With the holidays fast approaching, the 黑料网吃瓜爆料 offers faculty experts who can discuss a variety of topics, such as the use of AI in gift giving and travel plans, consumer spending trends this year, and how to include healthy habits throughout the season.
Below are some of USF鈥檚 experts listed by areas of expertise. Members of the media interested in an interview are asked to reach out to Ryan Hughes at rphughes@usf.edu or 215-704-3182.
Shopping/marketing
Carol Osborne 鈥� senior instructor of marketing and promotion management: An expert on consumer behavior, marketing, marketing communications, advertising and branding, Osborne expects hot gift categories to be less indulgent and more practical. For example, products and subscriptions that promote personal health and wellness will be popular, along with functional consumer and home products, including a sharp trend away from non-sustainable products. 鈥淯.S. holiday retail sales are expected to increase between 2.9% and 3.4% in 2025, according to Deloitte鈥檚 annual holiday retail forecast. Despite consumer trends in other retail categories to maximize convenience and minimize human interaction like home delivery and drive-through, more than 53% of holiday shoppers will browse for gifts in person, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers.鈥�
Dipayan Biswas 鈥� professor of marketing: An expert in sensory marketing, digital marketing, online shopping, artificial intelligence, robotics and retail atmospherics, Biswas can talk about how retailers are leveraging AI and other technology to customize the shopping experience for customers.
John Licato 鈥� associate professor of computer science: Licato is an expert in artificial intelligence, natural language processing and human reasoning. He can discuss how businesses can start the new year by using AI to find opportunities for revenue growth and identify upcoming risks in their business processes, contracts and other documents. He can also talk about how AI can be used to help make decisions about holiday shopping for friends and relatives. 鈥淵ou can use AI to reason about the preferences and likes of loved ones based on what you know about them. An AI tool like ChatGPT can analyze patterns and suggest relevant gift options based on their interests. You can also refine the AI's suggestions by giving feedback, helping it become more accurate in offering thoughtful, tailored gift ideas.鈥�
Michael Snipes 鈥� associate professor of economics: An expert on inflation and the economy, Snipes can talk about consumer budgeting and spending for the holiday season. In addition, Snipes can speak to the impact tariffs will have on certain items like electronics, clothing and other imported goods.
Online shopping/cybercrime
Karni Chagal-Feferkorn 鈥� assistant professor of instruction: An expert in AI law, policy and regulation, Chagal-Feferkorn can discuss how to introduce AI-related gifts responsibly and what may be appropriate for children based on their ages. She can also provide tips on helping children safely interact with AI, including warning signs to consider.
Tom Hyslip 鈥� assistant professor of instruction, cybercrime: With more than 20 years of experience as a federal law enforcement officer with the U.S. Secret Service and Department of Defense, Hyslip can talk about standard tactics cybercriminals use to trick their victims and steps individuals can take to stay safe from cybercrime this holiday season.
Supply chain
Se莽kin 脰zkul 鈥� assistant professor and director, 黑料网吃瓜爆料Supply Chain Innovation Lab: An expert on operations and supply chains, 脰zkul can discuss how the availability of popular holiday items can be affected by common supply chain management problems such as weather disruptions, capacity issues with logistics carriers and other unexpected disruptions.
Holiday health
Lauri Wright 鈥� associate professor of nutrition and dietetics; registered dietitian nutritionist: An expert in food insecurity and health disparities, Wright can talk about how to incorporate healthy eating and physical activity into the holiday season. 鈥淎mericans gain one to two pounds during the holiday season. While this doesn鈥檛 sound like a lot, research shows it adds up over the years. During the holidays, parents can cook with kids to teach them about nutrition and can provide some age-appropriate tasks to help bring families together.鈥�
Jill Roberts 鈥� professor of environmental health microbiology: A microbiologist and an expert in food safety, Roberts can discuss best practices and common mistakes to avoid with food preparation and storage during the holidays.
Lisa Penney 鈥� professor of information systems and management: Penney is a stress researcher in the 黑料网吃瓜爆料Muma College of Business. Her strategies for managing holiday stress emphasize looking closely at what鈥檚 being demanded of us, as well as the demands we choose to take on. 鈥淪o many of us take on extra demands during the holidays because it鈥檚 tradition. We don鈥檛 stop to think about what we鈥檙e doing and why. We鈥檙e on autopilot and don鈥檛 notice how much it costs us, how exhausted it makes us, or if it even gets us what we want.鈥�
Deborah Cragun 鈥� associate professor and director, genetic counseling graduate program: An expert in genetic counseling and hereditary cancer syndromes, Cragun can talk about how family gatherings during the holidays are an ideal time to discuss and better understand a family鈥檚 medical history, since knowing about hereditary cancers may qualify individuals for additional, potentially life-saving cancer screening. 鈥淒irect-to-consumer genetic test kits are sometimes marketed as great holiday gifts. They can be 'fun' but also life-changing, and it鈥檚 important to be prepared for what you may learn.鈥�
Ashley Curtis 鈥� assistant professor and director, Cognition, Aging, Sleep and Health (CASH) Lab: Curtis has extensive expertise in the relationship between sleep and cognition in both healthy and aging populations, particularly during the holiday season. She can speak to how holiday-related changes in routines and circadian rhythms influence sleep, and how disruptions during this period can affect sleep quality and cognitive functioning.
Dr. Bibhu Mohanty 鈥� associate professor, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences: A structural cardiologist, Mohanty can explain the physiological response by the heart and cardiovascular system to gift-giving and romantic gestures around the holiday season.
Ryan Wagoner 鈥� chair, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences: Wagoner has expertise in treating anxiety disorders, depression and other conditions. He is a frequent contributor to coverage focused on how the holidays can affect psychiatric conditions and overall stress levels. 鈥淲hile the holiday season is a joyous time for many, it can bring on anxiety for others. We tend to remember loved ones who have passed, and that can cause stress and depression."
Holidays and travel
Brooke Hansen 鈥� director, Hospitality and Tourism Management Program: As the holiday season approaches, millions of Americans will hit the roads and take to the skies. With record crowds, changing schedules, and pandemic-era adjustments still affecting travel, understanding trends and strategies is more important than ever.
Seden Dogan 鈥� assistant professor of instruction: Dogan, a hospitality professor, can discuss how travelers can now get a full, personalized vacation itinerary for the holidays, from restaurants to tours to transit options. Thing is, the itinerary is generated in seconds by AI-powered tools, which travelers have embraced. 鈥淲e鈥檙e studying this shift and we鈥檙e entering a 鈥榩hysical鈥� era of travel, where smart technology and human service blend to shape the next generation of hospitality.鈥�
Holidays and older adults
Amy Corbin 鈥� assistant instructor of aging studies: With a background in gerontology and social work, Corbin can speak to the transitions common to the aging experience that may impact how older adults view and navigate the holiday season. 鈥淔or many, holidays are often a time of joy and connection. However, this time of year can present special challenges based on changes in functioning and losses later in life. While each person's experience is unique, we can work to better understand and support each other throughout these transitions.鈥