Contact Information

Biography

Karen Russo Donovan is Senior Associate Dean for Academic Programs and Executive Education and an Associate Professor of Marketing in the Palumbo Donahue School of Business at Duquesne University. Dr. Donovan holds an MBA in marketing and a Ph.D. in marketing with a minor in psychology from the Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business at the University of Pittsburgh. She teaches marketing research, consumer behavior, and marketing strategy in both the graduate and undergraduate programs. She 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. 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 among other scholarly outlets.

As an active researcher in the area of public policy and marketing, 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 Duquesne University, 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.

Articles in Proceedings

Donovan, K.R. & Fiztgerald, M. P. (in press, 2015). Religion and Access. American Marketing Association Winter Educators' Conference.

France (Donovan), K.R., Cui, A., & Fitzgerald, P. M. (2012). Nutrition Facts through a Cultural Lens. American Marketing Association Summer Educators Conference Proceedings.

France (Donovan), K.R., Kees, J., Fitzgerald Bone, P. M., & Kozup, J. (2012). Consumer Confusion: A Lose/Lose Situation. Marketing and Public Policy Conference Proceedings.

France (Donovan), K. R., Kees, J., Kozup, J., & Fitzgerald Bone, P. (2009). Consumer Confusion in the Marketplace. Marketing and Public Policy Conference Proceedings.

France (Donovan), K. R., Fitzgerald, P. M., & Cui, P. (2009). Around the World, Around the Waist: A Look at What Marketing May Offer to Improve Worldwide Obesity. American Marketing Association Winter Educators' Conference.

France (Donovan), K. R. & Fitzgerald Bone, P. (2008). Qualified Health Claims: The Fanfare, The Facts, The Fuss. MAS SIG Special Session, American Marketing Association Winter Educators Conference Proceedings.

France (Donovan), K.R., Riley, R., & Fitzgerald Bone, P. (2004). Retailer and Manufacturer Slotting: An Empirical Investigation. Marketing and Public Policy Conference Proceedings, 8-10.

France (Donovan), K.R., Fitzgerald Bone, P., & Scholder Ellen, P. (2003). A Round-Table Discussion of Effective Risk Communication. Marketing and Public Policy Conference Proceedings, 76-78.

France (Donovan), K.R., Achrol, & R., Fitz, P. (2003). Regulation of Marketing Channel Promotions. American Marketing Association Winter Educators' Conference, 147-148.

France (Donovan), K. R. & Fitzgerald Bone, P. (2002). Dietary Supplement Claims: Has the Pain Been Worth the Gain? American Marketing Association Winter Educators' Conference, 62-63.

France (Donovan), K.R. & Fitzgerald Bone, P. (2002). Food and Nutrition Regulation in a Global Marketplace. Marketing and Public Policy Conference Proceedings, 129-130.

France (Donovan), K.R., Scholder Ellen, P., & Fitzgerald Bone, P. (2002). International Trade and Regulatory Harmonization: The Case of Biotechnology. Marketing and Public Policy Conference Proceedings, 64-66.

France (Donovan), K.R., Ponzurick, T. G., & Logar, C. M. (2000). Does Pass-along Readership Exist for Newspapers: A Preliminary Investigation? Association of Marketing Theory and Practice Proceedings, 247-251.

France (Donovan), K.R., Logar, C., Ponzurick, T. G., & Spears, J. R. (2000). An Exploratory Look at Marketing Outsourcing Services. Association of Marketing Theory and Practice Proceedings, 149-155.

France (Donovan), K.R., Fitzgerald Bone, P. & France (1999). Attitude Toward Odors Beyond Intuition. Society for Marketing Advances, 46-50.

France (Donovan), K.R., Gabor, C., Ponzurick, T. G., & Logar, C. M. (1999). An Exploratory Investigation of a Buyer's Willingness to Purchas Specialty Products Electronically. Association of Marketing Theory and Practice Proceedings, 301-304.

France (Donovan), K.R., Ponzurick, T. G., & Logar, C. M. (1999). Can a Management Orientation be Used to Develop Export Strategies for Small Businesses: An Analysis. Association of Marketing Theory and Practice Proceedings, 254-260.

France (Donovan), K. R. & Fitzgerald Bone, P. (1998). The Moderating Role of Pod Position on Advertisement Effectiveness: Considering Program Affective Valence and Level of Appraisal. American Marketing Association Winter Educators' Conference, 172-177.

France (Donovan), K. R., Ponzurick, T. G., & Logar, C. M. (1998). The MBA Cookie-Cutter May Not Work: Differing Preferences for Course Format by Demographic Characteristics. Association of Marketing Theory and Practice Proceedings, 69-73.

France (Donovan), K.R., Logar, C. M., & Ponzurick, T. G. (1998). Commercializing Faculty Research: Opportunity and Obstacles. Association of Marketing Theory and Practice Proceedings, 21-22.

France (Donovan), K.R., Ponzurick, T. G., Mitenko, G., & Logar, C. M. (1997). Publication Policies and Practices of Marketing Journals: A Survey of Editors. Association of Marketing Theory and Practice Proceedings, 93-100.

France (Donovan), K.R., Fitzgerald Bone, P. (1997). A Graphic Deception. American Marketing Association Winter Educators' Conference, 224-229.

France (Donovan), K. R., Ponzurick, T. G., & Logar, C. M. (1996). Selling Charity Like Soap: Why We Need to Take a Marketing Perspective to Increase the Effectiveness of Charitable Organizations. Association of Marketing Theory and Practice Proceedings, 122-129.

France (Donovan), K.R., McClung, G. & France (1995). The Impact of Program Involvement on Commercial Effectiveness: Does Involvement Positively or Negatively Impact Commercials? American Marketing Association Conference Proceedings, 279-287.

France (Donovan), K. R., Ponzurick, T. G., & Logar, C. M. (1995). The Impact of Marketer-Controlled Communication on the Selection of Specialty Care Physician. Association of Marketing Theory and Practice Proceedings, 371-377.

France (Donovan), K. R., Shah, R. H., & Park, C. W. (1994). The Impact of Emotional Valence and Intensity on Ad Evaluation and Memory. Provo: Advances in Consumer Research, Vol. XXI; Association of Consumer Research, 583-588.

France (Donovan), K.R., Heath, T., & Subimal, C. (1990). Using the Phonemes of Brand Names to Symbolize Brand Attributes. American Marketing Association Summer Educators' Conference.

Paper Presentations

France (Donovan), K.R. & Fitzgerald, M. (2016). Religious Freedom and Consumer Access: An Experimental Investigation of Spontaneous Labeling. AMA Winter Educators' Conference. Las Vegas, Nevada.

France (Donovan), K. R. (2011). What you Don't Know Can't Hurt: Transformative Research on Health Literacy. Marketing and Public Policy Conference, Washington, District of Columbia.

France (Donovan), K. R. (2009). Consumers' Perception of Food Nutrition Labeling in China. American Marketing Association Winter Educators' Conference, Tampa, Florida.

France (Donovan), K. R. (2007). A Content Analysis of Qualified Health Claims. Marketing and Public Policy Conference, Washington, District of Columbia.

France (Donovan), K. R. (2006). Too Many Policy Makers in the Kitchen: An Examination of Consumers' Interpretations of Label Claims. American Dietetic Association, Washington, District of Columbia.

France (Donovan), K. R. (2006). Works in Progress: Qualified Health Claims. Functional Food Communications Forum, Washington, District of Columbia.

France (Donovan), K.R. (2005, May). Policy Research in Today's Marketing Environment: Lessons from the Experts. American Marketing Association.

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.