Smith School professors earned AI research seed grants from UMD’s AIM Institute. Louiqa Raschid and Eaman Jahani will use AI for public health; Lauren Rhue will explore legal limits of AI-generated content. AIM awarded 22 grants across interdisciplinary categories.

Smith School associate professors Liye Ma and Bobby Zhou were named 2024 MSI Scholars by the Marketing Science Institute, recognizing their influential research. The honor fosters collaboration among mid-career marketing academics, shaping the field’s future through scholarship and real-world impact.

Rebecca Ratner, dean’s professor of marketing, is serving as president of the Association for Consumer Research, leading efforts to expand member engagement, professionalize operations and amplify research impact. She will deliver her presidential address at ACR 2025 in Washington, D.C.

Smith School professor Vijaya Venkataramani, a 2024 Distinguished Scholar-Teacher Award recipient, shared insights on workplace creativity during her lecture. She explored how social networks, team dynamics and leadership influence innovation, emphasizing the importance of inclusivity and psychological safety.

The AMA TechSIG honored Smith’s P.K. Kannan with its inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award for his impactful research in marketing technology and innovation. Kannan, an expert in digital marketing and AI, shared the recognition with USC’s Gerard Tellis at the AMA Winter Conference.

Maryland Smith finance professor Lemma W. Senbet received the Ethiopian Crown’s Victory of Adwa Medal for his contributions to his native country. Senbet, an expert and leader in economic policy in Africa, is the William E. Mayer Chair Professor of Finance and the founding director of Smith’s Center for Financial Policy.

Amna Kirmani, the Ralph J. Tyser Professor of Marketing at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business, was named a 2022 fellow of the Society for Consumer Psychology. Her appointment was announced at the academic and practitioner group’s annual conference on March 4.

U.S. Treasury's recent study reveals anti-competitive labor practices depressing wages amidst COVID-era 'tight labor market' narrative. Biden Administration proposes reforms in response to "The State of Labor Market Competition." Research by Maryland Smith's Evan Starr cited, highlighting detrimental impacts of noncompete and nondisclosure agreements on workers. Insightful testimony informs legislative action.

Maryland Smith finance professor Clifford Rossi has been selected by the Food and Drug Administration to serve on its Pharmaceutical Science and Clinical Pharmacology Advisory Committee.

Maryland Smith’s Pat McNamee has been reappointed to the Federal Accounting Standards Advisory Board, for a second five-year term, which began on Jan. 1 of this year.