Warrington College of Business mourns the loss of impactful retail educator Betsy Goodman

It is with the utmost sorrow that the University of Florida Warrington College of Business shares the loss of Betsy Goodman, JCPenney Executive Director of the David F. Miller Retail Center. Goodman passed on November 6, 2020. She was 60 years old.

“Betsy was a beloved member of the Warrington community, and we will miss her dearly,” said Selcuk Erenguc, Senior Associate Dean and Director of the Hough Graduate School of Business. “She played an integral role in helping students from across the college learn about the many opportunities available in the retail industry. Her passion for retail was boundless and she passed that excitement along to them.”

Goodman’s love of and career in retail began at age eight in her hometown of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, where she shined neighbors’ shoes and created and sold pet rocks at local craft fairs. She took her retail education to the next level by earning her AA in fashion merchandising from Cape Cod Community College and bachelor’s degree in fashion marketing from the University of Massachusetts – Amherst. She later earned her master’s degree in human resources from Nova Southeastern University.

Goodman gained 19-plus years of experience in the retail industry in roles such as Assistant Store Manager at Lord and Taylor, Regional Human Resources Manager at Macy’s and Human Resources Director at Saks Fifth Avenue. Goodman’s lifelong passion for retail led her to the Warrington College of Business, where her career spanned more than 19 years.

Goodman came to the then Center for Retailing Education and Research as JCPenney Director in 2001 where she developed relationships with retail partners to create new opportunities for students to learn about and engage with the retail industry. In addition, Goodman taught students in the retail management seminar and organized the annual New York City Student Retail Tour and Retail Smarter Conference.

In April 2017, she was named the JCPenney Executive Director of the Miller Retail Center where she continued to organize and provide experiential learning opportunities for students interested in a career in retail in addition to running the day-to-day activities of and providing strategic direction to the Center.

“Through her deep retail network and connections, Betsy gave Warrington students the opportunity to learn about all aspects of retail – even to those who might not have thought retail was an option,” Erenguc said. “Her insights had a profound impact on students and expanding what they thought was possible.”

Read more about Betsy and her impactful career in retail and education in her obituary.