For Doug Peters ’85, there’s a tie to Maryland Smith that runs deep. Now, the former Maryland state senator is helping others form a Maryland Smith bond of their own, establishing a Maryland Promise scholarship to help support need-based scholarships for UMD undergraduate students, with a preference for those who plan to study at Smith. Peters worked to establish the endowed fund over the summer, as he retired from Maryland’s state senate and was appointed to the University System of Maryland Board of Regents.

At Maryland Smith, Terrill L. Drake, EMBA ’12, envisioned the next stages of his career through the pursuit of a more inclusive community. Now, he’s taking the lessons he’s learned to Harvard Business School where he will become its first chief diversity and inclusion officer.

From the earliest days of her professional life, working as a business analyst for JPMorgan Chase, Sherika Ekpo, MBA ’09, was determined to keep one goal in mind: to ascend in her career, making a difference in every step.

In a sunny ceremony in the Van Munching Hall courtyard on Monday, Aug. 2, former Maryland Senator Doug Peters ’85 was sworn in as the newest member of the University of Maryland Board of Regents.

Ryan Hogan ’13 loves a good mystery. So much so, in fact, that he has made them a career. But his success is no secret or enigma – it’s a product of years of trial and error. Hogan is co-founder and CEO of Hunt A Killer, an immersive entertainment company that creates games that challenge players to solve cases through interactive monthly subscription boxes and one-time experiences. He believes entrepreneurship is about failure and the ability to learn from each endeavor.

Two full-time MBA graduates, Maria Herold and Rachel Loya, from the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business, are among Poets & Quants MBAs to Watch – Class of 2021.

New Maryland Smith graduates Jose DeJesus and Yenny Andrade Castillo are among Poets & Quants “ Best and Brightest Online MBAs: Class of 2021 .” Criteria for this recognition include strong academic performance, critical and consistent contributions to the program, striking personal narratives, and innate potential, according to the news site devoted to the global coverage of business schools. Both selectees credited their Maryland Smith experience for career gains.