Mitchell A. Petersen

Mitchell A. Petersen is the Glen Vasel Professor of Finance and Director of the Heizer Center for Private Equity and Venture Capital at Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University. He holds a Ph.D. in Economics from MIT (1990) and an AB in Economics from Princeton (1986, Summa Cum Laude). His research focuses on empirical corporate finance, particularly how firms finance investments, manage risk, and interact with financial intermediaries.

• Education:
  • PhD, Economics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1990)
  • AB, Economics, Princeton University (1986, Summa Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa)

Professor Petersen's research examines the impact of information costs, technology, competition, and taxation on corporate financial decisions. He has published extensively on topics such as lending relationships, trade credit, capital structure, and panel data methodology.

His recent publications emphasize corporate cash management, tax strategies, and credit market dynamics. These works explore cash accumulation motives, seasonal loan pricing, and the role of foreign tax policies in capital allocation.

Scientific awards and recognitions include:

• Smith-Breeden Prize (Journal of Finance, 1995)
• Michael Brennan Award (Review of Financial Studies, 1998 & 2013)
• Sidney J. Levy Teaching Awards (1996, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012)
• Kellogg Professor of the Year (2000)
• Richard J. Daley Award (Illinois Venture Capital Association, 2024)

Professor Petersen has advised numerous academic programs, served on editorial boards of major finance journals, and contributed to financial research as a NBER Research Associate and Moody's Academic Advisory Committee member.