Smith Start
Welcome to the Smith family! As a new member, you'll be part of our vibrant Smith Start community, designed to prepare you for your four years at Smith and beyond. Through small, linked courses and co-curricular programming, Smith Start encourages you to engage, explore, and experience everything the Smith community offers as a student and future business professional.
All freshmen admitted to the Smith School automatically join the Smith Start program.
Smith Start Calendar
Required Course:
- BMGT110F, Introduction to the Business Value Chain
Most students will enroll in BMGT110F. However, students in the Business, Society, and Economy Program within College Park Scholars will only need to participate in co-curricular events as they enroll in BMGT110S during the spring semester. Students in the Interdisciplinary Business Honors Program and Smith Business Leadership Fellows Program can opt for BMGT110L. Those with BMGT110 transfer credit should coordinate their participation with the undergraduate programs office.
Co-Curricular Opportunities: Dates and times are subject to change.
- Smith Freshman Convocation and Welcome Dinner
Sunday, August 25, 2024, 4 to 6 p.m.
Location: Stamp Student Union, Colony Ballroom
Join Smith leadership and current students to welcome the Class of 2028 to Smith and the University of Maryland. This required event is an opportunity to meet your Smith Start mentor and celebrate the start of your college experience. - Top Golf Takeover
Monday, September 23, 2024, 6 to 8 p.m.
Register to attend this fun outing with your Smith Start mentors and classmates at Top Golf. Transportation, golf, and food are included. - Smith Start Study Break
Tuesday, December 10, 2024, Time TBA
Enjoy a study break with food, games, and Smith giveaways.
Required Course:
- BMGT367F, Career Search Strategies in Business
Co-Curricular Opportunities: Dates and times are subject to change.
- Back to Business
January 2025, Date & Time TBA
Kick off the semester at the Smith Start Back to Business Winter Carnival with free food, Smith swag, and opportunities to get involved on campus. - Smith Start Embassy Day
February 21, 2025, Time TBA
Join Smith Start and the Center for Global Business for a visit to various embassies in Washington, D.C. - Smith Start in the City (Baltimore)
Date & Time TBA TBA
Meet Smith alumni and explore various career paths during this one-day event in Baltimore. - Smith Start Networking Day
Friday, May 2, 2025, Time TBA
This final Smith Start event of the year offers networking strategies and a chance to meet Smith alumni and corporate partners ahead of your internship search.

Jillian Ames
Class of 2027
Major: Management
Hometown: Baltimore, MD
Smith Involvement: Front Desk Assistant at the Smith Undergraduate Program Office
Campus Involvement: Greek Life, One Love Club

Natalie Baynes
Class of 2028
Major: Operations Management & Business Analytics
Hometown: Ellicott City, MD
Smith Involvement: Operations Management & Business Analytics Society, Women in Business Association
Campus Involvement: Maryland Dance Team, College Park Scholars - Civic Engagement for Social Good Program and Peer Mentor

Marissa Behal
Class of 2027
Major: Finance and Management
Hometown: HolMDel, NJ
Smith Involvement: Smith Business Leadership Fellows, Smith Ambassadors, Phi Chi Theta

Will Buckingham
Class of 2028
Major: Accounting and Operations Management & Business Analytics
Hometown: Cockeysville, MD
Smith Involvement: Sports Business Society, OMBA Society
Campus Involvement: Intramural Sports

Kairy Castro-Barrios
Class of 2027
Major: Marketing Major, Real Estate Development Minor
Hometown: Takoma Park, MD
Smith Involvement: Strategic Design Fellows, Diversity Equity Council, Director of Social Media for RedBlack Consulting, and member of the American Marketing Association (AMA)
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Campus Involvement: College Park Scholars - Justice & Legal Thought program
I’m a #FirstGenTerp!

Eric Chan
Class of 2026
Major: Finance and Operations Management & Business Analytics
Hometown: Bethesda, MD
Smith Involvement: VP of Professional Affairs for Delta Sigma Pi, VP of Finance for Consult Your Community, Member of CFMA
Campus Involvement: Intramural Volleyball and Flag Football
I’m a #FirstGenTerp!

Andy Chen
Class of 2026
Major: Finance and Information Systems
Hometown: Baltimore County, MD
Smith Involvement: Consult Your Community (CYC), Delta Sigma Pi Professional Business Fraternity
Campus Involvement: Badminton Club
I’m a #FirstGenTerp!

