Education

Ed.D., Organizational Leadership, Argosy University
MALS, Consumer Apparel Retail Studies, University of North Carolina Greensboro
B.S., Fashion and Textile Design, University of Nebraska, Lincoln

Background

Mike Watson is a solutions-focused, innovative educator with over 20 years of experience in higher education and retail industry leadership. As interim associate chair for the Department of Retailing, he serves in a key leadership position while continuing his passionate commitment to experiential learning and student development.

At the University of South Carolina, Watson holds multiple roles in addition to being interim associate chair including senior faculty fellow for the Center for Integrative and Experiential Learning (CIEL) and store director/faculty liaison for the Gamecock iHub, USC's authorized on-campus Apple retailer. In these capacities, he develops and teaches hybrid, online, and face-to-face undergraduate and graduate courses in contemporary retail, fashion business and professional development.

Watson is deeply committed to connecting academic learning with beyond-the-classroom opportunities. He has developed and led numerous immersive experiences for students, including:

• Organizing and leading the student National Retail Federation (NRF) NYC Trip
• Developing the Columbia Museum of Art exhibit immersion experience featuring the work of Alexander McQueen
• Creating the Belk day of immersion at their headquarters and flagship store in Charlotte, NC
• Co-leading Augusta National Golf Club immersion experiences
• Developing the innovative "Mobile Reflection Station" in collaboration with CIEL

Before academia, Watson built an impressive retail career, becoming the youngest regional visual merchandising manager for a national department store chain where he won national design awards. He also ran East Coast operations for Hot Topic, leading more than 60 stores and 500 employees through rapid growth transitions and new store expansions.

Watson is often looked to his retail ability by media outlets. Recent contributions include interviews with Carolina News and Reporter, MarketScale and WCBD Columbia on topics ranging from retail format innovation to loss prevention strategies and consumer protection.

Watson embodies his philosophy of embracing challenges, exemplified by saying yes to challenges that get him out of his comfort zone, knowing that we only grow in discomfort, an example of this was his successful summit of Mount Kilimanjaro in 2018.

---

In the Media

Expand all

2025

• What Is Loud Budgeting?: WalletHub
• Expert Thoughts on Capital One Venture X: WalletHub
• They once sold for tens of millions. How some of Myrtle Beach’s malls lost their value: The Sun News

2024

• Universities Need AI Skills In the Curriculum to Create Competitive Graduates: MarketScale
• Why are people spending less on Easter?: WalletHub
• Richland Mall redevelopment aims to reinvigorate Columbia area: Daily Gamecock
• Seamless Solutions: Creating a cohesive online to offline retail strategy: Floor Covering Weekly
• Car insurance marketing in South Carolina: WalletHub

2023

• Tax-free weekend days away in South Carolina: What shoppers need to know to save: WIS
• Margins vs. Markups: Floor Covering Weekly
• 72 hours of tax savings in SC: Experts say how you shop determines how much you save: SC Public Radio
• School supplies and more exempt from state tax this weekend: WCBD
• A Sound Loss Prevention and Asset Protection Strategy Could Mitigate the Rise in Retail Crime: MarketScale
• Car washes popping up all over the Columbia area. Here’s what’s driving the boom: Post and Courier

2022

• University of South Carolina Students Earning LPQ Certifications: Loss Prevention Magazine

2021

• Apple authorized campus store opens at UofSC: WLTX
• What’s the state of malls after 2020?: The State

2020

• What will Black Friday look like in the Midlands?: The State

Honors / Awards

• Night of Gratitude Honoree — 2016: Honoring 10 Charlotte Individuals Making an Impact in the Local Community
• Charlotte’s 25 Most Stylish — 2010, 2011
• Teacher of the Year, Art Institute of Charlotte — 2015, 2017

Courses Taught

• RETL 116 – Fashion Through the Ages: 1800 A.D. to Present
• RETL 216 – History of Designers
• RETL 242 – Professional Communication
• RETL 330 – Asset Protection for Retailers
• RETL 362 – Principals of Customer Service
• RETL 366 – Retail Buying
• RETL 385 – Global Sourcing in Retail and Fashion

Consulting Experiences

Leadership and Organizational Development Clients

• Wake Forest University (summer immersion)
• Davidson College (Chidsey Center for Leadership Development)
• University of North Carolina Charlotte
• Eastman Chemical
• Neiman Marcus
• Diversity Council of the Carolinas
• Bechtler Museum of Modern Art
• Mint Museum of Art and Design
• Playing for Others
• Code for America
• Samaritans Feet International

Research Interests

• Spiritual Intelligence in Leadership
• Experiential Marketing
• Leadership Development

Research Publication

Watson, M., Kuofie, M., & Dool, R. (2018). Relationship between spiritually intelligent leadership and employee engagement. Journal of Marketing and Management, 9(2), 1-24. https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-journals/relationship-between-spiritually-intelligent/docview/2183485413/se-2