Jerome H. Katz

Jerome H. Katz is an American academic and a leading authority in the fields of entrepreneurship and family business studies. He holds the Coleman Foundation Chair in Entrepreneurship at the Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business at Saint Louis University, where he has been instrumental in developing academic programs and research initiatives. Katz is widely recognized for his foundational textbooks, his role in establishing national entrepreneurship organizations, and his advocacy for the academic legitimacy of entrepreneurship as a discipline.

Early life and education

Katz completed his undergraduate education at the University of Chicago, earning a degree in general studies in the social sciences. He then pursued graduate studies at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he received both a Master of Science and a Ph.D. in organizational psychology. His doctoral dissertation focused on work motivation, laying an early foundation for his later research into the drivers of entrepreneurial behavior and small business management.

Academic career

Katz began his academic career with a faculty position at Saint Louis University in 1981. He played a pivotal role in founding the university's entrepreneurship program, which evolved into a dedicated academic department. He was instrumental in securing the endowed chair from the Coleman Foundation, a major philanthropic organization supporting entrepreneurship education. Beyond his university work, Katz has been a central figure in building the infrastructure for entrepreneurship education nationally, serving as a co-founder and first president of the Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers and as a board member for the United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship.

Research and contributions

Katz's research has significantly shaped the academic study of entrepreneurship, particularly in the domains of small business growth, family business dynamics, and entrepreneurship education pedagogy. He is perhaps best known for his widely adopted textbooks, including *Entrepreneurship* and *Small Business Management*, which have been used in hundreds of colleges and universities worldwide. His scholarly work has been published in leading journals such as the *Journal of Business Venturing*, *Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice*, and the *Journal of Small Business Management*. He also conducted influential national studies on entrepreneurship education for the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation.

Awards and honors

In recognition of his contributions to the field, Katz has received numerous prestigious awards. These include the United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship's Dedication to Entrepreneurship Award and the Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers's Outstanding Contributions to Entrepreneurship Education Award. He has also been honored with the Leavey Award from the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge for excellence in private enterprise education and the Champion of Entrepreneurship Award from the Coleman Foundation.

Selected publications

* Katz, J.A. & Green, R.P. (2023). *Entrepreneurship*. McGraw-Hill. * Katz, J.A. et al. (2020). *Small Business Management*. McGraw-Hill. * "The Chronology and Intellectual Trajectory of American Entrepreneurship Education." *Journal of Business Venturing*. * "Core Publications in Entrepreneurship and Related Fields: A Guide to Getting Published." *Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice*. * "Models of Opportunity: How Entrepreneurs Design Firms to Achieve the Unexpected." *Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal*.

Category:American academics Category:Entrepreneurship researchers Category:Saint Louis University faculty