Alumnus’s College Years Enhanced by Student Diversity at St. John’s

As he pursued his Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) at St. John’s University over five years while juggling a full-time job, Mory M. Katz ’94MBA delighted in taking literature courses; his favorites included Shakespeare and works from the 17th century.

“I really enjoyed English literature. Every semester, there was a chance to take an elective course or two, and I always took one that was literature-oriented,” recalled Mr. Katz. “It provided a satisfying contrast to my major.” By graduation, he had collected enough credits to earn a minor in literature. 

After earning his bachelor’s degree in the midst of a weak economy, he accepted a position managing a McDonald’s restaurant—a role he recalls fondly. “The economy was very poor, and that job was what was available at the time,” he explained. “It was exciting because I was working in a very fast-paced environment where you’re basically manufacturing and retailing a product at the same time in the same location. You are serving about 2,000 customers a day and doing all of that alongside part-timers who are predominantly teenagers. It’s not a trivial management task, but I quite enjoyed it.”

Pursuing an M.B.A. was unaffordable for Mr. Katz until he joined Equifax, a multinational consumer credit reporting agency with a strong presence in insurance. The company, where he would eventually become Vice President and General Manager, Insurance and Health Care, offered employees a free college tuition program, and Mr. Katz jumped on the opportunity.

He loved being immersed in an academic setting two or three evenings per week while attending St. John’s part time. “It was a long process, but it was absolutely worth it,” he said.

Mr. Katz was also profoundly impacted by the diversity of the student population. “St. John’s was, and is, a very international school. There were people from all over the world in my classes and I had the privilege of getting to know and work with them,” he said. “When I graduated, I said goodbye to many people who were returning to their homes in India, China, or Iran.”

His M.B.A. enabled him to launch a career and become a high-profile leader in the insurance industry, with extensive expertise in commercial casualty, personal auto, legacy, reinsurance, and insurance business services. “St. John’s offers a comprehensive curriculum regarding the insurance profession, so I learned about marketing, finance, business, and quantitative analysis,” said Mr. Katz, who until recently served as Head of Legacy at BMS Group of New York, an international reinsurance broker. 

In early 2025, he accepted a position at Juniper Re, where he is Head of Legacy and ILS Casualty. 

Asked what he would say to potential students of the University, Mr. Katz replied, “Take full advantage of the opportunity to attend St. John’s. You’ll get as good an education, or better, than anywhere else.”