Former Vice Chairman of JCPenneyAbout The Retail Center
The major objectives of the Miller Center for Retailing Education and Research are to stimulate student interest in pursuing careers in retailing, prepare students for entry level management positions, provide continuing education opportunities for individuals currently in retailing, improve communications between retailers and academics so that academics are more familiar with problems facing retailers, and so that retailers can take advantage of new perspectives and insights arising in the academic community, and undertake research on retailing issues, opportunities, and problems.
The objectives are directed toward finding ways to increase retailing productivity and uncover effective strategies for dealing with heightened competition and rapidly changing conditions in retail markets.
The Retail Center undertakes a broad range of activities which are are selected to meet the needs of a variety of retailers (international, national, regional, and local), including:
- developing educational programs in retailing for undergraduates
- stimulating student interest in retailing careers
- offering continuing education programs, hosting conferences, sponsoring workshops and seminars
- serving as an international resource center for retailing
- conducting research on issues of importance to the industry
Sponsoring Companies
Sponsoring Companies provide support for the Retail Center and are represented on the Executive Advisory Board which reviews the Retail Center's activities and determines the strategic direction for future programs. For details about becoming a partner of the Retail Center and to see the list of our sponsoring companies please visit our Partnerships page.
Partnership & SponsorsExecutive Advisory Board
The Executive Advisory Board is comprised of executive representatives from each sponsoring company and academic members from the UF community. The Advisory Board meets twice a year to establish broad strategic directions for the Retail Center and review the present activities. The retail executive members help identify important problem areas, while the academic members provide input on the feasibility of developing effective programs to examine these problems. Committees consisting of specialists from supporting firms are established to select and review research projects and to develop and review educational programs.
Student Advisory Board
The Student Advisory Board consists of students who have recently completed retail management internships. The SAB is dedicated to the development of enthusiasm for retailing at the University of Florida. This prestigious group represents visiting retail companies as their ambassadors when at the University for recruitment, interviews, speaking engagements and workshops. The SAB actively educate their peers about retailing through public speaking, seminar support, assembly representation as well as assisting the Center with workshops, seminars and newsletters.