Chaewon Cheon
Class of 2028
Major: Marketing and Operations Management & Business Analytics
Hometown: Hanover, MD
Smith Involvement: Student Global Leadership Board (SGLB) of the Center for Global Business, Smith Undergraduate Student Association (SUSA) - Community Outreach Committee, College Park Scholars - Business, Society and the Economy program
Campus Involvement: Student Entertainment Events (SEE) - Research & Archives Director

Rithika Choutkuri
Class of 2028
Major: Operations Management & Business Analytics
Hometown: Ellicott City, MD
Smith Involvement: College Park Scholars - Business, Society and the Economy program
Campus Involvement: Kappa Delta, Intramural Sports

Urszula Cieslak
Class of 2026
Major: Accounting and Finance
Hometown: Kensington, MD
Smith Involvement: Director of Membership & Recruitment for Smith Start, President of Women in Business Association, Schanwald Sports Management Program, Interdisciplinary Business Honors (IBH) Program, Teaching Assistant for IBH & IBH Student Board, BMGT440 Lead Teaching Assistant, Smith Ambassador
Campus Involvement: VP of Alumni Programming for Student Alumni Leadership Council (SALC), Photography Club, Honors College Ambassador

Brooke Cowan
Class of 2027
Major: Finance and Information Systems
Hometown: Upper Marlboro, MD
Smith Involvement: Office of Career Services Student Worker, National Association of Black Accountants (NABA), Smith Community Council (SCC), Smith Ambassador
Campus Involvement: With Love Organization UMD - Vice President

Drew Dannenfelser
Class of 2027
Major: Finance and Supply Chain Mgt
Hometown: Towson, MD
Smith Involvement: Supply Chain Management Society
Campus Involvement: Alpha Tau Omega - Recruitment Chair, Intramural Sports

Selma Drucker
Class of 2028
Major: Undecided
Hometown: Boca Raton, FL
Smith Involvement: Smith Business Leadership Fellows (SBLF), TAMID - consulting track, International Economics & Finance Society (IEFS)
Campus Involvement: Intramural Sports - Basketball

Anne Egbe
Class of 2026
Major: Finance
Hometown: Bel Air, MD
Smith Involvement: Smith Ambassador, Diversity Equity Council, Black Business Association

Delaney Fay
Class of 2027
Major: Finance and Supply Chain Management
Hometown: Westhampton, NY
Smith Involvement: Fashion Business Association
Campus Involvement: Kappa Alpha Theta - VP of External Affairs

Natalia Flores-Rosales
Class of 2028
Major: Accounting and Information Systems
Hometown: Columbia, MD
Smith Involvement: Accounting & Business Association, Association of Latino Professionals for America (ALPFA), Women in Business
Campus Involvement: College Park Scholars - Media, Self, & Society program

Raquel Ford
Class of 2026
Major: Marketing
Hometown: Frederick, MD
Smith Involvement: Fashion Business Association (FBA), QUEST Honors Program, Interdisciplinary Business Honors (IBH) Program, Smith Business Leadership Fellows (SBLF), Strategic Design Fellows (SDF), International Business Student Org (IBSO), Ed Snider Center for Enterprise and Markets Social Media and Digital Lead
Campus Involvement: Student Alumni Leadership Council (SALC), NRF Foundation Student Ambassador

Nicholas George
Class of 2028
Major: Accounting and Finance
Hometown: Rockville, MD
Smith Involvement: Collegiate Financial Management Association - Events Committee Member, International Economics and Finance Society, Delta Sigma Pi Professional Fraternity
Campus Involvement: TerpTax - Intern, PaLante Dance Company, UMD SGA Election Commission - Commissioner of Publicity

Sabrina Gong
Class of 2027
Major: Information Systems and Operations Management & Business Analytics
Hometown: Parsippany, NJ
Smith Involvement: Women in Business Association, Information Technology and Business Transformation (iTBT) Fellows Program, Operations Management & Business Analytics (OMBA) Society Fellowship, TA for BMGT367F
Campus Involvement: Club Softball Team

Emily Greenwald
Class of 2027
Major: Information Systems and Marketing
Hometown: Ellicott City, MD
Smith Involvement: Smith Ambassador, Strategic Design Fellows, QUEST Honors Program, Front Desk Assistant at the Smith Undergraduate Program Office
Campus Involvement: Greek Life

