Smith School Names Sanhai and Mehta as New Executives-in-Residence

Over 69,000 University of Maryland Robert H. Smith School of Business alumni worldwide represent the school and leave their mark across all levels of business every day. Now, two of them will impact the next generation of Smith leaders as Executives in Residence.

In this role, Dr. Wendy Sanhai, EMBA ’09 and Anoop Mehta ’84 will share their practical knowledge and successful business experiences with the entire Smith community. They join the ranks of five other recognized Smith School alumni and faculty members—Albert "Ab" Krall ’81; William “Bill” Longbrake, PhD ’76, senior policy advisor for the Center for Financial Policy; William MacDonald, adjunct faculty member; and Clifford Rossi, Professor of Practice.

As Executives in Residence, Sanhai and Mehta will collaborate with school faculty and administrators to develop strategic partnerships and programs with private industry organizations and the federal government, further advancing the school’s initiatives toward reimagining learning and investing in people and communities.

Sanhai is a senior healthcare executive and specialist leader of Deloitte Consulting’s Strategy and Analytics team. At Deloitte, Sanhai leverages over 25 years of career experience across academia, private industry and the Department of Health and Human Services to assist clients in the pharmaceutical, biomedical and medical device fields.

Among her previous roles, Sanhai served as senior scientific advisor in the Office of the Commissioner at the FDA, where she developed, implemented and managed large-scale public-private partnerships. She also led negotiations for government contracts and other collaborative agreements on topics related to pediatric safety, cardiology, nanotechnology and cancer research. 

This new role elevates her longstanding relationship with the Smith School, during which she has served as a 2021 Women Inspire and 2024 graduate ceremony commencement speaker. She sits on multiple Smith School boards and advisory committees, including as a Senior Executive Education Fellow and previously as Chair of the Alumni Advisory Board.

“The experience gained from my academic positions at the Duke School of Medicine and the Smith School will allow me to train the next generation of scientific and business leaders across multiple areas by working collaboratively with global organizations to create and implement innovative solutions for real-world problems,” says Sanhai.

Mehta is the former CEO of Science Systems and Applications Inc. (SSAI) and current chief strategist for Analytical Mechanics Associates (AMA). He joined SSAI part-time during his undergraduate career at the Smith School and continued as a full-time employee upon graduating. During his 40-year tenure with the company, Mehta rose to become CFO and later CEO. Under his guidance, SSAI accomplished a 160% increase in revenue.

He holds a stellar reputation across the accounting industry, having held various volunteer positions, including as chairman of the Maryland Association of CPAs (MACPA). He was named chair of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the world’s largest member organization representing the profession, becoming the second Maryland CPA to earn the title. He also served as chair of the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants and is a former board member and past president of the Maryland Space Business Roundtable.

Mehta is a member of Smith Dean Prabhudev Konana’s Advisory Board and the Accounting and Information Assurance Department's advisory council. His new appointment as Executive in Residence furthers his involvement with the school and supports his mission of helping students build their careers by preparing them to be “future-ready.”

“My personal and professional success is intertwined with how many people I can help advance their careers and become leaders in the field. Over the past two years, I have spoken to over 11,500 students. In today’s dynamic world, staying connected and lifting each other up is more critical than ever,” says Mehta. “I look forward to contributing to the Smith School’s mission by mentoring, sharing insights, and fostering connections that empower the next generation of business leaders.”