Department Head, Agribusiness Department

California Polytechnic, State University

Marianne McGarry Wolf, Department Head, Agribusiness Department, California Polytechnic, State University

Dr. Wolf earned her B.A., M.A. and Ph.D. at Johns Hopkins University in Economics.  Dr. Wolf is a Professor of Food and Wine Business at California Polytechnic State University. She is the Department Head for the Agribusiness Department. She teaches Branded Wine Marketing, Marketing Research, Wine Business Strategies and Senior Project.

Dr. Wolf’s research interests examine the factors that motivate consumers to buy a particular brand of food or wine. She has published numerous peer review journal articles, proceedings from conferences and popular press articles.  She has coauthored two books on the topic of simulated test marketing and marketing new products successfully and has published numerous chapters in books, including one that won The International Organization of Vine and Wine OIV Special Mention Award in the Economics Category.

Her recent publications examine generational differences in food and wine product purchasing, product positioning, consumer attitudes toward food and wine labels, awareness of sustainability and fair trade in food and wine production, product packaging, the use of social media in wine marketing, the use of technology in wine purchasing and the application of social media to enhance brand awareness.

Recipient: College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences Outstanding Faculty Award; Senior Project Advisor Award; Sunkist College of Agriculture Faculty Award (twice); Western Agricultural Services Outstanding Agribusiness Faculty Member