Reese Habicht
Class of 2027
Major: Marketing
Hometown: Timonium, MD
Smith Involvement: Strategic Design Fellows Program, American Marketing Association (AMA)
Campus Involvement: Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA)

Anna Handley
Class of 2027
Major: Management and Marketing
Hometown: Baltimore, MD
Smith Involvement: Women in Business Association, Smith Business Leadership Fellows (SBLF) - Marketing Team,
Campus Involvement: Kappa Alpha Theta - Human Resources Director, One Love Club - Director of Communications

Julion Harris
Class of 2026
Major: Management and Marketing
Hometown: Brandywine, MD
Smith Involvement: Phi Chi Theta Member, National Association of Black Accountants (NABA), Smith Ambassador
Campus Involvement: Black Student Union - Speaker of the House, RA Ambassador, Family Weekend Ambassador, Black Student Ministries - Treasurer, ALD Honor Society, Cultoure Magazine - Treasurer, Black Pre-Law Association - Director of Programming, Black Alliance Network - Public Relations Chair

Jacob Herrera
Class of 2027
Major: Accounting
Hometown: Cecil County, MD
Smith Involvement: QUEST Honors Program - Recruitment Team, Interdisciplinary Business Honors (IBH) Program, IBH Student Advisory Board

Naasera Husain
Class of 2027
Major: Information Systems and Operations Management & Business Analytics
Hometown: Glenelg, MD
Smith Involvement: QUEST Honors Program, Smith Undergraduate Student Association (SUSA) - VP of Strategy and Operations, Office of Career Services (OCS) Marketing Intern, Dean Student Advisory Council (DSAC), Operations Management & Business Analytics Society (OMBAS) - Director of OMBAS Fellowship
Campus Involvement: Honors College - University Honors, Youth in Public Health

Maddie Kamprath
Class of 2027
Major: Marketing
Hometown: Mountain View, CA
Smith Involvement: QUEST Honors Program, Strategic Design Fellows, Women's Empowerment Institute
Campus Involvement: Residence Hall Association, Chinese Student Association, Gamer Symphony Orchestra

Caleb Kang
Class of 2028
Major: Finance and Information Systems
Hometown: Philadelphia, PA
Smith Involvement: VP of External Affairs for Ascend, VP of Involvement for Consult Your Community, Smith Ambassador, Phi Chi Theta Business Fraternity, QUEST Honors Program
Campus Involvement: Office Assistant for the Do Good Institute, Kharis Campus Ministry
I’m a #FirstGenTerp!

Max Keeling
Class of 2028
Major: Finance and Information Systems
Hometown: Frederick, MD
Smith Involvement: QUEST Honors Program, Information Technology Business Transformation Fellow, Consult Your Community (CYC) - Business Analyst, Impact Consulting Fellowship
Campus Involvement: Residence Hall Association (RHA) - Easton Hall Council President, Sigma Alpha Mu - Recruitment Chairman & IFC Delegate, Department of Resident Life - Community Assistant

Mackenzie Kopp
Class of 2027
Major: Finance and Supply Chain Management
Hometown: Damascus, MD
Smith Involvement: Accounting and Business Association, Collegiate Financial Management Association
Campus Involvement: Club Lacrosse, Kappa Alpha Theta - VP Panhellenic

Stephen Lawrence
Class of 2026
Major: Finance
Hometown: Catonsville, MD
Smith Involvement: Smith Business Leadership Fellows (SBLF), SBLF Capstone Competition 1st Place, (limited) Experience with Collegiate Financial Management Association (CFMA) and Accounting & Business Association (ABA)
Campus Involvement: Terp Thon - Served on the Executive and Steering Boards as Fundraising Chair and Fiscal Director, respectively

William Liu
Class of 2027
Major: Information Systems and Operations Management & Business Analytics
Hometown: Fairfax, VA
Smith Involvement: College Park Scholars - Business, Society and the Economy program, OMBA Society Fellowship
Campus Involvement: Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) - Marketing Committee, James A. Clark School of Engineering - Student Researcher

Christine Liu
Class of 2028
Major: Finance
Hometown: Ellicott City, MD
Smith Involvement: Smith Undergraduate Student Association (SUSA), Women in Business Association
Campus Involvement: College Park Scholars - Media, Self, and Society Program

