Major: Politics
Hometown: Winchester, MA
Career Highlight:Â Four-time letter winner for Men's Golf; Valedictorian, College of Arts and Sciences; Romero Award (Politics Department award for scholarship and service); Journal of Peace & Justice Award (best thesis)
Biography: Born and raised in Tucson, AZ. Katz played golf for four years on the Hilltop. He won several academic awards while attending USF, and graduated with a cumulative grade point average of 3.98. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of San Francisco in 2001, graduating summa cum laude and being named Valedictorian. After graduating from USF he earned his Law Degree from prestigious Harvard Law School.
Why Katz Chose USF:Â "My dad told me that I was eligible for a 75% academic scholarship and that our home course was the Olympic Club. I was sold."
Favorite USF Memories: "My primary contribution to the men’s golf team during my freshman and sophomore years was helping the team’s grade point average. I remember being in awe of the natural talent of my teammates Fernando Gomez, Matt Larson, and Chad Thompson. I remember learning from our fifth-year senior Carlo Ligotti how to hit a 120 yard 5-iron into the stiff Pacific Ocean wind, as well as how to cook tofu. I remember playing my first round at San Francisco Golf Club, and then learning that the Mikhail Baryshnikov was the single playing behind me. While I wish I would have performed to my potential on the course, my memories are nothing but good. I am forever grateful to Coach for giving me a chance to play golf at USF."
The USF Student Athlete Experience: "I remember 6:00 am weight training sessions at War Memorial Gym, and playing golf at Olympic Club, San Francisco Golf Club, Meadow Club, and Lake Merced."
Life After USF: Katz graduated Magna cum laude from Harvard Law School, where he served as an editor of the Harvard Law Review and was an oralist for the winning team of the 2002-2003 Ames Moot Court Competition. He was a teaching assistant to Professor Stephen Burbank and later clerked on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit for the Honorable Reena Raggi. He was a litigation partner at the global law firm of Ropes & Gray for 18 years, and in 2013, Aaron was promoted to equity partner in Ropes & Gray’s prestigious Government Enforcement Practice Group—the youngest lawyer ever to be promoted to that position. He founded the Aaron Katz Law firm and now lives in Winchester, MA. He is an active member of the Winchester community, coaching youth basketball and baseball over the past several years.
