Dr. Kyle A. Huggins is a nationally respected marketing professor, academic leader, and digital strategist whose career spans over 25 years across higher education, corporate consulting, and entrepreneurial innovation. With a rare blend of scholarly insight and hands-on marketing expertise, Dr. Huggins has helped shape the future of digital marketing education while driving real-world outcomes for businesses ranging from healthcare to construction. At the heart of his professional journey is a deep belief that strategic thinking rooted in ethical leadership and content-driven connection can transform not only brands, but people, institutions, and communities.
Kyle’s academic journey began in Tennessee, where he earned his B.S. in Psychology and MBA from Union University. His fascination with human behavior and decision-making found a natural home in marketing, leading him to pursue a Ph.D. in Marketing at the University of Arkansas. There, he immersed himself in consumer behavior and public policy research, earning accolades for his early academic work. These formative years laid the groundwork for a career that would bridge rigorous research with applied innovation.
After completing his doctoral studies, Dr. Huggins began teaching at Union University before taking on a faculty role at James Madison University. At JMU, he quickly emerged as a campus leader, serving as the department’s liaison to the College of Business Executive Advisory Council and coordinating key employer relationships with companies like ADP and SAP. His early focus on career development, employer engagement, and strategic partnerships foreshadowed his later success as both an educator and academic executive.
In 2013, Dr. Huggins joined Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, where he has spent more than a decade transforming marketing education in the Jack C. Massey College of Business. Currently serving as Department Chair for Marketing and Hospitality & Tourism Management, he oversees faculty hiring, curriculum development, and strategic planning for both undergraduate and graduate programs. Under his leadership, Belmont has launched innovative new courses in digital marketing and marketing ethics, helping students build practical skills with strategic relevance.
Among his most notable accomplishments is the creation of The Digital Engine, a groundbreaking inbound marketing courseware developed through his entrepreneurial venture, InGen Marketing, LLC. The courseware, now adopted by universities nationwide, teaches students how to build and manage a live digital campaign using tools such as WordPress, Google Analytics, Mailchimp, Yoast SEO, Ninja Forms, and many other web plugins. Rooted in experiential learning, The Digital Engine empowers students to create brands, generate leads, and evaluate marketing performance—equipping them with the digital fluency critical in today’s business landscape.
Dr. Huggins has also made a significant impact as a researcher, with a publication record that includes top-tier journals like the Journal of Consumer Research, American Journal of Public Health, and Journal of Business Research. His studies explore the intersections of emotional intelligence, consumer gratitude, cross-cultural marketing, and public health—bringing new perspectives to both academic audiences and industry practitioners. He is a regular presenter at national conferences, including the American Marketing Association and Association of Marketing Theory & Practice, where he has chaired sessions and contributed thought leadership in digital strategy and marketing pedagogy.
Beyond the classroom and journal pages, Dr. Huggins is an active consultant and advisor to companies seeking to improve their digital marketing capabilities. He has worked with clients in healthcare, food services, oil analytics, and nonprofit sectors—translating academic theory into marketing results. His approach is characterized by a low-cost, high-return model rooted in content creation, consumer behavior, and lead generation—an especially effective strategy for small to medium-sized enterprises seeking scalable digital growth.
Dr. Huggins’s leadership extends into his university and local communities. At Belmont, he has served on the Dean’s Executive Committee, Faculty Senate, Honor Council, and multiple strategic task forces. He has directed the Accelerated MBA program, aligning academic outcomes with real-world placement in industries ranging from music business to digital agencies. Outside of academia, he has served as an Ambassador Family for the March of Dimes and has led fundraising efforts for the American Heart Association’s Congenital Heart Walk in Nashville. These roles underscore his commitment to service, integrity, and community engagement.
Personally, Kyle is grounded by faith and family. He and his wife, Christie, are the proud parents of boy-girl twins, and their lives have been deeply shaped by their experiences advocating for pediatric health. An avid sports fan, fly-fisherman, and biblical history enthusiast, Kyle sees life through a lens of discovery, connection, and growth. Whether teaching in the classroom, consulting for a business, or volunteering in his church community, he brings an unwavering commitment to making a difference.
Now entering a new season of his professional journey, Dr. Huggins is actively pursuing board service opportunities where his unique blend of academic rigor, strategic thinking, and digital expertise can drive impact at the organizational level. His goal is to join forward-thinking companies, nonprofit organizations, or academic boards where he can contribute to strategic marketing decisions, digital transformation, and long-term planning. He brings a steady leadership presence, an analytical mindset, and a passion for equipping teams with the tools and insights they need to thrive in today’s complex environment.
Character:
Dr. Huggins exemplifies unwavering integrity and a servant-leader mindset, always placing people, purpose, and ethics at the forefront of his decision-making. His deep commitment to students, colleagues, and community reveals a grounded leader with a passion for positive impact.
Knowledge:
With over 25 years in higher education and industry consulting, Dr. Huggins brings deep expertise in digital marketing, inbound strategy, and consumer behavior. His academic achievements and real-world applications reflect a lifelong pursuit of learning and teaching at the highest levels.
Strategic:
He has a proven track record of translating marketing theory into transformative organizational strategies, whether through academic program innovation or consulting for business growth. Dr. Huggins is visionary in his thinking yet disciplined in execution, helping institutions and companies alike make informed, forward-looking decisions.
Communication:
A gifted educator, speaker, and writer, Dr. Huggins excels at distilling complex concepts into clear, actionable insights for diverse audiences. His approachable demeanor and compelling storytelling enable him to connect authentically, inspire teams, and foster collaboration across sectors.
