Kathleen Kennedy

Kathleen Kennedy is an Associate Professor of Practice in the Retailing and Consumer Science program at the University of Arizona's Norton School of Human Ecology. Her work bridges academia and industry, focusing on retail innovation, AI/ML integration in retail services, and sustainable consumption. She teaches courses in retail strategy, digital retailing, and entrepreneurship.

Education: MBA from the University of Miami (2004) and a current Postgraduate Research Candidate at the Alliance Manchester Business School (UK).

Research interests include AI-driven retail systems, consumer decision-making processes, and the impact of technology on market efficiency. She leads projects like 'Retail Digitalization: Two Emerging Omnichannel Model' and explores AI applications in omnichannel retailing through collaborations with the University of Manchester.

Grants and initiatives include an Experiential Design Learning Incubator grant (2019-2020) for developing community-engaged courses, and a Norton School Strategic grant (2019-2021) supporting e-commerce initiatives. She advises the Global Retail Competition team and Retail Entrepreneurship Club (REC).

Professional experience spans roles as Executive Director at the Taylor Institute for Direct Marketing and Research Director at the Suarez Applied Marketing Research Laboratories. Her industry background includes leadership at Office Depot, Macy’s Inc., and OgilvyOne Worldwide, where she co-founded Mindnav LLC.