Office of Alumni Relations
Office of Alumni Relations
Alumni Engagement & Donor Relations
Forward—For Smith
Our alumni go on to do great things. In their careers. In their communities. And at Smith.
Smith's alumni community plays a crucial role in developing our world-class business education. They serve on advisory boards, visit classes as guest speakers, make financial gifts, share job opportunities, and mentor students. You can make a difference too, by staying connected and contributing to the future of Smith.
Isa Farhat
Isa Farhat ’96 switched from architecture to accounting during a recession, building a career as a Deloitte partner. A first-generation student, he overcame personal challenges and now gives back to Smith through mentorship and support for future accounting professionals.
Read about Isa FarhatJohannes Thorsteinsson
Johannes Thorsteinsson, MS ENGR ’05, MBA ’07, leveraged engineering and finance training at UMD to rise to T-Mobile senior vice president and treasurer. He credits Smith for shaping his career and now mentors students, emphasizing curiosity, resilience and relationships.
Read about Johannes ThorsteinssonJohn Bates
Wealth management advisor John Bates, ECON ’83, mentors Smith finance students through the Financial Advisory Council. With decades of industry experience, he emphasizes networking, real-world skills and collaboration with faculty to better align education with careers in financial services.
Jimmy Santa
Former Terps linebacker Jimmy Santa ’76 built dual careers as a boxing referee and sales executive, officiating major title fights worldwide while working decades at Givaudan. Recently inducted into the Westchester County Sports Hall of Fame, he continues his professional career.
Read about Jimmy SantaDeborah and Daniel Ahalt
Deborah ’68, MA ’75, and Daniel Ahalt ’73, inspired by their UMD experiences and modest upbringings, have given over $200,000 to support Smith students and athletes. Their lifelong Terp pride continues through philanthropy, mentorship and cherished university memories.
Read the Ahalts' storyJeff Wallace
Chief Financial Officer
Space Needle and Chihuly Garden and Glass
Jeff Wallace, MBA ’98, is CFO of the Space Needle and Chihuly Garden and Glass. His Smith MBA, leadership lessons, and diverse roles at Boeing, Starbucks, and LexisNexis shaped his career, leadership style, and passion for continuous learning.
Read Jeff's StoryIsh Dugal
Founder
GoldenArc Capital
Ish Dugal ’05 and his wife, Priya Atur Dugal ’05, established the Dugal Impact Fellowship to support aspiring entrepreneurs. Through Smith’s Dingman-Lamone Center for Entrepreneurship, the fellowship provides stipends for University of Maryland students interning with startups, fostering hands-on experience and entrepreneurial grit.
Read Ish's StoryElana Fine
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.
Read Elana's storyPrabuddh Gupta
Production Planner
Tesla
Prabuddh Gupta, MS in Supply Chain Management ’24, leveraged four years of production planning experience and Smith’s global focus to land a Production Planner role at Tesla. Hands-on projects, mentorship and adaptability fueled his growth and future leadership goals.
Read Prabuddh's storySara Carlson
Sara Carlson honors her father Robert L. Edwards ’39 by continuing the scholarship he founded, supporting students at the Smith School. Inspired by his love of learning and belief in education’s power, she proudly carries forward his legacy of giving back.
Read Sara's story
Welcome to Your Network
When you graduate from Smith, you become part of a network of more than 70,000 alumni worldwide. From electronic component supply chains in China to influencing policy in DC, when you’re a Smith alum, the world is open to you. Don't forget to keep your contact information up-to-date so you receive the latest news and exciting opportunities to engage with Smith!
Alumni In-the-Know
Read Smith Business Magazine for in-depth storytelling and features of our students, faculty and alumni doing great things. Smith Business Magazine is published biannually.
The latest Smith Business Magazine highlights Changing the Game, exploring the Smith School's impact on the world of sports—past, present and future. This issue talks about the transformative gift from former Chicago Bulls marketing executive Stephen M. Schanwald '77, which positions the business school to become a leader in launching great sports careers. Schanwald's generous endowment led to the sports management program being named in his honor. Learn about other impressive sports alumni in Smith Business, Summer 2025, and find out how a Smith program is matching marketing students with UMD Athletics for NIL deals and how a professor is reinforcing his management analytics lessons with help from AI and a song.
Smith Advancement Team
Contact us with any questions at smithadvancement@umd.edu.
Keyanna Turner
