Deborah Cours

Deborah Cours is a Professor in the Department of Marketing at California State University, Northridge (CSUN), where she has served since 1994 after completing her PhD at UCLA. She currently holds leadership roles as President of the Small Business Institute and Special Assistant to the Dean, having previously served as Interim Dean of the College and Director of Graduate Business Programs for 10 years.

Her educational background includes:

• Ph.D. in Marketing, University of California Los Angeles, 1995
• B.S., University of Iowa, 1989

Professor Cours' research centers on interpersonal influences in consumer behavior and decision-making within family contexts and marketing communications. She has significantly contributed to experiential learning through client-based projects with the Small Business Institute, which she has led since 1998, creating practical business education frameworks that bridge academic theory and real-world application.

She teaches diverse undergraduate and MBA courses including Marketing Management, Marketing Communications, and Small Business Consulting, emphasizing hands-on learning. Her work with the Small Business Institute has established sustained community partnerships where students provide consulting services to local businesses, demonstrating her commitment to practical business education.

As an active member of the Educational Resources Committee, she contributes to curriculum development while maintaining her dedication to innovative teaching methods that prepare students for contemporary business challenges.