A Career of Giving Back

In a career with experiences across academia, government and the private sector, William “Bill” Longbrake, DBA '76, says he’s in the midst of his “fourth career” at the Smith School—and this one is all about paying his experiences forward.

“It’s probably my last career. Instead of being a builder and a doer, I've become an advisor,” says Longbrake. “This stage is when you share your experiences and knowledge across many fields in a variety of ways, and the University of Maryland connection is one way I can reach others.”

Longbrake is doing more than sharing his knowledge. The longtime supporter pledged a new $1 million investment to create the Longbrake Innovation Fund and the Longbrake Snider Center Fund. The funds will directly support interdisciplinary research and initiatives across Smith’s programs and centers, including in the Ed Snider Center for Enterprise and Markets.

To Longbrake, giving back isn’t just another responsibility; it’s “deeply embedded” in who he is and was a significant part of his upbringing.

“My father was a pastor, and so the values and principles that my family had, which were ones of service, are something I’ve held from the day I was born,” says Longbrake. “Giving back has always been a part of my life, and along the way, I’ve had the good luck and fortune to be in a position to put some money behind it.”

In 2009, Longbrake returned to Smith as an executive-in-residence and senior financial policy advisor for the Center for Financial Policy. Since then, he has leveraged his learnings from his career stops, delivering his time and insights in the classroom. His decades of experience also inform his service as a Smith Enterprise Risk Consortium fellow and advisory board member of the Ed Snider Center for Markets and Enterprise

Longbrake has demonstrated his stature as a renowned instructor and researcher, shared lessons from speech writing for presidential appointees, and offered his experience in crafting impactful financial policy. He also recounts stories from his time as chief financial officer at Washington Mutual, where he helped turn a bank on the brink of failure into the nation's sixth-largest depository institution.

Longbrake’s latest commitment follows a long history of giving to the Smith School. His previous contributions, totaling nearly $4 million over two decades, have supported the construction and renovation of Van Munching Hall and established an endowed finance professorship held by Professor Michael Faulkender. He was also instrumental in launching the Smith Business Leadership Fellows (SBLF) program in 2022, including providing a current-use scholarship for select students.

He says he supports programs, such as SBLF, and Smith’s evolving curriculum to make sure graduates have the technical and soft skills they need to adapt and thrive in an ever-changing work environment.

David Miller ’28, an information systems major and SBLF participant, is one of the beneficiaries of Longbrake’s contributions. He says that the scholarship has “greatly enhanced” his Smith experience by reducing the financial burden of his education while enabling him to engage in SBLF and extracurricular initiatives.

“The values and mission of Professor Longbrake’s scholarship align closely with my goals to develop technical expertise and address real-world challenges,” says Miller. “The scholarship has enabled me to enroll in challenging courses that strengthen my critical thinking, teamwork and technical skills, preparing me to succeed in the evolving field of cloud computing after graduation.”

Rajshree Agarwal, the Rudolph Lamone Chair of Strategy and Entrepreneurship and director of the Ed Snider Center, says that Longbrake’s history of giving comes from “a place of deep conviction and care,” and had an immense impact on the Smith community.

“Bill’s donations haven’t just helped launch influential programs like SBLF; they have sparked new ideas at the intersections of disciplines and strengthened Smith’s ability to integrate research, teaching and engagement in meaningful ways,” says Agarwal. “Bill doesn’t just give—he shows up, and we are profoundly grateful for him.”

Longbrake encourages other alumni to contribute their time, energy and support to current Smith students by partnering on projects, attending events or sitting on an alumni advisory board.

And for current students taking the steps into their “first” careers, he has a piece of advice.

“Make your connections along the way. You develop relationships, and that often opens doors,” says Longbrake. “Be curious about what others are doing, and oftentimes this leads you down a pathway you didn't plan, but that's consistent with your interests and strengths.”