A connection that began at W. P. Carey comes full circle

W. P. Carey Cupids Maura Scott and Martin Mende return as faculty.

Years after meeting as doctoral students at the W. P. Carey School of Business, Maura Scott (PhD Marketing '08) and Martin Mende (PhD Marketing '08) have returned to their alma mater — this time as faculty, teaching and mentoring the next generation of marketing scholars.

Scott and Mende met in 2003, on her second day as a PhD student and his second day as a visiting doctoral student. What began as an academic conversation quickly became something more.

Sometimes, students leave W. P. Carey with more than a top-ranked education. They find a life partner, too. Scott and Mende are part of a group affectionately known as "W. P. Carey Cupids" — couples who first connect through shared hobbies, intramural sports, and school events.

"From the moment we met, we had long, interesting conversations about marketing and research, all while learning about each other’s backgrounds," Scott says. "I grew up in Indianapolis, and Martin is from southern Germany. PhD programs are very intensive, so we got to know each other well — through hours of studying, late-night pizza breaks, and the constant exchange of research ideas."

After graduating, Scott and Mende began their academic careers at the University of Kentucky before moving to Florida State University in 2013. Their professional journeys came full circle two years ago, when they returned to W. P. Carey to work side by side — researching the intersection of technology, relationships, trust, and empathy. Today, Scott is a professor of marketing and the Edward M. Carson Chair in Services Marketing, and Mende is a professor of marketing and the J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation Professor in Services Leadership.

"Over the years, we stayed in touch with the amazing W. P. Carey marketing department and eventually realized it was time to come home," Scott says. "Returning in 2024 felt both professionally and personally meaningful.”

In celebration of Valentine's Day, W. P. Carey News caught up with Scott and Mende to learn more about the role the school has played in their relationship — and how their partnership continues to shape their work, research, and lives today.

Question: What are you up to today?
Answer: We have two 10-pound rescue dogs: one is a chihuahua-yorkie mix (a super energetic guy!), and the other is a poodle mix (a very relaxed little lady). They are a source of endless entertainment and laughter. We love traveling and learning about new cultures, and one of our favorite things to do is to visit a new city or country together.

Q: What's something special about how you started your relationship?
A: We both love nature, so early on in our relationship, we drove to Tonto National Forest. Martin spotted a tarantula in the road and insisted we pull over to get a closer look. I wasn’t so sure about that, but we did get out and have a closer look at the hairy creature. Little did I know at the time, but this is very typical of Martin. Since then, we have been adventuring together around the world, from shark cage diving in South Africa — Martin in the water with the sharks, and Maura observing from the boat! — to visiting the top of the tallest building in the world in Dubai. Next up: swimming with whale sharks!

Q: What’s your advice for couples meeting at W. P. Carey and dating as students?
A: Being a student at ASU offers a wonderful opportunity to meet people from different backgrounds who may have different opinions. Such friendships build not only a sense of openness and critical thinking skills, but over time might also flower into lifelong friendships or even romantic relationships. This is another indicator of ASU being a positively transformative and life-changing institution.

Q: Where is your favorite place to spend time on campus together?
A: We love to take walks on the Palm Walk. ASU has such a beautiful campus, and we are so fortunate to have great weather much of the year. When we get out to stretch our legs, we also have the opportunity to exchange ideas about our research collaborations.

Q: What’s a favorite memory you share?
A: The culture in the marketing department at W. P. Carey is incredibly collegial. When we started as PhD students, the senior doctoral students took us to dinner to give us advice on successfully transitioning into this role. Now that we have returned to ASU as professors, it is delightful to see our students continue this supportive tradition.

Q: What are you looking forward to?
A: One of our proudest moments is when one of our PhD students graduates. We have been there for each of our PhD graduates' hooding ceremonies. We are already excited about our next student's graduation in 2027, and we can’t wait to see her start her career as an assistant professor!

Q: What’s your favorite thing about working together now?
A: As scholars, we feel the responsibility to serve students, society, and businesses. We enjoy conducting scholarly research that can help businesses develop inclusive services that support the well-being of individuals and communities. Importantly, our goal is to demonstrate how businesses can be profitable while promoting well-being. This focus is why the ASU Charter, and its emphasis on inclusive excellence, resonates with us both so much!