Professional Biography
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
Scholars@UK
Consumer Awareness of Fashion Greenwashing: Insights from Social Media Discussions
Li, M., Cavender, R. C. & Lee, M. Y., Apr 2025, In: Sustainability (Switzerland). 17, 7, 2982.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
The Impact of Slow Fashion Orientation (SFO) on Socially Responsible Apparel Consumption (SRC): Moderating Effects of Industry Irresponsibility and Consumer Irresponsibility
Cavender, R., Lee, M.-Y. & Wesley, S., 2021, In: International Journal of Business and Social Science. 12, 2Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Global vs local: analysis of the consumer-brand relationships in India
Sengupta, A., Wesley, S., Cavender, R. C. & Lee, M. Y., Apr 21 2022, In: International Journal of Retail and Distribution Management. 50, 3, p. 361-376 16 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
A luxury brand management framework built from historical review and case study analysis
Cavender, R. C. & Kincade, D. H., Oct 6 2015, In: International Journal of Retail and Distribution Management. 43, 10-11, p. 1083-1100 18 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Management of a luxury brand: Dimensions and sub-variables from a case study of LVMH
Cavender, R. C. & Kincade, D. H., May 2014, In: Journal of Fashion Marketing and Management. 18, 2, p. 231-248 18 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Generational perceptions of prosperity on the niche tourism island destination of ikaria, Greece
Swanson, J. R. & Cavender, R. C., 2019, In: International Journal of Tourism Anthropology. 7, 1, p. 40-59 20 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Transformative travel: Transformative learning through education abroad in a niche tourism destination
Cavender, R. C., Swanson, J. R. & Wright, K., Nov 2020, In: Journal of Hospitality, Leisure, Sport and Tourism Education. 27, 100245.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Promoting Sustainable Cotton Using Social Media Analytics Through Project-Based Learning
Li, M. (PI) & Cavender, R. (CoI)
1/1/25 → 12/31/25
Project: Research project
Education
- Virginia Tech, Ph.D., 2012
- Auburn University, M.S., 2007
- Virginia Tech, B.S., 2005
Associated Departments