Staff

Center Director: Dr. Nora Ganim Barnes

Phone: 508-999-8756
Fax: 508-910-6297
Email: nbarnes@umassd.edu

Ph.D. (University of Connecticut)

Chancellor Professor of Marketing

Nora Ganim Barnes earned a Ph.D. in Consumer Behavior from the University of Connecticut and is a Chancellor Professor of Marketing and Director of the Center for Marketing Research at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth.

Nora has worked as a consultant for many national and international firms including the National Pharmaceutical Council, the National Court Reporters Association, and the Board of Inquiry of the British Parliament, Scotts Lawn Care Co, Distilled Spirits Council of the US and others. Working closely with businesses in the Northeast US, Nora and her students have provided marketing research assistance to over 200 small businesses. Business Week, Inc. Magazine, Computer World and other business media as well as the Providence Journal, Boston Globe, Washington Post and NY Daily News have covered her work.

She has published over 125 articles in academic and professional journals and proceedings, has contributed chapters to books, and has been awarded numerous research grants. Her areas of expertise include Consumer Behavior (both online and offline) and Marketing Research. Her most recent work covers the use of social media by businesses, charities and higher education. She has been named a Senior Research Fellow by the Society for New Communications Research. Nora can be reached atnbarnes@umassd.edu.

Senior Research Associate/Associate Director: Ava Lescault

Phone: 508-910-6435
Fax: 508-910-6297
Email: ALescault@umassd.edu

Ava Lescault graduated from UMD with a BS in Marketing and a Master's Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing Research. Ava has worked on twelve extensive research projects and is a published author. Her clients include the cranberry industry, the shellfish industry, a national juice manufacturer, and a Fortune 500 company. She was the first person to hold the position of Senior Research Associate in the Center. Her areas of expertise include: SPSS analysis, database creation and manipulation, client interface, and report writing.