William H. Baxter named director of Longwood’s McGaughy Professional Development Center

William H. Baxter, who retired recently as president and CEO of the Retail Merchants Association (RMA) and co-director of the Virginia Retail Federation, is the new director of Longwood University's McGaughy Professional Development Center.

Baxter, who began July 1, is responsible for the College of Business & Economics' internship program. All business students must complete an internship to graduate. Since its inception, more than 1,000 employers have participated in the program.

In recent years Longwood's College of Business & Economics (CBE) has forged a close relationship with the Richmond-based RMA. Classes in Longwood's retail management MBA program and the Retail University of Virginia, of which Longwood is a partner, meet in the RMA headquarters. Baxter has offices both at Longwood's MBA facilities at the RMA headquarters and on the Longwood campus.

Baxter, a Petersburg native and Virginia Tech graduate, retired Dec. 31, 2008 after running the day-to-day operations of the RMA for 15 years. Previously he had a 26-year career with Thalhimers Department Stores (now Macy's), culminating as senior vice president of stores. He was an executive-in-residence in Longwood's CBE in March 2008.

Baxter replaces Bob Dame, who retired recently as assistant dean for external relations and director of the McGaughy Center. Longwood's CBE is certified by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, the premier accrediting body for business schools.