Michael H. Morris

Michael H. Morris is Professor of the Practice at the University of Notre Dame, serving within the Keough School of Global Affairs and its McKenna Center for Human Development and Global Business. He is an internationally recognized scholar and educator in entrepreneurship, with a special focus on social entrepreneurship and poverty alleviation.

Education: Morris earned his PhD in marketing from Virginia Tech in 1983, laying the foundation for his lifelong academic and applied work in entrepreneurship.

His research interests span a wide range of entrepreneurship-related areas, including new venture creation, social entrepreneurship, entrepreneurship and poverty, entrepreneurial marketing, opportunity recognition, and resourcing strategies. He is particularly known for his work on entrepreneurship education and experiential learning, having built three university entrepreneurship programs ranked among the top 10 in the U.S.

His recent publications reveal a consistent focus on entrepreneurship as a response to poverty, racial identity and entrepreneurship, and the structural challenges faced by disadvantaged entrepreneurs. These works collectively contribute to a growing body of knowledge on inclusive entrepreneurship and the systemic barriers faced by marginalized communities.

Awards and Recognition:

• Max S. Wortman, Jr. Award for Lifetime Achievement in Entrepreneurship
• Academy of Management Dedication to Entrepreneurship Award
• Leavey Award from the Freedoms Foundation
• 2021 Legacy Award from the Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers
• USASBE Entrepreneurship Educator of the Year (2012)
• Fortune Small Business Top 20 Entrepreneurship Professor
• Fulbright Scholar

Community Engagement and Programs: Morris has founded and directs several impactful initiatives:

• Global Partnership for Poverty and Entrepreneurship – a consortium for scholars and practitioners
• Urban Poverty and Business Initiative – supports low-income urban entrepreneurs
• Entrepreneurship Empowerment in South Africa Program – student engagement in Cape Town
• South Bend Entrepreneurship and Adversity Program – over 400 graduates

He also leads The Experiential Classroom, a global clinic for entrepreneurship educators, and has served as President of the United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship (USASBE).