Moments of Impact

Smith faculty are top scholars, dedicated educators and influential thought leaders. Their groundbreaking work helps frame policy, guide industry and solve the world’s biggest challenges. 

Faulkender Serves as 16th Deputy U.S. Treasury Secretary
Dean’s Professor of Finance Michael Faulkender is the 16th deputy secretary of the U.S. Treasury. He served in the Treasury in the first Trump administration, where he ran the Paycheck Protection Program to give loans to small businesses during COVID.

Faculty-founded Logistics Company Acquired by FedEx
Logistics software company RouteSmart Technologies, founded by Smith professors 45 years ago, was acquired by FedEx. Bruce Golden, the France-Merrick Chair in Management, emeritus professor Michael Ball and two other former professors started the Columbia, Md.-based company, which helps newspapers, postal and parcel delivery, public works, utilities and waste collectors optimize vehicle routes.

Starr’s Research on CBS Evening News
Evan Starr studies relocation incentive programs — cities paying remote workers to move there to revitalize their regions — and what makes them successful. He spoke with CBS Evening News about a Cumberland, Md. program and the Tulsa Remote program featured in his research in Organization Science.

Venkataramani named UMD Distinguished Scholar-Teacher
Vijaya Venkataramani, Dean’s Professor of Leadership and Innovation, received the university’s Distinguished Scholar-Teacher Award for her significant contributions to the learning environment, her mentorship of students and her award-winning research, which focuses on innovation in the workplace.

Rossi Testifies to Lawmakers on Climate-Driven Insurance Crisis
Risk expert Clifford Rossi testified before the Maryland General Assembly’s House Environment and Transportation Committee about how extreme weather events, like the L.A. wildfires, are overwhelming insurance companies. He proposes creating a federally chartered National Hazard Insurance Corporation to address the crisis.

Anenson’s Pension Research Breaks New Ground
T. Leigh Anenson’s latest research looks at how contract law relates to public pension programs. Her forthcoming book on the subject will be the most comprehensive look at how the U.S. Constitution’s contract clause is interpreted by the courts as states struggle to keep large public pensions afloat. 

Smith Team Shows ChatGPT’s Reach in AI Jobs
There’s a clear trend revealed by UMD-LinkUp AI Maps, the groundbreaking tool for mapping new U.S. jobs requiring artificial intelligence skills developed by Anil Gupta, Siva Viswanathan, Kunpeng Zhang and doctoral student Hanwen Shi. Since ChatGPT’s late-2022 launch, AI jobs postings have ballooned 68% while postings for all jobs declined 17% and IT jobs declined 27%.

Farshchi Makes a Splash With Water Parliament
The Center for Social Value Creation partnered with India-based AquaKraft Ventures to launch Water Parliament, a water sustainability think tank. They introduced AqVerium, the world’s first digital water bank, and water-backed digital currency. CSVC’s Nima Farshchi serves on its governing council and will drive faculty and student collaboration with the organization.

Bjarnadottir’s Roadmap Aids in Closing Pay Gaps
In Harvard Business Review, Margrét Bjarnadóttir describes how organizations can find pay gaps and take steps to close them while to staying true to their values and responsive to their regulatory environment.

Patent-pending Method Uses Deepfakes to Eliminate Bias
Siva Viswanathan, Balaji Padmanabhan and PhD student Yizhi Liu have harnessed deepfake technology — usually synonymous with misinformation and digital deception — to develop a patent-pending method to detect and mitigate bias in decision-making. Their study shows how AI-generated facial images can improve fairness in hiring, healthcare and criminal justice.

Gordon Honored as Top Scholar
Accounting professor Lawrence Gordon was ranked No. 12 among all information security scholars — in the top 0.05% — by ScholarGPS. He’s also listed in Research.com’s Best Scientists for 2025 for business management, recognized for his publication record and the high impact of his work.

Senbet Joins Bretton Woods Committee
Lemma W. Senbet, Dean’s Chaired Professor of Finance, was selected for the prestigious Bretton Woods Committee. He joins the group of CEOs, former presidents, cabinet-level officials and lawmakers that advocate for global economic and financial cooperation.

Kannan Wins AMA TechSIG Lifetime Achievement Award
The American Marketing Association’s Innovation, Technology and Interactivity Special Interest Group (AMA TechSIG) recognized P.K. Kannan with its inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award.

Cao Receives Deloitte Award for AI Social Impact Work
Director and co-founder of the AI Initiative for Capital Market Research Sean Cao was recognized with the Deloitte Initiative for AI and Learning award for developing trustworthy AI for social equity and climate change.