Smith Profiles
Student Profile
Full Circle Moment as Terp Nick Cross Takes the Field for the Washington Commanders
Nick Cross
Washington Commanders safety Nick Cross returns home to the DMV, where the Bowie native, DeMatha graduate and former Maryland football player is continuing his NFL career while giving back to his community and planning to complete his Smith finance degree.
Alumni Profile
Meet the Marketing Graduate Who Kept UMD’s Biggest Secret for Four Years
Luke Hanson ’26
Luke Hanson ’26 secretly portrayed the University of Maryland mascot Testudo for four years while studying management and marketing. He applied classroom lessons to Testudo’s social media strategy and, after graduation, became Talon, Major League Soccer club D.C. United’s mascot.
Alumni Profile
A Missed Bus Led To A Meet Cute
How Smith Played A Role In Helping Two Alumni Entrepreneurs Build A Life Together and Launch Two Businesses
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.
Alumni Profile
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.
Alumni Profile
Investing in the Future
Isa Farhat ’96
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.
Alumni Profile
Alumnus Dials in the Dollars in Senior Role at T-Mobile
Johannes Thorsteinsson, MS ENGR ’05, MBA ’07
Johannes Thorsteinsson, MS ENGR ’05, MBA ’07, leveraged engineering and finance training at UMD to rise to T-Mobile senior vice president and treasurer. He credits Smith for shaping his career and now mentors students, emphasizing curiosity, resilience and relationships.
Alumni Profile
Building Meaningful Relationships
John Bates, ECON ’83, Smith Finance Advisory Council Member
Wealth management advisor John Bates, ECON ’83, mentors Smith finance students through the Financial Advisory Council. With decades of industry experience, he emphasizes networking, real-world skills and collaboration with faculty to better align education with careers in financial services.
Alumni Profile
A Knockout Career
Jimmy Santa ’76
Former Terps linebacker Jimmy Santa ’76 built dual careers as a boxing referee and sales executive, officiating major title fights worldwide while working decades at Givaudan. Recently inducted into the Westchester County Sports Hall of Fame, he continues his professional career.
Student Profile
Undergrad Student on Doing the Dirty Work with Junk Removal Business
Matthew Allen ’26
Matthew Allen ’26 turned a hand-me-down pickup truck into Two Dudes Junk Removal, a growing Maryland business. The finance major balances classes at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business with expansion plans, aiming to take his company statewide after graduation.
Alumni Profile
Alumnus Helps Innovators Grow and Scale Products That Improve Personal Mobility
William Chernicoff, PhD, EMBA ’21
William Chernicoff, PhD, EMBA ’21, leads research at the Toyota Mobility Foundation, advancing active mobility and startup innovation through the Mobility Unlimited Hub. A Smith EMBA graduate, he integrates engineering, policy and business expertise to expand independence-focused technologies worldwide.