A    Review and Research Agenda. Invited chapter in Handbook of Marketing and Finance, edited by S. Ganesan.

In the News

  • Philip Moffatt ’20 Brings Personal Touch to Investment Banking and Consulting at Morgan Stanley

    As an Institutional Consulting Analyst, Philip Moffatt ’20 has built a successful career in wealth management on the foundation of his Southwestern Experience.

  • Logan LeBlanc, Abby Ryan, Olivia Bakke
    Southwestern Students Compete in National Collegiate Digital Marketing Championships

    A team of our students ventured to Waco to compete alongside peers from some of the nation’s top universities.

  • Video: Empowering Innovation

    SU Business Club collaborates with Houston Methodist Hospital in annual case study competition.

    Watch Now
  • Associate Professor of Business Debika Sihi
    Southwestern Business Professor Provides Reading Advice for Entrepreneurs

    Associate Professor of Business Debika Sihi shares her recommendation in Forbes.

  • Debika Sihi
    Associate Professor of Economics and Business Featured in Adweek

    Professor Debika Sihi explains why retailers need to learn how to effectively juggle in-store and online shopping.

  • Dr. Debika Sihi teaches a marketing class.
    My Southwestern Experience

    Jonah Rohne ’19 reflects on his favorite part of the University: the faculty.

  • Dr. Debika Sihi teaches a marketing class.
    Debika Sihi: Understand Your Consumer

    Learn more about Assistant Professor of Business Debika Sihi and her love for research marketing strategy in her recent interview with Giraffe Social Media.