Laurier expert alert: Black Friday and the holiday season

Nov. 24, 2020
For Immediate Release

Waterloo – The holiday season is fast approaching. Wilfrid Laurier University has experts available to speak about a variety of topics, including Black Friday and the impact of the pandemic on retailers; the measures Canadians should take to stay safe; the mental health impacts of isolation; and ways to stay positive during an unusual holiday season.

Laurier is offering a free online course to help individuals develop self-care skills and support positive mental health. The Essential Self-Care and Resilience course is open to everyone and is available through Laurier’s Centre for Public Safety and Well-Being, which also offers a Positive Psychology Certificate. Read more about how to stay positive during the holidays this year.

Black Friday

Brad Davis, associate professor of marketing in Laurier’s Lazaridis School of Business and Economics, is an expert on brand communications and strategy, consumer behaviour, and ethical issues in marketing communications. He is available to comment on marketing and branding during the holiday season. Contact: bdavis@wlu.ca

Shirley Lichti is a marketing instructor in the Lazaridis School of Business and Economics. She is an expert in marketing communications and customer service, and has an extensive background in sales, marketing, advertising and promotion. Lichti started her own marketing communications consulting company after 14 years working at IBM, and has also written a marketing column for the Waterloo Region Record. Contact: slichti@marketingmagic.ca or slichti@wlu.ca

Ebrahim Mazaheri is an associate professor of marketing in the Lazaridis School of Business and Economics. He teaches digital marketing and marketing research, and is available to speak about online shopping and consumer behaviour during the pandemic and social media marketing. Contact: emazaheri@wlu.ca

Chun (Martin) Qiu, associate professor of marketing at the Lazaridis School of Business and Economics, is an expert on retail. He is available to comment on holiday shopping activities, online shopping and store promotions, as well as the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on retailers. Contact: cqiu@wlu.ca

Staying safe during the holidays

Stephanie DeWitte-Orr, an associate professor in Laurier’s Health Sciences and Biology programs, is a virologist and immunologist. She studies how human and animal bodies detect and respond to viral infections. DeWitte-Orr is available to speak about how the coronavirus affects human health, how it spreads between individuals, and how infections can be prevented and treated. She is currently conducting testing on an antiviral drug that could be used to prevent coronaviruses from replicating in human lungs. Contact: sdewitteorr@wlu.ca

Ahmad Firas Khalid is a faculty member in Human and Social Sciences, a medical doctor and a health policy advisor. He is available to speak about what the public can and should do to protect themselves from the virus during the holiday season; the role of municipal, provincial and federal governments in controlling the spread of the virus; and what other countries are doing to control its spread. Contact: akhalid@wlu.ca

Mental health, isolation and positive psychology

Justin Cavallo, associate professor in Laurier’s Department of Psychology, is an expert on close relationships and social support. Cavallo’s research examines relationships from a social-cognitive perspective, exploring how people's motivational preferences affect interpersonal thought and behaviour. He is available to speak about the mental health implications of isolation and what people can do to stay well. Contact: jcavallo@wlu.ca

Judy Eaton, associate professor in the Department of Psychology and faculty advisor for the Certificate in Positive Psychology program, is an expert on apologies, remorse and forgiveness, and other topics related to positive psychology, including adult colouring and its role in stress reduction and mindfulness, compassion and resiliency. Contact: jeaton@wlu.ca