Who are we?
BARD began with a goal to bridge the gap between business, agriculture, and ecology.
We’re researchers bringing our skills to bear on some of the tough problems in agriculture.
BARD is a passion project founded by a couple of academics in a business school who saw an opportunity to use the tools of contemporary business research to support agricultural producers in Maine. We both grew up on farms and feel a strong connection to the agricultural community.
Dr. Erin Percival Carter
Dr. Erin Percival Carter is an Assistant Professor of Marketing at the Maine Business School at the University of Maine. Erin earned her Ph.D. in marketing at the University of Colorado - Boulder and trained as a behavioral scientist who uses the tools of social and cognitive psychology and behavioral economics to examine marketplace behaviors. Erin studies consumer judgments and decisions about authenticity, morality, and well-being and is particularly interested in these evaluations as they relate to agriculture, sustainability, and climate change. Erin serves on the Maine Food Strategy steering committee, an initiative to connect the various entities working towards building and strengthening the food system in Maine. Erin also has experience consulting and lobbying in the sustainable food systems and energy spaces. Erin comes from an agricultural background and runs a small farm with her husband and daughters focused on preserving heritage breed livestock and fiber production. She is also a fiber artist and passionate about natural fibers and heritage breed wool.
Dr. Stephanie Welcomer
Dr. Stephanie Welcomer earned her Ph.D. at the Pennsylvania State University and is a Professor of Management at the University of Maine. Dr. Welcomer’s research has focused on the intersection of sustainable businesses, communities, and environments and she has recently published articles on climate change and farming, farmers’ adaptation strategies for energy resources, and pro-environmental behavior. She is a founding member of the Honors College Sustainable Food Systems Research Collaborative and has conducted research with a number of Honors students. Her teaching areas include strategic management and organizational behavior. She piloted an alternative capstone experience this spring with students working with the Maine Cheese Guild assisting farmers in the state. She served as Associate Dean of the Maine Business School from 2010-2016. Additionally, Dr. Welcomer has regularly taught courses internationally, including classes in Germany, France, Nicaragua, and Vietnam.