{"401611":{"#nid":"401611","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Why Georgia Tech: 4 Questions with Sara Dommer","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ESara Loughran Dommer is an assistant professor in the Scheller College of Business at Georgia Tech. Recently, the Office of Faculty Affairs had the opportunity to learn more about Dommer and her time at Tech. Here\u2019s what she said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Cem\u003ETell us a little about your research.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI study how people\u2019s perceptions of themselves affect their decisions as consumers. Specifically, I like to focus on consumers\u2019 use of products and brands to express their self and identity. Thus, I research topics such as when and why consumers choose products that are associated with particular aspects of themselves (e.g., students, women, and Americans), the motivations underlying preferences for goods that differentiate oneself from others, and consumers\u2019 deceptive use of goods to convince others that they are someone they are not.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Cem\u003EWhat made you decide to work at Georgia Tech? \u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech was one of many schools I initially applied to in my last year of my Ph.D. program. After the first round of interviews, it was one of my favorite schools. After my campus visit, it was at the top of my list. When I received their offer, I was thrilled. First, Georgia Tech\u2019s outstanding national and international reputation was really attractive to me. Second, during my interviews and from my research on the school, I really got the sense that the business school is on an upward trajectory. I found it very appealing to be a part of that growth and development. Finally, the location of the school couldn\u2019t be better. Atlanta is just a fantastic city. Being able to work for a top university and live in a thriving and exciting city allows you to be happy both professionally and personally.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Cem\u003EWhat are the top three reasons you\u2019d recommend Georgia Tech to other faculty? \u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs a young faculty member, I feel extremely supported by my colleagues. My senior colleagues offer a lot of advice and assistance to me, both directly and indirectly, by bearing a lot of the burden of committee work and bureaucratic responsibilities. The sentiment here is, \u201cYou tell us what you need to be successful and we\u2019ll do everything in our power to make it happen for you.\u201d The collegiality is also something I appreciate. Everyone I have met here, both faculty and staff included, has been extremely kind and helpful. And then there are the students \u2014 they never cease to amaze me. It goes without saying that they are smart. They wouldn\u2019t be here if they weren\u2019t. What I have found most impressive, however, is what they do outside of the classroom. Many are holding part or full-time internships while attending school. Others are starting or running their own businesses. I have also had multiple undergraduate students express interest in academic research and ask to assist me on projects. One of those students is now developing her own research ideas and is testing them experimentally. The caliber of students here is top-notch and interacting with them has been a true pleasure.\u003Cem\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Cem\u003EWhat are a few things every faculty member should do while at Georgia Tech? \u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAttend a Georgia Tech football game. The traditions are fun and the stadium offers a beautiful view of downtown Atlanta. Eat at the Varsity. It\u2019s an Atlanta institution and right next to campus. Attend a graduation ceremony. Nothing conveys the pride the students have for this school better than watching those students walk across that commencement stage and proclaim, \u201cI got out!\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":null,"format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ESara Loughran Dommer is an assistant professor in the Scheller College of Business at Georgia Tech. Recently, the Office of Faculty Affairs had the opportunity to learn more about Dommer and her time at Tech. Here\u2019s what she said.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Sara Loughran Dommer is an assistant professor in the Scheller College of Business at Georgia Tech. Recently, the Office of Faculty Affairs had the opportunity to learn more about Dommer and her time at Tech. Here\u2019s what she said."}],"uid":"27445","created_gmt":"2015-05-04 13:45:39","changed_gmt":"2016-10-08 03:18:13","author":"Amelia Pavlik","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2015-05-04T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2015-05-04T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"401601":{"id":"401601","type":"image","title":"Sara Dommer","body":null,"created":"1449252000","gmt_created":"2015-12-04 18:00:00","changed":"1475895122","gmt_changed":"2016-10-08 02:52:02","alt":"Sara Dommer","file":{"fid":"75898","name":"sara_dommer.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/sara_dommer.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/www.tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/sara_dommer.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":42121,"path_740":"http:\/\/www.tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/images\/sara_dommer.jpg?itok=8n4I4DDM"}}},"media_ids":["401601"],"groups":[{"id":"221981","name":"Graduate Studies"}],"categories":[{"id":"129","name":"Institute and Campus"}],"keywords":[{"id":"118381","name":"faculty affairs"},{"id":"171418","name":"Sara Dommer"},{"id":"167089","name":"Scheller College of Business"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:pavlik@gatech.edu\u0022\u003EAmelia Pavlik\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ECommunications Specialist\u003Cbr \/\u003EOffice of the Vice Provost for Graduate Education and Faculty Development\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}