Echelbarger Named Among 50 Best Undergraduate Business Professors by Poets & Quants

Margaret Echelbarger, assistant professor of marketing in Stony Brook University's College of Business and director of the Child Consumer Behavior Lab, was named among the top 50 Best Undergraduate Business Professors for 2025 by Poets & Quants for Undergrads.

Echelbarger is a behavioral scientist who studies how people develop as consumers, with a particular focus on children's financial decision-making, psychological ownership, and the subtle social and economic cues that shape how young consumers interpret value, fairness, and resource access. Her research examines questions such as: How do children come to think of money as "theirs"? How do market environments shape early judgments about inequality? And how do families communicate (explicitly and implicitly) about spending, saving, and sharing?

"Her ability to secure engaging guest speakers inspired rich class discussions and exposed students to a variety of social marketing applications. Beyond instruction, she has mentored students through independent research, honors projects, internships, and teaching practicums," said Cassidy Oliver, who nominated Echelbarger for the award.

Echelbarger teaches Social Media Marketing Strategy and is recognized for creating dynamic, student-centered learning environments that connect theory to real-world practice. She received Stony Brook University's Excellence in Innovative Teaching Award for developing high-engagement coursework that emphasizes critical thinking and reflection.

The Poets & Quants website includes a Q&A with Echelbarger, where she discusses life as a business school professor, teaching, and life outside the classroom.