Former Chicago Bulls executive Stephen M. Schanwald committed $18 million to UMD, including $8 million to endow a new sports management program at the university where his career began and college sports marketing took an early, pioneering step.

Smith’s Strategic Design Fellows partnered with Maryland Athletics to help student-athletes build and market their personal brands under NCAA NIL rules. The pilot paired marketing students with athletes, combining real-world experience with branding, content creation and client collaboration.

The Smith School hosted its 5th Annual Maryland Sports Business Conference on May 2, featuring 14 panelists and launching the Stephen M. Schanwald Sports Management Program. Students gained real-world insights on sports marketing, law, analytics and industry trends.

The University of Maryland’s new Financial Wellness Center empowers students with financial literacy through peer mentoring, classes, and events. Led by the Smith School, it centralizes resources on budgeting, investing, and financial planning, preparing students for real-world financial decisions with confidence.

Students in the QUEST Honors program explored Silicon Valley over Spring Break, pitching at Meta, visiting top tech firms, and networking with alumni. Highlights included winning Meta’s competition, touring Google and Nuro, and bonding over Bay Area adventures.

Smith School students explored design thinking in Spain through hands-on experiences, from paella-making to site visits at iconic landmarks. Led by Professor J. Gerald Suarez, the short-term abroad course fostered creativity, innovation, and a global perspective on problem-solving.