Dr. Mitchell Petersen

Professor

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Biography

Mitchell Petersen is the Glen Vasel Professor of Finance at the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University. He has published widely in areas of empirical corporate finance, focusing on how firms evaluate potential investment projects, fund projects, and manage financial risks. His research particularly considers the effects of technological advancement and taxation on capital raising and investment strategies. Professor Petersen has received several prestigious awards for his research and teaching, including the Smith-Breeden Prize for Outstanding Paper and multiple Sidney J. Levy Teaching Awards. He is recognized for his commitment to education, having been voted Kellogg Professor of the Year and Executive MBA Outstanding Professor multiple times. In addition to his academic role, he is a research associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research and serves on the editorial boards of leading finance journals. Dr. Petersen holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a bachelor's degree from Princeton University, graduating summa cum laude. His teaching interests include corporate finance valuation, capital structure, dividend policy, and tax strategy, aimed at preparing students for real-world financial decision-making challenges.

Research Interests

Experience

Glen Vasel Professor

2005-01-01 — Present

Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University • Evanston, IL

Leading finance professor focusing on empirical corporate finance.

Director

2007-01-01 — Present

Heizer Center for Private Equity and Venture Capital • Evanston, IL

Overseeing initiatives in research and education in private equity and venture capital.

Assistant Professor

1994-01-01 — 1997-01-01

Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University • Evanston, IL

Teaching and researching corporate finance.

Assistant Professor

1990-01-01 — 1994-01-01

Graduate School of Business, University of Chicago • Chicago, IL

Engaged in teaching finance courses and conducting research in finance.

Requirements for Northwestern University

Doctorate Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3
TOEFL
Total
Required:90
IELTS
Overall
Required:7
Prerequisites
U.S. Bachelor's degree or equivalent
Application Checklist
  • Online application
  • Transcripts
  • Letters of recommendation
  • Statement of purpose
  • Resume/CV
  • TOEFL/IELTS scores (if applicable)
Specialization Notes

Standard PhD requirements for TGS departments including Chemistry, Physics, and Sociology.