Biography

Dr. Jay Oliver is an Associate Marketing Professor, Director of M.B.A. Programs, and Director of the Bachelor of Arts in Business Studies degree program in College of Business here at URI. He holds a PhD in Marketing from The University of Rhode Island, an M.B.A. from The University of Rhode Island and a BS in Financial Management from Clemson University.
Before coming to the University of Rhode of Rhode Island, Dr. Oliver was At Roger Williams University in Bristol, Rhode Island where he served as Associate Dean, M.B.A. Director and was a Professor of Marketing. Prior to Roger Williams, Dr. Oliver was an Associate Professor of Marketing, Dean’s Research Fellow, award-winning Scholar-Teacher, and served as the Graduate Program Director of the internationally recognized MS in Sustainable Tourism at East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina.

In the classroom, Dr. Oliver is passionate about teaching and student success. He helps students master networking and public speaking skills that will differentiate them in the workplace. He has helped run and coordinate numerous graduate student international trips as well as other experiences such as consulting projects and student competitions that prepare students for today’s competitive business world.
Dr. Oliver has 6+ years of industry experience with Fidelity Investments in various roles, including product manager in Fidelity’s retirement marketing division, where he managed 401(k) non-Fidelity mutual fund company relationships with approximately $1 billion in assets, which helps inform a second research stream: customer service excellence and what it means to deliver world class service.
Outside of work, Dr. Oliver’s passion is being on the water, but he’ll insist that makes his work better too as documented in one of his favorite books Blue Mind. He enjoys getting out on the water, whether it’s helping his university get students on the water or paddleboarding after a long day at work. Jay holds an USCG Masters Captain’s license(200-ton) and has enjoyed owning and helping people with all kinds of boats. His latest boating adventure has been life-changing. Owning, traveling and fishing with his family on the 60ft yacht “Seafood” from the movie Caddyshack.