Ilana M. Horwitz (Ph.D., Stanford University) is an Assistant Professor of Jewish Studies and Sociology, and the Fields-Rayant Chair of Contemporary Jewish Life at the Stuart and Suzanne Grant Center for the American Jewish Experience at Tulane University. 

 

Dr. Horwitz takes a sociological approach to examine how people’s religious upbringing, race, ethnicity, social class, and gender shape their life course, especially their educational experiences. Most of her research is based on quantitative and qualitative data, such as surveys and interviews. 

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Her first book, God Grades, and Graduation: Religion’s Surprising Impact on Academic Success (Oxford University Press, 2022) won a Distinguished Book Award from the American Sociological Association section on Religion. 

 

Her second book, The Entreprenurial Scholar: A New Mindset for Success in Academia and Beyond, is forthcoming with Princeton University Press in March 2025.

 

Her third book (co-authored with Kaylee Matheny), The Broken Ladder: Why 2/3 of Americans Don’t Complete College— And Why It’s Not Their Fault is under contract with University of California Press.

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Her scholarship has also appeared in American Sociological Review, Social Science Research, Review of Religious Research, and Contexts. Her public opinion pieces have appeared in outlets like The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Conversation, Inside Higher Education and Religion News Service.  

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Dr. Horwitz earned her PhD in Sociology of Education & Jewish Studies from Stanford University. She also earned a Masters in International Education Development from Columbia University’s Teachers College, and a Bachelors in Business Administration from Emory University.

 

She is a former Institute for Education Sciences fellow and Wexner/Davidson fellow, and worked for several years as a management consultant and program evaluator. 

 

Dr. Horwitz can be reached at ihorwitz@tulane.edu.