History

The Jay H. Baker Retailing Initiative, an interdisciplinary industry research center at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, was established in 2002 through a generous gift of $10 million by Jay and Patty Baker. Jay Baker, former president of Kohl's Corporation, is a graduate of the Wharton School, class of 1956.

Since retail is the largest industry in the United States, it was fitting that the nation’s first business school would join with industry leaders to establish an unparalleled partnership for retail research, education, and practice.

The Baker Retailing Initiative has become the epicenter of retailing at the Wharton School and the University of Pennsylvania. Working with our faculty, students, alumni, and industry partners, we are building the premier retailing center in the world.

Mission

Our mission is to serve as a focal point for retail thinking and research among faculty, students, and alumni of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Our actions are guided by an Industry Advisory Board composed of market leaders and industry innovators from a broad retail spectrum. They provide credibility, leadership and foresight to the Initiative and act as a vehicle to engage students and faculty in the multi-faceted discipline of retailing.

Our work links retail theory to practice, connecting retail market leaders with a world-renowned faculty and introducing them to a generation of students who will lead the industry into the future. This combination will drive curricular innovations such as an interdisciplinary retail curriculum, on-campus speaker series and class discussions led by retail industry representatives, and research agendas targeted to the interests of faculty and market leaders.

Our achievements will position our faculty as thought leaders in the retail community and prepare our students to be the entrepreneurs and executives shaping tomorrow's retail industry.

About Wharton

Founded in 1881 as the world's first collegiate school of business, Wharton continues to pioneer innovations in education across its pre-eminent undergraduate, MBA, executive MBA, doctoral, and executive education programs. Our wide range of programs and faculty expertise provides in-depth knowledge on virtually every major challenge facing global business today. With the help of the Jay H. Baker Retailing Initiative, Wharton has put itself at the forefront of retail education and excellence for the next generation of leaders in the field. Sign up to receive updates on research, activities, and events hosted by the Initiative across the United States.