Center for Global Business Announces Advisory Board

Santiago Luna, the coordinator for the Center for Global Business at the Robert H. Smith School of Business, University of Maryland, writes about the center's new advisory board.

The Center for Global Business is pleased to announce the new advisory board to provide guidance and counsel to the center’s strategic functions and outreach with the business, government, and thought leadership communities. Members of the Center for Global Business advisory board include:

Mike Ball
Senior Associate Dean & Dean's Chair in Management Science, Robert H. Smith School of Business

Michael Ball has over 150 scholarly publications, covering a range of subjects including air transportation, revenue management and pricing, supply chain management and system reliability. Several of his research and consulting projects have been implemented in industry and government. In the past five years, he has been a member of various expert panels that have given advice to the United Nations, the FAA, the National Academy of Engineering and multiple airport authorities on aviation policies. Ball received BES and MSE degrees from Johns Hopkins University and a PhD in operations research from Cornell University.

Phil Grove, MBA '15
International Sales Team, Ellicott Dredges

Phil Grove is a member of the international sales team at Ellicott Dredges where he manages a multi-million dollar sales portfolio in over 90 countries. Grove is also an appointed member of the Maryland/Washington, D.C. District Export Council (DEC) where he lends his expertise and counsel to local firms. Grove received a bachelor’s in business administration from Towson University and an MBA from the Robert H. Smith School of Business.

Anil Gupta
Michael Dingman Chair in Global Strategy & Entrepreneurship, Robert H.Smith School of Business

Anil Gupta’s research focuses on emerging markets, specifically China and India, frugal innovation, global strategy and organization, and corporate innovation and entrepreneurship.

In a 2010 cover story on innovation in emerging economies, Gupta was named by The Economist as one of the world’s rising superstars. He is one of only three professors in the world to have been elected a Lifetime Fellow of the Academy of Management, Strategic Management Society and Academy of International Business. Gupta received a Bachelor of Technology degree from the Indian Institute of Technology at Kanpur, an MBA from Indian Institute of Management at Ahmedabad, and a Doctor of Business Administration from Harvard University.

Fatemeh Keshavarz-Karamustafa
Director, School of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures, University of Maryland

Fatemeh Keshavarz was born and raised in Shiraz, Iran. Keshavarz is the author of award-winning books including Reading Mystical Lyric: The Case of Jalal al-Din Rumi (USC Press,1998), Recite in the Name of the Red Rose (USC Press, 2006) and a book of literary analysis and social commentary titled Jasmine and Stars: Reading more than Lolita in Tehran (UNC Press, 2007). Keshavarz is also a published poet and activist, she received numerous accolades for her work in this field including her NPR show “The ecstatic faith of Rumi”, and has been invited to speak at the UN General Assembly on the significance of cultural education. Keshavarz received a BA in Persian language and literature from Shiraz University in Iran, and an MA and PhD in near eastern studies from the University of London.

Larry Legates, MBA '04
Senior Global Trade Compliance Manager, Danaher

Larry Legates brings a wealth of knowledge with over 20 years of experience in international business. Legates manages global compliance for Danaher, a globally diversified conglomerate with headquarters in Washington, D.C. Legates received a bachelor’s degree in regional studies, Latin America, from Georgetown University and an MBA in international chain supply management from the Robert H. Smith School of Business.

Julie Lenzer
Chief Innovation Officer, University of Maryland

Julie Lenzer fosters and supports UMD’s innovation, entrepreneurship, and technology commercialization enterprise, including the development of the UMD’s Research Park, the Discovery District, and the Greater College Park initiative. Most recently, Lenzer was appointed to lead the Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (OIE) within the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA). In her capacity as director of the OIE, she drove programs and policies that support innovative economic development such as innovation-based entrepreneurship and regional innovation clusters. Lenzer received her bachelor’s degree in computer science from Texas A&M University

Robert Orr
Dean, School of Public Policy

Robert Orr serves as UMD School of Public Policy dean, United Nations under-secretary-general, and special advisor to the UN secretary-general on climate change. Prior to joining the University of Maryland, Orr served as the assistant secretary-general for strategic planning in the executive office of the United Nations secretary-general from 2004 to 2014, and was the principal advisor to the secretary-general on counter-terrorism, peacebuilding, women’s and children’s health, sustainable energy, food and nutrition, institutional innovation, public-private partnership and climate change. Orr received a bachelor’s degree from the University of California Los Angeles, and an MPA and PhD in international relations from Woodrow Wilson School at Princeton University.

Erik Peterson
Partner and Managing Director, Global Business Policy Council, A.T. Kearney

Erik Peterson’s role at A.T. Kearney uniquely places him at the intersection between policy and business. Peterson is a sought-after analyst and speaker on global foresight and trends. He has lectured widely—in 50+ countries and before groups as diverse as the World Economic Forum and TED—on shifts in the global business operating environment. In addition, he is the author of numerous publications. Under Peterson’s leadership, for the past five years, the council has been recognized as one of the “Best For-Profit Think Tanks” in the world.

Peterson received his bachelor’s degree in international relations from Colby College, an MA in international law and organization from Johns Hopkins, and an MBA from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.

Ellen Polansky, '87
Financial Services Senior Executive and Coordinating Partner, EY

Ellen Polansky is an internationally respected senior executive and philanthropist specializing in business development and growth strategy across multiple markets. A noted thought leader, Polansky has the proven ability to effectively develop winning business strategies that secure expansion, diversification, and closer client engagement for companies on a global scale. Polansky’s capabilities have been well evidenced in her current role with Ernst & Young, where she was appointed to coordinate client relationships and spearhead global cross-divisional teams with innovative go-to-market strategies across finance, accounting, tax, technology, risk and compliance. Polansky received her bachelor’s degree in finance from the Robert H. Smith School of Business.

Signe Pringle
Assistant Secretary, Maryland Department of Commerce

With over 10 years of experience at the Maryland Department of Commerce, Signe Pringle leads the Division of Business and Industry Sector Development with a focus on job development and deals with primarily with business assistance, retention and attraction. Pringle’s extensive knowledge of Maryland’s business climate positions her as an expert in the field with established business connections in the region. Pringle received her bachelor’s degree in international relations from Estonian Business School and an MPA from the University of Baltimore.

To learn more about the Center for Global Business and the Title VI CIBE grant from the U.S. Department of Education, visit our website or contact global@rhsmith.umd.edu.