He has a Ph.D. from Baruch College (CUNY) as well as an MBA (International Marketing). He holds an MFA (Art & Design) and an MA (Religious Studies) from the University of Chicago, and a BFA from the Art Institute of Chicago. His broad research interests are interdisciplinary, having included studies of branding, sustainability, retailing, and arts marketing. During the 1990s, Dr. Kay developed and taught workshops in market logistics and AIDS prevention in East and Central Europe. He has written several case studies and lectured on the case method of teaching.