Zak Ricards
Lecturer
Marketing Department
SDSU
Primary Email: [email protected]
Phone/Fax
Primary Phone: 619-594-0509
Building/Location
Lamden Hall - 337A
Bio
Zak Ricards, DBA is a marketing educator whose teaching and research focus on consumer behavior, digital marketing, marketing strategy, and sustainability. At San Diego State University, he teaches undergraduate courses in Marketing Principles (BA 370) and Internet/Interactive Marketing (MKTG 476), helping students connect marketing concepts to real-world business challenges through applied projects, case studies, and data-informed decision making.
Before entering academia, Dr. Ricards held professional roles in marketing, business development, and program management, including positions with Tesla and DocuSign. His industry experience brings practical perspective to the classroom and allows him to incorporate contemporary marketing practices, emerging technologies, and evolving consumer trends into his teaching.
Dr. Ricards earned a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) in Marketing from Saint Mary's College of California, an MBA in Marketing Management from the University of Reading's Henley Business School (U.K.), an MS in Management from the University of Southern California, and a BA in Business Administration from Washington State University.
His research interests include consumer behavior, digital marketing analytics, sustainability communication, behavioral economics, and marketing strategy. He is particularly interested in understanding how organizations can create value for customers while balancing economic, environmental, and social objectives.
Committed to student success, Dr. Ricards emphasizes accessibility, engagement, and practical skill development in his teaching. Through both his teaching and research, he seeks to foster curiosity, critical thinking, ethical decision making, and lifelong learning while preparing students for success in a rapidly evolving business environment.