Elementary schoolchildren grimaced and peered through their fingers when a biomedical engineer showed them excerpts from a laser surgery video. Then they sat up and oohed when the same speaker introduced them to a robot that allows doctors to treat patients remotely. Similar scenes played out in multiple classrooms May 1, 2015, during Career Day at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business.

During February and March, hundreds of students across University of Maryland worked to "do good" for their favorite cause in the 4th annual Do Good Challenge. The six most impactful and innovative ventures and projects from a field of 60 teams have advanced to the Do Good Challenge finals where they will compete for more than $20,000 in prizes. Each team will pitch their venture or project in front of a live audience and panel of judges at the Riggs Alumni Center on April 28 from 7-9 p.m. 

Back home with new perspective: Smith MBAs consult for a cross-border greywater feasibility project in Israel, Palestine, and Jordan 

The Central Tibetan Administration (AKA theTibetan Government-in-exile) aims to create a more self-reliant culture among Tibetan refugees by encouraging its people to become successful entrepreneurs. Spearheading this initiative, the Tibetan Entrepreneurship Development Initiative (TED) orchestrates entrepreneurial incubators, financing support, and inspires youth entrepreneurship.  To amplify their efforts on youth entreprenreneurship, TED turned to a team of University of Maryland graduate students at the Center for Social Value Creation, Robert H. Smith School of Business.

In Clinton, Md., a warehouse gets ready to ship fresh fruits and vegetables otherwise destined for waste to local families and businesses. For Evan Lutz ’14, co-founder and CEO of Hungry Harvest, it’s just another day on the job. Lutz was one of three finalists from the venture track of the 2014 Do Good Challenge, an eight-week competition designed to inspire Terps to make the greatest social impact they can for their favorite causes. Students team up to volunteer, raise funds, promote awareness or advance their own social ventures.

COLLEGE PARK, Md. (March 26, 2015) — Working professionals with an interest in the Washington, D.C., region have a new source for bite-sized business insights, delivered weekly to their inboxes from the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business. Smith Brain Trust, published every Thursday, will provide commentary on the latest mergers, marketing campaigns, policy debates, investment news and business research — drawing upon the broad knowledge of the school’s faculty.

Mixing business with a social mission takes practice, TOMS director of social impact Shira Shafir said Feb. 27, 2015, at the seventh annual Social Enterprise Symposium.

Students are increasingly interested in using business principles to do good in the world. The University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business has made a commitment to teaching students how to do so. In this edition of Smith Business Close-Up, host Jeff Salkin sits down with Christine Beckman, associate professor of management and organization, to talk about her new roles as academic director of the Smith School’s Center for Social Value Creation. 

College Park, Md. – February 24, 2015 – The University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business has appointed Christine Beckman as the first academic director of the Center for Social Value Creation. 

WHAT: 7th Annual Social Enterprise Symposium  WHERE: Stamp Student Union, University of Maryland  WHEN: February 27, 2015 | 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.