Contact Information

Biography

Dr. Karen Donovan is Senior Associate Dean for Academic Programs and Executive Education and an Associate Professor of Marketing at the Palumbo Donahue School of Business.

She teaches Marketing Research, Consumer Behavior, and Marketing Strategy at the graduate and undergraduate levels.

Dr. Donovan has been involved in international programs, teaching at CIMBA Italy and leading several student trips to countries in Asia, Europe, and South America.

The bulk of Dr. Donovan's recent research has been in the area of public policy and marketing focusing on consumer perceptions primarily in package labeling. Her research has been particularly relevant given the labeling changes allowed by the FDA on dietary supplement labels and food packaging regarding health claims from emerging science.

Among other outlets, Dr. Donovan's research has appeared in The Journal of Consumer Research, The Journal of Public Policy and Marketing, and The Journal of Consumer Affairs.

Dr. Donovan, along with two colleagues, co-chaired the Millennial Marketing and Public Policy conference. She has been an invited speaker to doctoral students at the Marketing and Public Policy Conferences, participating in sessions entitled "Voices from the Experts." Additionally, she has been a guest editor for The Journal of Marketing and Public Policy and The Journal of Consumer Affairs.

Dr. Donovan's research on package labeling was presented before the FDA at a public meeting regarding dietary supplements and for the American Dietetic Association.

Prior to joining Â鶹ֱ²¥, Dr. Donovan was the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at West Virginia University. During her time at WVU, she also served as the Chair for the Department of Marketing and was an Associate Professor of Marketing.

Education

  • Ph.D., Marketing, Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business, University of Pittsburgh
  • M.B.A., Marketing, Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business, University of Pittsburgh

School

Articles in Journals

Fitzgerald, M. P., Donovan, K. R., Kees, J., & Kozup, J. (2019). How Confusion Impacts Product Labeling Perceptions. Journal of Consumer Marketing. 36(2) 306-316.

Fitzgerald, M. P., & Donovan, K. R. (2018). Consumer Responses to For-Profit Firms Exercising Religious Freedom in the Marketplace. Journal of Public Policy & Marketing, 37 (1), 39-54.

Donovan, K. R. (in press, 2015). Chinese and American Consumers' Interpretation of Nutrition Information on Food Packaging. Advances in International Marketing.

Donovan, K.R., Cui, P., & Fitzgerald, M. P. (2014). Extended Self: Implications for Country-of-Origin. Journal of Consumer Marketing, 31 (4), 312-321.

France (Donovan), K. R. & Fitzgerald, P. M. (2009). Conveying Level of Science: Tests of Iconic and Comparative Formats. Marketing Letters, 20 (4), 385-397.

France (Donovan), K.R., Fitzgerald, M.P., & Aikin, K. (2009). On Break-up Clichés Guiding Health Literacy's Future. Journal of Consumer Affairs, (43)2, 185-198.

France (Donovan), K.R. & Fitzgerald, M.P. (2009). Qualified Health Claims on Package Labels. Journal of Public Policy & Marketing, (28)3, 253-258.

France (Donovan), K.R., Fitzgerald Bone, & Riley, R. (2006). A Multi-firm Analysis of Slotting. Journal of Public Policy & Marketing, 25 (2), 224-237.

France (Donovan), K.R. & Fitzgerald, P. (2005). Policy Makers' Paradigms and Evidence from Consumer Interpretations of Dietary Supplement Labels. Journal of Consumer Affairs, (39)1, 27-51.

France (Donovan), K.R. & Fitzgerald, P. (2003). International Harmonization of Food and Nutrition Regulation: The Good and the Bad. Journal of Public Policy & Marketing, (22)1, 102-110.

France (Donovan), K. R. & Fitzgerald Bone, P. (2001). Package Graphics and Consumer Product Beliefs. Journal of Business and Psychology, 15 (3), 467-489.

France (Donovan), K.R., Logar, C., Ponzurick, T., & Spears, J. R. (2001). Commercializing Intellectual Property: A University-Industry Alliance for New Product Development. Journal of Product & Brand Management, 10 (4), 206-217.

France (Donovan), K.R., Subimal, C., Heath, T. B., & Milberg, S. J. (2000). The Differential Processing of Prices in Gains and Losses: The Effect of Frame and Need for Cognition. Journal of Behavioral Decision Making, 13 (1), 61-75.

France (Donovan), K.R., Ponzurick, T., & Logar, C. (2000). Delivering Graduate Marketing Education: An Analysis of Face-To-Face Versus Distance Education. Journal of Marketing Education, 22 (3), 180-187.

France (Donovan), K.R., Ponzurick, T. G., & Logar, C. (1998). Referring Physician Satisfaction: Toward a Better Understanding of Hospital Referrals. Journal of Hospital Marketing, 12 (2), 95-112.

France (Donovan), K. R. & Park, C. W. (1997). The Impact of Program Affective Valence and Level of Cognitive Appraisal on Advertisement Processing and Effectiveness. Journal of Small Business Strategy, 19 (2), 1-21.

France (Donovan), K. R., Fitzgerald Bone, P., & France, J. W. (1996). Small Business and Comparison Advertising Strategies: Is It Worth the Risk. Journal of Small Business Strategy, 7, 81-98.

France (Donovan), K.R., Heath, T. B., & Chatterjee, S. (1995). Mental Accounting and Changes in Price: The Frame Dependence of Reference Dependence. Journal of Consumer Research, 22 (1), 90-97.

Chapters/Books

France (Donovan), K.R., Uzzi, B., & Moorman, C. (1990). A Framework for Managing Synergy in Planned Change-Systems. Advances in Nonprofit Marketing, 1-26, Greenwhich: JAI Press, Inc.