Chat with Dr. Powell
- D.B.A. Anderson University
- M.B.A. University of PIttsburgh
- B.A. Anderson University
Professional Experience
I have worked at Grove City College since 1991. I was hired as Assistant Dean of the College and was later promoted to Assistant to the President and Admissions Marketing Coordinator. I held the latter two positions for 14 years, serving four different presidents and assisting in a wide range of administrative operations of the College. In addition, I have been a member of the faculty since I was hired. In 2006, I transitioned to full-time faculty status and, after completing a doctorate in marketing and additional years of successful teaching, was promoted to professor of marketing.
Prior to starting at Grove City College, I worked in retail sales, buying and advertising for nearly a decade. I had a contract drawn up to purchase the company that I was working for when God intervened in a surprising way to lead me out of retailing and into academics.
I am passionate about marketing, teaching, integrating faith and learning, and mentoring students (of whom I have taught over 5,000). In my courses, we dive deeply into marketing, with an emphasis on what it means to be both a Christian and a marketer as well as a consumer.
My primary areas of expertise are marketing theory and strategy. I am constantly researching, studying and observing the marketplace. So much so, that my wife, Christine (Deahl) Powell, ’90, doesn’t really like shopping with me (which I call “field research”).
Courses
- Principles of Marketing
- Consumer Behavior
- Retail Management
- Advertising
- Seminar in Life Management
What advice do you give students to help them succeed?
Fasten your seatbelts and keep learning. Marketing is a dynamic discipline that is constantly changing. That’s one reason why I love it. It is never boring. Marketing is also rife with ethical issues, so I stress the need do the right thing. There is a real need for people of faith and integrity in the marketplace.
Selected Publications
- “Religious Expression or Impression Management? Disparate Purchase Motivations for Products that Feature Christian Messages and Symbols,” Journal of Psychology and Christianity, 2018.
- “Materialism and the Purchase of Christian Products: Implications for Business Educators.” Paper presented to the Christian Business Faculty Association (CBFA) Annual Conference at Olivet Nazarene University, 2013. This paper won the CBFA Conference award for “Best Faith Integration.”
Is there any personal experience you would like to share?
In 2017, I was honored to be named Grove City College Professor of the Year. Oh, and I am an avid four-wheeler. I have ridden over 15,000 miles of technical trails across the country.