The University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business welcomed eight new faculty members for the start of the fall 2019 semester. The new faculty joined three Smith academic departments to teach courses and focus on research. The Decision, Operations and Information Technologies Department added four faculty members: John Bono, associate clinical professor, has a PhD in information systems from Nova Southeastern University. Jui Ramaprasad, associate professor, has a PhD from the University of California at Irvine.

SMITH BRAIN TRUST – The University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business proudly presents its 16th annual Summer Reading List for Business Leaders, as recommended by faculty and staff. The 2019 edition covers history, politics, leadership and even strategies for staying focused in a volatile, fast-paced world. Deep Work By Cal Newport

After more than 25 years of service to the University of Maryland, Alexander Triantis will step down as dean of the Robert H. Smith School of Business on Aug. 14, 2019. He will be joining the Johns Hopkins Carey School of Business as dean. Ritu Agarwal, the Robert H. Smith Dean’s Chair of Information Systems and senior associate dean for faculty and research, will serve as interim dean beginning Aug. 15, while the university conducts a nationwide search for a permanent successor.

A University of Maryland research team, including representatives of Maryland Smith’s Supply Chain Management Center, will present findings supporting their recently completed "Climate Change Variability/Vulnerability Index” in a free webinar, hosted by software firm and project partner Resilinc, at 2 p.m. Wednesday, May 8. Register via https://go.umd.edu/UFk.

If former lawmaker Barney Frank could go back in time and redo his response to the 2008 financial meltdown, he would start by closing a loophole that allows mortgage lenders to continue at least one dangerous practice from the pre-crisis era.