Dr. Nakeisha S. (Ferguson) Lewis is the Associate Dean of Strategy and Curriculum Innovation and an Associate Professor of Marketing at the Knauss School of Business. Previously, she spent 13 years at the University of St. Thomas, where she held various leadership roles, including Associate Dean of Undergraduate and Accelerated Master’s Programs and Marketing Department Chair, and served as one of the institution’s first DEI Faculty Fellows. She earned her PhD in Advertising from the University of Texas at Austin, and holds an MA in Strategic Communications and a BS in Marketing from the University of Missouri-Columbia. A recognized scholar and advocate, Dr. Lewis has received numerous awards for her work supporting multicultural student success and community engagement. Her research focuses on culture and marketing communication, particularly in urban and multicultural markets. She is co-founder of the Lewis Effect Foundation and serves on the board of the Marketing Ethnic Faculty Association.