History of AMS
Founded as an Enlightening Force
The Academy of Marketing Science (AMS) was founded in 1971 by a group of marketing scholars led by Dr. Harold W. Berkman of the C. W. Post Center of Long Island University. Berkman envisioned AMS as an enlightening force, fostering collaboration among academics and bringing their research and insights out into the business world. Under his directorship, AMS soon grew into a substantial regional association. The history was documented in more detail in “A Bridge to Relevance” from the AMSR.
Creating a Top Marketing Journal
With much the same mission, Berkman founded the Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science the following year. He selected Dr. Jane Fenyo to serve as the journal’s first editor, making her the first woman to serve as editor of an academic marketing journal. Thanks to Berkman and Fenyo’s work early on, the journal — known as JAMS — developed into one of the field’s premier journals, publishing cutting-edge research from around the globe. To learn more about the mission and history of JAMS, check out “How Could Anyone Forget Harold Berkman” from JAMS.
Watch the video overview of the Academy of Marketing Science’s history:
AMS’ Growing Years
By the latter half of the 1970s, AMS had grown into a nationally recognized academic society, necessitating more structure. AMS was reorganized in 1979 with a new Constitution and Articles of Association and Bylaws, creating the current structure of elected officers and a Board of Governors. Two years prior, AMS hosted its first annual conference in Akron, Ohio, in 1977. Subsequent conferences have been held in nearly a dozen U.S. states, as well as Canada.
Reaching Scholars Around the World
Since the beginning, AMS has sought to reach academics internationally and create an inclusive, collaborative environment for all. This was clear at the inaugural annual conference: of the 90 guests, 20% were Canadian. This strong tie to Canada led to the first World Marketing Congress in Halifax, Nova Scotia, 1983.
Since then, AMS has connected scholars across the globe. AMS has hosted the World Marketing Congress in such diverse locations as Peru, Australia, Malaysia and Turkey, and developed partnerships with several European marketing organizations.
AMS Review and the Future
In 2011, AMS founded its second journal: the Academy of Marketing Science Review. Focusing specifically on conceptual marketing scholarship, the AMS Review has already pushed forward the conversation around marketing theory — and how it impacts practice.
As AMS looks toward the future, we remain committed to the same core values — fellowship, inclusivity and enlightenment — in service of improving marketing through collaboration, research and insight.
