MBA Association
The MBA Association (MBAA) serves the full-time student body of the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland. The MBAA is the primary interface between the student body and the administration in order to enhance the Smith MBA experience. The MBA Association coordinates 12 student-run groups.
As the MBAA, we pledge to facilitate the continued growth of the Smith community by creating an environment of open communication and opportunities for both personal and professional growth. The MBAA is responsible for the oversight of MBA student clubs, management of finances, and implementation of new and existing policies or initiatives. In addition, the MBAA plans special social events throughout the school year to foster collaboration among Smith students, faculty, administration, and alumni. Email us at smith-club-mbaa@umd.edu.
MBAA Constitution
The constitution for the MBA Association outlines the operating policies and procedures for the full-time MBA student population. It outlines the roles and responsibilities of the officers as well as the governing principles for the clubs.
Preamble
We, the members of the MBA Association, in order to improve the full-time Robert H. Smith MBA community, enhance the overall experience for its students and maximize the value of the Robert H. Smith brand, establish this Constitution of the MBA Association.
Board Members
President: Archit Tiwari
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/archittiwarimba
Email: artiwari@umd.edu
Archit Tiwari serves as President of the MBA Association (MBAA) at the Robert H. Smith School of Business. A former Track Representative, he brings a strong record of student leadership and governance to the role.
With an engineering background and four years of consulting experience at Deloitte across Southeast Asia and the Middle East, Archit has advised clients on complex operational challenges, developing a structured and results-driven approach to problem-solving. At Smith, he is focused on strengthening collaboration across clubs, improving student engagement, and delivering high-impact initiatives that elevate the full-time MBA experience.
Fun Fact: Off the clock, Archit is a guitarist who once performed at the national level with his high school rock band, a watch enthusiast who can talk about haute horology for hours, and still the first one on the dance floor when the music starts.
Executive Vice President: Pratulya Santharam
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pratulyasantharam
Email: psanth@umd.edu
As the Executive Vice President of the MBA Association, Pratulya serves as the primary advocate and liaison for club leadership to ensure seamless organizational alignment and resource access. Drawing on his background in software engineering and current MBA studies, his focus is to streamline communication and transparency between the Board and clubs while overseeing critical initiatives like programming and elections. He is dedicated to standing for the needs of the student leaders to support a thriving MBA community.
Fun Fact: Pratulya is a classically trained singer who competed in the South Asian fusion a cappella circuit during his undergraduate years at UMD.
Vice President of Finance: Sahir Khan
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mohammedsahirferozkhan
Email: mkhan121@umd.edu
Sahir brings a strong foundation in finance, accounting, and strategy, shaped by his experience as a Chartered Accountant and his ongoing pursuit of the CFA designation. His analytical approach and structured thinking enable him to drive data-informed decision-making and strategic problem-solving.
Prior to his MBA, Sahir built diverse experience across finance, consulting, and strategy through roles at Ernst & Young, UltraTech Cement, Grant Thornton, and Iris Overseas. These experiences strengthened his expertise in financial analysis, stakeholder management, and working across complex, high-impact business environments.
As Vice President of Finance of the MBA Association, Sahir is focused on strengthening financial transparency, empowering student organizations, and ensuring effective allocation of resources to enhance the overall MBA experience. He is committed to fostering collaboration and building a more inclusive and well-supported community.
Fun Fact: Sahir can easily drink five cups of chai a day and still make time to analyze financial models or plan his next cricket match.
Vice President of Student Affairs: Laurel Sigman
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurelsigman
Email: lsigman@umd.edu
Laurel Sigman serves as the Vice President of Student Affairs for the MBA Association, where she is dedicated to fostering a vibrant and inclusive Smith community. Laurel brings a unique professional blend of operational hospitality and rigorous financial expertise, having previously served as a Vice President and Portfolio Manager in commercial banking.
In that role, she managed a real estate portfolio exceeding $250 million, overseeing complex assets from origination through payoff. Currently pursuing her MBA with a focus on Finance/AI & Business Strategy, Laurel is excited to leverage her relationship-management background to welcome the incoming cohort while strengthening bonds within the second-year class through engaging programming and student-centered initiatives.
Fun Fact: On a recent trip to Japan, Laurel went go-karting through the streets of Tokyo (including highways) and lived to tell the tale.
Vice President of International Student Affairs: Moayad Alshanqiti
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/moayad-alshanqiti-b93742207
Email: malshanq@umd.edu
Moayad Alshanqiti serves as the Vice President of International Student Affairs for the MBA Association. As an international student living in the United States since 2011 and working since 2021, he brings a unique perspective to the role.
Moayad has experience in controls engineering, programming and commissioning automation facilities across industries, including materials handling, food and beverage, and data centers. As VP, he aims to support international students in navigating life away from home and the complexities of the job market while fostering a welcoming, inclusive environment.
Fun Fact: Moayad is a thrill seeker who has gone skydiving four times, enjoys cliff jumping, has bungee jumped, and hopes to go scuba diving soon.
Vice President of People & Culture: Sofía Villanueva
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paula-sofia-villanueva-aragon
Email: sofiavi@umd.edu
Sofía is an analytical and driven professional with more than six years of experience leading business growth across Latin America. As Regional Brand Manager at The Athlete’s Foot, she managed the P&L and led expansion strategies that grew revenue from $11 million to $39 million.
She is passionate about fostering inclusive, supportive environments where people can thrive academically and professionally. As VP of People & Culture, her goal is to strengthen community, elevate diverse voices, and create meaningful spaces for connection and reflection.
Fun Fact: Sofía founded a startup in Peru focused on personalized fashion solutions to help women feel confident and secure.
Vice President of Community Development: Erna Marie Roth
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ernamarieroth
Email: emroth@umd.edu
Erna Marie Roth serves as the Vice President of Community Development for the MBA Association, bringing cross-sector experience in financial oversight, partnership strategy, and revenue operations. She is currently a Revenue Operations Manager at the Center for Social Value Creation and a SheFi Scholar.
Her background includes work at the Department of Justice, where she managed initiatives and analyzed capital allocation within a $600M+ grant portfolio. As VP, she is focused on creating events and experiences that provide both professional value and meaningful connection for students.
Fun Fact: Erna enjoys reading, hiking, live music, and spending time with her dog.
Vice President of Signature Events: Aparna Bhavani
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aparna-bhavani
Email: abhavani@umd.edu
Aparna Bhavani serves as Vice President of Signature Events, combining her background in finance with creative experience in marketing initiatives. She began her career at Deloitte, working on large-scale audit engagements and building strong analytical and collaboration skills.
Now pursuing her MBA with a focus on Finance and Entrepreneurship & Innovation, she enjoys planning engaging, memorable events for the MBA community.
Fun Fact: Aparna is a trained Bharatanatyam dancer who has performed on multiple stages and enjoys choreographing her own pieces.
Vice President of Social Media & Communication: Caroline Yao
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caroline-yjy
Email: cjyao@umd.edu
Caroline has a background in digital strategy, business transformation, and cross-functional communication. Before business school, she worked in global corporate environments, leading initiatives that aligned teams and translated strategy into action.
At Smith, she is passionate about building a more engaging and inclusive MBA community through clear communication, storytelling, and increased visibility for student voices.
Fun Fact: Caroline was an award-winning photographer and painter, a former cheerleader and chorus singer, and continues to keep sports a major part of her life.