The Robert H. Smith School of Business Welcomes New Chief Development Officer

The Robert H. Smith School of Business and the University of Maryland Division of University Relations are pleased to welcome John Aronowitz as Chief Development Officer (CDO) for the Robert H. Smith School of Business. He started with UMD on January 2, 2024.

“I am very excited to welcome John as our new Chief Development Officer. John’s experience will help us build support for our strategic funding priorities as we continue to reimagine learning and address grand challenges in the Next 25,” said Dean Prabhudev Konana.

“I’m thrilled to work alongside Dean Konana and the Robert H. Smith School of Business students, faculty and alumni network. I look forward to meeting our many internal and external stakeholders and understanding your connections and interests in the Smith School,” said Aronowitz.

Aronowitz is joining Smith from the Iowa State University Foundation where he served in progressive levels of leadership for the past 11 years in the College of Engineering. Most recently he oversaw their development team of ten people as the Executive Director of Development. During his time at Iowa State, he was responsible for over $73 million in personal fundraising production and was a key part of the successful completion of the Forever True, For Iowa State campaign from 2012 to 2021 that secured over $1.5 billion for the university and $255 million for the engineering college. Prior to his time at Iowa State, he spent five years in fundraising at the University of Northern Iowa where he worked in planned giving and at the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences as their first, full-time development staff person. The new Smith CDO also worked at the Savannah College of Art and Design in student recruitment and outreach. He has a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Northern Iowa and also has a connection to the University of Maryland.

“My grandfather, Arvle Hix, was fortunate to be able to attend UMD as a non-traditional student receiving his B.A. in Business. He taught Introductory Accounting from 1977 to 1978, in addition to working for the Department of Veteran Affairs. His legacy here, as well as my own experience as a finance alumnus of the University of Northern Iowa, shaped my interest and passion for working with the Smith School of Business community.”

Aronowitz is an enthusiastic advocate for higher education and an exceptional fundraiser and team builder. He is relocating from Ames, IA with his family.