Meet a Colleague: Jay Margalus Jay Margalus is the Johnson Professor of Entrepreneurship and Leadership and Director of the Connolly Center.

W&L News Office
January 22, 2025

Q. How long have you worked at W&L?
I came to W&L last academic year from DePaul University, where I taught industrial and game design for around a decade.

Q. What courses are you teaching this term?
Entrepreneurship Capstone and Makers’ Workshop. The latter is a really fun new course where students learn the basics of digital fabrication and hardware development.

Q. What is the most satisfying aspect of teaching?
Students who are wildly curious and unafraid – I get a tremendous amount of positive energy from opening up new possibility spaces for people who are willing to step into them.

Q. What do you like most about working at W&L?
People always come first. The people I work with, the students I teach, the alumni – they are all fundamentally decent people. This cannot be overstated.

Q. Where is your favorite location on the W&L campus?
I probably should say the Connolly Center, but really, it’s Gazebo on back campus – hands down.

Q. What’s your favorite thing to do when you’re not working?
You can find me in the swimming pool on campus, cycling around town, and (most importantly) enjoying time outdoors with my family.

Q. Where did you grow up?
I was born and raised in the Chicago area. My family was originally from the south side of Chicago, then the south suburbs of Chicago. Go White Sox!

Q. What is the most adventurous thing that you have ever done?
I’ve led a lot of backpacking trips, including taking a group of students backpacking for two weeks in Chilean Patagonia. But none of that compares with the adventure of building a growing family. It’s a new thing every day.

Q. What music are you listening to these days?
“Signs” by Five Man Electrical Band. My dad’s band used to play the song. It’s at the top of my favorites list right now in Apple Music. Fits my personality.

Q. If you could have coffee with one person, who would it be and why?
My Grandpa Donahue. By all estimates, he was a great man who worked hard for everything he got and built a family of successful, decent, honorable people. I’d like to ask him a lot about how he did that.

Q. If you could live anywhere, where would you build your dream home?
Give me at least 10 acres just outside of Lexington with a great view of the mountains.

Q. What is your favorite film (movie) of all time?
“Duck Soup” starring the Marx Brothers – hands down.

Q. If they made a movie about your life, who would play you?
Groucho Marx

Q. What is your desert island food?
Chicago pizza.

Q. Tell us something most people don’t know about you.
I was born missing the same tooth as Michael Jordan.

Q. What is your secret talent?
I make a truly legitimate focaccia bread.