Experiential / Reality-based Learning
Smith School Students Win Milgard Invitational Case Competition
‘Business of Life Sciences and Healthcare for Leaders’ Program Forthcoming from Smith
Embassy Day Gives Students Unique Opportunities to Learn About Global Business
Student
March 11, 2025
Building a Legacy of Service
After 20 years in the U.S. Army, Brendan Dunne, DBA ’26, is now co-founder of Lovelace AI and a member of the Smith School’s DBA program. Committed to service, he mentors future leaders while advancing national security innovation and supporting veterans’ causes.
Alumni
February 28, 2025
Entrepreneurial Education From Smith Helps Alumnus Follow His Passion
Joe Kattan ’23 leveraged his Smith finance degree to land a consulting role at Bain before pursuing his entrepreneurial passion. Now the owner of AppraiseItNow, he applies automation and AI to modernize appraisals, drawing on skills honed at Smith.
February 25, 2025
Smith Accounting Degree Gave Alumnus The “Edge” For Career In Investment Banking And Beyond
Ralph Dickerson ’92 built a dynamic career in investment banking, corporate strategy, and entrepreneurship. Speaking to Smith MBA students, he emphasized evolving as a leader and leveraging Emotional Intelligence. Now Managing Partner at R2 Partners, he continues shaping high-impact financial and strategic solutions.
March 12, 2025
Maryland students Marvi Shroff, Eileen Chen, Meilin Yuan, and Jiayi Wang won first place at the Milgard Invitational Case Competition, earning global recognition for UMD’s Smith School with their strategic analysis of the aviation industry and investment recommendation for Airbus.
Registration is open for the five-day “Business of Life Sciences and Healthcare for Leaders” (B-LSHC) program, June 23-27, 2025, at the Smith School. Designed for mid/advanced-career professionals, it features expert-led sessions, mentoring, and networking opportunities.
Smith’s Embassy Day, organized by the Center for Global Business, gave 100 students—from first-years to graduate students—a firsthand look at global business and diplomacy. Visiting two of eight embassies, students engaged with diplomats, explored international trade, and gained insights into global relations.
Faculty Insights On Latest News
Marketing
October 04, 2024
Small Businesses Take Big Hit from Apple’s Privacy Regulation
Smith marketing professor Daniel McCarthy's research found that Apple's 2021 App Tracking Transparency (ATT) significantly impacted small direct-to-consumer businesses. ATT caused a 37% drop in ad click-through rates and up to a 60% revenue decline for smaller firms reliant on Facebook ads.
Decision, Operations and Information Technologies, Finance, Marketing
September 11, 2024
Smith Experts Explain Google Antitrust Implications
Google faces major antitrust cases for monopolizing digital advertising and search. Research Professor Kislaya Prasad suggests that ending exclusive agreements could increase competition, while Associate Professor Bobby Zhou emphasizes breaking up business units like Google’s search could benefit competitors, advertisers, and consumers.
September 10, 2024
Smith Experts Discuss how Apple’s AI-enhanced iPhones will Affect Users, Market Position
Smith School marketing professor P.K. Kannan says Apple's iPhone 16, powered by “Apple Intelligence,” marks a significant upgrade, particularly in privacy-focused AI and computational photography, aiding both user experience and market competitiveness.
March 07, 2025
How We React When Apps Crash
App crashes shorten user sessions and reduce content consumption, says Smith’s Michel Wedel. While a single crash boosts engagement, frequent failures can drive users away. Developers should release updates cautiously, target resilient users, and take responsibility to maintain trust.
February 20, 2025
Consumer Spending Rises with Air Pollution: New Study
A study by Smith professor Michael Trusov and Sanghwa Kim finds South Korean consumers spend more on hedonic goods when air pollution rises, seeking mood-lifting purchases. Published in the Journal of Marketing, the research suggests implications for marketers and policymakers in responsible consumer engagement.
Accounting and Information Assurance, Finance
February 14, 2025
The Options Market Could Play a Role in How Credit Rating Agencies Deliver Ratings
Smith professor Musa Subasi’s research, published in Management Science, examines whether credit rating agencies use options market data to improve rating accuracy. His study finds that higher options trading volume correlates with more accurate ratings, offering insights for regulatory discussions on credit ratings.
