Announcements
October 24, 2025
Interactive Natural Hazard Risk Dashboard for Mortgages Now Live via UMD's Smith Enterprise Risk Consortium
The Smith School launched the Mortgage Natural Hazard Analyzer, a Tableau-based tool developed by Clifford Rossi and Master of Quantitative Finance students to assess U.S. homeowners’ mortgage risk from 18 climate-related hazards, providing policymakers, lenders, and insurers with interactive, data-driven insights to inform decisions nationwide.
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Interactive Natural Hazard Risk Dashboard for Mortgages Now Live via UMD's Smith Enterprise Risk Consortium
September 22, 2025
Maryland’s Top Cybersecurity Official Joins Smith’s CRO Risk Summit
The state of Maryland’s top cybersecurity official, James Saunders, joined a panel discussion on cyber risk at the Robert H. Smith School of Business’ SERC CRO Risk Summit, hosted by the Smith Enterprise Risk Consortium (SERC) on Sept. 18, 2025. The invite-only event brought together some of the region’s top risk professionals to network and discuss the latest strategies and future challenges in…
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Maryland’s Top Cybersecurity Official Joins Smith’s CRO Risk Summit
August 5, 2025
FDA Taps Smith Expert in Making Case for Drug Manufacturing Efficiency
The Smith School’s Clifford Rossi contributed economic expertise to a new FDA white paper showing how quality management systems can reduce drug shortages, cut costs, and boost supply chain resilience through continuous domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing.
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FDA Taps Smith Expert in Making Case for Drug Manufacturing Efficiency
July 28, 2025
SERC Student Project Takes Center Stage at Google Higher Ed Leader Series Conference
Krisha Chheda, ’25 MQF, presented a Google-sponsored credit risk project at Google’s Higher Ed Leader Series, highlighting Smith master’s students’ use of AI to analyze banking and fintech practices through the Smith Enterprise Risk Consortium’s experiential learning program.
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SERC Student Project Takes Center Stage at Google Higher Ed Leader Series Conference
June 5, 2025
Smith School’s AI Collaboration with Google Sets New Standard in Credit Risk Evaluation
Smith Master of Quantitative Finance students partnered with Google to build AI-driven credit risk ratings for banks and fintechs, analyzing 25,000+ financial documents. Their work showcases how AI and financial expertise can transform credit assessment and industry forecasting.
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Smith School’s AI Collaboration with Google Sets New Standard in Credit Risk Evaluation
June 3, 2025
Mortgage Credit Risk Remains Low, Stable in New Report from UMD’s Smith Enterprise Risk Consortium
Credit risk for GSE-eligible mortgages remained low and stable in Q3 2024, according to indexes from the Smith Enterprise Risk Consortium, though risk has gradually increased since 2021 due to borrower composition and loan term shifts.
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Mortgage Credit Risk Remains Low, Stable in New Report from UMD’s Smith Enterprise Risk Consortium
April 15, 2025
Startup Bazaar Showcases Smith Impact, Leadership in Business Education
Startup Bazaar, held April 12 at the Smith School, showcased the state’s tech ecosystem and featured leaders including Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller. The event highlighted Smith’s role in innovation, entrepreneurship and AI, and drew strong participation from startups and state officials.
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Startup Bazaar Showcases Smith Impact, Leadership in Business Education
April 10, 2025
Risk Matters: It’s Time to Merge Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac
Merging Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac is a critical step before privatization, argues Clifford Rossi, to reduce systemic risk, eliminate duplicative costs, and simplify the mortgage system—setting the stage for a safer, more efficient housing finance market transition.
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Risk Matters: It’s Time to Merge Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac
March 26, 2025
Risk Matters: Tariff Risks and Opportunities for Pharma Manufacturers
Clifford Rossi, Academic Director of the Smith Enterprise Risk Consortium, warns that pharma tariffs could disrupt supply chains, raise costs, and pressure manufacturers, especially generics. Adopting continuous manufacturing (CM) offers efficiency gains, balancing risk mitigation with strategic investment.
