Smith Profiles
Student Profile
Alexia Ayuk ’23: An Advocate And Changemaker
Alexia Ayuk ’23
For undergrad Alexia Ayuk ’23, advocating for the less fortunate and serving as a changemaker have always been top priorities. The Maryland Smith junior, studying operations management and business analytics, is president of the Smith Undergraduate Student Association. She helped launch Smith’s Inclusion, Accountability and Oversight Coalition, which holds school leaders to the practices of diversity and inclusion.
Student Profile
Studying for her MBA, Eying a Career in Impact-Driven Consulting
Lee-Ellen Myles
Lee-Ellen Myles believes businesses are ideally positioned to leverage their influence to make impactful change. It’s a belief that has been validated in her coursework at UMD and Maryland Smith, and during her 2021 summer internship with Council Fire, a consulting firm that works to help purpose-driven organizations thrive by creating lasting economic, social and environmental value.
Student Profile
After the Marines, Finding a Passion in Marketing
Octavia Davis
Octavia Davis couldn’t picture herself going to college right after high school. She hadn’t yet decided what she wanted to do with her life, with her career. Joining the military, she thought, would give her time to decide what she wanted, while giving her a rich, worldly experience.
Student Profile
Finding Smith, And the Plus 1 Program
Gelila Aderaye ’21
Gelila Aderaye ’21 always knew graduate school was in her future but didn’t know exactly what her plans were – that is, until she attended Maryland Smith. Initially starting her undergraduate career at Montgomery College, Aderaye came to Smith with a penchant for accounting.
Student Profile
How One Year Can Help Shape a Career
As a criminology and criminal justice major at the University of Maryland, Eleanna Weissman dreams of having a career in federal law enforcement. Now, she’s taking classes at Maryland Smith to achieve that goal.
Student Profile
Twinning and Winning Together on a Career Path
Camila, ’21, and Valeria Arrieta Palacio, ’21
As twins, Camila, ’21, and Valeria Arrieta Palacio, ’21, have lived their lives at each other’s side. Now, even as they graduate from the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business, that continues.
Student Profile
Turning a Passion into a Brand
As she graduates from the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business this spring, you can trust that Goodness Ihekweme will wear something special. She says she wouldn’t have it any other way.
Student Profile
Preparing to Make Big Impacts
Lakshmi Shyamakrishnan, MS in Marketing Analytics
Lakshmi Shyamakrishnan ’20 is looking forward to making big impacts for employees at top companies. The double Smith Terp, currently earning her master’s degree in marketing analytics, has her sights set on a role in human resources, eventually in a C-suite position.
Student Profile
Saying ‘Oui!’ To Amazon in Paris
Blanka Thibaud , Flex MBA
Blanka Thibaud was ready for a change.
She’d been working as an economist, but had an eye on a career in commercial real estate development.
Student Profile
Reading Between the Data Points
Sahitya Angara, MS in Business Analytics 2020
Sahitya Angara took an analytical approach when selecting a master's program. We’d expect nothing less from her – Angara was, in fact, a data analyst prior to arriving in Maryland from her former job in Chennai, India. She’s always enjoyed “reading between the data points.”