H. Kent Baker’s career was shaped at Maryland and transformed finance through behavioral research. His legacy includes decades of scholarship, a major gift to Smith and hands-on student experiences, as the school advances finance education, policy impact and industry-ready training.

Isa Farhat ’96 switched from architecture to accounting during a recession, building a career as a Deloitte partner. A first-generation student, he overcame personal challenges and now gives back to Smith through mentorship and support for future accounting professionals.

Johannes Thorsteinsson, MS ENGR ’05, MBA ’07, leveraged engineering and finance training at UMD to rise to T-Mobile senior vice president and treasurer. He credits Smith for shaping his career and now mentors students, emphasizing curiosity, resilience and relationships.

Wealth management advisor John Bates, ECON ’83, mentors Smith finance students through the Financial Advisory Council. With decades of industry experience, he emphasizes networking, real-world skills and collaboration with faculty to better align education with careers in financial services.

Former Terps linebacker Jimmy Santa ’76 built dual careers as a boxing referee and sales executive, officiating major title fights worldwide while working decades at Givaudan. Recently inducted into the Westchester County Sports Hall of Fame, he continues his professional career.

Amid a growing loneliness epidemic, Smith professor Rebecca Ratner says individuals can build connections by engaging in activities alone and initiating interactions. Her research highlights the role of marketers in fostering community, deeper conversations and meaningful social connections.

Promotions are slowing as employers rely on “quiet promotions,” asking workers to take on more responsibility before raises. Smith’s Nicole Coomber advises building skills, using AI to free time, and aligning strengths with roles to position for future advancement.

Managers receive limited feedback, leaving blind spots in leadership. Smith lecturer Roy Thomason advocates 360-degree evaluations and two-way communication to improve performance, build psychological safety and strengthen teams, emphasizing acting on feedback and leveraging strengths while addressing weaknesses through collaboration.

Smith alumnus Bill Longbrake, DBA ’76, pledged $1 million to support research and programs, continuing decades of giving. Now an advisor and executive-in-residence, he focuses on mentoring students and advancing interdisciplinary initiatives across the school.

A student-built AI chatbot to combat food insecurity won a UMD competition and national attention. Developed for Capital Area Food Bank, it helps users find nearby resources 24/7 in multiple languages and will be implemented by its creators as interns.