Carolyn P. Garrity, Ph.D. (Department Chair)

Dr. Garrity is currently Associate Professor of Marketing. She teaches Consumer Behavior; Entrepreneurial Leadership; Influence, Persuasion and Innovation; Marketing for Nonprofits; Marketing Research; Principles of Marketing; Small Business Marketing; and Marketing Management in the MBA program. Prior to joining Montevallo, Dr. Garrity was an Assistant Professor at Birmingham-Southern College, where she taught different marketing courses included Principles of Marketing, Marketing for the Arts and Nonprofits, Introduction to Business Thought, Sales and Sales Management, and the Senior Capstone experience. Prior to her academic career Dr. Garrity worked as a consultant for high tech and biotech start-up businesses and in marketing for both for-profit and nonprofit organizations. She has over 20 years of marketing and management experience working with both for profit and nonprofit organizations.
Dr. Garrity has BBA degrees in Marketing and Management from the University of Cincinnati; a MBA in Marketing and Nonprofit Management from American University; and a Ph.D. from Louisiana State University with a concentration in marketing. Dr. Garrity’s research interests lie at the intersection of marketing, entrepreneurship, strategy and technology. Specific research topics include the impact of authenticity on consumer relationships, consumer decision-making, the alignment of marketing strategy with exit strategy, systemic customer service failures and teaching pedagogy.
Dr. Garrity is involved in her community including serving on the boards of Magic City Arts Connection, Main Street Montevallo, and the Greater Birmingham Lacrosse Association. She also is a member of American Marketing Association, United States Association for Small Business Entrepreneurship, International Social Marketing Association, Marketing Management Association, the Social Marketing Association of North America, and Society for Marketing Advances. Dr. Garrity is also very active on campus, serving as the sponsor of ValloAMA, she is also a member of the Faculty Senate, the Service Learning Committee and the Technology Advisory Committee.