Smith School to Lead Statewide Feasibility Study on Supporting Family Caregivers
TechFest 2026 Spotlights Alumni Expertise, Student Innovation and Outstanding Seniors at Smith
Alumni
A Missed Bus Led To A Meet Cute
May 22, 2026
It was a Maryland connection meant to be. Despite Lauren Niffenegger Lumpp ‘09 and Nick Lumpp ‘09 both studying at the Robert H. Smith School of Business, Lauren in accounting and Nick in finance, it was a bus that never showed up during their first few weeks in College Park that brought them together.
May 12, 2026
Why I Give: Craig ’79 and Lisa Adler, UMD ’79
Craig and Lisa Adler, both 1979 graduates of the University of Maryland, are making a significant estate gift to support students and scholarships, aiming to create lasting impact and expand access to education through the university’s Forward campaign long term.
March 23, 2026
Investing in the Future
Isa Farhat ’96 switched from architecture to accounting during a recession, building a career as a Deloitte partner. A first-generation student, he overcame personal challenges and now gives back to Smith through mentorship and support for future accounting professionals.
May 28, 2026
The University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business will play a central role in a statewide initiative to evaluate how Maryland can better support the more than one million residents who provide unpaid care to aging adults and individuals with disabilities.
May 27, 2026
The University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business hosted TechFest 2026 on April 22 in Van Munching Hall, bringing together alumni, faculty, and students for an evening of discussion, project showcases and student recognition. Presented by the Department of Decision, Operations & Information Technologies (DO&IT) and the Business & Information Technology Society (BITS), this year’s theme—“Why Choose Information Systems at UMD Smith? The Bridge Between Technology and its Business and Social Contexts”—highlighted the program’s focus on preparing students to lead at the intersection of technology and real-world impact.
May 21, 2026
Smith Celebrates its Class of 2026 at Undergraduate and Graduate Commencement Ceremonies
The University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business celebrated its newest graduates on May 19, 2026, at the XFINITY Center, honoring 2,082 undergraduate students, 475 business master’s students, 403 MBA students, 12 PhD students, and 38 EMBA students. Across two ceremonies, keynote speakers and student leaders highlighted resilience, purpose and the power of expectations.
Faculty Insights On Latest News
May 30, 2025
Summer Reading List 2025
Get ready for summer with the 22nd Annual Summer Reading List for Business Leaders—featuring Smith School faculty picks on investing, neuroscience, human connection, and more, including a novel inspired by a radio show turned TV series.
Management and Organization
April 24, 2025
“The Future is Not What it Used to Be”
Ambiguity arises when choices must be made despite unclear outcomes, says Professor J. Gerald Suarez. In today’s fast-paced world, discernment, flexibility, and embracing uncertainty—not rigid control—are key to navigating change, complexity, and an unpredictable future.
Marketing
October 04, 2024
Small Businesses Take Big Hit from Apple’s Privacy Regulation
Smith marketing professor Daniel McCarthy's research found that Apple's 2021 App Tracking Transparency (ATT) significantly impacted small direct-to-consumer businesses. ATT caused a 37% drop in ad click-through rates and up to a 60% revenue decline for smaller firms reliant on Facebook ads.
May 20, 2026
From Classroom to Publication: Smith Tech Management Capstone Project Becomes Published Research
A collaboration between a unique nonprofit and a tireless group of Smith Technology Management students has resulted in the program’s first published research.
March 24, 2026
Referred for the Job, Less Welcome by the Team
Employee referrals can aid hiring but carry hidden downsides. Research by Smith’s Rellie Derfler-Rozin finds staff often see referred hires as less meritorious and offer less support, despite strong performance. Clear communication about hiring rigor and involving employees can reduce bias.
March 10, 2026
Where GenAI Consumer Research is Likely Headed
Generative AI expands access to consumer research but risks biased, generic findings detached from real behavior, Roland Rust and Ming-Hui Huang say. They identify democratization, the “average trap” and model collapse as growing threats, urging human-centered methods to prevent synthetic, nonhuman results.
