A Founder’s Legacy
Fostering Discussion of Critical Issues
Preparing Future Business Leaders
Alumni
January 24, 2025
Alumna’s Entrepreneurial Spirit Helps Generations of Smith Entrepreneurs
Elana Fine ’97, CEO of VWG Wealth Management, exemplifies an entrepreneurial mindset through her career and leadership. As a former director and current board member of the Dingman-Lamone Center, she champions student entrepreneurship and supports next-generation business leaders.
Becoming a Risk Taker
Jitin “Miki” Ahuja credits the University of Maryland for shaping his outlook on risk-taking and success. As founder of SpaceJet Media and London Lane Capital, he champions alumni engagement and entrepreneurial exploration.
‘Hustle Your Tail Off, But Do it With Kindness’
Manpreet Singh ’03, co-founder of Singh Capital, emphasizes success with kindness, selflessness, and community service. From launching startups like TalkLocal to fostering philanthropy for minority communities, his values guide his ventures, including mentoring through Smith’s Dingman-Lamone Center.
January 27, 2025
The Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship has been renamed the Dingman-Lamone Center for Entrepreneurship, honoring founder and former Smith School Dean Rudolph P. Lamone. A $3.8 million gift will expand its support for inclusive entrepreneurship, student ventures, and alumni businesses.
The Fact-Based Discourse Initiative (FBDI), led by Rajshree Agarwal and Rellie Derfler-Rozin, fosters critical thinking and open dialogue on business challenges. Events explored trade, polarization, taxation, and social media's influence, promoting intellectual curiosity and respectful discourse at Smith.
Smith School of Business offers innovative programs like SBLF, IBH, and specialized minors to prepare future business leaders. Students gain technical and leadership skills through immersive experiences, industry partnerships, and hands-on opportunities like AI case competitions and financial initiatives.
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.
A New Model for Investors to Evaluate Equity Terms
Smith finance professor Serhiy Kozak and co-authors Stefano Giglio and Bryan Kelly developed a new asset pricing model to evaluate risky investments by predicting term structures of discount rates. Their model, validated with 45 years of data, excludes reliance on dividend strip data while accurately pricing S&P 500 and equity portfolios.
Finance
January 17, 2025
For Professional Investment Fund Managers, “Going Long” is a Winning Strategy
Russ Wermers, Smith professor and director of Smith’s Center for Financial Policy, introduces the Holding Horizon (H-H) measure, linking mutual fund managers' long-term stock holdings to superior risk-adjusted returns. The research highlights that skilled long-horizon managers outperform, offering insights for individual investors and retirement plans.
January 06, 2025
Study Examines Economic Consequences for Pretrial-Detainee Households
Pretrial detention often imposes severe financial burdens on defendants and their households, increasing bankruptcy, foreclosure and insolvency rates, especially during housing downturns. Research by Pablo Slutzky, assistant professor of finance at the University of Maryland’s Smith School, highlights the systemic link between monetary bail, poverty cycles and criminal justice reform.
