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CONTACT: communications@mail.cox.smu.edu

DALLAS (SMU) - SMU's Cox School of Business will dedicate the JCPenney Center for Retail Excellence with a student-oriented reception Wednesday, April 4, and a formal grand opening celebration Thursday, April 5. Cox's new center joins a limited number of university retail centers in the nation that focus on developing new leaders and expertise within the retail industry.

Founded with a $1 million endowment from J. C. Penney Company, Inc., the Center's purpose is threefold: to highlight retailing as a career for students, to provide consumer-oriented seminars to industry executives, and to generate leading-edge research on consumer shopping behavior.

The student reception on Wednesday, April 4, will be attended by Cox BBA and MBA students as well as young JCPenney management associates and members of the Cox faculty and administration. The students will have the opportunity to mingle with JCPenney managers and discuss professional career options in retail management-whether in store management, buying, marketing, finance, human resources or one of the many other facets of the business.

The grand opening dedication on Thursday, April 5, will feature remarks by R. Gerald Turner, president of Southern Methodist University, Albert W. Niemi, Jr., dean of the Cox School of Business, and Gary L. Davis, executive vice president and chief human resources & administration officer for J. C. Penney Company, Inc., and will be attended by students, faculty, the Dallas business community, and JCPenney executives.

"We are very pleased to welcome JCPenney, one of the world's top retailers and an important member of the Dallas business community, as our partner," said Dr. Ed Fox, director of the JCPenney Center for Retail Excellence. "This relationship will help us promote retailing careers and education among our students, and focus our research on issues that retailers care about."

Dr. Fox already has begun research in consumer shopping behavior - where people shop, what they purchase, and why. Fox, an assistant professor of marketing, joined the Cox School in 1998. Before joining Cox, he received a Ph.D. from the Wharton School of Business, a master in management and a master in journalism from Northwestern University, and an undergraduate degree from the United States Military Academy. Fox hopes to share his research with retailers to help them better understand consumers and their shopping habits.

Through the center, students interested in retailing careers now have expanded opportunities to attend company-sponsored presentations and network with retailing executives one-on-one. The center also coordinates student internships in the retail industry and provides scholarships to outstanding Cox students interested in pursuing a career in retailing

One result of the center, already evident, is the establishment of the Cox School's retail club. The student club, which includes retailing and e-tailing interests, has grown to 60 members in just six months. The organization has also been instrumental in arranging student visits to major retail companies located in North Texas to explore the real-world application of industry practices.

As one of the nation's largest retailers, JCPenney supports the study and development of retail management expertise through its contributions to university retail centers, including those at Brigham Young University, Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, James Madison University, Santa Clara University, Texas A&M University, University of Arizona, University of Arkansas, and University of Florida.

J. C. Penney Company, Inc. is one of America's largest department store, drugstore, catalog, and e-commerce retailers, employing more than 285,000 associates. The Company operates approximately 1,075 JCPenney department stores in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and Mexico. In addition, the Company operates approximately 50 Renner department stores in Brazil. Eckerd operates approximately 2,650 drugstores throughout the Southeast, Sunbelt, and Northeast regions of the U.S. JCPenney Catalog, including e-commerce, is the nation's largest catalog merchant of general merchandise.

SMU's Cox School is ranked among the top MBA programs in the nation by Business Week, U.S. News & World Report, Forbes, and the Financial Times. Among business schools, Cox's Business Leadership Center, American Airlines Global Leadership Program, and Executive Mentor program are nationally and internationally recognized as unique and powerful elements of the MBA program. Cox's location in Dallas, Texas and its strong network of well maintained corporate connections have consistently offered students impressive avenues for professional success.