Daniel Ly
Class of 2028
Major: Finance and Information Systems
Hometown: Cumberland, MD
Smith Involvement: Collegiate Financial Management Association (CFMA), Ascend
Campus Involvement: Club Tennis, Vietnamese Student Association, College Park Scholars - Environment, Technology and Economy program

Arya Mahajan
Class of 2028
Major: Finance and Information Systems
Hometown: Frederick, MD
Smith Involvement: QUEST Honors Program, Women in Business Association
Campus Involvement: Hindu Students Council - Co-Secretary

Ryan Massey
Class of 2026
Major: Finance and Operations Management & Business Analytics
Hometown: Morristown, NJ
Smith Involvement: Sophomore Finance Fellows, College Park Scholars - Justice and Legal Thought Program

Alessandra Mastrogiacomo
Class of 2027
Major: Management
Hometown: Westchester County, NY
Smith Involvement: Sports Business Society, Real Estate Club
Campus Involvement: Phi Sigma Sigma

Amari Mehta
Class of 2027
Major: Finance and Information Systems
Hometown: Ellicott City, MD
Smith Involvement: President of Smith Undergraduate Student Association (SUSA), QUEST Honors Program, Snider Consulting Group
Campus Involvement: College Park Scholars - International Studies program - Peer Mentor & Representative, Intramural Sports

Jimmy Miller
Class of 2026
Major: Accounting and Management
Hometown: Severna Park, MD
Smith Involvement: Smith Business Leadership Fellows (SBLF), QUEST Honors Program, Accounting TA, former involvement with Sports Business Society (SBS)
Campus Involvement: TerpThon - Partnerships Captain

Jaselle Minge
Class of 2027
Major: Management and Marketing
Hometown: Baltimore, MD
Smith Involvement: Front Desk Assistant at the Smith Undergraduate Program Office. Brother of Pi Sigma Epsilon - Marketing & PR Committee, American Marketing Association. Smith Ambassadors, Smith Ambassador Mentor.

Arielle Mogolesko
Class of 2027
Major: Marketing and Supply Chain Management
Hometown: Marblehead, MA
Smith Involvement: TAMID Group - Consulting Project Manager, Office of Experiential Learning
Campus Involvement: Phi Sigma Sigma, Jewish Student Union, Terps for Israel

Katie Monahan
Class of 2026
Major: Marketing and Supply Chain Management
Hometown: Rockville, MD
Smith Involvement: Smith Business Leadership Fellows (SBLF), Smith Ambassadors, Front Desk Assistant at the Smith Undergraduate Office, Smith Start (Former Membership & Recruitment Director)
Campus Involvement: Delta Gamma

Joanie Morningstar
Class of 2026
Major: Finance and International Business
Hometown: Ellicott City, MD
Smith Involvement: Dean's Student Advisory Council, Smith Ambassador, Smith Business Leadership Fellows (SBLF) - Mentor, Advisor, and Ambassador
Campus Involvement: Delta Phi Epsilon - Director of Finance

Ais Mulligan
Class of 2027
Major: Management
Hometown: Ocean City, MD
Smith Involvement: Women in Business Association
Campus Involvement: Alpha Omicron Pi

Riya Nair
Class of 2028
Major: Finance and Operations Management & Business Analytics
Hometown: Ellicott City, MD
Smith Involvement: Women in Business Association - Community Service Committee, OMBA Society
Campus Involvement: College Park Scholars - Media, Self, & Society program, Terps for Change, Lakeland STARs Tutoring

Clara Novak
Class of 2027
Major: Finance and Operations Management & Business Analytics
Hometown: Hingham, MA
Smith Involvement: Smith Start Data Assessment & Analytics Director, TA for a master's project-based course
Campus Involvement: Kappa Delta - Director of Finance & Director of DEI

Riyana Patel
Class of 2028
Major: Supply Chain Mgt
Hometown: Fulton, MD
Smith Involvement: Alpha Kappa Psi Professional Business Fraternity, Women in Business Society, OMBA, Supply Chain Management Society
Campus Involvement: Culinary Club, Maryland Mentor Corps

Nayeli Portillo
Class of 2028
Major: Information Systems and Management
Hometown: Baltimore, MD
Smith Involvement: Women In Business (Finance Committee Member), iTBT Fellows Program
Campus Involvement: Maryland Cru, Pa’Lante Latin Dance Team, International Studies Scholar
I’m a #FirstGenTerp!

