Kathryn A. Carroll
Welcome! I am an Associate Professor at the University of Central Arkansas in the Department of Nutrition and Family Sciences (NFS). I also serve as the NFS Graduate Program Director.
At UCA, I teach undergraduate and graduate courses in the NFS department. These include graduate research methods, graduate electives, and undergraduate courses in our Family & Consumer Sciences (FCS) program.
I'm a Faculty Affiliate of the Arkansas Center for Research in Economics (ACRE)'s Social Studies Library and a former UCA Service-Learning Faculty Fellow. I also serve as Academic Advisor for students pursuing the M.S. in FCS.
In 2023, I received the Arkansas Outstanding FCS Educator of the Year Award from the Arkansas Association of Family and Consumer Sciences. In 2024, I received the National New Achiever Award from the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences. I was also a member of the interprofessional team that received the 2024 UCA-CHBS Award for Interprofessional Excellence & Innovation.
As a researcher, I use experiments and survey research to examine questions in the area of consumer decision-making. I am especially interested in consumer food choice, local food, behavioral nudges, and health interventions. I also have an interest in financial decision-making and education, particularly among college students.
My work is designed to help address real-world problems, with the goal of providing useful information for individuals, policymakers, retailers, and other stakeholders. Recent collaborations include projects with the Arkansas Foodbank, the FUMC-Conway Food Pantry, and Arkansas Asset Builders, as well as curriculum efforts with the Arkansas Center for Research in Economics (ACRE)'s Social Studies Library.
Prior to UCA, I spent five years as Lab Manager of the Behavioral Research Insights Through Experiments (BRITE) Lab at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The BRITE Lab is a joint venture between the Wisconsin School of Business and the School of Human Ecology. The lab focuses on experimental research that explores how various factors affect individual decision-making. I joined UCA in 2018.
I received my Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in consumer behavior and family economics, with a minor in ag and applied economics. I received an M.S. in ag and resource economics from the University of Delaware, which is also where I completed my undergrad. I hold CFCS and CPFFE certifications through the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences.
EDUCATION
Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison
M.S., University of Wisconsin-Madison
M.S., University of Delaware
B.S., University of Delaware
COURSES
Undergraduate (100% online and in-person/hybrid)
FACS 3372: Personal & Family Finance (Fall & Spring; Summer I)
FACS 4317: Advanced Personal & Family Finance (Spring; service-learning course)
FACS 4V30: Undergraduate Research Workshop (1 credit hr. , Spring 2019)
FACS 4V30: Community Outreach Workshop (3 credit hrs., Spring 2022)
Graduate (100% online)
FACS 5310: Program Development and Evaluation (Summer II 2024)
NUTR 6307: Current Findings in Food (Spring)
FACS 6309: Consumer Economics (Fall of even years)
FACS 6310: Advanced Resource Management (Summer I of odd years)
FACS 6335: Evidence-Based Research (Spring & Fall)
FACS 6355: Consumer Affairs (Fall of odd years)
ACRE Undergraduate Reading Group (in-person)
Not Your Average Housewives: From Home Economists to Human Ecologists (Spring 2024)
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Consumer Decision Making
Food Choice
Marketing of Consumer Products
Behavioral Nudges
Service-Learning
Financial Education
STUDENT OFFICE HOURS: Fall 2024
Mondays: 9:30 AM - 1:30 PM, virtually via Google Meet (virtual only)
Tuesdays: 9:30 AM - 1:30 PM, virtually via Google Meet AND in-person (virtual & in-person)
Other times if needed, by appointment! (please email me)
NOTE: office hours for Fall 2024 begin the first week of classes in August.
ACADEMIC ADVISING: Fall 2024
Advising emails for the Spring 2025 term will be sent out in October! If you are on my advising list, watch for an email from me then with more info.
I am currently advising M.S. in FCS students, and some M.S. in NUTR students. I can also advise any student minoring in FCS. Please email me for a time to meet (see above)!