Asian MBA Association
Healthcare Business Association
Black MBA Association
China Business Association
Communications Club
Consulting Club
Engineers to Business Club
Entrepreneurship Club
Ethics Committee
European MBA Association (EMBAA)
Finance Association
Graduate Marketing Association
Hispanic MBA Association
Indian MBA Association
International Club
Jewish MBA Association
Mayer Fund
MBA Association
Net Impact
New Markets Growth Fund
Real Estate Association
Smith Association of Women MBAs
Smith Pride Alliance
The Smith Store
Soccer Club
Sport and Social Club
Supply Chain/Logistics Club
Tech@Smith


Asian MBA Association

The vision for the Asian MBA Association is to provide support services to Asian MBA/MS students at the Smith School. Our group strives to build skills that will facilitate more effective integration into mainstream corporate America and to provide a forum for efficient exchange of cultural aspects between members and among business school students. The Association regards socialization and career development aspects of an MBA/MS life in equal light.

The Association is primarily geared towards addressing the needs and concerns of Asian MBA students. The Association, however, welcomes active participation and meaningful contribution from non-Asian MBA students. We strive to be the focal point for dissemination of relevant information and services targeted towards Asian MBA students. We regard socialization and career development skills (networking) to be among the most important for future managers. Thus, we work hard to plan events that are geared toward enhancing these skills. An example of a notable activity sponsored by the Asian MBA Association is the Guest Speaker Series where successful Asian or Asian-American entrepreneurs are invited to speak at the Smith School about their business experiences in the US and to provide insightful advice to aspiring managers.

Healthcare Business Association

The Healthcare Business Association promotes the development of Robert H. Smith School of Business as the premier MBA program for producing business leaders in the life science, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology industries. Through regular meetings and events, the club actively creates relationships with industry leaders and informs the Smith community of BioBusiness advances and career opportunities.

Our mission is to bring the issues, trends, and developments of BioBusiness to The Robert H. Smith School of Business and the entire University of Maryland community. BIO|PhARMA is not a science organization, but rather is focused on business issues and opportunities in the life science, biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. BIO|PhARMA will continue to foster relationships with local companies, corporations, and organizations within these industries, with the ultimate goal of identifying internship and full-time career employment opportunities for Smith students and alumni. Our objectives include education of faculty and students about the life science industries, identification of opportunities for MBAs within these industries, establishment of BIO|PhARMA as the leading Bio-MBA club, and hosting events that bring together leaders from the life science industries with students and faculty at Smith.

Black MBA Association

The purpose of the Black MBA Association is to promote a healthy learning environment for Black students, both African American and those of African descent from other regions, in the MBA program at the Robert H. Smith School of Business. We recognize that this type of environment is created through many different avenues; therefore, we strive to:

• Sponsor programs and activities, which educate and inform the community about business issues from a Black perspective.
• Provide opportunities for our membership to support one another through mentoring, open forums, and social activities.
• Give back to the greater community through outreach activities such as food drives, tutoring programs and participation in volunteer efforts sponsored by other organizations.
• Promote a network of current and future Black business professionals for the purpose of sharing information, providing professional guidance, and creating fellowship with one another.

return to top

China Business Association

The mission of the club is to:

• Introduce the Smith Business School Community to Chinese business practices and culture.
• Develop an appreciation for China's impact on the global economy.
• Enhance the experience and professional development of all members by providing academic, professional, and networking resources.
• Have authentic Chinese food and fun.

Communications Club

The ability to communicate effectively is one of the most important skills managers need to be successful. The Communications Club helps students develop oral and written presentation skills, focusing on job interviewing and networking. The club meets every two weeks to provide a relaxed and fun forum to practice prepared and impromptu speeches in front of peers.

Consulting Club

The MBA Consulting Club is dedicated to providing Smith students with the tools and resources necessary to begin challenging and rewarding careers in the Management Consulting industry. We will educate, prepare, and encourage our members through career building and networking initiatives that provide personal and professional development, facilitate interaction between consulting firms and interested students, and bring to light new developments and novel perspectives from the industry. Our efforts will be anchored by events such as our annual signature event, The Smith Consulting Forum, industry visits, and and the Smith Strategy Challenge.

Engineers to Business Club

The Engineers to Business Club ("E2B") provides the MBA student a place to learn about the transition from engineering to business and how to use business resources. The E to B Club is a place to network with other students, alumni, professors, and business professionals, all with an engineering background. Most of all, the E to B Club is a place for engineers to begin their career at the Robert H. Smith School of Business.

Entrepreneurship Club

The mission of the Entrepreneurship Club is to assist UMD graduate students pursuing careers in either the entrepreneurial sector or venture capital industry. We work to provide education and aid to students creating businesses of their own.

The eClub plans to host events to support three tracks of career interest among students: 1) Entrepreneurship, 2) Venture Capital and 3) New Trends in Entrepreneurship (encompassing niche interests like venture philanthropy, etc.). The activities planned for this year include career-related speakers; tours and outreach events to support the entrepreneurial community within Smith and the University as a whole; and our premiere event, the Venture Capital Investment Competition.

