Dr. Roberta MacDonald is a Professor teaching primarily in the Marketing area. She has been with the School of Business since 1984. Before this, she taught in the School of Management at the University of Calgary and was a visiting Professor in the Management School at Lancaster University, UK. She has also been associated with the Universiti Sains Malaysia and Florida Atlantic University.
From 2002 to 2011, Professor MacDonald was the Dean of the School of Business. During this time, she oversaw many changes in the School to help it grow and focus for the future. This included new faculty/staff hiring, new program and credential offerings, including new degrees and the new eMBA program, new partnerships and research centers, and a new showcase building for the School.
Prior to her university career, she worked in marketing positions for General Motors of Canada, TransAlta Utilities, and Molson's Western Breweries Ltd. All of these provided valuable insights into practical business, as did numerous consulting projects and Board appointments.
Over the years, Dr. MacDonald has pursued research interests in marketing, international business, management education and tourism. She has many peer reviewed publications and presentations to her credit.
Hennessey, S.M., D. Yun and R.M. MacDonald (2011). The Positioning of Asian Travel Destinations by Canadian Overnight Travellers: Correspondence Analysis", forthcoming in Asia Pacific Journal of Travel Research.
Hennessey, S.M., D. Yun and R.M. MacDonald (2011). "Segmenting the Market for First-Time Pleasure Visitors to an Island Destination" forthcoming in Special Issue - Destination Perspectives in Island Tourism, forthcoming in International Journal of Culture, Tourism, and Hospitality Research, 2011, V. 5(2).
Hennessey, S.M., D. Yun and R.M. MacDonald (2010). "The Economic Impact of Golf to a Tourist Destination", 2010 Sport Information Resource Centre (SIRC) Research Award Winner: The Impact of Sport on the Community Research Category, forthcoming in SIRC.
Hennessey, S.M., D. Yun, R.M. MacDonald and M. MacEachern (2010). "The Effects Of Advertising Awareness and Media Form on Travel Intentions", Journal of Hospitality Marketing & Management, V. 19(3), pp. 217-243,
Hennessey, S.M., D. Yun, and R.M. MacDonald (2009). "Segmenting the Travel Market: The Case of First-Time Pleasure Visitors to a Canadian Island Province," forthcoming in International Journal of Culture, Tourism, and Hospitality Research.
Hennessey, S.M., D. Yun, R.M. MacDonald and B.T. Cameron (2010). "Non-Response Bias in a Web-based Conversion Study", Proceedings: Travel and Tourism Research Association of Canada Annual Conference.
Hennessey, S.M., D. Yun and R.M. MacDonald (2010), "Determinants of Travel Intentions to a Neighbouring Destination", Proceedings: Travel and Tourism Research Association International Annual Conference.
Hennessey, S.M., D. Yun and R.M. MacDonald (2009). "Influencing the Intentions to Visit a Destination: The Case of Potential First-Time and Repeat Visitors", Proceedings: Travel and Tourism Research Association International Annual Conference.
Hennessey, S.M., D. Yun and R.M. MacDonald (2009). "Using Travel Activities to Segment the Market for Travel: The Case of First-Time Visitors", Proceedings: Travel and Tourism Research Association International Annual Conference.
Hennessey, S.M., D. Yun and R.M. MacDonald (2009). "Profiling of Canadian Travellers to Asian Travel Destinations," (with D. Yun and R.M. MacDonald), Proceedings: Asia Pacific Tourism Association International Annual Conference.
Hennessey, S.M., D. Yun and R.M. MacDonald (2009). "A Profile of Canadian Overnight Pleasure Travellers to Prince Edward Island: First-timers vs. Repeat Visitors", Proceedings: Travel and Tourism Research Association (Canada Chapter) Annual Conference.
Hennessey, S.M., D. Yun, and R.M. MacDonald (2009). "Influencing the Intentions to Visit a Destination: The Case of Potential First-Time and Repeat Visitors," Proceedings: Travel and Tourism Research Association Annual Conference.
Hennessey, S.M., D. Yun, and R.M. MacDonald (2009). "Using Travel Activities to Segment the Market for Travel: The Case of First-Time Visitors," Proceedings: Travel and Tourism Research Association Annual Conference.
Hennessey, S.M., D. Yun, and R.M. MacDonald (2009). “Profiling of Canadian Travellers to Asian Travel Destinations," Proceedings: Asia Pacific Tourism Association International Annual Conference.
Hennessey, S.M., D. Yun, and R.M. MacDonald (2009). "A Profile of Canadian Overnight Pleasure Travellers to Prince Edward Island: First-timers vs. Repeat Visitors," Proceedings: Travel and Tourism Research Association (Canada Chapter) Annual Conference.
Research interests and publications are in the areas of international marketing, tourism (cultural rural tourism, consumer choices / decisions), and management / real world education.
RECENT COMMITTEES for the UNIVERSITY:
- UPEI Senate, 2002-2011
- UPEI Review Committee for Tenure/Promotion, 2002-2011
- Academic Review and Planning Committee, 2002-2011
- Working Committee for the Maple Leaf Program, 2009-2010
- Working Committee for UPEI Experiential Learning, 2010-2011
- Privacy Committee, 20010-2011
SCHOOL OF BUSINESS ACTIVITIES (1990 ONWARDS):
- Global Associates 2006 to present
- Advisory Council, SBA 2002 to present
- SBA New Building Committee, 2005 to present
- Member of the MBA Graduate Studies Committee, 2007- present
- Lead in graduate business program (MBA) proposal, 2006 to present
- Member of Joint Programming for Holland College and UPEI Committee, 2006 to present
- Advisor to the SBA Business Society, 2002 to present
- Graduate Business Program Development Committee 2004 to present
- Committee to Develop a Bio-Business Center for UPEI, 2003 to present
Other Service Examples for the School of Business Committees:
-ACE (SIFE) Board member, 2004 to present
-MacLauchlan Scholarship Committee, 2006 to present
Other University Service-related Activities:
- National Board member of the Canadian Federation of Business School Deans, 2005 to present
- Consulting with the Sciences to develop a new PhD with a business component, 2008
