Message to New and Prospective Students at Cornell University for Applied Behavioral Economics in Finance and Marketing (AEM 6150 – Spring 2022)

Welcome to Applied Behavioral Economics in Finance and Marketing (AEM 6150)!

This new course is geared toward developing knowledge, ability, and professional skills to apply behavioral economics in business settings. The course is especially geared toward students who may consider future professions in consumer finance, marketing, product development, data science, or consulting/advisory. Because this is a 7-week course, I assume that you have some exposure to behavioral science concepts (e.g., AEM 6140 – Behavioral and Managerial Decision Making or equivalent background). If you do not, I have identified some supplemental readings in the syllabus that you should consider reviewing; you should also contact me (sds77@cornell.edu) so that we can better assess whether the course is right for you.

In terms of personal background, I am a new, incoming faculty member at Cornell. I have a non-traditional background and have spent more than 30 years in the corporate world with more than a decade of those years setting up behavioral science units and initiatives in the real world (e.g., nudge units). I continue to work full-time as a consultant and researcher in the behavioral economics space. I especially bring my experience in setting up some of the first nudge units in the world to the design of this course (which includes some cases from companies I have worked with). I am also a Cornell alum who has had a very fortunate career, and so I have a deep attachment to the community here. I would like you to be challenged in this course and succeed in life beyond Cornell. If you would like to learn more about my background, please refer to my bio.

Thank you for considering taking this course. Please feel free to reach out to me via email if you have any questions (sds77@cornell.edu).