PhD Program News

The Robert H. Smith School of Business hosted AI Lightning Talks on Oct. 23, 2025, featuring 15 faculty and PhD presenters sharing fast-paced insights into recent AI research topics, from healthcare and entrepreneurship to generative AI and visual design.

Doctoral student Eunseong Jang at the Smith School developed new statistical models to expand incomplete datasets, giving law enforcement and policymakers tools to fight drug trafficking. His NSF-funded research, guided by Margret Bjarnadottir and S. Raghu Raghavan, earned a $6,000 award for its societal impact.

The Smith School welcomed its largest-ever freshman class of nearly 700, a 17% increase from last year. At convocation, leaders, alumni, and peers encouraged involvement, growth, and exploration. Smith also welcomed new MBA, master’s, and doctoral students across programs.

Smith professor Jie Zhang and PhD alum Min Kim won the AMA’s 2025 Don Lehmann Award for their Journal of Marketing Research article on predicting online shopping preferences in dynamic, large-scale retail assortments.

The Smith School’s new AI certificate program has drawn over 20,000 global enrollees since May. Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller visited July 1 to highlight its role in Maryland’s AI-driven workforce development.

Smith’s PhD program launches impactful academic careers through close mentorship, collaboration and a strong sense of community. Alumni like Audra Wormald, Jane Yi Jiang and Jingwen Yang credit the program for preparing them to thrive as faculty.

Rajshree Agarwal, Smith’s Rudolph Lamone Chair in Strategy and Entrepreneurship, earned the 2025 STR Outstanding Educator Award for mentoring PhD students and leading research-driven programs for high schoolers, undergraduates, and executive MBAs at the Snider Center.

New Smith School graduates heard keynote speakers highlight technology’s potential for positive change and shared wisdom on leading a fulfilling life. The ceremony honored 2,074 graduates, emphasizing resilience, the importance of truth, and the power of mentorship and service.

We are excited to welcome all of our new and returning students to the Robert H. Smith School of Business. This past week has been an amazing opportunity to connect with our community of students and we are excited to see what they accomplish this year.

The University of Maryland was named the top college in the nation for LGBTQ+ students by Campus Pride and BestColleges.

It leads the list of 2023’s Top 25 LGBTQ+-Friendly Colleges, recognizing educational institutions that foster inclusive and supportive environments for LGBTQ+ students. Maryland was No. 1 in 2020 and appeared among the top 25 in 2021 and 2022.