Diversity at Smith

The annual “Diversity at Smith” event was held at the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business on Nov. 8, 2008, allowing potential MBA candidates a look inside the Smith MBA experience. The event provided the opportunity for prospective candidates to understand what Smith has to offer through its full-time and part-time MBA programs and the cultural and international diversity the school encompasses. Attendees heard from Smith School administrators, alumni and current students and had a special workshop on how to prepare for the Graduate Management Aptitude Test (GMAT).

The event began with a networking breakfast followed by a welcome note by Alison Buckley, managing director of recruiting at Smith, in the presence of representatives from various student groups and associations, such as the MBA Association, Black MBA Association, Hispanic MBA Association, Smith Association of Women MBAs, and the Smith Pride Alliance.

The keynote speaker for the event was James White, MBA ’05, Chief Security Officer at MedStar Health. White addressed the audience and talked about his experiences as a student at Smith. Further, he elaborated about the numerous opportunities available to the students at Smith, and how the MBA program through its challenges and rigors prepares students for competing in an ever-changing and unpredictable global economy. He said that with students representing dozens of countries and myriads of backgrounds, faculty members from around the world, and fields of study ranging from marketing to supply chain management to information systems, the Smith MBA program through its close knit community, offers an unprecedented opportunity for students to learn from the diverse perspectives and intellect.  A Smith MBA also provides access to an invaluable pool of resources such as the vast alumni network which is always willing to go the extra mile to help other members of the Smith community, said White.

Current students took attendees for group tours of Van Munching Hall and sessions on the application process for the full-time and part-time MBA programs at Smith were offered by the admissions committee. Following this, Camille Leverett, director of diversity initiatives at GMAC, provided insights into the GMAT through a comprehensive workshop, in which she provided the attendees tips on excelling the GMAT and outlined the approach towards preparing for the exam, besides clarifying the myths and removing doubts the students had about the exam.

During lunch, the attendees had the unique opportunity to interact with current students of the MBA program representing various countries, student associations and backgrounds. The potential students made the most of the time by clarifying doubts, gaining insights into the academic experience, courses offered, and also tips on how to prepare better for the GMAT. The attendees also participated in a short quiz about the Smith School in which the top scorers received prizes.

Soon after, Kecia Hansard and Jennifer Kinder, from Smith's Office of Career Management (OCM), explained to the participants how the office supports and helps the students in preparing themselves for the challenges involved in their career and professional development. The role of the OCM has especially become critical, given the downturn economy and freezing on recruitments by organizations in all sectors.

Following, Hank Boyd, a Tyser Teaching Fellow in the marketing department, and Cynthia Stevens, associate professor of human resource management and organizational behavior, talked to the prospective students about the program and academic experience at the Smith School. This particular session provided the potential candidates a platform to interact with the faculty and understand how the various components and functions of business are taught at Smith.

Overall, the event succeeded in delivering much more than just demonstrating the commitment the Smith School of Business has towards diversity and leadership in the global economy, and this success reflected in the positive feedback the attendees returned to Suzanne Ashour, assistant director of MBA & MS Recruiting, who coordinated the event. The attendees got an unparalleled intensive immersive learning experience the value of which would be realized by them over the course of time, as they prepare themselves for the plunge in one of the most rigorous academic programs, the MBA.

Interested in a Smith MBA? Visit us at one of our upcoming information sessions.

Siddhartha Jain, MBA Candidate 2010, Smith Media Group