Professor Named a USASBE Justin G. Longenecker Fellow

Montclair State University Professor of Information Management and Business Analytics Ethne Swartz was inducted as a Justin G. Longenecker Fellow at the annual conference of the United States Association for Small Businesses and Entrepreneurship (USASBE) in January.

The USASBE advances entrepreneurship education through teaching, scholarship and practice, bestowing its highest recognition to its Longenecker Fellows for their contributions on behalf of small and mid-sized companies. With her induction, Swartz joins a select group of 66 distinguished educators, researchers, government officials, small business advocates and trade association leaders who have received the prestigious award since 1986.

“Professor Swartz has only recently joined our faculty, but already she has made a real impact on our entrepreneurship curriculum,” says Feliciano School of Business Dean Greg Cant. “Her interest in the intersection of technology and entrepreneurship and on the unique role of women entrepreneurs will shape our programs in the future. As a further honor, she will be a Fulbright Scholar in South Africa this summer.”

For Swartz, the award is both personally and professionally significant. “Professionally, I’m honored to be recognized for my contributions and to be among some of the most eminent educators in the United States,” she says. “USASBE Longenecker Fellows are thought leaders and have built entrepreneurship as an academic discipline. We teach, coach and support students at all levels, while contributing to economic growth.”

She adds that the award is especially meaningful to her personally, “because I am passionate about collaborating with and researching about emerging markets and minority- and women-owned businesses – and women entrepreneurs in sub-Saharan Africa.”

Swartz notes that academic research focused on the importance of women entrepreneurs has made its mark on state and national government policy. “I’m proud that those of us who pushed for equity in treatment of women-owned companies have helped to create support for these companies. In turn, these companies have created jobs, and economic and social value for their communities,” she says.

A respected thought leader, Swartz is a frequent speaker at state and national conferences. While she created the USASBE publication Annals of Entrepreneurship Education and Pedagogy, she has also published extensively in peer-reviewed journals such as the Journal of Developmental Entrepreneurship and the International Journal of Gender and Entrepreneurship. She has served the USASBE board in a number of capacities.

Swartz looks forward to fulfilling her responsibilities as a USASBE Fellow by “paying it forward” as a mentor to younger faculty members as they begin or advance their careers.