Maryland Smith Terps came together, virtually, this week to celebrate being part of the Smith community during the fourth annual Smith Day. On Thursday, students, faculty, staff and alumni from College Park, Smith’s regional campuses and around the world tuned in virtually for the daylong festivities.

PhD student turns her diagnosis into motivation Lauren Dahlin knows that big goals are best achieved a step at a time. It’s something she’s learned as a PhD candidate and triathlete, living with type 1 diabetes. Dahlin was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 2017, when months of incorrect diagnoses landed her in the emergency room. Finally having a definitive diagnosis was a relief, but it came with an understanding that her life would change forever.

Business schools from the Big Ten universities are teaming up to increase diversity in their PhD programs. Rebecca Hann, assistant dean of doctoral programs and accounting professor, is leading the charge at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business. The effort aligns with a long-term goal for Smith faculty and for the university, one that has taken on new emphasis since President Darryll Pines took the helm in July 2020 and declared a commitment to creating an inclusive, diverse campus environment a top priority.

The University of Maryland has named Prabhudev Konana, Ph.D., Dean of the Robert H. Smith School of Business, effective January 2, 2021. In this role, he will lead Smith in its mission to create knowledge, promote an inclusive learning environment that fosters intellectual discovery, and equip current and future leaders to assess complex problems and deliver innovative solutions.

Maryland Smith welcomed new students to school for the fall 2020 semester with a full lineup of orientation activities, held virtually via Zoom this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. All orientation programs offered an introduction to Smith School leaders and the Smith community. They also highlighted Smith’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Promise, the school’s pledge to engage in critical conversations to make everyone feel represented, heard and included at Maryland Smith.