Ethics Committee

The Ethics Committee provides a forum for the discussion and promotion of an ethical environment at the Robert H. Smith School of Business. In doing so, we seek to provide an ethical foundation for professional life and provide assistance to students in the resolution of ethical problems.

European MBA Association (EMBAA)

EMBAA is open to all Robert H. Smith school MBA students, who have an interest in learning about European culture, business opportunities in Europe and fostering closer relationships with European students, regardless of their origin. In addition to the 25 countries that comprise the official European Union, our Club includes all of historical Europe ­ from Iceland to Turkey and to Russia!

return to top

Finance Association

The Finance Association works to prepare students for opportunities in finance-related careers, at companies like investment banks, corporations, investment management firms, commercial banks, consulting firms, and financial news institutions. The Finance Association helps students achieve their career goals through workshops such as mock interviews, resume reviews, and seminars on careers in finance. Other functions of the Association include arranging panel discussions to explore a variety of finance-related topics and networking events designed to help students meet professionals, alumni, and other students. Events for this year include internship and resume workshops, a trip to a NY networking event, a mock interview workshop, and a Finance Association Speaker Series which attracts industry professionals to share their knowledge and experiences with current MBA students.

Graduate Marketing Association (GMA)

Our mission is to strengthen the reputation of the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland by bringing greater awareness to the business community of the school's offerings as they relate to marketing excellence.

Our goal is to educate students on issues in the marketing industry and the career development process in a manner that is ethically responsible and mindful of the uniqueness of each individual. The GMA strives to increase students' overall success in securing marketing positions by sponsoring such activities as the guest speaker program featuring leading marketing professionals, supplying career search assistance, planning social events with marketing faculty and alumni, and providing networking opportunities.

Hispanic MBA Association

The Hispanic MBA Association has been established for the expressed purpose of aiding Hispanic resident, Latin international students, and those interested in Latin Culture in the MBA program. This includes tutorial, peer advising and consultation, career development, networking, conference attendance, workshops, and promotion of interaction with the business community.

Membership in the Hispanic MBA Association provides students with the opportunity to network with current and Hispanic business leaders in professional, academic and social settings. The aim of the HMBAA is to provide contacts and resources that members need to further enhance their MBA experience. Examples of Hispanic Association activities include the annual welcome party for new students, a resume book, career workshops and career advising, and co-sponsored events with the Asian, European, and Black MBA student groups. Members of the Hispanic Association also attend the Conference of NSHMBAA and actively participate in the National Society of Hispanic MBAs-DC.

Indian MBAA

The Indian MBA Association seeks to strengthen social ties, build community among Indian graduate students, and provide links to Indian organizations on campus and within the local area.

International Club

International Club leverages the diversity of the Smith school and increase international awareness through cultural and social activities. The Club also provides exposure to international business opportunities while increasing the international consciousness of the Robert H. Smith brand. International Club plans to host 1) cross-cultural events conducted by host countries, 2) introduction to American culture series, and 3) international career sessions. We welcome active participation of all students.

Jewish MBA Association

The Jewish MBA Association seeks to strengthen social ties, build community among Jewish graduate students, and provide links to Jewish organizations on campus and within the local area.

Mayer Fund

In 1993, three Maryland MBA students, with the guidance and encouragement of then-Business School Dean William Mayer, created a student-managed portfolio known as the Terrapin Fund. Established with a contribution of $250,000 from the College of Business and Management Foundation, the Fund has grown, through outside contributions and healthy returns, to more than $1,000,000 in July 2004. In May 1999, Dean Howard Frank announced that , in recognition of Dean Mayer's commitment to the Fund, it be renamed the Mayer Fund.

The Mayer Fund is managed by a select group of second-year, full-time MBA students. These students are selected by their predecessors during the spring semester each year. Reflecting on the diversity of the business school's student body, Mayer Fund students come from a variety of educational, professional and cultural backgrounds. Work on the Mayer Fund provides Maryland MBA students with in-depth financial analysis and investment experience. The Fund also contributes to the MBA program's national reputation.

MBA Association

The MBA Association is the umbrella student government organization for the Smith MBA program. The MBAA executive team works to coordinate and fund individual club activities in a manner that creates professional and social opportunities for all Smith MBA students. In addition, the executive team works with student government leaders from other top MBA programs in order to draw upon best practices and share them within the Smith community.

Our Mission is to channel the creative ideas of the student body into actions that produce lasting benefits for the MBA program and its clients. Some of our efforts include:

• Arranging social and networking opportunities for students, faculty and alumni.
• Working to improve all facets of the MBA program through interaction with students, faculty and alumni.
• Serving as the liaison between the various MBA clubs and the Dean's office for funding and other administrative issues.

Net Impact

Net Impact is a network of emerging business leaders committed to using the power of business to create a better world. It is also the most progressive and influential network of MBAs in existence today. Originally founded as Students for Responsible Business in 1993, Net Impact has developed from a great idea shared by a few business students into a mission-driven network of 9,000 new leaders for better business. Through its central office and 90 local chapters, Net Impact offers a portfolio of programs to help members broaden their business education, refine their leadership skills, and pursue their professional goals, while building their network. The national organization is headquartered in San Francisco.