Elizabeth Runsdorf
Class of 2026
Major: Marketing and Supply Chain Management
Hometown: Morristown, NJ
Smith Involvement: Smith Business Leadership Fellows (SBLF) - Ambassador and Mentor, VP of Consult Your Community, Women In Supply Chain Excellence (WISE) UMD Chapter Founder, Center for Global Business
Campus Involvement: Terp Thon - Dance Captain, Delta Phi Epsilon

Jood Saiedy
Class of 2028
Major: Finance and International Business Major, German Studies Minor
Hometown: Lutherville, MD
Smith Involvement: Women in Business Association - Community Service Committee, International Business Student Organization
Campus Involvement: College Park Scholars - International Studies

Laili Saleh
Class of 2027
Major: Finance and Information Systems Major, Economics Minor
Hometown: Potomac, MD
Smith Involvement: Delta Sigma Pi Business Fraternity, Smith Diversity Equity Council
Campus Involvement: WMUC Student-Run Radio Station

Ella Santoni
Class of 2027
Major: Management and Marketing
Hometown: Carroll County, MD
Smith Involvement: Women in Business Association, Smith Start Programming & Planning Director
Campus Involvement: Alpha Omicron Pi -VP of Community Relations, MEDLife - Engagement Director, Club Lacrosse

Hanya Shahzad
Class of 2027
Major: Operations Management & Business Analytics
Hometown: Gaithersburg, MD
Smith Involvement: Women's Empowerment Institute, College Park Scholars - Business, Society and the Economy program, QUEST Honors Program - Recruitment Team, TA for BMGT367F
Campus Involvement: Body Positivity Alliance - Treasurer

Nishka Sharma
Class of 2028
Major: Information Systems and Management
Hometown: Lutherville-Timonium, MD
Smith Involvement: Women in Business - Marketing Committee
Campus Involvement: College Park Scholars - Justice and Legal Thought (JLT), JLT Media Intern, Scholars Ambassador, Phi Alpha Delta (PAD) Pre-Law Fraternity, Empowering Women in Law (EWIL), Club Tennis

Riley Smith
Class of 2028
Major: Management and Marketing
Hometown: Annapolis, MD
Smith Involvement: Dean Student Advisory Council (DSAC), Women in Business
Campus Involvement: Honors College - Gemstone, Club Swim, Reformed University Fellowship (RUF), UNICEF, Empowering Women in Law (EWIL)

Nadia Sumah
Class of 2026
Major: Operations Management & Business Analytics
Hometown: Montgomery County, MD
Smith Involvement: Women's Empowerment Institute, QUEST Honors Program
Campus Involvement: Honors College - University Honors program, Community Assistant (CA)

Aayush Thakkar
Class of 2027
Major: Finance
Hometown: Boyds, MD
Smith Involvement: Smith Investment Fund - President, Wall Street Fellows, Sophomore Finance Fellows, Office of Career Services - Student Team Manager, College Park Scholars - Business, Society and the Economy program
Campus Involvement: Club Tennis, Club Pickleball, Chess Club

Kathy Tran
Class of 2028
Major: Accounting and Finance
Hometown: Silver Spring, MD
Smith Involvement: Accounting & Business Association (ABA), Collegiate Financial Management Association (CFMA)
Campus Involvement: Vietnamese Student Association (VSA)
I’m a #FirstGenTerp!

Khushi Upadhyay
Class of 2027
Major: Finance Major, Data Science Minor
Hometown: Newtown, PA
Smith Involvement: iTBT Fellow, Business and IT Society (BITS), Smith Finance Group (SFO), International Business Student Org (IBSO)
Campus Involvement: Maryland Manzar, Robotics Club, Maryland Ghostlight Company, Gossett Center Tutor for Student-Athletes
I’m a #FirstGenTerp!

Michelle Yuen
Class of 2027
Major: Management
Hometown: Montgomery County, MD
Smith Involvement: Delta Sigma Pi - Historian, College Park Scholars - Business, Society and the Economy program TA
Campus Involvement: Maryland Club Roller Hockey - President
I’m a #FirstGenTerp!

Olivia Yuen
Class of 2027
Major: Accounting and Information Systems
Hometown: Montgomery County, MD
Smith Involvement: Smith Community Council, Delta Sigma Pi Business Fraternity, TerpTax, College Park Scholars - Business, Society and the Economy program
Campus Involvement: Intramural Volleyball, Korean Student Organization