Dr. Hayes is a Professor of Advertising at the University of South Carolina and Director of the Social Media Insights Lab. Dr. Hayes is an expert in social media research and marketing communication having published more than 40 articles in top advertising, marketing, and communication journals. Dr. Hayes continuously works as a market research consultant.

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Dr. Hayes first traveled to Sint Maarten in 2011 and had returned several times since including leading the 2022-2024 UA in the Caribbean programs. Dr. Hayes is both Director of the USC in the Caribbean program and instructor for the Social Media Analytics for Tourism Marketing course.

Mr. Huffaker is a Senior Instructor in the University of Alabama Department of Advertising and Public Relations, Director of the Capstone Agency, and Director of the UA in the Caribbean program with years of digital and social media agency and teaching experience. Huff has been to Sint Maarten as an instructor on the UA in the Caribbean program from 2023-2025. He will be teaching the International Advertising and Public Relations course.