Date: Thu, 9 Feb 2006 13:19:55 -0600
From: "Hollinger, Kelli" <KHollinger@mays.tamu.edu>

Outstanding Retailing Educator recognized

College Station, Texas – Barton Weitz, JCPenney Eminent Scholar of Retail Management in the Warrington College of Business at the University of Florida, has been named the recipient of the third annual Outstanding Retailing Educator Award.  The award is sponsored jointly by the Center for Retailing Studies at Texas A&M University, JCPenney, and the National Retail Federation.

The award, which is national in scope and cuts across disciplines and colleges, honors one exemplary teacher of retailing whose efforts promote retailing as a career and whose teaching inspires students to greatness in the field.  Award committee chair David Szymanski stated that  Weitz’ performance in the classroom and his outstanding track record of contributions to the academic side of retailing clearly place him as a leader in the profession, and an ideal choice for this year’s award.  Kathy Mance, NRF Foundation Vice President and committee member, further commented that Professor Weitz stood out as the most accomplished candidate with a record for excellence in all areas of education. 

Applicants are judged by a two-part selection process beginning with review by an academic panel of retailing experts. Four senior retailing executives selected the final award recipient.

The honor surprised Professor Weitz.  His application was submitted unbeknownst to him by colleague and friend Distinguished Professor Joseph Alba with the support of faculty and students.  Kavi Tolani, an exchange student studying at the University of Florida said of Weitz, "his enthusiasm for the field of retailing is evident to all around him, and his personality and teaching ability are unparalleled."

Professor Weitz is the Executive Director of UF’s David F. Miller Center for Retailing Education and Research and is the author of Retail Management, now in its sixth edition.  Weitz has also served as the chair of the American Marketing Association and, among his many honors, was named the AMA Distinguished Educator in 1998