Former Smith School Dean Howard Frank Dies

Howard Frank, former dean at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business, died on May 1, 2017, at age 75. He was Smith School dean from 1997 to 2008 and afterward served as a member of the faculty.

Frank had an immense impact on the Smith School during a time of significant growth and change. He led the makeover of the school’s curriculum and research agenda, integrating studies in technology, entrepreneurship and globalization with the core business disciplines.

One year after he arrived in 1997, the College of Business and Management became the Robert H. Smith School of Business when it received a $15 million naming gift. Under his leadership the school attracted significant gifts and endowments to build scholarship funds and attract and retain the best faculty.

Frank was passionately committed to seeing Smith become a premier research institution, and he doubled the size of the faculty during his tenure and championed initiatives like summer research support.

He also worked to improve programs, services and facilities for students — launching the Undergraduate Fellows program and increasing doctoral student support. He also expanded and renovated Van Munching Hall, bringing all undergraduate business classes under one roof for the first time.

Frank and his wife, Jane, were also longstanding and generous supporters of the Smith School.

Before coming to Smith, Frank served as director of the Information Technology Office of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), as a senior fellow and adjunct faculty member at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and as a faculty member at the University of California, Berkeley. An accomplished entrepreneur and business executive, Frank created and managed three companies, was the CEO of a major subsidiary of a Forbes 500 company and was active in the venture capital field.

Besides Jane, his wife of 52 years, Frank is survived by children David, Laura and Erica; and grandchildren David Douglas, Jr., Jennifer, Sarah and Eve. Cards and remembrances may be sent to Jane Frank, 8300 Burdette Road, Bethesda, MD 20817.