Helping Students Reach the Stars

We must continue to attract the boldest and brightest young men and women of each new generation. Scholarships allow the Smith School to compete for the best students—and we are competing with the best schools. When students list what schools they are considering along with Smith, the names are impressive: Wharton, Michigan, Duke.

Many people understand the need for undergraduate scholarships. But PhD scholarships have become increasingly important as well. The Smith School has become well-known for producing not just cutting-edge management research, but also cutting-edge researchers. Funding for PhD students allows us to bring into the program men and women who produce ground-breaking research and go on to appointments at top schools in the United States and around the world.

There is also an urgent need for scholarships to support MBA students. We must be able to offer competitive financial aid to attract and keep students who want to attend Smith—and who we’d like to have—but who cannot turn down a greater financial aid offer elsewhere.

Spotlight

Matthews Scholarship Recipient
Miguel Dieguez, MBA candidate 2008

Miguel Dieguez (l) with Milt Matthews '68

A lieutenant commander in the U.S. Navy, Dieguez provides leadership and management to a large contingent of Navy engineers. But two years ago he realized that he needed to bring his skills to the next level to be most effective for his team and to position himself for advancement.

So he began looking for MBA opportunities in the Washington metropolitan area. “I selected the Smith School because the faculty and students seemed to have a close relationship, and I knew it was the best business school in the region,” says Dieguez.

While his commitment to attending the Smith School was high, the financial aspects were a burden, especially because his wife is currently finishing a law degree. The Navy is paying for part of his degree, but the Milton Matthews Scholarship will allow Dieguez to spend more of his energy on his education and less worrying about his finances.

Debora Viana Thompson
PhD Graduate 2006

“I received a package of financial support that completely covered my five years in the PhD program at Smith. This was important, since the total dedication required by the program makes it very difficult to have outside employment.” said Debora Thompson.

Professor Roland Rust invited Thompson to become involved in his research on “feature fatigue.” Thompson’s dissertation focused on this area, examining the effects of product capability and usability on consumer choice and consumption. Her work was recognized with prestigious awards from the American Marketing Association and the Marketing Science Institute, making her the first person in 10 years to receive both honors.

After completing the PhD program in May 2006, Thompson was hired by Georgetown University as assistant professor of marketing. As she states, “The mentoring I received from my dissertation co-chairs, Roland Rust and Rebecca Hamilton, and other faculty members as well as the rigorous research training I received at Smith were instrumental in my appointment.”