Dr. RayeCarol Cavender is an Associate Professor in the Department of Retailing and Tourism Management at the University of Kentucky. She holds a B.S. in Merchandising Management with a minor in Spanish from Virginia Tech and an M.S. in Consumer Affairs with a minor in International Studies from Auburn University. She holds a Ph.D. in Apparel, Housing and Resource Management from Virginia Tech with a focus on Apparel Business. She also has extensive experience in customer service in the hotel and restaurant industries.

At the University of Kentucky, Dr. Cavender teaches courses in merchandising, apparel and textiles. Her major research interests include the brand management of luxury fashion goods, sustainable development in the retail sector and pedagogical best practices for education abroad and facilitating transformational travel experiences and soft skill development.

Dr. Cavender is a member of the International Textile and Apparel Association, the American Collegiate Retailing Association, and the National Retail Federation.

Honors & Awards

• Martin-Gatton CAFE Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Accessibility (DEI&A) Award Nominee, 2023
• International Marketing Advisory Board, Woxsen University, Hyderabad, India, Since 2022
• University of Kentucky Outstanding Teaching Award Nominee, 2021
• University of Kentucky Ken Freedman Outstanding Faculty Advisor nominee, 2017