At the Robert H. Smith School of Business, we understand that true business leadership creates positive economic, social and environmental change. Net Impact at Smith serves as a hub for both academic and career-oriented activities related to developing a broader perspective of leadership and entrepreneurship. Through guest lecturers, student discussions, interactive workshops, and community volunteering, we explore new business models and methods to exert a positive impact upon our environment. Net Impact at Smith is dedicated to educating business leaders to value all their stakeholders, providing academic and professional support to this growing network, and creating tangible positive change in the world.

New Markets Growth Fund

Twelve 2nd year students work as Associates for the New Markets Growth Fund (NMGF), a $20 million private equity fund that provides equity financing and operational assistance to both early-stage ventures and small to mid-sized growth companies located in the Greater Baltimore-Washington and Northern Virginia Area. Through the Fund, students gain an in depth understanding of working with an actual venture fund, while covering the entire deal process from research, selection, and investment as well as operational support of portfolio companies.

Real Estate Association

As one of the newest and most talked about organizations, the Real Estate Association (REA) is being developed within the Smith School MBA program to foster a community of students and alumni with an interest in real estate. Currently, the Washington Metropolitan Area is one of the strongest real estate markets in the nation. It fit to have a real estate focused student organization affiliated with the region's strongest MBA program.

The REA was founded to assist current Smith School MBA students in their search for professional opportunities in the real estate industry; to sustain a critical mass of interest in real estate programming to encourage a full-fledged real estate curriculum; to provide alumni who are active in the real estate industry with an outlet to maintain their involvement with the Smith School; and to support programming that will educate MBA students on various aspects of the real estate industry for both professional and personal endeavors.

Smith Association of Women MBAs (formerly GWIB)

The mission of the Smith Association of Women MBAs ("SAWMBA) is to celebrate the advancement of women in the business world, foster relationships inside and outside the University of Maryland community, and create professional, academic and personal resources for Smith women.

Smith Pride Alliance

The Smith Pride Alliance brings together current students, alumni, faculty, friends and family of the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) community at the Smith School.

Our mission is to: (1) Create a safe forum for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and allied Smith MBA students to come together to support the social, academic and career pursuits of the LGBT community. (2) Help students with specific issues, such as coming out in society and at work. (3) Foster leaders in our future workplaces who will shape and encourage diversity in all its forms. (4) Develop relationships with other MBA LGBT communities, and with LGBT communities within the University of Maryland.

The Smith Store

The Smith Store is an entirely student-run organization dedicated to providing students with hands-on management experience and promoting the Smith brand. In addition to managing a full-service e-commerce site (www.thesmithstore.com), the Smith Store holds regular sales in Van Munching Hall at the University of Maryland.

The Smith Store was founded in 2001 by a group of MBA students within the school’s Entrepreneurship Club. The organization has grown substantially since and continues to serve the Smith community with help from the recognized Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship.

Sport and Social Club

The  mission of the sport and Social Club is to foster a sense of Smith Community and enhance the overall MBA experience. SSC has many social and athletic activities for all students. Join us at Intramurals, Happy Hours, Tailgates, and other fun activities. For questions about any of the activities, please contact the Sport  & Social Club at sportsocial@rhsmith.umd.edu.

Soccer Club

Formed in 2001, the Robert H. Smith School of Business MBA Soccer Team is a relatively new club. Over the past three years, it has been remarkably successful, most notably in 2002 when a spirited team beat Yale, Michigan, Duke and Harvard on its way to becoming Yale Cup champions. Tournaments such as the Yale Cup, the Capitol Cup held at the University of Texas and the MBA World Cup at Dartmouth provide a unique opportunity for Smith students to promote the school in a highly competitive sporting environment with other top national and international MBA programs.

The MBA Soccer Team is comprised mostly of first and second year full time students. Part time students are also encouraged to join, as well as alumni. The team generally meets twice a week to train and to play. Training is both informal and fun.

Supply Chain/Logistics Club

The Supply Chain/Logistics Club provides networking and industry information to students interested in the fields of Logistics and Supply Chain Management. The club sponsors speakers, plant tours, and various forums to accentuate the MBA curriculum with the goal of enhancing understanding of the industry. The Supply Chain Club also sponsors networking events and corporate contacts to help students find employment in the Logistics and Supply Chain fields.

Current and past events include speaker events with local prominent leaders in the supply chain and logistics industry, a workshop on Supply Chain Management Practice and Research Status and Future Directions, and a Supply Chain electives forum.

Tech@Smith

Tech@Smith is a consortium of students whose main interests lie in the technology industry. This organization boasts events throughout the academic year that are vital to succeeding in today's tech industry, bringing Smith students a chance to network with senior managers in the industry.

The academic year sees professional development events that allow students to explore IT consulting, technology management, and the role of technology in finance. The forum also gives MBA students an edge in job search with events focused on resume reviews, mock interviews and various strategies in networking. Faculty mixers aim at generating a more informal rapport between professors and students, promoting interaction of ideas, discussion of research, and interest in various IT courses offered in the MBA program.