Brandon Lucas was the kid who tinkered around the house, trying to fix or build something to see how things worked. It was a Java class in high school that sparked his interest in computer science. But when he started at the University of Maryland, he recognized that his interest in people and leadership could open more opportunities. So he decided to focus on information systems and management at the Robert H. Smith School of Business.
“It’s the perfect major that straddles between business and technology concepts,” he says. “I see myself coming out of college entering into a technology consultant role.”
Lucas also joined the Quality Enhancement Systems and Teams (QUEST) Honors Program, an undergraduate multidisciplinary course of study using quality management, process improvement and system design.
He says his resident assistant, also a business student, closely advised him as he navigated his first year at UMD. He was inspired to do the same for other students and says being an RA taught him a lot about teamwork, program planning, crisis management, customer service and even administrative management.
Lucas particularly enjoys mentoring other business students. “They knock on my door and I help review their resume or give them some interview tips,” he says. “There’s nothing like having them come back and say, ‘I got the internship!’”
His own internships have been at PricewaterhouseCoopers, including one summer with internal services and another in commercial technology. On campus, he also serves as president of the Smith Business Academy, an organization that creates a community of service, leadership and culture among minority business students.
Lucas says it’s just another way that the Smith school really helps students reach their potential. “It’s such a diverse community in the sense that everybody who comes here will find a place that they’ll feel comfortable,” he says. “It’s an environment where people are really invested in each other’s personal success.”
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About the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business
The Robert H. Smith School of Business is an internationally recognized leader in management education and research. One of 12 colleges and schools at the University of Maryland, College Park, the Smith School offers undergraduate, full-time and flex MBA, executive MBA, online MBA, business master’s, PhD and executive education programs, as well as outreach services to the corporate community. The school offers its degree, custom and certification programs in learning locations in North America and Asia.