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Risk Matters: Tariff Risks and Opportunities for Pharma Manufacturers
February 27, 2025
Smith Enterprise Risk Consortium Releases Mortgage Credit Risk Index Results
The Smith Enterprise Risk Consortium (SERC) at UMD’s Smith School released Q2 2024 results for its Mortgage Credit Risk Index (MCRI) and Mortgage Redtail Risk Index (MRRI). SERC Director Clifford Rossi noted that credit risk remains stable despite a slight year-over-year rise.
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Smith Enterprise Risk Consortium Releases Mortgage Credit Risk Index Results
April 10, 2024
New UMD Smith SERC-ABA Report Defines ‘Basel III Endgame’ Flaws
Federal regulators are drafting new capital rules for banks, contested by industry experts like Clifford Rossi, Professor of the Practice and Director of SERC at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business. Rossi argues against the rules as he warns of adverse economic impacts.
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New UMD Smith SERC-ABA Report Defines ‘Basel III Endgame’ Flaws
December 11, 2023
The Case for Enterprise Risk Management in Higher Education
Companies have managed risk for years. Traditionally, each business unit evaluates and handles their own risk, then reports to the CEO. Now, conventionally, the practice is holistically evolving to “enterprise risk management” or “ERM.”
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The Case for Enterprise Risk Management in Higher Education
November 30, 2023
Commercial Real Estate in Demise?
Pre-pandemic, healthy demand for office and retail spaces signaled a growing commercial real estate (CRE) market. Loans were readily available, often with favorable terms. But the COVID lockdowns shifted the landscape significantly with businesses shuttering and employees transitioning to…
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Commercial Real Estate in Demise?
August 31, 2023
New Analysis Examines Hurricane Risk Implications for Low-to-Moderate-Income Mortgage Borrowers
Study reveals hurricane risk impact on Florida housing market and economically vulnerable borrowers. With Hurricane Idalia's $9.36B toll and Florida's insurance market crisis, Smith Enterprise Risk Consortium examines US hurricane risk and housing market vulnerability. Focus on Florida's high-risk…
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New Analysis Examines Hurricane Risk Implications for Low-to-Moderate-Income Mortgage Borrowers
August 29, 2023
Smith Experts Assess Drug Manufacturing Risk from Natural Hazards
A July tornado that tore across the Rocky Mount, N.C., region left severe damage including to a Pfizer facility. Amid subsequent supply chain disruption, the manufacturer alerted hospitals to a list of 12 drugs available only through emergency orders “due to their high medical need,” effective…
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Smith Experts Assess Drug Manufacturing Risk from Natural Hazards
August 24, 2023
SEC Cites Smith Research in New Cybersecurity Disclosure Rules for Public Companies
University of Maryland's Smith School of Business research influences SEC's new cybersecurity disclosure rules. SEC-registered businesses must adhere to updates. Martin P. Loeb's studies cited, emphasizing market reactions to cyber incidents. Gordon's advocacy spans 15+ years. Research supports…
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SEC Cites Smith Research in New Cybersecurity Disclosure Rules for Public Companies
April 26, 2023
Is Your Maryland Home At Risk for Damages from Climate Disasters?
Many Maryland homeowners are increasingly faced with the threat of costly home repairs from extreme weather events. With climate change, these events are becoming more frequent and more intense. And that could mean bigger problems for homeowners – particularly those who don’t have the extra cash to…
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Is Your Maryland Home At Risk for Damages from Climate Disasters?
March 8, 2023
Toxic Train Derailment Vexing for Real Estate Industry
Health safety for residents following the Feb. 3 Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, has been a top concern. Has it really been safe enough to return – both for the short- and long-term?
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Toxic Train Derailment Vexing for Real Estate Industry
February 23, 2023
How to Bolster Climate Scenario Analysis
The Federal Reserve Board has engaged six of the biggest U.S. banks in a pilot Climate Scenario Analysis (CSA) to assess and “advance the ability of supervisors and banks to analyze and manage emerging climate-related financial risks.”
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How to Bolster Climate Scenario Analysis
December 7, 2022
Risk Lessons from FTX
FTX postmortems have included Axios describing the cryptocurrency exchange as a “house of cards” comparable to Enron, Theranos, Bear Stearns, Lehman Brothers and Madoff Investment Securities. Plus, Moody’s writes the collapse “will radically transform the crypto ecosystem, further shaking trust and…
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Risk Lessons from FTX