Inaugural Terp-IS Award Honors MSIS Student Arjun Kaveti's Impactful Leadership

This spring the MS in Information Systems (MSIS) program at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business launched the Terp-IS Award in recognition of MSIS Terps who are making an impact on our community! All MSIS students are eligible for this award.

The Terp-IS award is given by the MS Information Systems (MSIS) faculty and seeks to recognize students within the MSIS community who exhibit dedication to enhancing the prospective and current MSIS student experience through their actions and leadership. These actions go above and beyond academics and normal community engagement, demonstrating a commitment to fostering a supportive, inclusive, and collaborative environment among all community members in the program. 

The first recipient of this award is Arjun Rao Kaveti who is currently in his second semester of the MSIS program. Kaveti is a track representative from his program and serves as a Smith Masters Student Association (SMSA) student ambassador. Before joining Smith he completed a Bachelor of Technology in Computer Science and Engineering from Vellore Institute of Technology. His passion for data began during his bachelor’s when he heard the phrase, “In this age, every company is a data company.” This quote helped him realize that data was not just an advantage but essential in today’s world.

MSIS Associate Academic Director John Bono had this to say about Kaveti: 

In BUDT738, the MSIS Industry Seminar course, Arjun authored and shared extensive, detailed write ups about what he learned from each seminar speaker and how the speaker benefited the MSIS community. His use of social media amplified his write ups and showcased what differentiates a Smith MSIS student from other programs, helping prospective students see the value in a Smith MSIS degree. Arjun also fostered community by volunteering to serve as a track representative within his student cohort. In this role, he networked with students, built bridges between students and faculty, and helped create a collective student voice. 

The MSIS stuck out to Kaveti because of the intertwining of data science and business acumen. Smith stood out to him because of the high rankings and the continuous strive for improvement. He explains, “The recognition of its excellence reaffirmed my confidence in joining the program and furthering my academic and professional pursuits.” With an education from Smith Kaveti believes he can effectively apply his skill sets to real-world scenarios.

Since arriving at Smith he has actively sought opportunities to engage with fellow students. His commitment to experiencing the full spectrum of the Smith community has led him to engage with fellow Terps from various backgrounds, majors and ages. He adds, “The professors genuinely care about your education and the MPO (Masters Program Office) staff is also very sweet; they really do care for the students. Shout out Amy, Gigi, Feven and Kim.” For Kaveti all of his classes have been invaluable.

In particular, he highlighted Clinical Professor Tej Anand’s digital transformation course for the engaging discussions. Professor Bono’s Python class was emphasized for how intellectually stimulating Kaveti found it. He also compared Dean's Professor of Information Systems Siva Viswanathan's digital innovation class to a Christopher Nolan film in the way that the first and last classes were connected.

The Office of Career Services (OCS) workshops have also made an impact on Kaveti. OCS resources have allowed him to hone his job-seeking skills while guiding his career goals. Kaveti says, “I strive for seamless integration between my data science expertise and business acumen, allowing my data analysis to speak volumes on its own.” He hopes to utilize data to be helpful to humanity.

Kaveti’s favorite Maryland Dairy flavor is chocolate. He recommends visiting South Campus Grill, and recommends a mozzarella stick or three…

Congratulations to Kaveti on his award! We cannot wait to see where his data-making decisions take him next.